Europe rallies behind Roux, as Meatco sticks to its guns
The Namibia Economist
Europe rallies behind Roux, as Meatco sticks to its guns
By Desie Heita
15 June 2007
The international community is rallying behind the suspended Wallie Roux with a European parliamentarian calling upon Meatco “to reconsider the suspension” of the economist.
Roux was suspended last month after writing an opinion piece expressing uncertainty on the technicality of the current Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations between European Union (EU) and the SADC.
Namibia wants to get the SADC-Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations with the EU finalised before the end of 2007 for it to continue accessing the EU market duty and quota free.
Roux questioned whether Namibia had looked at both pros and cons in negotiating with fellow countries in SADC with the aim of getting the best out of the negotiations.
Anne van Lancker, a member of the EU parliament, said Roux’s analyses on the Economic Partnership Agreement "are shared by many African and European researchers and are adopted by a fair number of social movements in Africa and other parts of the world that are also raising their voices against the anticipated domination of their countries by trans-national corporations".
Van Lancker wrote an open letter to Meatco this week.
"Also the European Parliament is very critical about these negotiations. There are especially concerns if the agreements are a guarantee for more and sustainable development. Also the strict timetables are questioned," van Lancker wrote.
Her comments follow the statement by the Labour Resources and Research Institute (LaRRI) which described Roux’ suspension as draconian.
"This can only be described as blatant victimisation and a violation of the right to freedom of speech," LaRRI said in a statement.
Dr Henning Melber, a reputed research director at the Nordic Africa Institute and former director of the Namibian Economic Policy Research Unit (NEPRU), said "Roux deserves to be applauded for his critical analyses" instead of suspension.
Meatco maintains in several words that it has not violated Roux constitutional rights. "However, Roux is in the employ of Meatco and is bound to its rules and conditions of employment," Uschi Ramakhutla, the company’s spokesperson said.
Roux is currently waiting for this disciplinary hearing since his suspension on 11 May.
"In the light of the inalienable constitutional right of freedom of expression, we would therefore like to call upon Meatco to reconsider the suspension of its member of staff Roux," van Lancker said.
Roux also made headlines in the European media with a Belgium-based news agency saying he "clearly touched a raw nerve" in his analysis.
The agency also quoted the EU Ambassador to Namibia, Elisabeth Pape, as saying that although "[The suspension] is entirely an issue between Roux and his employer".
