A/35/PV.106 General Assembly

I should like to begin by expressing on behalf of my delegation our profound appreciation for the outstanding diplomatic skill, wisdom and dedication with which the President of the United Nations Council for Namibia, Mr. Paul Lusaka, has been steering the activities of the Coun- cil in pursuance of its mandate as the legal Adminis- tering Authority for Namibia until its independence. Mr. Lusaka's dynamic leadership, as well as his courageous and principled conduct of the Council's deliberations and activities, has earned him the enduring respect and admiration of the members of the Council for Namibia. 2. The report of the United Nations Council for Namibia [A/35/24 and Corr.l and 2] presented to the General Assembly by the President of the Council [103rd meeting] underscores once again the stark real- ities of the situation in Namibia. It also serves as ye: another clarion call to the international community to take concrete measures in the face of that situation and to act decisively to elimirate the final vestiges of racism and minority rule in southern Africa, where the majority of the people continue to be denied their ri<!,ht to freedom and equality. The growing concern of the world community over South Africa's con- tinued defiance of United Nations resolutions and decisions on the question of Namibia was fully re- flected in Mr. Lusaka's comprehensive presentation of the current situation in Namibia. The gravity of the situation has indeed acquired alarming proportions with the collapse of the United Nations-sponsored pre-implementation talks at Geneva as result of the NEW YORK negative and intransigent attitude of South Africa. Since then, the racist Pretoria regime has also inten- sified its acts of wanton aggression against the neigh- bouring independent African States, causing a serious threat to international peace and security. 3. When we decided in December last year to post- pone the consideration of the question of Namibia in the General Assembly [98th meeting], we were acting in good faith to facilitate the efforts of the Secretary-General towards securing the implementa- tion of Security Council resolution 435 (1978). Over the past two years, we have been following with great interest the unremitting efforts of the Secretary- General to bring about a political settlement of the Namibian question on the basis of the United Nations plan which envisages free and impartial elections under the auspices of the United Nations, enabling the people of Namibia to determine their own destiny. 4. The Geneva talks were' an outcome of those sin- cere efforts by the Secretary-General. The world noted with great satisfaction and admiration the sense of responsibility and statesmanship and the construc- tive approach demonstrated by the South Africa People's Organization [SWAPO], the sole and au- thentic representative of the people of Namibia, in the face of extreme provocation from South Africa during the talks. The role played by the front-line States and Nigeria as observers at the Geneva meeting was also highly commendable. However, the blatant manner in which South Africa responded to that ges- ture by wrecking the Geneva talks and in effect stalling the process of a political settlement of the Namibian question leaves us with no illusions about the real designs of the racist Pretoria regime. 5. The Islamic world shares the deep concern of the international community over South Africa's con- tinuing illegal occupation of Namibia, its policies of repression and terrorism against the Namibian people and its repeated acts of aggression against neigh- bouring independent African States. In this con- nexion, the Third Islamic Conference held at Mecca- Taif, from 25 to 28 January of this year, expressed deep indignation at the continuing evil of racist co- lonialism and reiterated its total solidarity with the cause of all those oppresed peoples, including the people of Namibia, which are engaged in the struggle against the forces of colonialism, oppression, foreign domination and exploitation wherever and in what- ever form those crimes against human dignity and freedom are being committed. Addressing the General Assembly on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference on I October 1980 [18th meeting], the President of Pakistan had also voiced the resolute support of the Moslem world for the just cause of the Namibian people and had called upon the interna- I Legal Consequences for States of the Continued Presence of South Africa in Namibia (South West Africa) notwithstanding Security Council Resolution 276 (/970), Advisory Opinion, f.C.J. Reports /97/ , p. 16. 12. We regret that the racist Pretoria regime has been able to thwart the crusade against colonialism and racial discrimination with the active support and encouragement of vested foreign economic interests. This problem has been greatly highlighted in the re- ports of the Special Committee against Apartheid [A/35/22 and Add. 1-3], the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples [A/35/23/Rel'./] and the United Nations Council for Namibia [A/35/24 and Corr.1 and 2]. The role played by transnational cor- porations in strengthening Pretoria's oppressive rule through their investments and provision of tech- nology is a matter of grave concern to the international community. My delegation fully endorses the view that the withdrawal of South Africa from Namibia could be hastened if its major trading partners were to exert on South Africa effective pressure com- mensurate with their influence. All foreign economic interests and Powers which are engaged in illegal exploitation of Namibia's human and natural re- sources must comply with the United Nations resolu- tions by immediately abstaining from any kind of economic co-operation with the illegal occupation regime. 13. The natural resources of Namibia are the birth- right of the Namibian people, and the exploitation of 14. It is also our view that no plan or measure can succeed in ensuring genuine independence for the Namibian people unless it preserves the territorial integrity of their country. Walvis Bay and the off- shore islands over which South Africa has advanced its spurious claim of sovereignty are an integral part of Namibian territory and cannot be subject to any negotiations. 