A/39/PV.80 General Assembly

The question of Namibia has ranked for many years among the crucial items on the agenda ofthe General Assembly, not only as the most flagrant example of persisting colonialism, but also as a source ofa serious threat to peace and security in southern Africa that has a negative impact on the overall international situa- tion. 2. The General Assembly is considering this ques- tion, at its thirty-ninth session, a full century after the infamous Berlin Conference. The past 100 years have been for Namibia a period of colonial subjugation and imperialist exploitation, but at the same time also a period of heroic struggle by the Namibians against the colonialists and occupiers for self-deter- mination and the free development oftheir' home- land. This endeavour has rightly received the support of the United Nations and of the entire prQlm~ssive­ minded international public. There is no doubt that it will be crowned by recognition of the rights and fulfilment of the deSires and aims of the Namibian people, in accordance with the Charter ofthe United Nations and international law, the ideal of decoloni- zation and the moral postulates of our time. 3. Yet, so far, the justified demands of the Namib- ian people have been encountering opposition on the part of the inheritors of the ideas of those who 100 years ago carried out the colonial division of Africa. The imperialist successors to the participants in the Berlin Conference ignore the legitimate rights and aspirations of the Namibians. The Pretoria regime has been usin~ every possible means to prolong its illegal occupation ofNamibian territory, ignoring the inalienable right of the Namibian people to self- determination and preventing Namibia's accession to independence, thus totally disregarding the decisions adopted by the United Nations to that end. It has NEW YORK been desperately striving to carry out a neo-colonial- ist solution by means of a so-called internal settle- ment, transferring to Namibia at the same time the inhuman practices of apartheid and, through attacks from Namibian territory, maintaining and escalating tensions in the south of the African continent. 4. The aim of the colonial policy of South Africa towards Namibia is to prolong and perpetuate the plundering ofthe rich Namibian mineral and natural resources, and the exploitation of the work and skills of the Namibians by South African and Western monopolies, primarily transnational corporations. A number of documents of the United Nations and other sources clearly show that the colonial enslave- ment of Namibia brings immense profits to South African, United States and other transnational corpo- rations. Another purpose of the continued occupa- tion of Namibia is to maintain there a spring-board for launching acts of aggression and subversion against revolutionary African States and exerting military influence on developments in the whole region in the interest of world imperialism. These aims are achieved primarily through the militariza- tion of Namibia. Pretoria, as is well known, deploys on Namibian territory more than 100,000 soldiers and mercenaries. There is one soldier of the occupy- ing forces for every 12 Namibian nationals. More- over, the occupation authorities have ordered forced conscription of Namibians for the repression· and murder of their brothers. All this creates the prereq- uisite conditions for the consistent oppression of the Namibians by military means, as well as th,ough the police and the judicial system, and is documented by reports on the murder, imprisonment and deporta- tion of those who struggle for the rights of the Namibian people. 5. In addition to its repressive policies inside Namibia. Pretoria has been Duttine obstacles in the way of efforts by the international coremunity to solve the Namibian question and blocking imple- mentation of the relevant decisions of the United Nations. In the interest of United States strategy in southern Africa, it has made the totally unjustifiable demand that Namibia's independence be linked to the departure of Cuban internationalist troops from Angola. 