VZCZCXRO4662
PP RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHWD #0291 2611038
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 171038Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0072
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY PRIORITY C O N F I D E N T I A L WINDHOEK 000291 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR IO/RHS REBECCA JOVIN AND DRL/MLGA LYNN SICADE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2018 
TAGS:        
SUBJECT: NAMIBIA'S RESPONSE TO UNGA HR RESOLUTIONS 
 
REF: STATE 093981 
 
Classified By: DCM Matt Harrington for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). 
 
 1.  (C)  Emboff met with the Namibian Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs' Director of Multilateral Affairs Julius Zaya Shiweva 
and delivered reftel demarche on September 15.  Shiweva 
stated that Namibia would, in all likelihood, vote on the 
United Nations General Assembly's Third Committee Human 
Rights Resolutions as it had in the past.  (Note: Namibia 
last year voted in favor of the no-action motions for the 
country specific resolutions on Burma, DPRK, and Iran, and 
abstained on the resolutions themselves.  End Note.)  Shiweva 
explained that Namibia favors "persuasion" and "dialogue" 
rather than country-specific resolutions. 
 
 2.  (C) Shiweva was not aware of possible thematic 
resolutions on freedom of expression, defamation of religion, 
or prisoners of conscience.  On freedom of expression, 
Shiweva noted that the Namibian constitution guarantees this 
right and that Namibians exercise free speech without any 
constraints.  Shiweva did note that many Namibians "have 
concerns over free use of hate speech."  (Note: As stated in 
our 2007 Human Rights Report, the Namibian government does 
generally respect the constitutionally protected rights of 
freedom of speech and the press.  End Note).  Shiweva stated 
that Namibia would likely not support a defamation of 
religion resolution that focused primarily on Islam. 
(Comment:  However, given the fact that Shiweva was unaware 
of the possibility of an anti-defamation resolution, his 
statement should not be construed as an official government 
position.) 
 
 3.  (C) In a separate meeting on September 12, DCM delivered 
the same talking points in a call on MFA Permanent Secretary 
Veiccoh Nghiwete, who was joined by his Head of Bilateral 
Affairs, Wilbard Hellao.  Nghiwete said Namibia had not yet 
decided on the approach it would take on many of the topics 
we had raised, and he encouraged us to follow up with the 
MFA's multilateral affairs department. 
 
 4.  (C) Comment: We made a very strong pitch in both meetings 
against no-action motions, but our interlocutors did not 
appear to be swayed.   As Shiweva indicated, the GRN is 
generally uncomfortable with country-specific resolutions and 
abstained last year on the Burma, DPRK, and Iran resolutions. 
 Although we will continue to press Namibia to cast a vote in 
favor of our target country-specific resolutions this year, 
abstentions may once again be the best outcome we can expect. 
  End Comment. 
MATHIEU