Namibia 1027

Chapter III Namibia

The United Nations continued in 1984 to work for In resolution 39/50 B, the Assembly again called the independence of Namibia, the largest Territory for the plan’s implementation, as endorsed by the remaining under colonial rule. As the legal Ad- Council in 1978, and demanded that South Africa ministering Authority for Namibia until its indepen- and the United States desist from their attempts dence, the United Nations Council for Namibia to establish linkage. monitored the situation there and participated in The Council for Namibia viewed with concern formulating United Nations policy on the Terri- the increased assistance given by major Western tory. At extraordinary plenary meetings at Bang- countries and Israel to South Africa in the economic kok, Thailand, the Council adopted in May its Bang- and financial areas, and said such help was a hostile kok Declaration and Programme of Action, outlining act against the Namibian people. It reported that its policies. certain Western States, in disregard of United In its 1984 annual report to the General Assembly, Nations resolutions, continued to maintain their the Council reviewed the political and military sit- wide-ranging economic interests in Namibia. Their uation, foreign investment in the Territory, the ex- unwillingness to prevent those activities had con- ploitation of its natural resources, and social con- tributed to the illegal exploitation of the Territory’s ditions and the labour situation under the continued natural and human resources. Foreign economic illegal occupation of the South African adminis- interests were attracted to Namibia because of the tration. It said that South Africa was attempting high profitability made possible by the abundance to maintain control of Namibia through the estab- of cheap, enslaved labour. Such interests, particu- lishment of a puppet institution, the so-called Multi- larly South African- and Western-based transna- Party Conference ( MPC). Furthermore, South tional corporations, continued to exploit the natural Africa continued to insist on the withdrawal of Cuban resources without reinvesting much of the profit in forces from Angola before acting on independence the Territory. The Council, having sought infor- plans. Independence talks between the South West mation and advice about initiating legal proceed- Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO), the South ings in domestic courts of countries whose nationals African Administrator-General of Namibia and an and companies were involved, reiterated its resolve MPC delegation took place at Lusaka, Zambia, in to end the plunder through such means as legal ac- May, and at Mindelo, Cape Verde, in July, the first tion. The Assembly declared that the activities of direct encounter between South Africa and SWAPO foreign economic interests in Namibia were ille- since 1981, but the conferences ended without agree- gal under international law and demanded that trans- ment on key issues. According to the Council, the national corporations refrain from activities there. talks failed because MPC members refused to sup- In co-operation with the United Nations Depart- port the independence plan endorsed by the Security ment of Public Information, the Council dissemi- Council in 1978 and insisted on linking indepen- nated information on Namibia in order to mobi- dence to extraneous issues such as the Cuban with- lize world public opinion in support of independence. drawal from Angola. As part of the publicity campaign, it organized semi- Cuba and Angola, in a joint declaration issued nars and missions, issued publications and broad- in March, stated their intention to initiate the gradual cast materials, maintained contacts with non- removal of Cuban forces from Angola as soon as governmental organizations and held observances. certain conditions had been met, including South The Assembly, in resolution 39/50 D, called for Africa’s withdrawal of its forces from Angola and United Nations and other action to promote in- implementation of the independence plan. ternational public opinion in support of Namibia. The General Assembly, in resolution 39/50 A, By resolution 39/50 C, it decided on the work pro- condemned South Africa for attempting to circum- gramme of the Council. vent the United Nations plan for Namibia by Namibians outside their country continued to promoting an internal settlement through MPC, and receive assistance from various United Nations for sabotaging the independence talks held in 1984 programmes, financed primarily by the Fund for by insisting on the “linkage” pre-condition. It urged Namibia. In 1984, the Fund spent $7.5 million, while the Security Council to fulfil United Nations respon- voluntary contributions by States totalled $4.4 mil- sibility over Namibia and ensure that the Organi- lion. Funding was also provided from the regular zation’s independence plan was not undermined. United Nations budget, the United Nations De- 1028 Trusteeship and decolonization velopment Programme (UNDP) and specialized conferences and meetings, including: Greater Lon- agencies. The Fund consisted of three main don Council ceremony to declare Greater London programmes-the Nationhood Programme for Na- an anti-apartheid zone (London, 9-11 January); ninth mibia, which financed training programmes and meeting of the States Parties to the International surveys of the economic and social sectors in prepa- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial ration for independence; the United Nations In- Discrimination(4) (New York, 20 January); semi- stitute for Namibia, involved with research, training nar with NGOs based in Europe, organized by the and planning activities; and educational, social and Special Committee on the Situation with regard relief assistance to Namibians, which emphasized to the Implementation of the Declaration on the their immediate needs and welfare. In resolution Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries 39/50 E, the Assembly appealed for increased con- and Peoples (Committee on colonial countries) tributions to the Fund and urged United Nations (Vienna, Austria, 21-23 February); Preparatory organizations to implement projects approved by Commission for the International Sea-Bed Authority the Council and to allocate funds for them. and for the International Tribunal for the Law of Topics related to this chapter. Africa: South the Sea (Kingston, Jamaica, 19 March-13 April, Africa and apartheid; Angola-South Africa armed Geneva, 8-10 August and 13 August-5 September); incidents and South African occupation of Angola. congressional briefing on United States policy and Human rights: human rights violations, South Africa the war in southern Africa (Washington, D.C., 25 and Namibia. General questions relating to colonial April); North American Regional Conference for countries. Refugees and displaced persons: Africa. Action against Apartheid (New York., 18-21 June); International NGO Conference for the Indepen- dence of Namibia and the Eradication of Apartheid (Geneva, 2-5 July); Conference of Arab Solidar- Namibia question ity with the Struggle for Liberation in Southern Africa (Tunis, Tunisia, 7-9 August); Committee on Activities of the UN Council for Namibia. The the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (Geneva, United Nations Council for Namibia, a policy- 7-15 August); seminar on the Legal Status of the making organ of the United Nations and the legal Apartheid Regime in South Africa and Other Legal Administering Authority for the Territory until in- Aspects of the Struggle against Apartheid (Lagos, dependence under the role mandated by the General Nigeria, 13-16 August); meeting to observe the In- Assembly in 1967,(1) continued its work in 1984. ternational Day of Solidarity with South African It reported to the Assembly in November on de- Political Prisoners (11 October); meeting of the Coun- velopments concerning Namibia and on Council cil of the International Centre for Public Enterprises activities from 1 September 1983 to 31 August in Developing Countries (Ljubljana, Yugoslavia, 1984.(2) Later 1984 activities were described in its 25-27 October); and special meeting to com- 1985 report.(3) As in previous years, the Council memorate the International Day of Solidarity with participated in the work of other United Nations the Palestinian People (New York, 29 November). bodies whenever they dealt with the question of Na- On 25 May, the Council held its annual meet- mibia and related matters: it co-operated with the ing in observance of Africa Liberation Day and of Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the the twenty-first anniversary of the founding of OAU. Movement of Non-Aligned Countries; dispatched The Council also commemorated Namibia Day on consultation missions to various countries; organized 26 August, and the Week of Solidarity with the People seminars and regional symposia on Namibia in order of Namibia and Their Liberation Movement, to mobilize further international public opinion in SWAPO, on 27 October. As in previous years, the support of the Territory’s independence; and co- Council participated as observer in meetings of the operated with non-governmental organizations OAU Assembly of Heads of State and Government (NGOs) in efforts to expose the illegal occupation and the OAU Council of Ministers. of Namibia by South Africa and to mobilize inter- national public opinion. The Council continued to The Council continued to organize and partic- consult with the South West Africa People’s Or- ipate in various seminars and conferences, among them a regional symposium on South Africa’s Illegal ganization (SWAPO), recognized by the Assembly as the sole and authentic representative of the Na- Occupation of Namibia: The Threat to Interna- mibian people. tional Peace and Security (Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, 2-5 April). It made recommendations Acting as the representative of Namibia, the Coun- at the international, regional and national levels, cil continued to serve as a full member of UNCTAD, and called for comprehensive mandatory sanctions UNIDO, the Executive Committee of the Pro- against South Africa. gramme of UNHCR, IAEA, ILO, FAO, UNESCO and ITU, and was an associate member in WHO. The Seminar on the Efforts by the International During 1984, the Council was represented at other Community to End South Africa’s Illegal Occu- Namibia 1029 pation of Namibia (Montreal, Canada, 23-27 July) cupation. The Council took note of recent United considered South Africa’s refusal to implement the Nations action, as well as a resolution on Namibia 1978 United Nations plan for Namibia’s indepen- adopted by the OAU Council of Ministers at its for- dence endorsed in Security Council resolution tieth session (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 27 February-5 435(1978).(5) The seminar called for sanctions March 1984)(7) (see below, under “Communica- should South Africa fail to implement the indepen- tions”), and welcomed the Final Communiqué of dence plan and for an immediate Council meet- the Summit Meeting of Front-line States (Arusha, ing to take urgent action. It urged the international 29 April).