6. The efforts of Pretoria to continue its illegal occupation of Namibia as long as possible and to impose neo-colonial models on that country's further development are not isolated. They cannot be viewed separately from the support and co-operation provid- ed to Pretoria by a number of Western States, primarily the United States and Israel, which are essential conditions for the Pretoria regime to main- tain its unlawful positions. That support and co- operation are motivated by the political, economic and global strategic interests of those States. In co~tlm~.o':ls growth of the ~llhtary pot~n~lal ,?f ~he frustration in reference to the Namibian question. It racIst reg!~e. They have assIsted Pret~rla m b~l1dm.g is undeniable that conversations relating to the up ~ mdltary a!l4 nuclear potentlal, makmg It relaxation of tensions in southern Africa caJ.l serye po~slble for ~hat regll~e to J?rodu~e nucle~rweapons, the pUJYose of,paving the way to free ~lectlon~ m whIch are dl~ected prlmaruy agams~ African ~t~tes. NamibIa. That IS why we have followed WIth partlcu- They hay~ gIven South Africa all km~~ of ml1l~ary lar interest the talks between South Africa and some an~ .pohtlcal support. The recent VISIt by Prime ofthe front-line States-in particular Angola-.which ~mlster Botha to severa! Westt:rn European .coun- we believe could play an important role m the trIes and the repeate4actIon agamst the adoptlon of establishment of adequate conditions for the imple- measur~s as set fort~ m Chapter VII ofthe Ch'!rter to mentation of the United Nations plan for the inde- ensure ~mpleme!1tatlOnof ~he r~levant ~esolutlonsof pendence of Namibia. Brazil holds that the outcome the Umted Natlons co~stltute.dlustra~lons of these of those ne~otiations cannot be improperly used by facts. T!te Power.that VIolates l!1ternatlOnal la~ an~ Pretoria to Justify further delays in the implementa- JeopardIzes security and I?eace m s~u~hern AfrIca ~s tion of Security Council resolution 435 (1978). thus backed by forces whIch are strlvmg to destabl- h fi It':· th d f: 'th Iize the world situation, escalatin~ the arms race and, ~ 2. T, e. ma test 10~ assesslJ.lg e goo 8:1 through their conduct increasmg the danger of mvolvt:d; ~n r~cent meetmgs relatmg ~o the cessatIon nuclear conflict " of hos~dltles.m southern AfrIca certamly depends on . Pretoria, whIch, however, has constantly refused to 7. No just and lasting solution of the Namibian comply with the relevant United Nations resolutions. que~tion and of ~he wh,?le situati~n in ~outhern 13. During the general debate this year, we hear~ Africa can be achIeved WIthout the ImmedIate and numerous statements in favour of Security Councd unconditional exercise by the Namibian people of resolution 435 (1978) and renewed expressions of th.eir. rig!tt to self-determination an~ !he consistent support for the Namibian people and their legitimate el.m~matlon of ~II repmants of.colomahsm, neo-colo- representative, SWAPO. It is indeed import~n.t t.o m~hsm and racIsm m that .reglon. The blame for the keep in mind that the independence ,?f ~amlbla IS fadu~e. of the ~ong-stand~ng efforts ~o solve ~he still one of the unattained common objectIves of the Namlblan questlon undemably rests WIth the pohCY United Nations and that therefore, any further of the ~outh African Government and the support postponement of final mea~' "r~ to implement self- an4 assIstance granted to. that p,?vernmen~ by the determination in the Terr; rould be unaccept- Umted States and other Imperlahst countries. able. 8. The way to terminate the sufferings of the 14. You, Mr. President, stated, in your ad;dress on Namibian people and assure their freedom and 18 September, that "the agony and tra~ad of t~e independence is delineated quite precisely in the Namibian people continue" and ~hat: "It IS essentIal decisions of the United Nations and primarily in that we co-operate in redoubhng ou~ effort~ to Security Councii resoiutiofis 385 (1976), 435 (1978) expedite the implementation of the Umted N.