15. The present critical situation resulting from South Africa's continued illegal occupation of Nami- bia and its persistent refusal to comply with United Nations resolutions underscore the importance of the armed struggle being waged by the valiant people of Namibia under the leadership of SWAPO. The fore- doomed attempts of the Pretoria regime to reverse the stream of history cannot be sustained in face of the undaunted and inexorable resolve of the Namibian people. We are confident that the forces of equality, freedom and independence will eventually triumph over the cruel system based on human bondage and that our brothers in Namibia will soon achieve their cherished objective of national independence. 16. Zimbabwe's victory last year provided a great inspiration and new momentum to the indomitable liberation movement in Namibia, which is going through the crucial and decisive phase. A free Nami- bia will indeed be the culmination of the process of decolonization and of the struggle against the tyranny of racism. 17. And finally, as the liberation movement of the Namibian people enters a crucial phase, my delega- tion fells that the international community should extend all possible moral and material support to SWAPO in order to enable it to intensify its struggle for the liberation of Namibia. The front line States, which continue to face repeated acts of subversion and military attacks by South African armed forces, also need international support for the reinforcement of their defence capabilities. 18. For its part, Pakistan will continue its political, material and moral support for the liberation struggle of the Namibian people. My country has been con- tributing regularly towards relief and assistance for the victims of the policies of racist colonialism through the channels of the United Nations Trust Fund for South Africa and the United Nations Fund for Nami- bia. As a member of the United Nations Council for Namibia and also as a country deeply committed to the cause of freedom, justice and equality, Pakistan has always supported the struggle of the Namibian people for their national independence. This was reaffirmed by the President of Pakistan in his recent message on the occasion of the week of solidarity with the people of Namibia. when he said: be reconciled to the contempt which South Africa has shown towards the Organization and that not only on the question of Namibia. But are we to a~lo~ ~e­ course to a plea of legality to a State that within Its own boundaries sees legality only in terms of black and white? One would have thought that the South African delegation appeared here fully alive to the 30. Pursuing their policy of terrorism in southern Africa and of arrogant defiance towards the interna- tional community, not so long ago the South African racists were still launching criminal armed attacks against the front..line States, the most recent of which were those against the People's Republic of Mozam- bique in January and against the People's Republic of Angola in February, causing serious loss of life and property to the people of those fraternal African countries and giving rise to indignation in all the non- aligned countries as well as on the part of progressive world opinion. 31. Peace and security in southern Africa and throughout the world are seriously threatened as a result of this policy of destabilization, aggression and subversion carried out by South Africa against neighbouring countries, along with its policy of mili- tarism characterized by the strengthening of its mili- tary power, the establishment of new military bases and military collaboration, particularly in the nuclear field, with certain Western States and Israel. 32. The so-called internal solution of the South African racists, like their promises concerning the implementation of Security Council resolution 435 (1978), in view of the failure of the Geneva meeting, is in fact a mere dilatory and devisive maneeuvre to divert public attention from the prolongation of the colonialist domination of South Africa, the anach- ronistic racial discrimination in Namibia and the exploitation and plunder of the human and natural resources of Namibia by the Western transnational corporations. 33. From the economic point of view, the Pretoria racist authorities, together with the Western transna- tional corporations, have continued to exploit and plunder the natural resources of Namibia, in particular its uranium, in flagrant violation of Security Council resolution 282 (1970) and the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly. 34. The fact that the South African colonialists have adopted such an obstinate and insolent attitude to- wards the international community and that they have had the effrontery to act for 111 the world as if they had a right to launch their so-called punitive attacks against the front-line States because of the latter's support of SWAPO combatants is due to the protection and clandestine assistance given Pretoria by Western Powers, including some permanent members of the Security Council. During the con- sideration at this session [56th ami 57th ml'l'tillgs] of the activities of foreign economic and other interests which are impeding the implementation of the Decla- ration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples in Namibia and in all other 35. In fact, the minority South African regime and some Western countries persist in holding on to Namibia for its abundant marine, mineral and other natural resources, the inviolable and unquestionable heritage of the Namibian people. While pursuing their global hegemony throughout the world and in view of the strategic position of southern Africa, imperi-, alist circles have striven to bolster the Pretoria regime and help it become an instrument of aggression, a policeman in Africa, with a view to establishing their neo-colonialist domination over the African peoples. It is for economic and strategic reasons that the South African Administration and the Western transnational corporation have sought to co-operate and make investments in Namibia in defiance of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations, which severely condemn them and call on them to put an end to their domination and exploitation. It is mainly for those reasons that many United Nations resolutions which condemn South Africa and demand that it put an end to colonialization in Namibia have remained a dead letter and that many request·s made to the Security Council for the imposition of binding comprehensive sanctions to this end, pursuant to Chapter VIf of the Charter, have not met with a favourable response, because of the Western veto. 36. The recent failure of the Geneva meeting which was summed up in masterly fashion yesterday morning by the representative of Algeria [104tl1 meeting], once again showed up the collusion of the Pretoria regime with some Western countries whose interests would be at stake should the Namibian people reco-er their rights to self-determination, freedom ar rational independence. 