(8) It reaffirmed the inalienable right of community to increase all kinds of support to the Namibian people to self-determination and in- SWAPO and recommended future action for the dependence in a united Namibia, that South Africa’s Council for Namibia. occupation constituted an act of aggression against As part of the Week of Solidarity with the Peo- the people in terms of the Definition of Aggression ple of Namibia, the Council organized a sympo- adopted by the General Assembly in 1974,(9) and sium on A Century of Heroic Struggle by the Na- that the Namibian people in the exercise of their mibian People against Colonialism (New York, 31 right of self-defence were entitled to use all means October-2 November). The symposium recom- at their disposal, including armed struggle, to repel mended measures for the Council and called on South Africa. The Council reaffirmed its solidar- the international community, in particular the peo- ity with, and support for, SWAPO and commended ples of countries that were allies of South Africa, it for continuing the struggle on all fronts, includ- especially the United States and members of the ing the armed struggle. It called on States to give European Economic Community (EEC), to pres- political, moral, material, military and financial sup- sure their Governments and South Africa to end port to SWAPO, and on United Nations bodies to the illegal occupation of Namibia through the im- provide assistance to the Namibian people through plementation of the United Nations plan. The par- SWAPO. ticipants condemned the United States policy of In the light of the current critical situation resulting “linkage” of the issues of Namibia’s independence from South Africa’s continued occupation, its defi- and the withdrawal of Cuban forces from Angola, ance of United Nations resolutions, its manœuvres and called on it to close its so-called Liaison Office to subvert the United Nations independence plan, at Windhoek in Namibia. the encouragement it received from Western coun- Seminars were also held on exploitation of tries, its increasing military strength, rendered more Namibia’s natural and human resources (see below) dangerous by its nuclear weapons capability, and and on the protection of Namibia’s natural resources its aggression against African States, the Council (see below). called for action from the United Nations, States Bangkok Declaration and Programme of Ac- and intergovernmental organizations. The Coun- tion. The Council for Namibia, at the conclusion cil would consult with Governments, NGOs and of its 1984 extraordinary plenary meetings (Bangkok, other support groups because it deemed it impor- 21-25 May), adopted by acclamation the Bangkok tant to maintain contacts with those Member States Declaration and Programme of Action on Namibia. whose position on Namibia did not conform with On 31 May,(6) the Council’s President transmitted that of the Council, with a view to convincing them the texts to the Secretary-General. Australia, Bel- of the need to comply with United Nations reso- gium, Botswana, Chile, Finland and Turkey, while lutions and to cease collaboration with South Africa joining the consensus, expressed reservations or made and to pressure it to expedite Namibia’s indepen- clarifications concerning certain references therein. dence; it was incumbent upon all States and the At the Bangkok meetings, the Council reviewed the international community to compel South Africa situation in the context of the continued illegal oc- to comply with United Nations resolutions. In regard cupation by South Africa and its implications for to follow-up action, the Council would maintain international peace and security, analysed the causes regular diplomatic contacts with countries visited for the delay in implementing the 1978 United by its missions. Nations plan for independence,(5) and examined The Council reaffirmed that Namibia’s acces- measures to increase support for the independence sion to independence must be with its Territory intact, struggle of the Namibians led by SWAPO, their sole including Walvis Bay and the offshore islands, and and authentic representative, and to assist the front- it called on the Security Council to counter any South line States in resisting South Africa’s acts of aggres- African dismemberment attempts. sion and destabilization. Condemning South Africa for its repression of The Council expressed the hope that its meet- the Namibian people, its apartheid policy and other ings in Asia would cause the Governments and peo- human rights violations (see p. 784 et seq.), the Council ples of that continent, and the entire international demanded an end to those policies. It demanded community, to redouble their efforts to achieve the unconditional release of all Namibian politi- Namibia’s liberation from colonial and racist oc- cal prisoners (see p. 155) and denounced South Africa 1030 Trusteeship and decolonization for its military buildup in Namibia, its introduc- in support of the liberation struggle and to increase tion of compulsory military service for Namibians, support to SWAPO. and its recruitment of mercenaries. In addition, the Council stated its position in regard The support of front-line States for the Namib- to States’ relations with South Africa (see p. 136), ian cause continued to be of paramount importance the exploitation of Namibian natural resources (see in bringing independence, in the Council’s view, below), the relations of the International Monetary and it called on the international community to render Fund (IMF) with South Africa (see p. 150), the im- financial, material, military and political support position of mandatory sanctions against South Africa to those States. The Council also reaffirmed its support to ensure its compliance with United Nations reso- for the Southern African Development Co-ordination lutions (see p. 138), tightening the existing arms Conference (SADCC) and called on States to assist embargo against South Africa (see p. 142), assistance it in its efforts to promote regional economic co- to the United Nations Fund for Namibia (see below), operation and development and to reduce the economic and mobilization of public opinion (see below). dependence of countries in the area on South Africa. Missions. In accordance with a 1983 General Stating that the United Nations plan for Namibia Assembly resolution,(11) the Council for Namibia approved by the Security Council(5) remained the sent consultation missions to Western Europe, Latin only basis for a peaceful settlement of the Namibia America and the Asia-Pacific region, covering the question, the Council reaffirmed the need to im- following countries and organizations:(2) the Nether- plement it without modification, qualification or lands, Belgium, Luxembourg, the European Parlia- pre-condition and that Namibia remained a decoloni- ment and the Commission of the European Com- zation issue and should be resolved in accordance munities from 16 to 31 January; Japan, New Zealand with the 1960 Declaration on the Granting of In- and Australia from 12 to 24 March; and Trinidad dependence to Colonial Countries and Peoples.(10) and Tobago and Argentina from 7 to 16 April. The Any attempt to portray the question as part of an purpose of those missions was to promote the im- East-West confrontation, or to link it with other ex- plementation of United Nations resolutions on Na- traneous considerations, was in defiance of the in- mibia and to mobilize international support for its ternational community. The Council rejected at- independence. Meanwhile, another mission—to tempts by the United States and South Africa to France, the Netherlands, the Federal Republic of establish a linkage between the independence of Na- Germany and the United Kingdom from 24 April mibia and extraneous issues, in particular the with- to 12 May—sought legal advice from lawyers on drawal of Cuban forces from Angola (see p. 180). the possibilities of instituting legal proceedings in The Council also condemned South Africa’s at- the domestic courts to ensure compliance with Decree tempts to circumvent the United Nations plan for No. 1 for the Protection of the Natural Resources Namibia by promoting an internal settlement through of Namibia (see below).(12) In addition, the Council the so-called MPC. Such attempts, immediately fol- sent a mission to New Delhi, India, to consult with lowing the decision to establish a so-called state council the Chairperson of the Movement of Non-Aligned to draw up a “constitution”, again made clear that Countries from 16 to 18 May on developments in South Africa had no intention of complying with Namibia and the role the Movement could play to the United Nations plan and sought instead to con- mobilize support for the Namibian cause. solidate its illegitimate hold on the Territory through The missions urged the Governments, pending the installation of puppet political institutions. Ac- the imposition by the Security Council of compre- cording to the Council, there were only two par- hensive mandatory sanctions against South Africa, ties to the conflict, namely the people of Namibia, to apply sanctions unilaterally and collectively. led by SWAPO, and South Africa. The Council called During the visit to the Netherlands, its Government on all States and the international community not said it opposed extraneous pre-conditions to im- to recognize any effort to impose any such illegal plementing the United Nations independence plan, arrangements. and declared its willingness to co-operate in im- It urged the Security Council to act decisively plementing Decree No. 1 to the extent possible under to ensure the full implementation of resolution its law. With regard to exploiting Namibian ura- 435(1978),(5) the only acceptable basis for peace- nium by foreign economic interests, the Nether- ful settlement of the question. It commended the lands maintained that no uranium from Namibia Secretary-General for his efforts in pursuing Security was being imported for use in nuclear plants in the Council and General Assembly resolutions and urged Netherlands. Regarding sanctions, it said it had taken him to intensify those efforts. The Council said that, such measures as imposing strict visa requirements as the representative of Namibia in United Nations for South African nationals seeking entry into the organizations, it would make proposals within the Netherlands and abrogating a cultural agreement respective spheres of competence of those bodies with that country. to promote the interests of the Namibian people. In Belgium, the mission expressed concern over It called on NGOs to intensify international action the presence there of a South African military Namibia 1031 attaché. Belgium maintained that it had no mili- Argentina declared that resolution 435(1978) was tary co-operation with South Africa and that his the only basis for a negotiated settlement of the question presence had no particular significance; it still had and rejected any extraneous pre-conditions. some trading links with South Africa through pri- Communications. In 1984, a number of coun- vate enterprise, but no Belgian enterprise or bank tries and organizations sent letters to the Secretary- had financial interests in Namibia. Regarding Decree General concerning Namibia. Angola, Cuba, South No. 1, it said that although the matter raised questions Africa, and SWAPO (whose communications were under international law, in practical terms Belgium forwarded by Zimbabwe) addressed the immedi- adhered to its provisions; no Belgian State-owned ate situation in the Territory; several organizations or private company was engaged in exploiting or conferences outlined their policy on Namibia, Namibia’s natural resources. particularly the implementation of the United Nations Luxembourg told the mission it rejected South plan for independence; and the United Kingdom Africa’s attempts to impose an internal settlement disputed a statement made in the Special Committee in Namibia outside the framework of resolution against Apartheid. 