~t~ons and 539 (1983). It is imperative to put those deci- plan with a view to enabling the people of1'Jamlbla to sions into practice without delay and to strengthen enjoy the freedom and independence whIch t~e~ so the role of the United Nations in their, implerilenta- much deserve" [1st meeting, para. 74]. Your opml~n, tion. It is necessary to reject now, as before, all Sir, is shared by the Brazilian Government, ~h!ch attempts to link the decolonization of Namibia to desires to maintain its support for the Namlbl:an any irrelevant questions or other demands. Sanctions people and their representatives. under Chapter VII of the Charter must be applied so 15 In this context, let me just mention the seminar as to compel the Pretoria regime to meet the fo; leaders of SWAPO, organized by the United legitimate requirements of the Namibian people, the Nations Council for Namibia and the United Na- United Nations and the international community. tions Centre on Transnational Corporations, on the 9. The Czechoslovak Socialist Republic fully sup- Brazilia~ experi~nce in dealing with transnational ports all effective measures to ensure the immediate corp,?ratl~ns, whlc~ our country had/the honour to and unconditional termination of the illegal occupa- l!ost m R~o de JaneIro last September. We would ~lso tion of Namibia and the exercise by the Namibian l~ke at thJS stage t<? pay a tr!bute to.those orgamza- people of their right to self-determination and inde- tl,?ns whi~h were mvolved m meetmgs devoted to pendence on the basis of the maintenance of the thIS questIOn. .. . unity and territorial integrity of Namibia, including 16. On a!1 0lccasiohns tbhe mtdernhatlonalt~Ommfutfth..l~Y Walvis Bay and the offshore islands. We commend has made It c ear tat, eyon t e ques Ion 0 ..elf and welcome the negotiations and conclusions of the inalienable. right tO d in~lelpenldSence h , Atf:h~ N~mlblan United Nations Council for Namibi~, which has P,eople, whIch art: un er 1 ega out fl~an occupa- consistently pursued, under your wise and devoted tlon, are also entItled to moral and material support. --~."._------_,,"'q-""""_e'-.'.~~T""X' Sta~e~. All thIS IS contrary to ~he resolU;tlons. and front-line States and to SWAPO and the African deCISions adopted by the Security CouncIl an.d the National Congress of South Africa amounted to 40 General Assembly. Decree No. 1. f~r ~he Protection of million marks in 1983. We shall continue this the. Natural.Resources ,?f Namibia,. ~ma~ted by t~e assistance as long as it is required. Untted NatIons CouncIl for Namibia In 1974, IS . . systematically bypassed. Unimpressed by the Decree, 34. My cou!ltry views t~e t~enty-fifth ~nntversary and with the connivance ofthe Governments oftheir of the. adoption of the hlstonc D~claratlon ~n the countries' of origin, the transnational corporations Grantmg of Ind~pendenceto Colo~lal Countnes and are intensifying the pillage of Namibia. Peoples [resolutIOn 1514 (Xv)l, which ~e shall com- . memorate next year, as an opportuntty to make 28. How, t~ere~ore, could one b~ as!o~lsh~d at t.he increased efforts, including efforts within the frame- ~omprehenslve ~Id that the Pretona regime IS recelv- work of the United Nations, to see the Namibian mg from the Umted S~ate~, other ':"~stern States and people granted their right to self-determination and Israel? T~e col1ab~ratIon I~ the mlll~ary and }1uclear independence in the near future. The United Nations fields, whlch~ despIte Security Councll resC?lutlon 418 has the strength and the ability to meet its responsi- (1977), contmues to grow, arouses particular con- bility towards Namibia. Feelings of disappointment cern. about the failure ofpast efforts are not helpful, nor is 29. It is in these hostile external conditions that the a pretended or calculated optimism. What is needed front-line States are waging a persistent struggle to is the firm will jointly to do everything which serves strengthen their independence and to estabiish peace the reaiizatiofi of the noble objective-the liberation and security in the region. The German Democratic of Namibia. Rel?ublic supports all measures by the African States 35. Mr. FISCHER (Austria): It is now 18 years des.lgned t~ s~cure the peaceful ~ev~lo~ment .of that since the international community laid upon the reglOn~ their mdependence, territorial mtegrlty and United Nations the responsibility for Namibia's s?verelgnty, and further to st~ength,en the co-opera- future, the unique and very special responsibility for tlon of States and natIOnal hberatlon movements. leading an illegally occupied country to freedom, 30. My country advocates that Namibia should securing a