S/39/PV.82 Security Council

It is now 38 years since the question of Namibia was first placed on the agenda ofthe General Assembly at its first session in 1946. It is 18 years since the General Assembly adopted resolution 2145 (XXI), on 27 October 1966, which terminated South Africa's Mandate over Namibia, proclaimed the continued occupation of that Territo- ry by the racist Government of Pretoria illegal and made the Territory the direct responsibility of the United Nations. 2. Since that date this question has received in- creasing international attention and several interna-, tional conferences have been held on the matter, the most recent being the Conference of Arab Solidarity with the Struggle for Liberation in Southern Africa, which was held in Tunis from 7 to 9 August 1984, under the auspices of the League of Arab States and the United Nations. 3. Several Security Council and General Assembly resolutions and declarations adopted at the conclu- sion of international conferences on the question of Namibia have recognized the total legitimacy of the cause of independence for Namibia and have con- demned the racist regime of Pretoria for its contin- ued occupation of the Territory and its failure to respect the international will. 4. Today we are meeting after yet another year of occupation. The Territory of Namibia is still under the occupation of European conquerors. The Namib- ian people are the victims daily of persecution, torture, expulsions and harassment by the racist forces in their own country, Namibia, and beyond. The entire region has been disrupted by these conquerors. The natural resources of the Territory are being plundered systematically and illegally. On the basis of colonialist ideology, monopolies are NEW YORK systematically and unlawfully plundering the nation- al resources of the Territory. Labour is being exploit- ed and paid ridiculously low wages, as indicated in a working paper [see A/AC.l09/744, para. 10], accord- ing to which the per capita income of the indi~enous black man is 125 rand, which is below subslst~nce level, whereas the per capita income of the white European is 3,000 rand-a ratio of 24 to 1. That proportion is outrageous on the part of those who claim to be defending democracy. 5. Genuine democracy protects the human being against exploitation, protects human rights and curbs monopolies. But the monopolies in South Africa and Namibia expel the true owners of the land of the country and the African workers when they ask for decent wages and for an improvement in their social conditions. 6. In the military sphere, the racist Pretoria Gov- ernment-like the Zionist Government that is occu- pying Palestine-is, with the help of its allies in the industrialized countries, obtaining the most sophisti- cated weapons of mass destruction. Similarly, nucle- ar co-operation between South Africa and the Zionist State, on the one hand, and certain great Powers, on the other, has become very close, despite the embargo imposed long ago on the supply of weapons to South Africa, under Security Council resolution 418 (1977). 7. The question of Namibia is a colonial qpestion and must be examined in that context. To examine it not in that context but in the context of East-West relations is tantamount to changing the ver;'Lnature of the question. It can only increase the /difficulties that are already hampering the establishment of peace and security in southern Africa., 8. Attempts at a so-called internal settlement and the alleged constitutional reforms cannot put an end ~~J~!~i!~~ge~l·.~o~~~?,,:~: ~~!I!e~o~~_~~ft!~~ .......n .....-........ V~ ..n~ • "QanaVIQ'" J.AiVl.ll~ QiJ ~Al.Ia"iJiJ~U repeatedly and in various forums by the South West Africa People's Organization [SWAPO], the only legitimate representative of the Namibian people. Furthermore, the United Nations plan for the libera- tion of Namibia, as endorsed in Security Council resolution 435 (1978), adopted on 29 September 1978, must be put into effect. The Namibian people, through their sole legitimate representative, SWAPO, have announced that they fully approve this resolu- tion as well as other relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council. 9. The Government ofSouth Africa and its Western allies are imposing a further condition on the grant- ing of independence to Namibia-that is, the with- drawal of Cuban forces from Angola. That consti- tutes interference in the domestic affairs of a sovereicn, independent State. We categorically reject any interference in the domestic affairs of any State. aggr~~sio~, political,interv~ntion and economic .d~- 35. My delegation also wishes to commend you, ~tabdlzatlon of nelg~b()urmg States..In. ~am!bla Mr. President, for the admirable and exemplary Itself, 'Ye are, fa~ed with a ~~~ce~s o,f mtImldatIon, manner in which you have guided the activities ofthe reprC?sslon .and mcreased. mlhtanzatlon. The l~test United Nations Council for Namibia as its President. ~a~llfes.tatIon 9f tht: poh~l~s of the. ~outh Afnc.an Let us hope and strive for the liberation of the r~glme IS the recent l~~osltlon of mlhtary conscnp- Namibian people from the yoke of the abhorrent tIon of all male .Namlblans b~tween tht: ages of 17 racist regime during your presidency of the Generai and 55 to serve It! theoccupymg. army, m a danger- Assembly. ous attempt to pIt brothers agamst each other. 