435(1978). Luxembourg believed that the Western On 5 January,(14) the President of SWAPO, contact group—Canada, France, the Federal Republic responding to a proposal by Angola of 31 Decem- of Germany, the United Kingdom and the United ber 1983(15) that the Secretary-General consult with States, which were attempting to negotiate with South SWAPO and South Africa on a date for a cease-fire Africa on the implementation of the independence in Namibia, agreed with that proposal and suggested plan—could help solve the remaining difficulties. that the Secretary-General immediately convene It also rejected the linkage issue. a meeting between the two sides to discuss the final In Brussels, the mission raised objections to a details of the cease-fire, in accordance with the pro- resolution adopted by the European Parliament in visions of Security Council resolution 435(1978).(5) January 1983(13) on the need for development aid Angola and Cuba, in a joint declaration issued for Namibia. at Havana on 19 March 1984,(16) said they would The mission to Japan was informed of the Govern- initiate a gradual withdrawal of Cuban forces from ment’s continued support for the United Nations Angola when certain requirements were met, in- plan, and that it welcomed recent diplomatic in- cluding the implementation of resolution 435(1978) itiatives towards solving the problems in southern and the withdrawal of South African troops from Africa through dialogue. Regarding the proposed Namibia (see p. 181). Referring to the joint decla- United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) ration on 26 March,(17) South Africa said the state- to be established under resolution 435(1978), Japan ment contradicted the February Lusaka agreement said it would consider making voluntary contributions on military disengagement in southern Africa (see and providing personnel to the civilian component p. 179), and added that it remained prepared to of UNTAG; in 1975, it had drawn the attention of seek a peaceful settlement to the Namibia question Japanese companies to Decree No. 1. based on resolution 435(1978) within the framework New Zealand reiterated its rejection of any linkage of the understanding reached with the Western contact and maintained that the United Nations plan should group; the remaining issue was Cuban withdrawal be executed without pre-conditions. It hoped that from Angola, on the understanding that they would diplomatic initiatives would contribute to easing not be replaced by other hostile forces. tensions in the area. Following the consultations, In a 13 August statement,(18) SWAPO reaffirmed New Zealand, for the first time, issued a statement its readiness to cease armed struggle in Namibia jointly with the mission. if South Africa agreed to a specified time frame, Australia also reaffirmed its support of the plan, with a fixed date for commencing implementation rejected any linkage, and hoped that the initiatives of resolution 435(1978); SWAPO would not agree to would contribute to peace and security in the region. a South African-controlled transitional process, but The mission to Trinidad and Tobago was told it remained ready for direct, constructive high-level that the Government would recognize the Namibian contacts with South Africa. On 6 September,(19) travel documents issued by the Council in its ca- South Africa said that SWAPO’s letter was simply pacity as the legal Administering Authority for Namibia a repetition of the organization’s position that the until independence. Trinidad and Tobago said it resolution must be implemented without an agreement did not trade with South Africa, although there was on Cuban withdrawal; that withdrawal was not a a possibility of some illegal trade, which would be subject on which SWAPO had any say, but was a mat- investigated. As for imposing economic sanctions, ter which rested with Angola and was under discussion. it was willing to raise the question at the next meeting Angola, on 17 November,(20) said it had held talks of the Ministers of Trade of the African, Caribbean with the United States and South Africa on Namibia’s and Pacific (ACP) States to obtain the concurrence independence and the cessation of South Africa’s of the Caribbean countries to observe an economic aggression. Angola had outlined its position on a boycott. future agreement—that it would be guaranteed by 1032 Trusteeship and decolonization the Security Council and would provide for United political alliances to legitimize an internal settle- Nations troops monitoring the South African with- ment, welcomed the Security Council’s 1983 con- drawal from Namibia, to be followed by the Cuban demnation of linkage,(25) and called for sanctions withdrawal over a three-year period. Referring to against South Africa to compel it to accede to Angola’s letter on 23 November,(21) South Africa Namibia’s independence. said it insisted on an agreement providing for the The Chairman of the Special Committee against Cuban withdrawal from Angola parallel with the Apartheid transmitted on 11 August(26) the declara- reduction of South African forces in Namibia. South tion and resolutions adopted by the Conference of Africa enclosed its proposals to achieve indepen- Arab Solidarity with the Struggle for Liberation dence for Namibia based on resolution 435(1978), in Southern Africa (Tunis, 7-9 August), in which including a 12-week timetable for the total removal it condemned the manœuvres of South Africa to of Cuban forces. sabotage the implementation of the United Nations On 20 December,(22) South Africa forwarded a independence plan and rejected the linkage question. letter from the Secretary of the “Multi-Party Con- India forwarded on 8 October(27) the final com- ference of South West Africa/Namibia” (MPC) to muniqué adopted by the Meeting of Ministers for the President of the General Assembly, explaining Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegations of the that MPC came into being on 12 November 1983 Non-Aligned Countries to the 1984 General Assem- at Windhoek when delegates from six Namibian bly session (New York, 1-5 October), in which they parties came together to speak for the people of the condemned South Africa for its militarization of Territory, rejecting claims of other States, includ- Namibia and its use as a springboard for aggres- ing South Africa, the Western contact group, and sion, denounced it and the United States for in- the Eastern European countries, to speak for Namib- sisting on the linkage pre-condition, and condemned ians; MPC rejected the General Assembly’s desig- South Africa’s attempts to set up puppet political nating SWAPO—which had been invited to join a institutions and impose an internal settlement. forthcoming conference—as the sole and authen- By a letter of 16 October,(28) the Sudan forwarded tic representative of the Namibian people. the resolutions adopted by the seventy-second Inter- Among organizations presenting views on Na- Parliamentary Conference (Geneva, 29 September), mibia, EEC put forward its policy as contained in including one in which it called for the implemen- a declaration adopted on 28 February at its tation of resolution 435(1978), condemned the killing Ministerial Meeting on European Political Co- of civilians in Namibia by South Africa’s security operation, and forwarded by France on 2 March.(23) forces, and blamed South Africa for the failure of The members welcomed the recent agreement on its talks with SWAPO at Mindelo and Lusaka, aimed disengagement in southern Angola (see below) and at bringing about a cease-fire and Namibia’s in- the understanding between South Africa and dependence. Mozambique (see p. 184), hoped that those develop- Djibouti forwarded, on 10 January 1985,(29) reso- ments would contribute to mutual confidence and lutions adopted by the twentieth ordinary session would facilitate the implementation of resolution of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government 435(1978), and expressed readiness to assist in de- of OAU (Addis Ababa, 12-15 November 1984), in- veloping a free and independent Namibia. cluding one on Namibia, in which they condemned Morocco forwarded the final communiqué of the South Africa for its obstruction of the United Nations Fourth Islamic Summit Conference (Casablanca, plan, rejected the linkage question, encouraged Morocco, 16-19 January) to the Secretary-General SWAPO to intensify its struggle, and expressed sup- on 13 March.(24) The Conference recognized the port for the United Nations Secretary-General in legitimacy of the liberation struggle of the peoples his efforts to expedite independence. of South Africa and Namibia, through all means The United Kingdom, on 2 July,(30) referred to at their disposal, including armed struggle, rejected a statement made in the Special Committee against the linkage question established by South Africa, Apartheid concerning its alleged support for link- denounced the dilatory tactics of some members age, and affirmed that there had been no change of the Western contact group, and requested it to in the Government’s position on Namibia; it re- accelerate its proceedings so that Namibia could mained committed to the implementation of reso- become independent by the end of 1984. lution 435(1978). On 18 April,(7) Upper Volta transmitted the reso- Secretary-General’s report. In response to two lutions adopted at the fortieth ordinary session of December 1983 General Assembly resolutions on the OAU Council of Ministers (Addis Ababa, 27 Namibia, one on the situation in Namibia result- February-5 March). In one resolution, the Ministers ing from South Africa’s occupation(31) and the condemned South Africa’s use of Namibia as a other(32) on implementing Security Council reso- springboard for aggression against African States, lution 435(1978),(5) the Secretary-General, in a condemned its attempts to impose institutions on report of 19 September, (33) forwarded replies he had the Namibians as well as its propping up puppet received from Governments on implementation of Namibia 1033 those resolutions. By the 1983 action, the Assem- prisoners. In a third resolution of the same date,(38) bly had, inter alia, called on States to support SWAPO the Commission called on Governments to take and the front-line States and assist Namibian refu- measures, in respect of their nationals and bodies gees; to isolate South Africa; and to reject any at- corporate under their jurisdiction that owned and tempt to link the independence of Namibia with operated enterprises in Namibia, with a view to stop- extraneous issues. The report contained replies from ping their trading, manufacturing and investing ac- 15 Governments which described developments in tivities there. (See p. 852.) their relations with South Africa. Action by Committee on colonial countries. ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL ACTION The Committee on colonial countries, in a 20 August In resolution 1984/55, the Economic and Social decision(34) (see also p. 137), stated that South Council requested United Nations organizations Africa was responsible for the critical situation in to withhold all assistance to South Africa until it and around Namibia, and that its delaying tactics restored independence and self-determination to to prevent the implementation of resolution the Namibian people, and to refrain from any ac- 435(1978), its military buildup in Namibia and its tion which might imply recognition of, or support aggression against Namibians made it more urgent for, the occupation of Namibia. The Council con- that the United Nations reassert its legal respon- demned attempts by South Africa to circumvent sibility for Namibia. The Committee rejected all the implementation of Security Council resolution manœuvres by South Africa to bring about sham 435(1978).