37. This was explicitly stated in the rei .l of the United Nations Council for Namibia on the hearings on Namibian uranium: "In view of the simultaneous involvement of certain Western States, directly and through their corporations, in the extraction, processing or sale of Namibia's uranium on the one hand, and in inter- national efforts to secure South Africa's with- drawal from the Territory on the other, the Panel has serious doubts as to the ability of those States to faithfully pursue and defend the interests of the people of Namibia in any dialogue with South Africa. The liberation of Namibia has therefore been subjected to delays on account of this duplic- ity." [A/35/24. \'01. Ill. para. 228.] I quote further: "South Africa's collaborators, in particular the Western permanent members of the Security Coun- cil, are themselves displaying extreme cynicism towards the decisions of the General Assembly and the Security Council in relation to Namibia and towards their responsibilities in respect of the maintenance of international peace and security." "hid.. para. 230.] 39. For more than 30 years the people of Namibia, supported by the progressive members of the human race, have waged an heroic and persistent struggle for self-determination, freedom and national indepen- dence; and yet, that people continues to be oppressed and exploited. The situation in Namibia continues to deteriorate rapidly. The peoples of the front- line States have not yet been able to enjoy the neces- sary stability to build a new life. The other African countries are subjected to intimidation and threats of aggression from the colonialists and imperialists. Peace and security in southern Africa in pa. ticular and in the world in general are seriously endangered. In view of such a situation, as was repeatedly stated by the authentic representative of the people of Na- mibia here the day before yeaterday, the people of Namibia, under the leadership of SWAPO, have no other alternative but to fight on all fronts, political, diplomatic and military, against the oppression, exploitation and illegal occupation of their country by the South African racist regime, supported by the forces of international imperialism and reaction. 40. We have great admiration for that nation which, for decades, has waged a valiant struggle and will admit of no defeat; it has taken up arms to fight the colonialist army of the racist regime of Pretoria, which today has 70,000 men and sophisticated weap- ons from the countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO]. Although struggling under extremely difficult conditions, the fighters and people of Namibia, under the leadership of SWAPO and with the active support of the African peoples, particularly the front-line States, and with the active sympathy of the socialist countries and all countries which love peace and national independence, have gradually built up their strength and won victory after victory of in- creasing importance. The heroic people of Namibia and SWAPO deserve the assistance and support in many forms of the international community. The present situation in Namibia calls for greater inter- national solidarity, greater political, moral and mate- rial aid, not only for the people of Namibia and SWAPO, but also for the peoples and Governments of the front-line States, as the representative of SWAPO requested at the 103rd meeting. 41. We solemnly reaffirm that the genuine indepen- dence of Namibia can come about only with the direct and full participation of SWAPO, the sole authentic representative of the Namibian people, in all efforts made to implement United Nations resolutions on Namibia and that the only parties to the conflict are, on one hand, South Africa, which illegally occupies the Territory and commits aggression against its peo- ple, and, on the other hand, the Namibian people under the leadership of SWAPO, supported by the United Nations, which is directly responsible for the Territory until its independence. All attempts by the 42. On the basis of a policy of militant solidarity with national liberation movements, the people and Gov- ernment of the Socialist Republic of Viet.Nam have always had, and continue to have, profound admira- tion for the Namibian people and for SWAPO, their sole authentic representative, and to offer complete and unfailing support for their just cause. We are convinced that, by means of their persistent and valiant struggle and with the sympathy and support of all peace-loving peoples of the world, the Namibian people will certainly win ultimate victory. We vigor- ously condemn the racist Administration of Pretoria, which persists stubbornly in its illegal occupation of Namibia. We demand that it withdraw from Namibia completely, immediately set free the Namibian pris- oners and implement the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly con- cerning Namibia. We reaffirm our unreserved support for the right of the Namibian people to self-determi- nation, freedom and national independence in a re- unified Namibia, including Walvis Bay, the Penguin Islands and the other offshore islands, in accordance with resolution 1514 (XV) and subsequent General Assembly resolutions on the question of Namibia. 43. We join with other speakers who have preceded us here to call upon certain Western countries-some among them permanent members of the Security Council-to cease all aid to, co-operation with or protection of the racist regime of Pretoria. That is a conditio sine qua non for the success of any ne- gotiated solution to the question of Namibia. 44. Viet Nam firmly supports the recommendation made by the Special Committee on decolonization at its 1181st meeting on 21 August 1980, and that of the United Nations Council for Namibia, by the terms of which the Security Council should have an emergency meeting to consider the imposition of comprehensive, binding sanctions 'against South Africa pursuant to Chapter VII of the Charter in order to ensure the prompt implementation by the Pretoria regime of the Security Council's decisions. 45. We should like to express our great appreciation for the sustained efforts of the United Nations Coun- cil for Namibia, presided over by Mr. Lusaka of Zambia, to make an active contribution to the inde- pendence struggle of the Namibian people.