36 Bid h' 't' th t' f N . ...' . ang a es s POSI Ion on e ques Ion 0 a- 29. The sacrifices made by the Namlblan pe~J?le mibia is firmly based on our total commitment to and the front-hne' S~ates as ~ resul! ~f these pohcles support for the oppressed peoples around the world ~ave been sta8,8enn~. TheIr reslhence .has. been waging a just struggle against imperialism, colonial- . r~markable. Whtle trymg to overcom«? theIr ddlicul- ism and racism. It is also based on our deep and tIes, the Governments of the front-~me States and abiding faith in the Charter of the United Nations SWAPOha~e demonstrat~d an admlrab!e degr~e of and our unswerving adherence to the historic Decla- statesmanshIp. They ~ontmu~ to bear wI!h patIence ration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial all attempts to deratl the ImplementatIon of the Countries and Peoples and the inalienable ri~ht of all settlement plan. peoples to self-determination, freedom and mdepen- 30. Needless to say, the international community dence. VIe are equally tonvinced that the process of has often deplored the policies of the apartheid decolonization is irreversible and the struggle for regime and the support rendered to it by its allies. freedom and independence inexorable. These policies sh.oul~ ~e rejected rath«?r than tolerat- 37. Our position on the question of Namibia may ed. The apartheid regIme s~<?uld be Isolated rather be summed up on the basis of the following points, than embraced through pohclessuch as that of sO-. .' called constructive engagement. The inter;.1ational 38.. Flr~t, Ban~ad~sh h~s reIterated ItS total and community is called upon to adopt,. and should unflmchmg soh~arlty. wIth. a~d support ~o~ the apply, effective measures to control the situation. people of NamIbIa ~n theIr Just and legItimate Such measures are not beyond its reach. We believe st~ggle, by every avatlnble means, for freed0J'!l and that, with serious pursuit of these measures and with natIonal md~pendence under ~he leadershIp of co-operation among States, the international commu- SWAPO, theIr true and authentIc representative. nity could achieve the desired results, given the 39. Second, we strongly condemn the illegal occu- political will to do so. pation of Namibia by South Africa in defiance of 31. The application of effective control measures is U!lited Na~ions resolut!ons and de~is.io~s and ~ave one way of assisting the Namibian people in their relterat«?d. t,tme and agam. that Na~lllbla IS .the dtr~ct struggle for freedom. Another way lies in extending ~esponslblhty <:>f the. Untted Nations 1;lnttl genume financial and technical assistance to their cause. The mdependence IS achIeved by the Terntory. role played by the United Nations Council for 40. Third, Bangladesh is firmly convinced that the Namibia towards this end has been indispensable. independence of Namibia can and must be achieved We pay tribute to its tireless efforts. Kuwait, for its in accordance with the principles embodied in part, will continue to support these efforts through United Nations resolutions on the question of Na- the United Nations and the Movement of Non- mibia, in particular Security Council resolutions 385 Aligned Countries. (1976) and 435 (1978), which constitute the only 32. We believe that peoples derive strength, in their acceptable basis for. the p~ace~ul tral;1sition of the struggle for freedom and independence, from collec- Terntory from colomal subJugat~0!l to mqependence, tive support and assistance. We hope that our debate ~md has repe~ted!y ~~!l!ed for theIr !!