(5) It noted with satisfaction the inclu- independence in Namibia under fraudulent schemes, sion of Namibia, represented by the Council for and condemned attempts to circumvent the United Namibia, as a member of various United Nations Nations plan by promoting an internal settlement organizations and urged those which had not granted through the so-called MPC. The Committee reiter- it membership to do so. ated that a political solution must be based on the In resolution 1984/53, the Council called on home termination of South Africa’s illegal occupation, with- countries of transnational corporations to prevent drawal of its forces and the free exercise by the people new investments and bring about a withdrawal of of self-determination, in accordance with the 1960 existing ones in Namibia and South Africa. Declaration on colonial countries.(10) In its view, the issue remained one of decoloni- GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTION zation, and was not part of an East-West confron- Five 1984 General Assembly resolutions (39/50 A- tation. Therefore, the Committee rejected United E) dealt with Namibia; two of these (39/50 A and States and South African attempts to link the question B) concerned the situation there. with the withdrawal of Cuban forces from Angola. On 12 December, the Assembly adopted reso- Condemning South Africa’s attempts to destroy lution 39/50 A by recorded vote. SWAPO, the Committee expressed support for it as the representative of the Namibian people and Situation in Namibia resulting from the illegal recommended that the Security Council act against occupation of the Territory by South Africa any dilatoriness by South Africa aimed at imped- The General Assembly, Having examined the report of the United Nations Council ing independence and that it impose sanctions against for Namibia and the relevant chapters of the report of that country. the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to In a resolution of 22 August,(35) the Committee the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting requested all United Nations bodies to withhold of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. from South Africa any form of co-operation or as- Recalling its resolution 1514(XV) of 14 December 1960, sistance until the people of Namibia had exercised containing the Declaration on the Granting of Indepen- their right to self-determination, freedom and na- dence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, tional independence in a united Namibia. Recalling, in particular, its resolutions 2145(XXI) of 27 October 1966 and 2248(S-V) of 19 May 1967 and sub- Action by the Commission on Human Rights. sequent resolutions of the General Assembly and the Secu- The Commission on Human Rights, in a 28 Febru- rity Council relating to Namibia, as well as the advisory ary resolution on violations of human rights in opinion of the International Court of Justice of 21 June southern Africa,(36) reaffirmed the right of the Na- 1971, delivered in response to the request addressed to mibian people to self-determination and indepen- it by the Security Council in its resolution 284(1970) of dence, in accordance with Security Council deci- 29 July 1970, sions, and condemned South Africa for its oppression Recalling also its resolutions 3111(XXVIII) of 12 December and the militarization of Namibia. In another 28 1973 and 31/146 and 31/152 of 20 December 1976, by which it, inter alia, recognized the South West Africa People’s February resolution,(37) the Commission expressed Organization as the sole and authentic representative of abhorrence of the violation of human rights in Na- the Namibian people and granted observer status to it, mibia and renewed its request to South Africa to Recalling further its resolutions ES-8/2 of 14 September allow an Expert Group to investigate the living con- 1981 and 36/121 B of 10 December 1981, by which it called ditions in Namibian prisons and the treatment of upon States to cease forthwith, individually and collec- 1034 Trusteeship and decolonization tively, all dealings with South Africa in order totally to Strongly condemning the racist régime of South Africa isolate it politically, economically, militarily and cultur- for developing a nuclear capability for military and ag- ally, gressive purposes, Taking note of Security Council resolutions 532(1983) Deeply concerned at the increasing militarization of Na- of 31 May 1983 and 539(1983) of 28 October 1983, mibia, the forced conscription of Namibians, the crea- Noting also the Final Communiqué of the Common- tion of tribal armies and the use of mercenaries for the wealth Heads of Government Meeting, held at New Delhi repression of the Namibian people and for carrying out from 23 to 29 November 1983, the resolution on Namibia aggression against neighbouring States, adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organiza- Noting with grave concern that, as a result of the Secu- tion of African Unity at its fortieth ordinary session, held rity Council’s failure on 31 August 1981, on account of at Addis Ababa from 27 February to 5 March 1984, the the veto of the United States of America, to exercise ef- Final Communiqué of the Summit Meeting of the Front- fectively its responsibilities, unprovoked armed aggres- line States, held at Arusha, United Republic of Tanza- sion against Angola continues and parts of southern Angola nia, on 29 April 1984,(8) the Bangkok Declaration and are still under occupation by South African troops, Programme of Action on Namibia, adopted by the United Expressing its strong condemnation of South Africa’s con- Nations Council for Namibia on 25 May 1984 at its ex- tinuing acts of aggression against independent African traordinary plenary meetings held at Bangkok, the reso- States, particularly Angola, which have caused exten- lution on Namibia adopted by the Organization of African sive loss of human life and destruction of economic in- Unity Co-ordinating Committee for the Liberation of frastructures, Africa at its forty-second session, held at Dar es Salaam Reaffirming that the resources of Namibia are the in- from 30 August to 1 September 1984, and the Final Com- violable heritage of the Namibian people and that the muniqué of the Meeting of Ministers and Heads of Dele- exploitation of those resources by foreign economic in- gation of the Non-Aligned Countries to the thirty-ninth terests under the protection of the illegal South African session of the General Assembly, held in New York from colonial régime, in violation of the Charter of the United 1 to 5 October 1984, Nations, of the relevant resolutions of the General As- Welcoming the resolution on relations between the Eu- sembly and the Security Council and of Decree No. 1 ropean Economic Community and Namibia adopted by for the Protection of the Natural Resources of Namibia, the European Parliament on 22 May 1984, enacted by the United Nations Council for Namibia on 27 September 1974, and in disregard of the advisory opin- Strongly reiterating that the continuing illegal and colonial occupation of Namibia by South Africa, in defiance of ion of the International Court of Justice of 21 June 1971, repeated General Assembly and Security Council reso- is illegal and encourages the occupation régime to be even lutions, constitutes an act of aggression against the Na- more-intransigent and defiant, mibian people and a challenge to the authority of the Deeply deploring the continued collaboration with South Africa of certain-Western States, in particular the United United Nations, which has direct responsibility for Na- States of America, as well as that of Israel, in the politi- mibia until independence. cal, military, economic and nuclear fields, in disregard Stressing the solemn responsibility of the international of the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and community to take all possible measures in support of the Security Council, the Namibian people in their liberation struggle under Deeply concerned at the continued assistance rendered the leadership of their sole and authentic representative, to the racist Pretoria régime by certain international or- the South West Africa People’s Organization, ganizations and institutions, in particular the Interna- Reaffirming its full support for the armed struggle of tional Monetary Fund, in disregard of the relevant reso- the Namibian people, under the leadership of the South lutions of the General Assembly, West Africa People’s Organization, to achieve self- Indignant at the continuing arbitrary imprisonment and determination, freedom and national independence in detention of leaders, members and supporters of the South a united Namibia, and recognizing that 1984 marks the West Africa People’s Organization, the killing of Namibian one hundredth year of heroic struggle of the Namibian patriots and other acts of brutality, including the wan- people against colonial occupation, ton beating, torture and murder of innocent Namibians, Indignant at South Africa’s refusal to comply with and other inhuman measures by the illegal occupation repeated resolutions of the Security Council, in partic- régime designed to intimidate the Namibian people and ular resolutions 385(1976) of 30 January 1976, 435(1978) to destroy their determination to fulfil their legitimate of 29 September 1978, 439(1978) of 13 November 1978, aspirations for self-determination, freedom and national 532(1983) of 31 May 1983 and 539(1983) of 28 October independence in a united Namibia, 1983, and at its manœuvres aimed at perpetuating its Noting with grave concern that the Security Council has brutal colonial domination and exploitation of the Na- been prevented from taking effective action against South mibian people, Africa in the discharge of its responsibilities under Chapter Deploring South Africa’s intransigent stand and insis- VII of the Charter on account of the vetoes cast by one tence on new pre-conditions and its demands for con- or more of the Western permanent members of the Security cessions from the South West Africa People’s Organi- Council, zation which led to the failure of the Namibian Commending the efforts of the United Nations Coun- independence talks held in 1984 at Lusaka and Mindelo, cil for Namibia in the discharge of the responsibilities Commending the front-line States and the South West entrusted to it under the relevant resolutions of the General Africa People’s Organization for the statesmanlike and Assembly as the legal Administering Authority for Na- constructive attitude which they have displayed in the mibia until independence, efforts aimed at implementing Security Council resolu- 1. Approves the report of the United Nations Coun- tion 435(1978), cil for Namibia; Namibia 1035