Mr. President, on behalf of the Ethiopian delegation, I should like at the outset to congratulate you on the very able manner in which you have been discharging the heavy responsibilities of the office of President of the General Assembly. I believe that your positive role in the continuing attempts to launch the global negotiations at an early date deserves special mention here. 47. A well-deserved commendation also goes to the United Nations Council for Namibia and to its Presi- dent for the invaluable contribution they have so far made in effectively mobilizing world public opinion in support of the just liberation struggle of the Nami- bian people. At this juncture, I should like to reaffirm 52. It can safely be said that the five Western coun- 57. In spite of the fact our delegation was not among tries have indeed betrayed the rust of the interna- those who were optimistic, because we are fully tional community. If those five countries have any aware of the nature of the racist South African regime regard for the trust bestowed upon them by the world and its manoeuvres. we were nevertheless disap- community, as we 'sincerely hope they have, then pointed to learn of the failure of the Geneva meeting. there is still time for them to redeem that trust. They We did not believe, however. that the independence 58. We felt frustrated, however, because the meeting has constituted a unique opportunity for South Africa to declare its acceptance of the will of the interna- tional community and its withdrawal from Namibia, thus sparing further bloodshed as the price of the freedom of the Namibian people. However, the Geneva meeting has certainly confirmed the fact that the racist South Africa regime continues completely to disregard the relevant United Nations resolutions. That was recognized in the Secretary-General's report submitted to the Security Council, in which he declared that the collapse of the meeting was due to the fact that "the South African Government was not yet prepared to sign a cease-fire agreement and proceed with the implementation of resolution 435 (1978)." [S/14333, para. 19.] 59. Although the majority of the States Members of the United Nations have for several years been aware of South Africa's intentions and of that regime's pro- crastination in order to perpetuate its presence in Namibia and its attempt to impose a puppet regime on the people of that country, certain Western coun- tries still do not wish to admit this fact and continue to oppose any measure that the Security Council has sought to take against the South African regime. 60. We hope that the Geneva meeting has provided those countries with the opportunity to take an honest stand and support the measures to be adopted by the international community in order to compel South Africa to comply with United Nations resolutions, thus enabling the people of Namibia to exercise its right to self-determination and independence. 61. More than 20 years ago the General Assembly stated in the Declaration on the Granting of Indepen- dence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, contained in resolution 1514 (XV), that "the subjection of peo- ples to alien subjugation" was "contrary to the Char- ter of the United Nations". In that resolution the Assembly declared: "Immediate steps shall be taken, in Trust and Non-Self-Governing Territories or all other terri- tories which have not yet attained independence, to transfer all powers to the peoples of those terri- tories, without any conditions or reservations, in accordance with their freely expressed will and desire, without any distinction as to race, creed or colour, in order to enable them to enjoy complete independence and freedom." 62. In spite of that commitment and regardless of the efforts exerted by the United Nations to imple- ment that resolution, there are still a number of peo- ples subjected to foreign rule and various kinds of persecution and oppression and even denied the right to be treated in the same way as the rest of mankind. Clear examples of that can be found in Namibia, South Africa and Palestine. 64. The situation in that area constitutes a grave threat to international peace and security. In spite of the long period that has elapsed since the adoption of Security Council resolution 418 (1977), which imposed an arms embargo on South Africa, that embargo has not been respected. As is stated in the report of the Special Committee against Apartheid, South Africa has been able to receive enormous quantities of armaments and other equipment. In collusion with Western countries and transnational corporations, South Africa has been able to develop its armaments industry and its military capability. Recently it has intensified its armed raids against neighbouring Afri- can States, the latest example of which was the offen- sive carried out by South African armed forces against the capital of Mozambique, during which they killed a number of innocent Namibian refugees. 65. The United Nations has a special responsibility, as the racist regime is increasing its interference in southern Africa by escalating its military presence in Namibia, by recruiting and training certain Nami- bians to take part in tribal armies and by illegally using Namibia as a base for its offensice against the inde- pendent African States. The delegation of my country believes that all this would not have been possible without the collusion of Western countries, led by the United States Government, and the support they continue to give the South African regime in various fields, including the nuclear field. 