SINGAPORE POLICE OFFICERS IN NAMIBIA (Progress report)

Mr Teo Chong Tee asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether he will give a progress report of the activities of the 21 Singapore police officers serving as UNTAG peace monitors in Namibia.

The Minister for Home Affairs (Prof. S. Jayakumar): Sir, the 21 Police officers in the Singapore Contingent of the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) arrived in Namibia on 5th May. They have been deployed in groups of three to five men to serve as Police Monitors in the various districts of Namibia stretching from the Northern border near Angola to the Southern border near South Africa.

The Leader of the Singapore Contingent, Superintendent Lee Kok Leong, was recently appointed the Chief Electoral and Refugee Officer in UNTAG Headquarters. He is responsible to the UNTAG Police Commissioner for supervising the forthcoming General Elections and also to oversee the return of Namibian refugees from neighbouring countries.

The duties of our police monitors include accompanying the South West African Police (SWAPO) on their duties, inspecting refugee camps, checking of information received on SWAPO movements and other activities and guarding and escorting registration papers.

Our contingent has been performing their duties fairly and impartially. They have been proven to be tough, disciplined, highly skilled in various policing duties and adaptable. The UNTAG Police Commissioner has commended our men highly for their professionalism, dedication and initiative.

Elections there are due in mid-November. In anticipation of these elections, tension is mounting in Namibia. A heavy responsibility will lie on all the UNTAG Forces, including our Police Monitors, to ensure a fair and smooth elections. Sir, I am confident that the Singapore Contingent Leader, who is the Chief Electoral Officer, and his men will contribute in no small measure towards ensuring this. After the elections, UNTAG is expected to remain until 31st March 1990, to enable the newly elected Government sufficient time to consolidate. If all is well, the men will be back home to Singapore and to their families in early April 1990. I may add, Sir, that last month we sent a team of senior officials from my Ministry and the Foreign Affairs Ministry, including a doctor, to visit our police contingent. They reported that our men were in good health and spirits.

Mr Chiam See Tong (Potong Pasir): Sir, the Minister mentioned that our men there are assisting members of SWAPO. As I understand it, SWAPO is a political party there. It stands for South West African People's Organization. Can I have a clarification on what the Minister has just said?

Prof. Jayakumar: Shall I repeat, Sir? The duties of our Police Monitors include accompanying the South West African Police (SWAPO) on their duties.