2. Takes special note of the Bangkok Declaration and 13. Reiterates its conviction that South Africa’s continued Programme of Action on Namibia; illegal occupation of Namibia, its defiance of United 3. Takes note of the debate on the question of Namibia Nations resolutions, its brutal repression of the Namib- held in the Security Council from 20 to 28 October 1983, ian people, its acts of destabilization and aggression against culminating in the adoption of resolution 539(1983), by independent African States and its policies of apartheid which the Council rejected South Africa’s insistence on constitute a threat to international peace and security; linking the independence of Namibia to irrelevant and 14. Expresses its dismay at the failure to date of the Secu- extraneous issues as incompatible with Council resolu- rity Council to discharge effectively its responsibilities tion 435(1978) and declared that the independence of Na- for the maintenance of international peace and security, mibia could not be held hostage to the resolution of is- owing to the opposition of its Western permanent members; sues that were alien to resolution 435(1978); 15. Declares that comprehensive mandatory sanctions 4. Further takes note of Security Council resolution under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations 539(1983) by which the Council decided, in the event of are the only effective measures to ensure South Africa’s continued obstruction by South Africa, to consider the compliance with the resolutions and decisions of the United adoption of appropriate measures under the Charter of Nations; the United Nations; 16. Denounces all fraudulent constitutional and political 5. Reaffirms the inalienable right of the people of Namibia schemes through which the illegal racist régime of South to self-determination, freedom and national independence Africa may attempt to perpetuate its colonial domina- in a united Namibia, in accordance with the Charter of tion of Namibia and, in particular, calls upon the inter- the United Nations and as recognized in General As- national community, especially all Member States, to con- sembly resolutions 1514(XV) and 2145(XXI) and in sub- tinue to refrain from according any recognition or sequent resolutions of the Assembly relating to Namibia, extending any co-operation to any régime which the illegal as well as the legitimacy of their struggle by all the means South African administration may impose upon the Na- at their disposal, including armed struggle, against the mibian people in disregard of Security Council resolu- illegal occupation of their territory by South Africa; tions 385(1976), 435(1978), 439(1978), 532(1983) and 6. Reiterates that, in accordance with its resolution 539(1983) and of other relevant resolutions of the General 2145(XXI), Namibia is the direct responsibility of the Assembly and the Council; United Nations until genuine self-determination and na- 17. Condemns South Africa for its continued attempts tional independence are achieved in the Territory and, to circumvent the United Nations plan for Namibia by for this purpose, reaffirms the mandate given to the United promoting an internal settlement through the so-called Nations Council for Namibia as the legal Administer- “Multi-Party Conference” and declares that such attempts ing Authority for Namibia until independence under reso- lution 2248(S-V) and subsequent resolutions of the General by the racist régime, immediately following the decision to establish a so-called State Council with the object of Assembly; drawing up a “Constitution”, once again make clear that 7. Reaffirms that the South West Africa People’s Or- Pretoria has no intention of complying with the letter ganization, the national liberation movement of Namibia. and spirit of the United Nations plan and seeks, instead, & the sole and authentic representative of the Namib- to consolidate its illegitimate hold on the Territory through ian people; the installation of puppet political institutions subser- 8. Further reaffirms that the genuine independence of vient to its own interests; Namibia can be achieved only with the direct and full participation of the South West Africa People’s Organi- 18. Reaffirms that all such manœuvres are fraudulent zation in all efforts to implement resolutions of the United and null and void and that they must be rejected cate- Nations relating to Namibia; gorically by all States as called for in the relevant reso- 9. Strongly condemns the South African régime for its lutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council; continued illegal occupation of Namibia in defiance of 19. Reiterates that there are only two parties to the con- the resolutions of the United Nations relating to Namibia; flict in Namibia, namely, the people of Namibia, led by 10. Declares that South Africa’s illegal occupation of their sole and authentic representative, the South West Namibia constitutes an act of aggression against the Na- Africa People’s Organization, on the one hand, and the mibian people in terms of the Definition of Aggression illegal occupation régime of South Africa, on the other; contained in General Assembly resolution 3314(XXIX) 20. Further reiterates that all efforts must be deployed of 14 December 1974 and supports the armed struggle to counter any sinister manœuvres aimed at circumventing of the Namibian people, under the leadership of the South the United Nations and undermining its primary respon- West Africa People’s Organization, to repel South Africa’s sibility for the decolonization of Namibia; aggression and to achieve self-determination, freedom 21. Firmly rejects and condemns the persistent attempts and national independence in a united Namibia; by the United States of America and-South Africa to es- 11. Reaffirms that Security Council resolution 435(1978) tablish a “linkage” or “parallelism” between the indepen- remains the only acceptable basis for a peaceful settle- dence of Namibia and any extraneous and irrelevant is- ment of the Namibian question and calls once again for sues, in particular the withdrawal of Cuban forces from its immediate and unconditional implementation; Angola, and emphasizes unequivocally that all such at- 12. Urges the Security Council to act decisively in ful- tempts are designed to delay the decolonization process filment of the direct responsibility of the United Nations in Namibia and that they constitute interference in the over Namibia and to take, without further delay, appropri- internal affairs of Angola; ate action to ensure that the United Nations plan, as con- 22. Expresses its appreciation to the front-line States and tained in Security Council resolution 435(1978), is not the South West Africa People’s Organization for their undermined or modified in any way and that it is fully statesmanlike and constructive attitude in the efforts aimed respected and implemented; at implementing Security Council resolution 435(1978); 1036 Trusteeship and decolonization

23. Reaffirms its conviction that the solidarity and support implementation of United Nations resolutions, in par- of the front-line States for the Namibian cause continues ticular Security Council resolutions 385(1976), 435(1978), to be a factor of paramount importance in the efforts to 439(1978), 532(1983) and 539(1983), and for its bring genuine independence to the Territory; manœuvres, in contravention of those resolutions, designed 24. Strongly urges the international community to in- to consolidate its colonial and neo-colonial interests at crease, as a matter of urgency, financial, material, mili- the expense of the legitimate aspirations of the Namib- tary and political support to the front-line States so as ian people for genuine self-determination, freedom and to enable them to resolve their own economic difficul- national independence in a united Namibia; ties, which are largely a consequence of Pretoria’s poli- 34. Condemns racist South Africa for sabotaging the cies of aggression and subversion, and to defend them- Namibian independence talks held in 1984 at Lusaka and selves better against South Africa’s persistent attempts Mindelo by insisting on the notorious “linkage” pre- to destabilize them; condition and introducing new insidious subterfuge as 25. Commends the South West Africa People’s Organi- alternatives to Security Council resolution 435(1978); zation for its continued intensification of the struggle on 35. Condemns and rejects the puppet “Multi-Party Con- all fronts, including the armed struggle, and for its com- ference” as the latest in a series of political stratagems mitment to embrace all Namibian patriots in an effort through which Pretoria attempts to impose a neo-colonial to strengthen further the national unity so as to ensure settlement in Namibia; the territorial integrity and sovereignty of a united Na- 36. Strongly urges the Security Council to act decisively mibia, and welcomes the consolidation of unity in ac- against any dilatory manœuvres and fraudulent schemes tion by the patriotic forces in Namibia under the leadership of the illegal occupation régime aimed at frustrating the of the South West Africa People’s Organization, during legitimate struggle of the Namibian people, under the the critical phase of their struggle for national and so- leadership of the South West Africa People’s Organiza- cial liberation; tion, for self-determination and national liberation; 26. Reaffirms its solidarity with, and support for, the 37. Condemns the increased assistance rendered by South West Africa People’s Organization, the sole and the major Western countries and Israel to South Africa authentic representative of the Namibian people, and pays in the political, economic, financial and particularly the tribute to that organization for sacrifices it has made in military and nuclear fields, expresses its conviction that the field of battle and also for the spirit of statesman- this assistance constitutes a hostile action against the people ship, co-operation and far-sightedness it has displayed of Namibia and the front-line States since it is bound in the political and diplomatic arena despite the most to strengthen further the aggressive military machine of extreme provocations on the part of the racist Pretoria the racist régime, and therefore demands that such as- régime; sistance be immediately terminated; 27. Welcomes the release of Andimba Toivo ya Toivo, 38. Denounces the establishment of the so-called Liaison Secretary-General of the South West Africa People’s Or- Office of the United States Government at Windhoek ganizatibn, and other leaders of that organization and in direct violation of relevant resolutions and decisions considers it a victory for the international campaign; of the General Assembly and the Security Council, in 28. Declares that all so-called laws and proclamations particular Council resolutions 283(1970) of 29 July 1970 issued by the illegal occupation régime in Namibia are and 301(1971) of 20 October 1971, and in total disregard illegal, null and void; of the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice 29. Calls upon Member States and the specialized agen- of 21 June 1971, and calls for its immediate closure and cies and other organizations of the United Nations sys- withdrawal; tem to render sustained and increased support as well 39. Calls once again upon all Governments, especially as material, financial, military and other assistance to those which have close links with South Africa, to sup- the South West Africa People’s Organization so as to enable port, in co-operation with the United Nations Council it to intensify its struggle for the liberation of Namibia; for Namibia, the actions of the United Nations to de- 30. Urges all Governments and the specialized agencies fend the national rights of the Namibian people until in- and other intergovernmental organizations to provide dependence; increased material assistance