66. There is in the Organization a group of States that maintain a close relationship with South Africa, and they carry on their economic and trade relations with that regime either directly of through transnational corporations. Thus they impede the implementation of international sanctions against that regime. The Security Council's failure to adopt effective measures against South Africa is due to the opposition of cer- tain Western States permanent members of the Secu- rity Council and their unqualified support of the racist regime. Their ultimate aim is to continue their plunder of the resources of Namibia. 67. In this connexion it should be noted that despite the various resolutions adopted by the United Na- tions, particularly Security Council resolutions 283 (1970) and 301 (1971), and Decree No. 1 for the Pro- tection of the Natural Resources of Namibia, the riches of that Territory are still being plundered. The report of the United Nations Council for Namibia indicates that British, French, West German, Cana- dian and American corporations are participating in the exploitation of Namibian uranium, with the knowl- edge of the Governments of those countries. The report indicates that several Western countries are still importing Namibian uranium, which is illegally exported by the South African Government. 70. More than once the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya has expressed its unqualified support for the Namibian people in its just struggle for independence and self- determination. We wish once again to voice from this rostrum our continued moral and material support for SWAPO, the sole legitimate representative of the Namibian people, which is leading the people in its heroic armed struggle for freedom and independence. 71. I also wish to confirm that my country considers the United Nations Council for Namibia as the legal Administering Authority for the Territory until it achieves independence. 72. Our delegation wishes to express its sincere appreciation of the efforts exerted by the United Na- tions Council for Namibia, led by Mr. Paul Lusaka of Z~ .nbia. We would also like to express apprecia- tion to the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and to the Special Committee against Apartheid for all the efforts they have exerted to enable the Namibian people to achieve independence. 73. I wish to affirm that, regardless of any suppres- sion, persecution or ruthless measures carried out by the racist South African regime in Namibia, that regime will not be able to halt the struggle of the Na- mibian people for freedom and independence. There is no doubt that the end of colonialism in Namibia is at hand.

Quite recently, the world community marked the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the historic Declaration on the Granting of Indepen- dence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. The 20 years that have gone by since then have been marked by major victories for those peoples who have fought for their freedom and independence and by the collapse of the world colonial system. 75. The fall of the colonial system is a natural part of the world historical process of mankind and a result of the widely developed national liberation movement of the peoples and the tremendous efforts of progres- sive forces both inside and outside the United Nations. 78. In flagrant disregard of the numerous decisions of the Security Council and other organs of the United Nations calling for the cessation of the illegal occupa- tion of Namibia, the Pretoria authorities will stop at nothing in their acts against the Namibian people. 79. The terror and violence of the South African racists in Namibia are assuming unprecedented pro- portions and are becoming unprecedentedly cruel. As was recently stated by the Minister of Justice of South Africa, Mr. Coetsee, in 1980 alone 170 death sen- tences were carried out. The overwhelming majority of those executed were political prisoners. In order to maintain the shameful system of apartheid at home and to preserve its occupation regime in Namibia, South Africa has been constantly building up and improving its armed forces. The military appropria- tions of the regime for the 1980-1981 fiscal year amounted to 2.3 billion rands, which constitutes 18 per cent of the total South African budget. 80. The number of military personnel in 1979 al- ready exceeded 340,000, and the number of South African troops in Namibia in 1979 amounted to more than 75,000, and it is continuing to grow. 81. The rate and scale of the militarization of South Africa, the co-ordination and mobilization of all branches and sectors of the country's economy in this area demonstrate the aggressive intentions of the South African racists. 82. Repeated acts of aggression committed by South Africa against Angola, Mozambique, Zambia, Zim- babwe and Botswana have caused numerous casual- ties and done tremendous economic damage in those countries. 83. In an article on Namibia published in Time magazine of 2 March of this year, it was reported that the South African racists have asserted that in the last two years tl.ey have killed 3,343 SWAPO fighters, while they themselves lost only 72 soldiers. If we take into account the fact that, as is reported in Time magazine, it is very difficult for South African soldiers to distinguish SWAPO partisans from local inhabi- tants, then we get a terrifying picture of the tragic plight of the peaceful, defenceless inhabitants of Na- mibia. 84. If we add to this the fact that the racists have undertaken intensive nuclear weapons development, we realize what a serious threat they are posing to peace and security, not only on the African continent, but throughout the world. 85. The reasons for the refusal by the Pretoria re- gime to comply with the resolutions of the United Nations on Namibia and the increasing outrages they are committing in the Territory they occupy are clear United Nations to achieve meaningful progress during the negotiations aimed at fixing a date for the cease- fire and the start of the implementation of Security Council resolution 435 (1978). In this connexion, my delegation wishes to pay a tribute to SWAPO for the statesmanship it displayed during the talks, as well as to the front-line States and Nigeria for the con- structive role they played as observers. 