~med.H!te and full will be an asset in that respect. . ImplementatIon WIthout any modIficatIOn whatso- . ever. 33. Mr. WASIUDDIN (Bangladesh): The Ger.,~ral . Assembly is once again considering the question of 41.. Fourth" we ~ h.ave reJe~ted all ~ttempts by the Namibia. Another year has passed, but we find racls~ ~ret,?na regIme to hn~ the mdependenc~ ~f ourselves in no way nearer the dawn of Namibian NamIbia WIth ex~raneous and I.rrel~v~nt !ssues..Slml- independence. At the outset, therefore, I should like larty, we have rejected the. racist regl~e s contmued to reaffirm the total solidarity of the Government and repeated ~t~empts to Impose an mternal settle- and people of Bangladesh with the valiant people of ment m NamibIa. Namibia in their just and legitimate struggle for 42. Fifth, Bangladesh commends the leadership of freedom and national independence under the lead- SWAPO, the sole and legitimate representative ofthe ership of SWAPO, their true and authentic represen- Namibian people, for extending its full co-operation tative. towards the implementation of the D.nited Nations 34. We have before us several reports on this item plan, incl~di~g its reaqines~ .to sign a. ~ease-fire for our deliberations: namely, the report of the agr~ement WIth the racI~t regIme t'? faclhtate t~e United Nations Council for Namibia [A/39/24], the arrt~al of UN~AG, whlc~ woul~ .m turn set, m report of the Special Committee on the Situation mot~on the elect,t<?n process ID NamIbIa under Untted with Regard to the Implementation of the. Declara- Nations supervIsIon. tion on the Granting of Independence to Colonial 43. Sixth, Bangladesh has repeatedly declared that Countries and Peoples [A/39/23] and the report of W'alvis Bay and the P~nguin and other offshore the Fourth Committee [A/39/675]. We also have islands are integral parts of Namibia and that the 5~: ~y delegatio~ ~ould .1ikt! to take, t~is o~po~u- ~i~~_~n2~!?:.de~~~~_~~~c~ }~_~__~~n1!~~'. ~,:~i~C!.r!a!lxj~_t~~ nny to say a speCial wora ot appreciation tor the cUlLCU ~U1LC, m\;lUumg VVillVl~ DilY ilDU me onsnore efforts exerted by the Secretary-General towards the islands. It is in favour of the transfer of full power to early, independence of Namibia. We are fully aware the pe~ple of Namib~a, thro~gh SWAPO, whic~ is of hiS deep personal commitment to this question r~cogmzed,by the llmted NatIOns and the Orgamza- a1!d appreciate ,his intensive ongoing consultations tlOn of Afn.can Umty [OA~ !o be the sole authentic With all the parties concerned with a view to the early representative of the Namlblan people. implementation of the United Nations plan. During 58. Th~ international community, the United Na- t~e, course of t~e past year the Secretary-General has tions, t~e OAU and the Movement of Non-Aligned vIsited the regIOn and made yet another effort at a CountrIes are making systematic efforts to oring comprehensive settlement of the problem. His ef- about the cessation of the unlawful occupation of forts, as on previous occasions, have been blocked Namibia. We should like to refer here to the great again by the racist Pretoria regime putting forward its work done by the United Nations Council for totally unjustified and irrational pre-conditions. Namibia under your leadership, Mr. President. The 52. Preceding speakers have already given a graphic Council has done a great deal to defend the interests account of the situation prevailing in and around of the Namibian people, provide assistance in their Namibia. I would just like to point out that for over a just struggle for independence and mobilize public decade and· a half Namibia has been a unique opinion in favour of the speedy solution of the responsibility of the United Nations. The interna- Namibian problem. tional community, t~erefore, has the historic man- 59. The United Nations bears direct responsibility dat~ t~ pr,otect the fights and interests of Namibia for the fate of Namibia and for its decolonization. untIl Its Independence. We cannot remain silent The relevant decisions of the United Nations, in t~e natural resourc~sof NamIbIa. The logical c~nclu- pretation from Arabic): The General Assembly IS slon. to be dravyn IS that such unlawful actiVIty by considering the question ofNamibia at a very critical foreIgn ec~n01ntc, financial and o~her mtere~ts is one juncture in the history of the conflict imposed by the of the mam ob~t~cles to the attamment of mdepen- white racist minority regime on the southern African dence by NamIbIa. region as a whole. A few days ago the General 63. Furthermore, the American imperialists have Assembly discussed carefully and fully the deteriorat- handed over to the South African regime the function ing conditions of the South African people resulting ofpoliceman in protecting the "vital interests" of the from the intensified application of the shameful United States in the southern portion of the African policy of apartheid of the Pretoria regime, which is continent. It is no accident that Washington consid- applied both institutionally and constitutionally ers the racist regime of Pretoria to be its "strategic against the dignity, rights and interests of s.ome 80 a.lly". This is what lies at the heart of the "construc- per. cent of the pop"!lation of South Afnca and tlve engagement" between the United States and agamst every non-white person. Thanks to these South Africa. debates, in which most Member States have partici- 64. Through their joint efforts Washington and pated,,it .has bec0!lle clea~ that th.e Pret~ria regime is Pretoria are torpedoing every attempt by the United commlttmg.four mtern~tlOnal cnmes, SImultaneous- Nations, the front-line States and SWAPO to bring ly ~nd perslstently~ agamst the p~oples of south~rn about a Deaceful settlement of the Namibian ques- Afnca. These ~re.. first, the cnple. of collechv.e • - • . . ""..."'1"',,"" * ''l1h'l'h H! nprnptr~tptl 1n!O:1t1e South AfTI- tlon. The overseas strategIsts are assIsting the cap- ",..",••n", ",aa", U&&n.... :u 1'....1'..... _ ....