peaceful transfer of power to its people immediately be granted independence in accordance and finally establishing it in its rightful place as a with the relevant United Nations resolutions-in- sovereign and independent State. clu~ing ~ecurity C0'.lncil resolution 435 (197~)-.in 36. Furthermore, six years have passed since the !helf ~ntlrety and With observa}1ce of the territorial Security Council adopted resolution 435 (1978), mtegrlty ?fthe country. Resolutl0!l435 (1978) allows providing for a peaceful transition to/ majority rule in for no "Ifs" or "buts" and no hnkage whatsoever. Namibia through free and fair elections under the 31. It is now imperative that the United Nations- auspicesofthe United Nations. Austria has, from the in particular, the Security Council-fully shoulder its outset, fully supported the United Nations plan for responsibility in accordance with the will of the Namibia, which was endorsed by that resolution. We Member States. Hence, there is a great need for the regard the plan as ·~e most promising way to end Security Council to decide to impose effective sanc- South Africa's illegl:&1 occupation of the territory and tions against South Africa; to take· measures to thus to enable the Namibian people fully to exercise implement resolutions 385 (1976) ~d 435 (1978) 'their right to self-determination and independence ~urabl~lty has to rest o~ the broadest possible base, where the situation continues to be highly unstable. mclpdmg all the parties concerned. The United At stake ue not only the freedom and the future of Nations plan for Namibia meets those requirements. the Namibian people, but also fundamental values 38. Since the adoption ofthe plan, intensive negoti- and principles upon which the Unite.d Nations is ations, with the constructive participation of based. Therefo~e, we call.uP~J? all parties concerned SWAPO, have led to agreement on practically all to shoulder thel.r resp<?nslbIlltles, t~ break the d~ad- modalities of carrying out the implementation of lock, and to beglp the Implementation of the United resolution 435 (1978). But in spite of this the actual Nations plan Without further delay. beginning of the impl~mentation proces~ has been 45. Mr. RAcz (Hungary): The year 1984 marks delayed agam and agam. 100 years of colonial occupation of Namibia. One 39. The reason for this frustrating state of affairs is hundred years a~~, ,the infam~us Berlin Conteren~e well known: it is South Africa's refusal to comply completed the ~Ivlslon of AfrIca among the col~nIal with.the spi~it and letter of the Vni!ed Nations plan Powers of th~ time. Last year, ~onferences, semll~ars and Its persistent attempts to gam time by introduc- and. symposlU~s were o~g~mzed by the Un~ted ing additio!lal c<?nditions. Austr~a has consistently ~atIo~s Cou;ncIl for Namibia and othe~ o~ganIza- opposed thiS polIcy. Extraneous Issues must not be tIons, mcludmg ,non-governmental. orga~ll~atlOns, to used as a pretext to obstruct the carrying out of the dra~ the attentIOn of world pu~lI~ opmlOn to !he United Nations plan herOic struggle waged by the Namlblan people dUrIng 40 W h d'· 'f' the past 100 years against colonial oppression. . e support t e Iscusslon 0 all security-related . . questions of the region between the interested Gov- 46.. The InternatIOnal Non-Governmental Org~n,l- ernments and welcome any equitable security ar- zatlOn Confer~nc~ for the Indepe,ndence of Namibia rangements which could prevent further violence and and the Eradlcatlon of Aparthezd, held at Geneva reduce tensions. In this context we follow with great from 2 to 5 July 1984, declared: interest the ongoing discussion~ between Angola and "In line with the slogan of'One hundred years- South Africa. There can be no doubt, however, that no more', the Conference calls upon all progressive only the actual implementation of the United Na- and peace-loving Governments, organizations and tions plan for Namibia will give a clear indication of individuals to redouble their efforts in support of the commitment of all sides to peaceful change and the Namibian people, led by SWAPO, the sole stability in the region. authentic representative of the Namibian people, 41. It is imperative that South Africa end its in their just struggle for national