105. As a member of the Security Council my dele- gation had the opportunity to express its grave concern over the deplorable outcome of the pre- implementation meeting, when the Security Council considered the latest report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolutions 435 (1978) and 439 (1978) concerning Namibia [5/14333]. 106. Today, my delegation wishes not only to reiter- ate its grave concern over the fate of the United Na- tions plan for the independence of Namibia as a result of the intransigence and apparent lack of sincerity of South Africa, but also to urge immediate concerted action on the part of the United Nations to bring the machinery at its disposal to bear in order to end the illegal occupation by South Africa of Namibia, which is the direct responsibilit, of the United Nations in accordance with General Assembly resolution 2145 (XXI) of 27 October 1966. 107. The will of the international community should not be frustrated by the unfortunate intentions and designs of an illegal minority racist and colonialist regime whose apparent desire is to legitimize its bantustanization policy in Namibia. 108. The position of the Philippines in respect of the question of Namibia remains firm and consistent.. It was enunciated by Mr. Carlos P. Romulo, the Mm- ister for the Foreign Affairs of the Philippines on 21 October 1977.4 The Philippines resolutely supports the right of the people of Namibia to self-determina- tion freedom and national independence in a united Nadtibia, including Walvis Bay, the Penguin Islands and other off-shore islands, in accordance with the Charter, the Declaration on the Granting of Indepen- dence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and General Assembly resolution 2145 (XXI). We also support the legitimacy of their struggle, which should be crowned by elections freely held under United ~a­ tions control and supervision. Moreover, the Philip- pines supports SWAPO as the s?l~ and authe.ntic representative of the people of Namibia, as recognized 4 See Offidal Records of the General Assemblv, Thlrtv-sccond Session, Plenury M/'/'Iil/~.I'. 41 st meeting. 110. Over the past years, the United Nations Coun- cil for Namibia has held several extraordinary ses- sions to assess the critical situation obtaining in Na- mibia as a result of the continued illegal occupation of the Territory by the apartheid South African re- gime. In 1978, the Council met at Lusaka and adopted the Lusaka Declaration." Last year, it met at Algiers and adopted, on I June 1980, the Algiers Declaration and Programme of Action [A/35/24 , vol. J, para. 91]. Ill. The Algiers Declaration and Programme of Action put in full perspective the necessary elements that should ensure the effective discharge by the United Nations of its direct and special responsibility towards Namibia until genuine independence is achieved in the Territory. Coming in the wake of the independence of Zimbabwe, the meetings at Algiers of the United Nations Council for Namibia were also significant in that they once again unmasked the designs of the illegal South African regime to install a puppet regime in Namibia to the exclusion of SWAPO, the sole, authentic representative of the Narnibian people. My delegation thus lends its full support to the thrust of and the goals embodied in these historic documents. 112. My delegation associates itself with the rec- ommendations contained in the report of the United Nations Council for Namibia [A/35/24 and Corr.l and 2, \'01. ll] and the decision of the Special Com- mittee on the Situation with regard to the Implemen- tation of the Declaration on the Granting of Indepen- dence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, contained in its report [A/35/23/Rel'.I, chap. VllJ, para. 13]. 113. Until Namibia is brought to genuine indepen- dence and majority rule based on the exercise of the right of the Namibian people to self-determination, my delegation supports the activities and programme of work of the United Nations Council for Namibia. The General Assembly must reaffirm its mandate as the sole, legal Administering Authority for the Terri- tory until the advent of independence. 114. The troubled situation in Namibia has been exacerbated by strong indications that South Africa has been developing a nuclear weapons capability, using the Kalahari desert for its nuclear tests, in con- travention of Namibia's territorial integrity and posing a serious threat to international peace and security. It has created tribal armies in Namibia and also used mercenaries and made military incursions into the neighbouring States-in particular, Angola and Zambia-and violated their sovereignty and terri- torial integrity. The existence of South African mili- tary installations at Walvis Bay, an integral part of ~ lbid., Ninth Special Session, Supplement So. I. para. 31. 117. The Philippines has continued to extend both moral and financial assistance to the Namibian people in its struggle, in the context of the Nationhood Pro- gramme for Namibia, the United Nations Institute for Namibia, at Lusaka, the United Nations Fund for Namibia and the Support and Solidarity Fund for Southern Africa, established by the non-aligned movement. My delegation urges Governments of Member States, intergovernmental organizations and specialized agencies and non-governmental organi- zations to give all possible assistance to the Nation- hood Programme for Namibia and to be more generous with their aid, especially if they have not yet con- tributed to the United Nations Fund for Namibia. 118. In the face of South Africa's blatant refusal to abide by the relevant United Nations resolutions, it is abundantly clear that we must meet this challenge now and take the necessary concerted international action to put an end to that illegal racist regime's dila- tory schemes. South Africa's persistent defiance of the United Nations, its repression and subjugation of the people of Namibia, its repeated acts of aggres- sion launched from bases in Namibia against inde- pendent African countries, its colonialist expansion and its policy of apartheid constitute a serious threat to international peace and security. 