to the thousands of Namibian 40. Strong condemns South Africa for its military build- refugees who have been forced by the apartheid régime’s up in Namibia, its introduction of compulsory military oppressive policies to flee Namibia, especially into the service for Namibians, its recruitment and training of neighbouring front-line States; Namibians for tribal armies, its use of mercenaries to 31. Solemnly reaffirms that Namibia’s accession to in- suppress the Namibian people and to carry out its mili- dependence must be with its territorial integrity intact, tary attacks against independent African States, its threats including Walvis Bay and the offshore islands, and reiter- and acts of subversion and aggression against those States ates that, in accordance with the resolutions of the United and the forcible displacement of Namibians from their Nations, in particular Security Council resolution homes; 432(1978) of 27 July 1978 and General Assembly reso- 41. Strongly condemns South Africa for its recent im- lutions S-9/2 of 3 May 1978 and 35/227 A of 6 March position of military conscription of all Namibian males 1981, any attempt by South Africa to annex them is, there- between seventeen and fifty-five years of age into the oc- fore, illegal, null and void; cupying colonial army, in yet another sinister attempt 32. Calls upon the Security Council to declare cate- to suppress the national liberation struggle of the Na- gorically that Walvis Bay is an integral part of Namibia mibian people and to force Namibians to kill one another, and that the question should not be left as a matter for and declares that all measures taken by racist South Africa negotiation between an independent Namibia and South by which the illegal occupation régime attempts to en- Africa; force military conscription in Namibia are illegal, null 33. Strongly condemns South Africa for obstructing the and void; Namibia 1037

42. Condemns the racist régime of South Africa for natural resources of the Territory, particularly its ura- its use of the territory of Namibia as a staging ground nium deposits, as a result of their reckless plunder by from which to launch acts of subversion, destabilization South Africa and certain Western and other foreign eco- and aggression against neighbouring African States; nomic interests, in violation of the pertinent resolutions 43. Strongly condemns South Africa, in particular for of the General Assembly and of the Security Council, its persistent acts of subversion and aggression against of the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice Angola, including continued occupation of parts of An- of 21 June 1971 and of Decree No. 1 for the Protection golan territory in gross violation of its sovereignty, and of the Natural Resources of Namibia; calls upon South Africa to cease all acts of aggression 55. Strongly condemns the activities of all foreign eco- against Angola and withdraw immediately and uncon- nomic interests operating in Namibia which are illegally ditionally all its troops from that country; exploiting the resources of the Territory and demands 44. Condemns the continuing military and nuclear col- that transnational corporations engaged in such exploi- laboration on the part of certain Western States and Is- tation comply with all the relevant resolutions and de- rael with the racist régime of South Africa, in violation cisions of the United Nations by immediately refrain- of the arms embargo imposed against South Africa under ing from any new investment or any other activity in Security Council resolution 418(1977) of 4 November 1977; Namibia, by withdrawing from the Territory and by put- 45. Declares that such collaboration encourages the ting an end to their co-operation with the illegal South Pretoria régime in its defiance of the international com- African administration; munity and obstructs efforts to eliminate apartheid and 56. Declares that all activities of foreign economic in- bring South Africa’s illegal occupation of Namibia to an terests in Namibia are illegal under international law and end and calls for immediate cessation of such collaboration; that all the foreign economic interests operating in Na- 46. Calls upon the Security Council to adopt the neces- mibia are liable to pay damages to the future lawful sary measures to tighten the arms embargo imposed against Government of an independent Namibia; South Africa under Council resolution 418(1977) and to 57. Requests once again all Member States, particularly ensure strict compliance with the embargo by all States; those States whose corporations are engaged in the ex- 47. Further calls upon the Security Council to imple- ploitation of Namibian resources, to take all appropri- ment, as a matter of urgency, the recommendations con- ate measures, including legislation and enforcement action, tained in the report of the Security Council Committee to ensure the full application of, and compliance by all established in pursuance of resolution 421(1977); corporations and individuals within their jurisdiction with, 48. Expresses its grave concern at the acquisition of nuclear the provisions of Decree No. 1 for the Protection of the weapons capability by the racist régime of South Africa Natural Resources of Namibia; and declares that such acquisition constitutes a threat 58. Declares that, by their depletive exploitation of to peace and security in Africa while posing a danger natural resources and continued accumulation and repatri- to all mankind; ation of huge profits, the foreign economic, financial and 49. Strong condemns the collusion between South other interests operating in Namibia constitute a major Africa, Israel and certain Western States, particularly obstacle to its independence; the United States of America, in the nuclear field and calls upon France and all other States to refrain from 59. Calls upon the Governments of all States, partic- supplying the racist minority régime of South Africa, ularly those whose corporations are involved in the mining directly or indirectly, with installations that might ena- and processing of Namibian uranium, to take all appropri- ble it to produce uranium, plutonium or other nuclear ate measures in compliance with United Nations reso- materials, reactors or military equipment; lutions and decisions and Decree No. 1 for the Protec- 50. Reiterates its call upon all States to take legislative tion of the Natural Resources of Namibia, including the and other appropriate measures to prevent the recruit- practice of requiring negative certificates of origin, to ment, training and transit of mercenaries for service in prohibit State-owned and other corporations, together Namibia; with their subsidiaries, from dealing in Namibian ura- 51. Strongly condemns the illegal occupation régime of nium and from engaging in any uranium-prospecting South Africa for its massive repression of the people of activities in Namibia; Namibia and their liberation movement, the South West 60. Urges the United Nations Council for Namibia, Africa People’s Organization, in an attempt to intimi- in its capacity as the legal Administering Authority for date and terrorize them into submission; Namibia until independence, to consider the promul- 52. Demands once again that South Africa immediately gation of additional decrees and other legislation in order release all Namibian political prisoners, including all those to protect and promote the interest of the people of Na- imprisoned or detained under the so-called internal security mibia and to implement effectively such legislation; laws, martial law or any other arbitrary measures, whether 61. Requests the Governments of the Federal Repub- such Namibians have been charged or tried or are being lic of Germany, the Netherlands and the United King- held without charge in Namibia or South Africa; dom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which operate 53. Demands that South Africa account for all “dis- the Urenco uranium-enrichment plant, to have Namibian appeared” Namibians and release any who are still alive uranium specifically excluded from the Treaty of Almelo, and declares that South Africa shall be liable to com- which regulates the activities of Urenco; pensate the victims, their families and the future lawful 62. Calls upon all specialized agencies, in particular Government of an independent Namibia for the losses the International Monetary Fund, to terminate all col- sustained; laboration with and assistance to the racist régime of South 54. Reaffirms that the natural resources of Namibia Africa, since such assistance serves to augment the military are the inviolable heritage of the Namibian people and capability of the Pretoria régime thus enabling it not only expresses its deep concern at the rapid depletion of the to continue the brutal repression in Namibia and South 1038 Trusteeship and decolonization

Africa itself, but also to commit blatant aggression Recorded vote in Assembly as follows: against independent neighbouring States; In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Ar- 63. Reiterates its request to all States, pending the im- gentina, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia. Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, position of mandatory sanctions against South Africa, Byelorussian SSR, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, to take legislative, administrative and other measures China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, unilaterally and collectively, as appropriate, in order ef- Democratic Kampuchea, Democratic Yemen, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican fectively to isolate South Africa politically, economically, Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, German Democratic Republic, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, militarily and culturally, in accordance with General As- Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, sembly resolutions ES-8/2 and 36/121 B, and 37/233 A Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, of 20 December 1982; Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua, 64. Requests the United Nations Council for Na- Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, mibia, in implementation of paragraph 15 of General Poland, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Assembly resolution ES-8/2 and of the relevant provi- Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, Sri Lanka Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Repub- sions of Assembly resolutions 36/121 B and 37/233 A, lic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukrainian SSR, to continue to monitor the boycott of South Africa and USSR, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, to submit to the Assembly at its fortieth session a com- Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe. prehensive report on all contacts between Member States Against: None. Abstaining: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, and South Africa, containing an analysis of the infor- Germany, Federal Republic of, Grenada, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, mation received from Member States and other sources Luxembourg, Malawi, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Portugal, on the continuing political, economic, financial and Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States. other relations of States and their economic and other interest groups with South Africa and of measures taken Also on 12 December, the Assembly adopted by