liberation." delaying tactics and that it permit the speedy imple- 47. A thorough analysis of the situation in Namibia mentation of Security Council resolution 435 (1978). was undertaken by the Symposium on A Celitury of A continued deadlock would increase the impatience Heroi~ ~truggle by the Namibi~n Peol?le against of those who for so long have been deprived of their ColOnIalIsm, organized by the United Nations Coun- right to self-determination and independence and cH for Namibia in New York from 31 October'to 2 would trigger an escalation of violence and November 1984. The Symposium identified four bloodshed. It would result in a further destabilization major obstacles in the path of l\Iamibia's indepen- of the area and would reduce the chances of a dence: first, South Africa's continuing illegal occupa- peaceful settlement. tion of Namibia; secondly, the support South Africa 42. But urgency is called for, not only with regard to rece!ves from cert~in Weste~ a!1d other coun~ri~s, in questions of justice and security, but also with partl~ular the United S~ates, tlllrdly, ~he .partlcplarly respect to economic and social considerations. The ~egatlve r<?le of the UnIte~ Stat~s, ~It~ ItS polIcy of ~ontinuedillegal occupation, together with the unrest n~?~~i~~~t~y:J,:~!a~~"i~~~:t~tI~~~~~~~~~~-~~-~~~ m much of the Territory, constitutes a heav weight :."""&&"U~ .......u6~ v .. 1'IQ1U"~"Q" :uucvcuucm,;c WILU on the economy of Namibia. Only its acc~sion to Irrelevant and extra~eous Issues, ~nd f<;>urthly, ,t~e independence would permit that country to achieve presence. of transnatlOnal c0lJ!0r8:tlOns m Nal~u?~a genuine, unobstructed economic and social develop- and theIr plunder and explOitation of Namibia s ment. In the meantime, the Namibian people must natural and hu~an resources. . be able to rely on the assistance of the international 48. My delegat.lOn shares the views expressed in the community. The activities of the Nationhood Pro- "Appeal for Action" adopted by the Symposium. We gramme for Namibia and of the United Nations also support the plan of action which was unani- ~nstitute for Namibia are, in our view, particularly mously agreed upon by the participants. Important .f~r the future development of an ~ndepen- 49. One of the most urgent tasks is the assumption d~nt Na~l1bla. Both programmes ~ave received and by the United Nations of full responsibility over wIll c~ntmue to receive the finanCial support of the Namibia. The United Nations Council for Namibia AustrIan Government. is the legal Administering Authority of the Territory 43. We must not overlook the regional implications an~ should ~arry ou;t all tasks d~l~gat~d to it by the of the question of Namibia. The South African UnIte~ Nations, Wlt~ the partl~lpatlon of all the occupation of that Territory is a permanent source of countrIes concerned m the solutIOn of the problem tension and. instability for the entire region of and of SWAPO. s~uthern AfrIca. On the other hand, the implementa- 50. The preparation of the people of Namibia for tlon of the Unite~ ~atio~s plan for Namibia and the independence is a major task. The Council has been acce~slOn of Nami~l.a to md.ependence would grea~ly playmg a very imp~rtant role in this important alleViate the prevaIlmg tension and help to establIsh process and has achieved considerable results. playe~ .a modest role in the advancement of.the 87. All of us here are committed to guaranteeing Nal~l1blan cause from the d!i~ .that the Um~ed and respecting human rights in order to serve man's Natlo~sassumed dlfec~ r~sponslbdlty.forthe T~rn!o- aspirations and to help him recover his freedom and rye It IS our fir:m co,nvlct~on that the m~erent Justl~e dignity. The United Nations bears special responsi- of .the Nal~llblan hberatlon str.uggle wIll ensure ItS bility by virtue of its international and legal charac- ultimate trIumph. We are convmced that the day of ter Namibian independence is nearer than ever. 88' M G t d th . t l'c of .. . . y overnmen con emns e racls po I y 81. Mr. ~L-SABBAGH (Bahram) (mterpret~tlOn South Africa, its persistence in occupying the territo- from ArabiC): On behalf of the State of Bahram, I ry of Namibia and its continued refusal to comply ha,:e the plC?asure to co,nvey our 4e~p than~s to th.e