- -;-~--'"' ------ - ---- tains of the racist regime in their manoeuvres.and ca. through th~ P?hcy of aparthe!d, secondly,. t~e advising them how to "link" the grantirrgof indepen- cru.:ne 9f cont~numg t~e occupa.tlOn of Namlbl , dence to Namibia with extraneous and irrelevant ~hlch IS a cnme agamst the nght ~f people to questions, so as to place insuperable barriers in the mdepend~nc~on the on~ hand and ~gamst peace.on way of a settlement of the Namibian problem and the.other, thIrdly,.the cnm~ of contmued aggres~lOn limit Angola's sovereign right of self-defence in agams~ the front-hne States, and, fourthly, the cnme circumstances of constant military aggression by the of aCh.ons and m~~oeuvres ~y the Gov~rnment of Republic of South Africa. A recent letter from the Pre~ona to destablhze the ~fncan States I~ so~thern Minister for Foreign Affairs of South Africa ad- Afr~ca, as well as the. pohcy of blackmail dtrected dressed to the Secretary-General is evidence of the aga!ns! those States m order to. stren~then So?th fact that the Pretoria regime continues to try to force AfrIca s heg~mon~ 9ver the Afncans,; m collUSion such "linkage," although it has been condemned and WIth world ImpenalIsm. rejected in United Nations decisions, by the OAU Mr. Zaifl (Malaysia), Vice-President, took the and also by the heads of State or Government of the Chair. ' Movement of Non-Aligned Countries. 69. Contrary to the claims from some Western 65. Thus, the attempts of the United States and the quarters, it seems that on the question of Namibia a Republic of South Africa to substitute for genuine departure is traditionally made from the major Namibian freedom and independence a neo-colonial- concepts and provisions of the relevant S~urity ist variant and the extensive assistance to South Council and General Assembly resolutions which, as Africa provided by the United States, certain other is well known, provide f~r the immediate indepen- 80. My delegation wishes to express its deep appre- ciation to the United Nations Council for Namibia and the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and 'Peoples for their very detailed respective reports [A/39/24 and A/39/23], both of which show the true dimensions of the conspiracy hatched against the independence of Namibia and international efforts to ensure that independence. The reports mention pos- sible ways of supporting the struggle of the Namibian people against the racist occupation, under the leadership of SWAPO, and of overcoming the obsta- cles blocking the path to independence. 81. It is clear that the United States, some Western countries and Israel bear direct responsibility for the deterioration of the situation in Namibia because of their increased co-operation with the racist regime. It is clear from the above-mentioned reports and from other reports that the deteriorating conditions in southern Africa also are the responsibility of certain States. For example, in the report of the United Nations Council for Namibia it is stated that "the mandatory arms embargo was not successful in stopping the flow of foreign arms to South Africa" [see A/39/24, para. 196] because of- the continued nuclear collaboration with the apartheid regime by the United States and some other Western countries and Israel. 82. The same report states that "the development of South Africa's nuclear capability has been en- hanced and accelerated by the collaboration extend- ed to the apartheid regime at various levels by certain Western States, particularly the United States, and by Israel, through assistance in uranium extraction and processing the supply of nuclear equipment, the transfer of technology, the provision of training and the exchange of scientists" [ibid., para. 233]. 83. Therefore, Israel, which speaks often about the assistance it provides to some African States from the pocket of the American taxpayer,. bears· a special responsibility for the continued occupation of Na- mibia, as a result of its collusion with'the Pretoria regime at all levels. . .:I • I I .. .. . 1 ana nat!ona. stmgg_es gam mGreasmg tntematlOna support with intensified international pressure on the apartheid regime to eliminate imperialism from Namibia. 