States to terminate all dealings with the racist régime resolution 39/50 B by recorded vote. of South Africa; 65. Requests all States to co-operate fully with the Implementation of Security Council United Nations Council for Namibia in the fulfilment resolution 435(1978) of its task concerning the implementation of General The General Assembly, Assembly resolutions ES-8/2, 36/121 B and 37/233 A Indignant at South Africa’s refusal to comply with and to report to the Secretary-General by the fortieth Security Council resolutions 385(1976) of 30 January session of the Assembly on the measures taken by them 1976, 431(1978) of 27 July 1978, 435(1978) of 29 Sep- in the implementation of those resolutions; tember 1978, 439(1978) of 13 November 1978, 532(1983) 66. Declares that the liberation struggle in Namibia of 31 May 1983 and 539(1983) of 28 October 1983 and is a conflict of an international character in terms of ar- at its manœuvres aimed at gaining international recog- ticle 1, paragraph 4, of Additional Protocol I to the nition for illegitimate groups which it has installed in Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 and, in this Namibia, and which are subservient to Pretoria’s in- regard, demands that the Conventions and Additional terests, in order to maintain its policies of domination Protocol I be applied by South Africa, and in particu- and exploitation of the people and natural resources of lar that all captured freedom fighters be accorded Namibia, prisoner-of-war status as called for by the Geneva Con- Reaffirming the imperative need to proceed without any vention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War further delay with the implementation of Security Coun- and Additional Protocol thereto; cil resolution 435(1978), which, together with Council 67. Declares that South Africa’s defiance of the United resolution 385(1976), is the only basis for a peaceful set- Nations, its illegal occupation of the Territory of Na- tlement of the question of Namibia, mibia, its war of repression against the Namibian peo- Condemning the attempts by South Africa and the ple, its persistent acts of aggression against independent United States of America to continue to deny the African States, its policies of apartheid and its develop- Namibian people their inalienable right to self- ment of nuclear weapons constitute a serious threat to determination and independence by linking the indepen- international peace and security; dence of Namibia with totally irrelevant and extrane- 68. Strongly urges the Security Council, in the light ous issues, of the serious threat to international peace and security Reaffirming that the Cuban forces are in Angola by posed by South Africa, to respond positively to the over- a sovereign act of the Government of Angola, in accord- whelming demand of the international community by ance with the provisions of the Charter of the United immediately imposing comprehensive mandatory sanc- Nations, and that the attempts to link their presence in tions against that country, as provided for in Chapter that country with Namibia’s independence constitute in- VII of the Charter of the United Nations; terference in the internal affairs of Angola, 69. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Reaffirming that the only parties to the conflict in Na- General Assembly at its fortieth session on the im- mibia are, on the one hand, the Namibian people represented by the South West Africa People’s Organi- plementation of the present resolution. zation, their sole and authentic representative, and, on the other, the racist régime of South Africa, which ille- General Assembly resolution 39/50 A gally occupies Namibia, 12 December 1984 Meeting 97 128-0-25 (recorded vote) Recalling its request to the Security Council, in the Draft by Council for Namibia (A/39/24); agenda item 29. light of the serious threat to international peace and Financial implications. ACABQ, A/39/7/Add.13 & Corr; 5th Committee, A/39/813; security posed by South Africa, to respond positively to S-G, A/39/C.5/70 & Cord & Add.1. Meeting numbers. GA 39th session: 4th Committee 15, 19; 5th Committee 46; the overwhelming demand of the international commu- plenary 78-84, 86, 94, 97. nity by immediately imposing comprehensive manda- Namibia 1039 tory sanctions against that country as provided for in in Namibia and that they constitute interference in the Chapter VII of the Charter, internal affairs of Angola; Recalling its call upon all States, in view of the threat 9. Demands that racist South Africa and the United to international peace and security posed by South States Administration desist from their reprehensible po- Africa, to impose comprehensive mandatory sanctions sitions in order to allow Namibia to attain its long over- against that country in accordance with the provisions due independence; of the Charter, 10. Calls upon all States to condemn and reject any Taking note of the further reports of the Secretary- attempt to link the independence of Namibia with ex- General dated 19 May 1983, 29 August 1983 and 29 De- traneous and irrelevant issues; cember 1983 concerning the implementation of Secu- 11. Expresses its dismay at the fact that the Security rity Council resolutions 435(1978) and 439(1978) on the Council has been prevented by its three Western per- question of Namibia, manent members from adopting effective measures 1. Strongly condemns South Africa for obstructing the against South Africa in the discharge of its responsibil- implementation of Security Council resolutions ities for the maintenance of international peace and secu- 385(1976), 435(1978), 439(1978), 532(1983) and rity, and considers that comprehensive and mandatory 539(1983) and for its manœuvres, in contravention of sanctions under Chapter VII of the Charter of the those resolutions, designed to consolidate its colonial and United Nations would ensure South Africa’s compliance neo-colonial interests at the expense of the legitimate with the decisions of the United Nations; aspirations of the Namibian people for genuine self- 12. Requests the Security Council to exercise its determination, freedom and national independence in authority with regard to the implementation of its reso- a united Namibia; lutions 385(1976), 435(1978), 532(1983) and 539(1983) 2. Reaffirms the direct responsibility of the United so as to bring about the independence of Namibia Nations for Namibia pending its achievement of genuine without further delay, and to act decisively against any self-determination and national independence; dilatory manœuvres and fraudulent schemes of the 3. Reiterates that Security Council resolution South African administration in Namibia aimed at frus- 435(1978), in which the Council endorsed the United trating the legitimate struggle of the Namibian people Nations plan for the independence of Namibia, is the for independence; only basis for a peaceful settlement of the question of Namibia and demands its immediate and unconditional 13. Urges the Security Council to impose compre- implementation without qualification, modification or hensive mandatory sanctions against the racist régime amendment or the introduction of extraneous and ir- of South Africa under Chapter VII of the Charter, in relevant issues such as “linkage”, “parallelism” or order to ensure the total cessation of all co-operation “reciprocity” insisted upon by the United States of with that régime, particularly in the military and nuclear America and South Africa; fields, by Governments, corporations, institutions and 4. Strongly condemns racist South Africa for sabotag- individuals; ing the Namibian independence talks held in 1984 at 14. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Lusaka and Mindelo by insisting on the notorious “link- General Assembly at its fortieth session on the im- age” pre-condition and introducing new insidious sub- plementation of the present resolution. terfuge as alternatives to Security Council resolution 435(1978); General Assembly resolution 39/50 B 5. Condemns the continuing attempts by racist South 12 December 1984 Meeting 97 129-0-25 (recorded vote) Africa to set up puppet political institutions and impose Draft by Council for Namibia (A/39/24); agenda item 29. an “internal settlement” in Namibia, in defiance of Financial implications. ACABQ, A/39/7/Add.13 & Corr.1; 5th Committee, A/39/813; United Nations resolutions and decisions, and, in this S-G, A/39/C.5/70 & Add.1 & Corr.1. context, condemns and rejects the puppet “Multi-Party Meeting numbers. GA 39th session: 4th Committee 15, 19; 5th Committee 46; Conference” as the latest in a series of political strata- plenary 78-84, 86, 94, 97. gems through which Pretoria attempts to impose a neo- Recorded vote in Assembly as follows: colonial settlement in Namibia; In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Ar- 6. Emphasises once again that the only parties to the gentina, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, conflict in Namibia are, on the one hand, the Namib- Byelorussian SSR, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, ian people represented by the South West Africa Peo- China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, ple’s Organization, their sole and authentic represen- Democratic Kampuchea, Democratic Yemen, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, tative, and, on the other, the racist régime of South Gambia, German Democratic Republic, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Africa, which illegally occupies Namibia; Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, 7. Demands that South Africa urgently comply fully Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, and unconditionally with the resolutions of the Secu- Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua, rity Council, in particular resolutions 385(1976) and Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, 435(1978) and subsequent resolutions of the Council Poland, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, relating to Namibia; Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syrian Arab Repub- 8. Firmly rejects and condemns the persistent attempts lic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukrainian SSR, by the United States of America and South Africa to USSR, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, establish a linkage or parallelism between the indepen- Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe. dence of Namibia and any extraneous and irrelevant is- Against: None. sues, in particular the presence of Cuban forces in Abstaining: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Federal Republic of, Grenada, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Angola, and emphasizes unequivocally that all such at- Luxembourg, Malawi, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Portugal, tempts are designed to delay the decolonization process Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States. 1040 Trusteeship and decolonization