119. The situation calls for the imposition of com- prehensive mandatory economic sanctions against South Africa in order to compel it to comply with the resolutions and decisions of the United Nations con- cerning Namibia. 120. The United Nations cannot abdicate its direct responsibility towards Namibia. It is high time that we acted effectively and resolutely in the efforts to bring Namibia to independence, if we are to remain faithful to the purposes and principles of the Orga- nization. 12I. Mr. KOH (Singapore): The facts concerning the question of Namibia are clear and not subject to controversy. The General Assembly terminated the Mandate of South Africa over Namibia and demanded the complete and unconditional withdrawal of South Africa from that Territory. South Africa has refused 123. The question is, what can SWAPO, what can the five Western members of the contact group, what can the African front-line States and what can the rest of us do in order to liberate Namibia from the illegal embrace of South Africa. In the face of South Africa's intransigence, SWAPO has no alternative but to continue with its struggle to free Namibia. The African front-line States and Nigeria, which have acted with great prudence and statesmanship, must continue to give SWAPO and the OAU sound guid- ance and wise advice on' how best to continue the political and diplomatic struggle to free Namibia. ram confident that the front-line States and Nigeria will avoid falling into the traps which South Africa has laid for us. The South Africans are looking for excuses for not implementing the United Nations plan. South Africa has unjustly accused the Unite d Nations of partiality. The African States must act with great prudence and wisdom in order not to give any credibi- lity to such accusations. 124. Finally, I believe that the five Western Mem- bers of the contact group, whose initiative and ideas have led to the evolution and adoption by the Security Council of the United Nations plan for Namibia, have the responsibility and the capacity to persuade South Africa to alter its course before more blood is shed, before more property is destroyed and before the path of peaceful change is blocked forever. If persua- sion fails, the Western countries, especially the three 129. That plan, the aim of which is independence for Namibia, to be achieved through an electoral pro- cess monitored and supervised by the United Nations, not only would make possible a peaceful, civilized and proper solution but would also put an end to the suffering and sacrifices of the Namibian people and contribute to ensuring peace in the region, a peace destroyed by South African military acts of aggres- sion against neighbouring States. 130. The initiatives of the United Nations to fulfil its obligations towards the Territory and people of Namibia and the efforts made by the Secretary- General have at all times been met by various dilatory manceuvres by the South African Fascists, which represent a rebuff to the good faith of the international community. 131. On the pretext of negotiations, and encouraged by their Western partners, they have cunningly ma- nceuvred to set up a puppet regime to divide the peo- ple by organizing tribal military forces and setting up compulsory military service for those between 16 and 25 years of age. They have also tried by every means to divide, undermine and militarily annihilate SWAPO, the sole and legitimate representative of the people of Namibia and the vanguard of the libera- tion struggle, advocating a fraudulent "internal solu- tion" founded on pathetic quislings grouped in puppet parties manipulated from Pretoria. 132. It is only too well known, furthermore, that South Africa shamelessly and deliberately provoked the failure of the Geneva meeting held last January, the only aim of which was to establish a date for a cease-fire and for setting up UNTAG in the field, in accordance with Security Council resolution 435 (1978). 134. We cannot fool ourselves about those who encourage the arrogant terrorist policy of the Pretoria regime. Although in years gone by the economic, po- litical and military support of the Western Powers for South Africa has been obvious-and those Powers include those who supposedly were promoting the implementation of Security Council resolutions-in recent months Herr Botha's Fascists received fresh encouragement and impetus from the reactionary policy of the new American Administration. What other meaning can the meeting in Europe of Herr Botha and Herr Kissinger have unless it is the re- establishment of the old links of camaraderie that unite imperialism with its racist emulators? We must not forget the sinister role played by these personages in the invasion of Angola in 1975, or the fact that the ideologists of the so-called new right in America un- reservedly, proclaim their interventionist ideals urbi et orbi. 135. It is impossible to imagine that from the alliance between the South African racists and those who dub "terrorists" the peoples struggling for their libera- tion-whether in Namibia, in Palestine or in El Sal- vador-anything other could emerge than the most abject plotting to foil SWAPO's victory, to prevent the Namibian people from exercising their inalienable rights, to attempt to suffocate, one way or another, the revolutions of Angola and Mozambique, and sub- jugate the other front-line countries which so gallantly support their brothers in SWAPO and the cause of liberation for Africa. 136. This year marks 21 years since SWAPO began its heroic struggle for the national liberation of Na- mibia against the occupying forces, without the latter being able to defeat that movement by military might or, much less, to separate it from its popular base. And this is precisely because for many years SWAPO has been the sole patriotic force of liberation which has promoted and given impetus to the revolutionary fight in unequal combat and through great sacrifice and has thus earned the right to be acknowledged as the sole and authentic representative of the people of Namibia. 137. The reports on the hearings on Namibian ura- nium [A/35/24. 