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18-747: Africa is most notable for serving as the fourth Captain of the Baster and his tenure as vice-president of the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance . Ben Africa was born in Rehoboth, South West Africa (present-day Namibia). He was educated at Athlone High School in Cape Town, South Africa. He studied medicine at the University of Cape Town Medical School in 1964. Africa narrowly avoided expulsion after publicly confronting on-campus racial discrimination. He became

36-464: A forum for members to network and assists them in participating at an international level. Although UNPO members often have different goals, they have one thing in common: they are generally not represented diplomatically (or only with a minor status, such as observer) in major international institutions, such as the United Nations (UN). As a result, their ability to have their concerns addressed by

54-604: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Captains of the Rehoboth Baster The Captains of the Rehoboth Baster ( Afrikaans : Kapteins van die Rehoboth Baster ) were the traditional leaders of the indigenous Baster community in central Namibia , until the dissolution of the Rehoboth Homeland in 1990, upon Namibian independence . The 1990 Constitution of Namibia does not give

72-717: The Cordillera in the Philippines, the Greek minority in Albania , Kurdistan , Palau, Taiwan , and West Papua . A key UNPO goal was, and remains, to replicate the success of the 14th Dalai Lama 's and the Tibetan people's non-violent message in the face of oppression and occupation. UNPO chose for its founding headquarters in 1991 The Hague in the Netherlands because the city aimed at becoming

90-697: The Northern Cape of South Africa to escape the rampant racial discrimination. He served as Baster Captain from 1868 until his death in 1905. Upon the death of van Wyk, the German colonial government established a separate council. It was not until the United Kingdom took over German South West Africa as a British protectorate in 1914, that the Rehoboth Basters elected another Captain - Cornelius van Wyk . In 1924, South Africa legally transferred all powers of

108-702: The United Nations (UN). Throughout 2024, UNPO conducted several training sessions aimed at helping its members and activists. Sessions included in-person training for Asia Pacific members in Geneva, online cybersecurity training, a cybersecurity training in person for the Baloch community in Stockholm, and a youth study session supported by the Council of Europe , emphasizing the importance of acquiring and improving necessary skills for advocacy within marginalized communities. UNPO

126-633: The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO). Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization ( UNPO ) is an international organization established to facilitate the voices of unrepresented and marginalized nations and peoples worldwide. It was formed on 11 February 1991 in The Hague , Netherlands . Its members consist of indigenous peoples , minorities , and unrecognised or occupied territories. UNPO works to develop

144-667: The Baster Captain to the South African-controlled Rehoboth Magistrate through Proclmation No. 31. Following a devastating defeat in the Baster Uprising of 1925, the third Baster Captain, Albert Mouton , was overthrown de facto by the South Africans. In 1977, two years before the establishment of the Rehoboth Homeland , Ben Africa was elected as the fourth Baster Captain, serving until 1979 upon

162-687: The European Union, United States and United Nations. It is funded by a combination of member contributions, donations from individuals, and project-based grants from foundations. UNPO's vision is to affirm democracy as a fundamental human right, implement human, civil and political rights worldwide, uphold the universal right to autonomy and self-determination, and further federalism. It encourages nonviolent methodologies to reach peaceful solutions to conflicts and oppression. UNPO supports members in getting their human and cultural rights respected and in preserving their environments. The organization provides

180-608: The International City of Peace and Justice and hosts international courts like the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and International Criminal Court (ICC) . A Foundation was established in the Netherlands to provide secretarial support to the UNPO General Assembly and to carry out research and educational activities related to unrepresented peoples worldwide. The Foundation maintains a permanent presence before

198-721: The UNPO have left because of United Nations (UN) recognition, autonomy agreements, or for other reasons. The following lists former and suspended members. Former members who became part of the UN are highlighted with a blue background and italics . Original members (from 11 February 1991) are listed with pink background and in bold . Former members who are recognised as independent countries by at least 1 UN member or by other countries recognised by at least 1 UN member are marked by asterisk (*). Suspended members are marked by yellow background . UNPO's representing nations may become suspended from

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216-743: The first Resident District Surgeon of Rehoboth in 1966. In 1971, alongside John McNab and Piet Junius , Africa established the Rehoboth Baster Association (RBA). The RBA was founded in opposition to the Rehoboth Volksparty to negotiate with the South West Africa government, to counteract the gastroenteritis epidemic in the " Baster Gebied". Africa was elected as Captain of the Basters on 3 October 1977, winning by 2,307 votes. His closest competitor, Johannes Diergaardt , challenged

234-630: The global bodies mandated to protect human rights and address conflict is limited. UNPO is dedicated to the five principles enshrined in its Covenant : All members are required to sign and abide by the UNPO Covenant. UNPO members are required to be nonviolent . The following are listed as members by the UNPO. Original members are listed with pink background and in bold . Members who are recognised as independent countries by at least 1 UN Member or by other countries recognised by at least 1 UN member are marked by asterisk (*). Some members of

252-629: The result, whom received 2,180 votes. Africa would remain as Baster captain until a successful court challenge by Diergaardt overturned the October 1977 vote, pronouncing Diergaardt as the fifth, and last, Baster captain. In November 1977, the RBA joined the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA). Africa went on to become vice-president of the DTA on 3 July 1978. This article about a Namibian politician

270-551: The same special rights to the Rehoboth Baster as the other traditional leaderships of Namibia . The Baster Council , and the Rehoboth population, still elect a Captain today, but this has no autonomy or powers associated with it, like the other traditional leaderships under the Namibian constitution. The first Captain ( Kaptein ) was Hermanus van Wyk , who led the Baster nation to Rehoboth in German South West Africa from

288-461: The successful reversal of the 1976 election by Hans Diergaardt . Diergaardt's tenure oversaw the independence of Namibia in March 1990, and the subsequent loss of traditional leadership powers under the new constitution. Diergaardt served from 1979 until his death in 1998. Dap Izaaks served as interim Captain until the election of John McNab in 1999, who would oversee the Rehoboth Basters' admission to

306-501: The understanding of and respect for the right to self-determination , provides advice and support related to questions of international recognition and political autonomy , trains groups on how to advocate for their causes effectively, and directly advocates for an international response to human rights violations perpetrated against UNPO member groups. Some former members, such as Armenia , East Timor , Estonia , Latvia , Georgia and Palau , have gained full independence and joined

324-609: Was conceived of in the 1980s by leaders of self-determination movements, Linnart Mäll of the Congress of Estonia , Erkin Alptekin of East Turkestan , and Lodi Gyari of Tibet , together with Michael van Walt van Praag  [ nl ] , along with the international law adviser of the 14th Dalai Lama . The founders were representatives of national movements of Estonia, Latvia, Tibet, Crimean Tatars , Armenia, Georgia, Tatarstan , East Turkestan , East Timor, Australian Aboriginals ,

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