Homosexuals “threaten to destroy Namibia”

Homosexuals in Namibia are in fear for their safety after President Sam Nujoma ordered police to "arrest, deport and imprison" them, The Telegraph of London reported Thursday. Mr. Nujoma told students at the University of Namibia: "We do not allow homosexuality or lesbianism here. Police are ordered to arrest you and deport you and imprison you, too." According to UPI, he blamed "foreign influences" for homosexuality in Namibia, which he said threatened to destroy the nation, the newspaper said. Independent legal experts in the capital, Windhoek, said they were unsure what action the police could take to carry out the presidential order. Members of the gay community predicted that they would be forced to flee the country, probably to neighbouring South Africa where freedom of sexual expression is protected by the constitution. Ian Swartz, coordinator of the gay lobbying group the Rainbow Project, said his office had been swamped with inquiries about emigration. His movement had about 1,000 members but there were "many more Namibians who are afraid to reveal their sexual orientation."