1'01. 11/] and those made by petitioners to the Fourth Committee in 1980 have once and for all unmasked those interests which overtly or cov- ertly promote the maintenance of the status quo in Namibia. 138. The work done by SWAPO in these 20 years or so of revolutionary struggle and 15 of sincere di- plomatic endeavours obliges the international com- munity, with all moral authority and right, to request that the Security Council meet urgently to impose the sanctions provided for in Chapter VII of the Charter against the illegal racist regime of South Africa and to put an end to its occupation of the Territory of Namibia. support the opprobrious system of apartheid. In par- ticular, we warmly welcome the convening this year of an international conference on sanctions against the Fascist regime of Pretoria. 146. But regardless of the predictions made by the seers of anti-history, there is no doubt that we are in a qualitatively new stage in the efforts to eradicate colonialism and racism in South Africa. Zimbabwe's achievement of independence after an arduous strug- gle for its national liberation, and its entry into the United Nations, could not be more encouraging. 147. Cuba condemns the colonialist and racist re- gime of Pretoria for its constant acts of aggression against the front-line States and, in particular, for the recent attacks on Mozambique and Angola. 148. The international community must put an end to the illegal occupation of the Territory of Namibia by the South African Fascists, call for strict obser- vance of the oil boycott and the arms embargo against South Africa and denounce the collaboration with that regime of some Western Powers in the area of nuclear energy, which could-if it has not already done so-enable the apartheid regime to produce nuclear weapons. 149. A few months ago, we celebrated the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. The Assembly approved a plan of action to put an end to colonialism in the near future. Without any doubt, the question of independence for Namibia is at the head of the agenda of decolonization, and we must devote our untiring efforts to that task. At the same time we must make every endeavour to settle the debt of the United Nations towards the black peo- ple of South Africa, to help finally to ,.';~,;,troy the ignominious system of apartheid and the brutal-and in fact colonial-s-oppression exercised by the racist minority of Pretoria against the true people of South Africa. 150. My delegation wishes to avail itself of this opportunity to pay a tribute to the Secretary-General and to the President of the United Nations Council for Namibia, as well as to the Chairman of the Panel for hearings on Namibian uranium, for the enormous efforts made to pron ote the independence of Namibia. 151. Finally, I should like to reaffirm the firm sup- port and solidarity offered by the people and Govern- ment of Cuba to the Namibian people, their liberation movement, SWAPO, and its leader, Sam Nujoma, and to assure them that in our people and its revolu- tionary leadership they will always find firm and re- soli . companions in arms. 152. Mr. OUMAROU (Niger) ".nterpretation from French): Mr. President, when on 17 December last [99th meeting] you suspended the thirty-fifth session and left, inter alia, agen-": item 27 "to mature" pending the Geneva meetii which was at that time being prepared, there were r.iany of us, here and else- where, who wondered whether South Africa had finally really decided to settle this question of Nami- 154. We need only to recall all the obstacles-the very numerous obstacles-which South Africa, in an obstructionist tactic as highly developed as it is per- nicious, regularly threw up to foil all the attempts at a settlement that have thus far been made to make the independence of Namibia a reality. 155. Thus we were in no way surprised at the re- sults-or rather the single result-of the Geneva meeting, which was quite simply a failure: a pre- meditated failure, wished for and planned by South Africa alone, a failure all the more agreeable to South Africa since it was a brutal setback to the whole process of the United Nations plan and has postponed independence for Namibia to an even later date. Thus the exploitation of that Territory's natural resources can be prolonged by that same South Africa which has become so greedy, the more so since it knows full well that it is acting with the most contemptible ille- gality and with the unanimous reprobation of the world's nations. 156. But the failure of the Geneva meeting is above all a harsh .nub to the advocate of a dialogue with Pretoria, particularly to the United Nations and to the five Western countries of the contact group, which had invested so much vigour, moderation and hope in that initiative, and which found, once again, that in dealing with the congenital lawlessness and the arrogance of such a country as South Africa, mere efforts at persuasion are not enough. The such efforts must also be added inflexible firmness and a good dose of coercion. And now, not content with defying the international community, not content with thwarting its own partners, not content with continuing in its policy of shilly-shallying, of sham and of rejection of any constructive dialogue, South Africa even assumes the right to make all kinds of accusations against the Organization and against the Secretary-General, who, shockingly, is subjected to loud admonitions, even insulting calls to conform to certain rules of international conduct with South Africa should be the last to attempt to require of others. Its attitude was already intolerable even before that. 157. In other words, while South Africa consoli- dates an refines its policy of "resistance to the end", we of the United Nations have the tendency to give the false impression that we can only follow, protest and bear it. It is always the Pretoria racists who retain the initiative in Namibia. It" "hey who make and un- make events there, who plan the time frames, who set up and maintain puppets there with impunity. The way things are going, what real surprise would it be to the world were South Africa, overstepping the mark and in obedience to an unlucky law of series, quite simply to proclaim rebel independence in Na- mibia?