87. My country is not afraid of the threats made by those in imperialist circles in order to prevent us from speaking our minds when we are discussing problems related to imperialism. For us, decoloniza- tion is a duty and a commitment. The present facts should encourage us to adopt more resolutions in order to improve international action, and to extend more assistance to the people of;, Namibia and SWAPO, as well as to the threatened African States. 88. In Qur view, responsibility for' the continued failure to/implement United Nations resolutions falls squarely on some Western States, in particular the United States and Israel. It is a crime to be silent and it is also a crime to attempt to hide the identity of the culprit. We shall spare no effort in exten9ing all ppssible assistance to the Namibian people and SWAPO in their efforts to attain independence in a unified Namibia. th~s questIOn one year ag,o there has been 1I~t1e the construction of a secondary technical school for eVlden~e of any progr~s~ be10g made towards .fin~mg Namibian refugees in the People's Republic of the a solutIon to. t~e Namlblan p~oblem. The aspIratIons Congo. My Government is also prepared to assist in of the ~a~llblan p~ople to 10dependence and self- the reconstruction and development of a free and det~rm1O~tIon remam u~fulfilled, and we underst~nd independent Namibia. their feelIngs of frustratIon and anger. The questIOn of Namibia constitutes a major challenge to the 96. In our statement under this agenda item at the United Nations and we all have an obligation to 75th meeting of the thirty-eighth session we stated contribute to the achievement of independence for our disappointment and frustration at the unaccept- Namibia. It is long overdue. able language contained in many of the draft resolu- . tions on the situation in Namibia submitted by the 9~. Much th~,,!g~t and effort have gone 1Oto.plan- United Nations Council for Namibia. I regret to say nmg ~or Namlb!a s futur~. Through the adoption of that we have the same reservations with regard to the Secur:ty Co~ncd resolutIon 4~5 .(1978), w~ have a draft resolutions submitted by the Council this year. comprehe~slve plan for achlev10g such I~depen- My delegation will comment in more detail on these ~ence. ThiS pla~ has been accept~d by the m.terna- draft resolutions later on, but I should like at this tlOl'al commumty .and the parties most dIrectly stage to express my reservation about the work ~oncern~d. It remams the only framework f~r.an programme being presented by the Council. My 1OternatIonally acceptable solutIOn to the Namlblan Government feels that, as the United Nations author- problem. ity responsible for Namibia, the Council should 92. We all know that there are other issues h0lding direct its activities towards preparing in a practical up the independence of Namibia The South African way for Nal!libia's independence.. Yet the.Council Government has demanded the withdrawal ofCuban seems to dIrect too much of ItS attention and troops ,from Angola as a condition for implementing r~s<?urces to t~e holding of seminars and.symposia of resolutIOn 435 (1978). Although we recognize that hmlted pract!cal benefit. We should lIke to see a this undoubtedly is an importan~ issue to which a reversal of thiS unfortunate trend so that the United solution will have to be found my Government Nations Council for Namibia may be able to play a considers that it should not be ailowed to delay the more constructive role in the future. impl~~entation of the United Nations plan for 97. The continued South African occupation 9f Namibia. Namibia has brought great suffering upon the peQple 93. My Government continues to believe that every of Namibk. The Namibian economy has suffered effort should be made to achieve a negotiated fr0l!l many years of warfare and drought. ThejS~.ut.h settlement of the Namibian problem in order to stop AfrI~an Gov~rnment must surely know that It IS further bloodshed and suffering. We were therefore fight10g a 10s1Og b~ttle. My Government wo.uld hope encouraged by the so-called Lusaka agreement in tha~ the South .AfrIcan Go~ernment wouldJdraw the February of this year regarding the withdrawal of logical conclUSion from thiS and agree to! the early South African troops from southern Angola and the implementation of the United Nations plan for establishment ofa joint South African-Angolan mon- Namibia. itoring commission to supervi~e the withdrawal 98. Mr. MOUMIN (Comoros) (interpretation from process. We he;td hoped that thiS ~greemen~ could French): On the eve of the ..:ommemoration of the ~~_l_~ C!~~~~~~~~h~~te.~f_~?ll~?~~~e m t~e.!egl~?l ~n~ fortieth anniversarv of the founding of the United LDU~ IClCllllClU:: LD~ lIIJ;p~ememanon or me unnea Nations, we deem-it appropriate to point out the Nations 'plan for Namibia. I regret to say that t~ese lessons that can be learned from the question of expectations ~a~e not been fulfilled. South AfrIcan Namibia. troops are stIll m southern Angola. . .. 