with United Nations resolutions, as well as its Umted Natl<?ns COl;lncd for Namlb~a and ItS Presl- obstruction ofall constructive international efforts to dent for thel~ contmuous a~d dedIcated etTorts. I achieve a peaceful solution of this problem and put should also l~ke to pay a tnbute to the Sec.retary- an end t~ the illegal occupation of Namibia. The General for hIs strenuous.efforts to find sol~tlons to sustained United Nations etTorts last year led to the the c?mplex .problems facm$ the Umted NatIOns and unanimous adoption by the Security Council of the mtern.atlOnal c~mmumty, pro~l~,,!s t~at need resolution 532 (1983). This resolution reaffirmed the final and .Just solutlo~s,. among whIch IS, ot course, legal responsibility of the United Nations over the questIon of NamIbIa. Namibia and the primary responsibility of the Secu- 82. We cannot fail to express our cQmplete solidari- rity Council for ensuring the implementation of its ty with the people of Namibia in their just struggle, resolutions. Power has to be transferred to the under the leadership ofSWAPO, to achieve complete Namibian people and to their leaders in SWAPO. national independence and a free and united Namib- The achievement of indf.:pendence for Namibia and il:i. respect for its territorial integrity and national bor- 83. This year, 1984, marks the one-hundredth ders is mandatory, and its independence must not be anniversary ofthe Namibian people's struggle against linked to impossible pre-conditions, such as the colonialism, oppression, injustice, hunger and eco- withdrawal of Cuban forces from Angola. Such nomic backwardness. Almost all peoples in the world linkage would impede implementation of the United rid themselves of enslavement and oppression after Nations plan for the independence of Namibia and an end was put to colonialism in our world, and, as the re-establishment of its sovereignty. distances between regions of the world continue to 89. South Africa continues to plunder the riches of shrink, the interdependence of peoples increases. occupied Namibia and to perpetrate acts of aggres- 84. The struggling people of Namibia aspire to sion against neighbouring African States, creating achieve their independence and to realize their basic turbulence, tension and unstable conditions in those rights after putting an end to racial discrimination. developing countries. The peoples of southern Africa in particular have 90.. We believe that no peace, progress or vvelfare is sutTered and continue to suffer from that abominable 'p'ossible in the countries ofsouthern Africa so long as form of discrimination~which should'have no place the question of Namibia is not solved on a just and reg~l1:,e I~ C0!ltlI~umg ItS ~ttempts to,,~et up puppet 1514 (XV). Elections, in accordance with Security polItI~a! mstltu!l<?ns and Impose an mternal settle- Council resolutions 385 (1976) and 435 (1978), ment m NamIbIa. under the supervision and control of the United 107. !'lthough thos.e effort~ have been c<?ndemned Nations, should take place as soon as possible. and; reJ~cted ~y the mternatlOnal communIty, ~o1;lth 115. Cyprus is fully dedicated to a solution of the Af~lca IS .o~stmately and c,?ntempt!J0usly p~rslstmg problem of Namibia in accordance with those resolu- m Its polICies, com~le~ely dlsregardmg the WIshes of tions and will continue, along with other non-aligned the people of .Namlbl~ and of t~e world. . . countries, to give its moral support to the just cause 108. The UnIted NatIons CouncIl for NamIbIa-of of the Namibian people. whitch Cyprus has the honour to be a member- among its many other activities undertaken to pro- mote the Namibian cause and the realization of the right of the Namibian people to self-determination and independence, organized in New York from 31 October to 2 November of this year the Symposium on A Century of Heroic Struggle by the Namibian People against Colonialism. 109. This long period of struggle should serve as a sober reminder to the international community. The people of Namibia, for a century now, have been fighting colonialism in one form or another and are at present engaged, under the leadership of SWAPO, rrz"n rNtnnt;".n "",,,.0 nt " ~ lj n »'J .A '"ll; "'~~'J'fc5 'VloJ"" .............. - ... r ..·•. NOTES