99. The decolonization of Namibia is unquestion- 94. My 90vernment has note.d WIth satisfactIon the ably the responsibility of the United Nations. It is in efforts be10g made by. the Umted. S.tates to ,,!n~lock that spirit that we interpret General Assembly resolu- the current stalemate m the Namlblan nego~latlOn~. tion 2145 (XXI), adopted by the General Assembly We have been encouraged by the constructly-e att!- in 1966, which terminated South Africa's Mandate tude ta~en by the Angolan Government m .thls over Namibia, and the establishment, in 1967, of the connection an~ we hope. that. t~e Sout~ AfrIcan United Nations Council for Namibia. Government wJll respond m' a slmJlar fashIon. How- ever, the recent letter from the Minister for Foreign 100. The advisory opinion delivered by the Interna- Affairs of South Africa to the Secretary-General on tional Court of Justice in 1971 3 described South the question of Namibia does not give cause for any Africa's presence in Namibia as illegal, considering it optimism in this respect. At the same time, I should devoid of any juridical foundation. Finally, in 1978 like to stress that nothing should be done to under- the supreme organ of the United Nations, the mine the vital role of the United Nations in achiev- Security Council, adopted resolution 435 (1978) and ing the independence of Namibia and that the endorsed the plan of action to enable the Namibian Secretary-General should be closely involved in the people fully to enjoy their inalienable right to inde- negotiatIOn process. pendence. ob~truction of the i~ple!llentation 'Jf. the pl.an of international community, confronted as it is by ~he actton for the decolomzatton of Namibia are, m our combined efforts of the backward forces of colomal- opinion, a challenge flung at the international com- ism racism and apartheid to halt the course of munity in general and Africa in particular. hist~IY. by continuin~ to ~~ny the .Namibian people 102. It is therefore appropriate to wonder about the the enJoyment of their le~ltlmate rIghts to self-deter- true scope and political impact of the resolutions we mination, freedom and mdependence. adopt each year on the various problems threatening 110. This criminal policy of the Pretoria regime is peace and thereby jeopardizing the development and being pursued in spite of many General Assembly ... well-being of the peoples we represent here. It is and Security Council resolutions which have repeat- because the credibility of the United Nations is at edly called on South Africa to put an end to its illegal stake that my delegation solemnly requests the occupation of Namibian territory. Ignoring interna- countries friendly to South Africa to use their tional public opinion, South Africa has met United influence to induce it to change its position, for the Nations action with defiancle, strengthening its mili- benefit of the Namibian people. These people ~ave tary potential and increasing, on the one hand, its suffered too much from brutal, blind repreSSion, repression within its own borders and in Namibia from the continued exile of their sons. Their claims and, on the other, the destabilization of neighbouring are simple and legitimate. They aspire only to ~eace States, which are thereby compelled to conclude with and the enjoyment of their most fundamental rIghts. South Africa agreemerats designed not only to isolate SWAPO, t~eir sole legitimate.repres~~tative, h~s the freedo~ fighters but also to perpetuate South constantly given proofofgood faith, pohtlcal matUrI- Africa's racist hegemony over the southern part of ty and wisdom in the search for a just and lasting the African continent. solution to this question. Ill. At the same time, Pretoria is actively engaged 103. Unfortunately, SWAPO's readiness and the in an intensive propaganda campaign which gives the international community's determination to com- false impression that it is prepared to co..operate in plete the work of the decolonization of Namibia are the search for a negotiated settlement to the Namib- confronted by the negative, nefarious attitude of the ian problem. These manoeuvres of the racist regime racist South African regime. should not astonish anyone. Using cunning, pretend- 104. South Africa, instead of abiding by the various ing to negotiate, now. feigning to ¥ie~d in orde~ later resolutions adopted by the United Nations on this to.reopen the whole Issue, PretOrIa ~s o~ly t.rymg t~ subject, goes on inventing delaying tactics and sub- g~m time ~or the purpose of co~s<?hdatmg ItS pOSI- terfuges of all kinds to curb the process of the tIon. Expene~ce has shown.that .It IS resolved to use decolonization of Namibia. Everyone here remem- terror and violence to achieve ItS purpose. bers that this year South Africa purely and simply 112. Today, Namibia is a huge armed camp, with torpedoed the talks which were held with SWAPO in one soldier for every 12 adult members of the Zambia and Cape Verde for the purpose of speeding population. The current status is practically that of up Namibia's independence. martial law, which permits the murdering of inno- 105. The racist Pretoria regime continues to link cent civilians, a~bitrary arrests. an~ detention, tor- the implementation of resolution 435 (1978) with ture, and so on, m order to mamtam the status quo. extraneous elements. in particular the withdrawal of 113. One can never emphasize sufficiently ~he Cuban troops fiOm Angola. For my delegatior;, the urg~nt need to bring about a negotiated Solu!ion withdrawal of Cuban troops from Angola can ID no which would put an end to the prolonged suffermgs circumstances be a pre-condition for the decolpniza- of the Namibian people while at the same time tion of Namibia. Angola, a sovereign and indepen- having a positive effect upon security and stability dent country, is free to appeal to any country for within the region. Six years have passed ~ince the assistance in ensuring its national security. For the adoption of the United Nations plan for the mdepen- Islamic Federal Republic of the Comoros, the insis- dence of Namibia, which is universally recognized as tence on this notorious linkage is an inadmissible the only basis for a peaceful and authentic settlement pretext for delaying the liberation of Namibia. of this question. 106. The Namibian people have made enormous 114. As is well known, contrary to the will to co- sacrifices, and there is an urgent need to ensure that operate clearly manifested by SV/APO, whic~ went right prevails over might. These people await from all so far as to propose a cease-fire,. Pretona has orus the most valuable birthday gift of their history, unfortunately done everything to prevent the imple- on the eve of the fortieth anniversary of the United mentation of Security Council resolution 435 (1978). N~tioJ;ls-that is, their inalienable right to self-deter- 115. Aniong the qifficulties rai~ed was, in the first mmabon. instance, the quesbon of the withdrawal of ~uba.n i 07. In conclusion my delegation ventures to hope troops from Angola. Is there any need to rec~ll m thiS that the enthusiasm and firm positions demonstrated connection that the right of a people to mdepen- in the Assembly will be followed.by concrete ~eeds i!1 dence, once rec~gnized, can~!>t be IJ.lade dep,endent support of the courageous Namlblail people m theu upon any other nght or condition? Is It also necessary historic struggle for national IiberatiO,n. to emphasize that this linkage is one of the most essentia~ role in endeavours to achieve a pohtical solution in Namibia. 126. It is the common responsibility of the States Members of the United Nations to be ofassistance in sol~darity by effective commitments and specific 146. What both these regimes represent in fact is actIon. the last colonial-settler thrusts, at an historical junc- 140. As the Namibian people commemorate a ture when decolonization has legitimized the equality century of struggle against colonial occupation~ that of nations and peoples and the inalienable right of duty becomes an obligation for the international peoples to self-determination. Equality and self-de- community~ which should make practical efforts to termination~ however, have always been considered establish international legality in Namibia and en- by these regimes to be an intrusion into the overall able the people of that Territory to enjoy all their conceptual scheme of racism and an interruption of inalienable rights. what racists consider to be their absolute right to 141. I wish to conclude by par-ing a tribute~ on domin~teothers, to control their ~estiny and t~ keep behalf of my country~ to the Namlbian people~s fight them m a perpetual state of natIOnal exclUSion. for national liberation and by reaffirming to their 147. From this vantage point, the racists-whether sole legitimate representative~ SWAPO~ our unflag- the apartheid regime in South Africa or the Zionist ging solidarity and support. I wish also to hail the regime in Israel-consider any challenge to their efforts of the United Nations Council for Namibia in control to be subversion, any resistance to their favour of the just cause of the Namibian people. occupation terrorism~ and any dissent or mild oppo- 142. The PRESIDENT: I call now on the observer sition to their p~a~tices s~dit~ous and perfidious. of the League of Arab States~ in accordance with Be~ause the remammg racists mt~nd to perpetuate General Assembly resolution 477 (V) of 1 November thel! absolute. control ove~ the destmy .o~others, th~y 1950 attnbute their own basIc charactenstlcs to their . opponents, and reverse the realities in an uncouth 143. Mr: MAKSOUD (League of Ar~b States): shamelessness that causes the hv~an mind every- Once. agam the 9~neral Assembly IS se~ze~ of the where to boggle. questIOn of Namibia. The world commumty IS called . .. . upon to go beyond condemnation. Racists, when 14~. That .IS why the. racists are mdlfft:rent to condemned~ tend to treat world opinion with con- Umted NatIOns resolutl0!ls an~ c,?nt~mptuous of tempt. Racists become more intransigent. They tend those that favour th~m. ThiS. studied mdlfference ~nd to feel that those who initiate condemnation are cOl~tempt IS becC!mmg a ~enous obsta~le to effective denying racism its privilege of being superior and of ~ctIon by the U~l1ted NatIOns and a senous roadblo~k acting accordingly. Those who support the initiators m t~e. way of peace and freed,?m~ not on~y m of condemnation are for the most part considered by Namibia but throughout the contment of Afnca. the racists to be "opportunists" or "misguided" or 149. The League of Arab States, aware of the grave racists who are cowardly and therefore disguise their dang~r.of S01;1th Africa's contin"!ed .occupation.of racism. To racists-such as the practitioners of Naml~la and I~S dehber~te prevan~atlOn co~cenl1ng a/?artheid-.exclusionary policies~ practices and beha- complIance With Secunt¥ Councl" resolutIon/ 435 vlour are mherent~ necessary and an attribute of (1978), has demonstrated It~ "!-nequlvocal suppOrt, for superiority. To sustain the abnormal~ unnatural~ the struwe of the Namlblan people under the immoral~ illegitimate structures of racist regimes, lead~rshlp of SWAPO. .... resort to sophisticated mechanisms of repression is 150. We are aware that the South African'apartheid inevitable. Violence is a measure by which to exert regime dangles before certain sectors of 'the world force on those who confront discrimination and all public measures intended to confuse the growing forms of occupation and disfranchisement. Violence international consensus on applying the necessary is latent in the plans to sustain the permanency of sanctions so that condemnation may achieve the inequality and the efficacy of repression and occupa- ne~es~ry and desired results; Condemnation without tion. penalty has ceased to be an incentive to racists to 144. Racists resort to pseudo-legal measures to change an~ reVp.ts~ th~ir policies. It has e~boldened render their victims so bogged down in trivial S.outh Afr!ca-~s It did ~srael-to pursu~ Its aggr~s- involvements on a daily basis that they resign ~Ive polIcle~ o~ o~cupatlon an~ repressIOn a~d ItS themselves to their fate and condition themselves to mhuman, dlscnmmatory practices and behaVIOur. limiting their concerns to mere survival, acquiescing 151. We in the League of Arab States, in fulfilling in the permanency of their humiliation and disfran- our moral and political commitments to the people chisement. of Namibia~ undertook as a first step in our co- 145. Racists do not recognize the humanity of their operation with the Uni.ted .Nati~ns system a joint victims. In that way, their system and practices are C~nfer~nce.of Arab Sohdar!ty With the Struggle for dehumanized. To buy time"racists keep introducing Liberation m Southern Africa. new issues; they resort to procrastination; they defy 152. The Conference of Arab Solidarity with the United NationS' resolutions; and they insult their Struggle for Liberation in Southern Africa, which was critics in a deliberate attempt to remain immune held at the Arab League headquarters at Tunis from 7 from accountability. Diversionary tactics have be- to 9 August 1984~ in its declaration [see A/39/450. come~ as we all know~ the habit and the method of annex]~ besides condemning the illegal occupation of the two remaining openly racist regimes, namely Namibia and the reckless exploitation of its human South Africa and Israel. Both throw tantrums in the and natural resources, rejected any extraneous Iink- United Nations. Both act hurt at even minor criti- age between the independence of Namibia and the cism by whomever they perceive as sponsors-that withdrawal of Cuban troops from Angola. The Con- is, Western Europe and the United States. Both live ference called for thl~ provision of all the necessary NOTES IOjficial Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-fifth Session, Supplement No. 24, vol. I, annex 11. 2A1AC.llS/L.61 I. 3Legal Consequences for States of the Continued Presence of South Africa in Namibia (South West Africa) notwithstanding Security Council Resolution 276 (1970), Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports, 1971, p. 16.