After the drafts recommended by the Council in order to induce it to grant independence to Na- for Namibia were introduced, the United States, mibia. Liberia considered those paragraphs arbitrar- stating that direct and inaccurate references to par- ily singling out a few countries for exposure, criti- ticular Member States in the texts were contrary cism and condemnation, while deliberately shielding to the principles of civility and fairness, put for- others which were co-operating with South Africa, ward amendments to a number of paragraphs of to be divisive and self-defeating. Senegal favoured the two texts which were rejected by separate most of the proposed amendments because it be- recorded votes. lieved that objectivity and credibility required that Prior to the votes, the Assembly had decided, condemnations be total rather than selective and as suggested by Guyana, that, to be adopted, the that the texts would remain valid in the absence amendments would require a two-thirds majority, of selectivity. The Bahamas felt that name-calling since under Article 18 of the Charter of the United was sometimes necessary, but repetitious and in- Nations they were considered an important question. consistent references tended to compromise the Under the proposed amendments to resolution balance of the texts and their possible future efficacy. 39/50 A, changes would have been made to five para- Brazil, Portugal, Senegal and Vanuatu had ob- graphs. In the seventeenth preambular paragraph, jections to some of the language in the texts. Brazil the reference to the United States veto would have said that certain paragraphs used language which been deleted (the vote was 55 to 65, with 25 ab- could not be considered as a positive contribution stentions); similarly, in the twentieth preambular to the objective of achieving Namibia’s indepen- paragraph, the references to the United States and dence. Ireland (for the EEC countries), Liberia, Israel would have been omitted (57 to 63, with 22 Malta and Vanuatu regretted that the drafters had abstentions). By the proposed amendment to para- not attempted to achieve a consensus. Vanuatu added graph 21, the Assembly would have rejected attempts that independence could be achieved with the support by South Africa to establish linkage between Na- of a broad international constituency. mibia and extraneous issues, rather than attempts Reservations were expressed by Austria, Chile by South Africa and the United States to do so (56 and Denmark (for the Nordic countries) about the to 60, with 29 abstentions). Paragraph 38, by which Assembly making recommendations on measures the Assembly denounced the establishment of a liai- that fell within the competence of the Security Coun- son office of the United States in Windhoek, would cil. In that regard, several countries raised objec- have been omitted (45 to 65, with 32 abstentions). tions to the Assembly’s request that States, pend- Finally, the mention of Israel in paragraph 49 would ing the imposition of mandatory sanctions against also have been deleted (54 to 66, with 23 abstentions). South Africa, take such measures to isolate it. Lesotho The United States also proposed amendments had difficulties with those paragraphs which invoked to resolution 39/50 B, by which mention of it would Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, deal- have been removed. The proposed change to the ing with action with respect to threats to and breaches third preambular paragraph was rejected by a vote of the peace, and acts of aggression. Because of its of 58 in favour, 60 against and 30 abstentions. The geographical predicament and its belief in the policy change to paragraph 3 was rejected by 53 to 67, of contact and dialogue, Malawi was unable to sup- with 27 abstentions; the proposal on paragraph 8 port the policy of isolating South Africa and sanc- was defeated by 55 to 62, with 30 abstentions; and tions against it; similarly, Swaziland said it had reser- the proposal on paragraph 9 was rejected by 59 to vations on economic sanctions. Mozambique 54, with 30 abstentions. supported the imposition of sanctions, but it was Countries explained their general reservations not in a position to do so itself. The Netherlands on the five resolutions on Namibia (39/50 A-E); in did not agree with the call for the total isolation addition, some made specific comments on certain of South Africa because such measures would run provisions of the five texts. counter to the objective of seeking international Most of those expressing reservations objected agreement on Namibia’s independence. Belgium, to the selective or arbitrary singling out of certain too, was against breaking off all relations. States or groups of States for condemnation. Ar- Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark (for the gentina, Australia, Austria, Burma, the Central Afri- Nordic countries), Ireland (for the EEC) and the can Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Denmark Netherlands objected to the references to SWAPO (for the five Nordic countries), Honduras, Ireland as the sole and authentic representative of the Na- (for the EEC countries), Japan, Liberia, Malawi, mibian people since that organization had not been the Netherlands, Peru, Portugal, Senegal, Sri Lanka, so elected. According to Austria, the Assembly should Turkey and Vanuatu made such statements. Chad, not prejudge the free and democratic political ex- for example, did not think that condemnation by pression of the Namibian people. name would facilitate a solution and believed it would Australia, Belgium, Denmark (for the Nordic be judicious not to discourage those States which, countries), Ireland (for the EEC), the Netherlands like the United States, were approaching South Africa and Swaziland did not accept armed struggle as Namibia 1041

a means to independence. The Nordic countries Angola opposed all the United States amend- opposed endorsing armed struggle since they sup- ments, particularly that in paragraph 38 of reso- ported peaceful solutions to international problems; lution 39/50 A, as it rejected the allegation that there for the same reason, they could not support calls was any kind of understanding with the United States for military assistance to SWAPO. Australia, Chile to establish the so-called liaison office. and the Netherlands were opposed to excluding South The Bahamas expressed reservations about the Africa from international organizations to pressure seventeenth preambular paragraph because it called it to accept Namibia’s independence. Australia into question the Security Council’s rules and proce- pointed out that it was through such membership dures; its vote against the amendment to paragraph that South Africa was confronted with the inter- 38 was determined by its belief that until Namibia national opposition to its unacceptable policies in achieved independence no foreign Government relation to apartheid and Namibia. Chile believed should establish any representative office in that the mention of technical financial bodies was counter country, particularly since Namibia was being ad- to their constitutional autonomies, which were based ministered by the Council for Namibia. on purely technical considerations. Chile objected to bringing to the Assembly, in Concerns about the financial implications of the respect of the Namibia question, accusations that resolutions were expressed by Denmark (for the Nor- would be better placed in the context of the East- dic countries), the Federal Republic of Germany West conflict to be debated in other forums; a case and Ireland (for the EEC). in point was paragraph 14, which it said was selective with regard to the general responsibility that Security Canada, France, the Federal Republic of Ger- many, the United Kingdom and the United States- Council members bore for the maintenance of in- ternational peace and security. Reservations were the Western contact group—said they abstained on expressed by Turkey about references to the Western all five resolutions (39/50 A-E) because they might countries in the seventeenth, twentieth and twenty- be involved in future negotiations concerning im- plementation of resolution 435(1978)(5) and did not third preambular paragraphs and in paragraphs want to prejudge the outcome of any such negoti- 14, 21 and 49. ations. Among those expressing specific reservations about provisions of resolution 39/50 B, Belgium said that Ireland (for the EEC) said the texts did not take it could not accept the unjustified attacks on the fully into consideration efforts which the Ten had United States and the criticism directed at other supported, such as those of the Secretary-General, Western members of the Security Council. Simi- aimed at bringing about a solution to the question larly, Turkey disapproved of the mention by name in accordance with resolution 435(1978). Malta said of a Western country and all the countries of that that its positive votes on the texts did not imply that region in the third preambular paragraph and in it was in full accord with every provision, particu- operative paragraphs 3, 9 and 11. The Netherlands larly resolution 39/50 A. said that the exercise by the Namibians of their right Several other countries mentioned reservations to self-determination and independence should not regarding specific paragraphs in resolution 39/50 A. be impeded because of the situation in a neighbour- In regard to the seventeenth preambular para- ing country; that independence remained the es- graph, the United States said it was objectionable sential and primary responsibility of the United that the argument was made that, as a result of its Nations which must take precedence over other con- veto to defeat sanctions against South Africa, armed siderations. aggression against Angola continued, that the United Earlier, on 3 September, the Assembly, which States was the direct cause of that aggression was had decided to consider the Namibia question not true; also, successful efforts undertaken by the directly in plenary meetings, decided that hearings United States to achieve an end to the South Afri- of concerned organizations would be held in the can intervention were ignored. The United States Fourth Committee. also disagreed with paragraph 38 by which the As- By a letter of 2 October to the Chairman of the sembly denounced the establishment of the liaison Fourth Committee,(39) the representative of Am- office at Windhoek since that office was opened as nesty International at the United Nations requested a direct result of the Angola-South Africa Lusaka such a hearing. The Committee granted that re- agreements so that United States representatives quest and heard the representative’s statement on could participate in the Joint Monitoring Commis- 13 November.(40) sion at the request of the parties in order to facili- tate the withdrawal of South African troops from The Assembly took related action in resolution southern Angola (see p. 184); the office was in no 39/17, by which it called for the implementation way accredited to the South African Government of the declarations and programmes of action on or to the authorities in Namibia and was entirely Namibia adopted by international conferences on consistent with United Nations resolutions. the question, reaffirmed its condemnation of South 1042 Trusteeship and decolonization

Africa’s illegal occupation, condemned its oppression of the mandate entrusted to it under the provisions of of the Namibian people and the militarization of General Assembly resolution 2248(S-V) and subsequent Namibia, condemned its attempts to dismember resolutions of the Assembly; the Territory, demanded the implementation of the 4. Decides that the United Nations Council for Na- mibia, in the discharge of its responsibilities as the legal 1981 Assembly resolution calling on States to adopt Administering Authority for Namibia until independence, sanctions against South Africa,(41) and urged States shall: and organizations to support the Namibians, through (a) Continue to mobilize international support in order SWAPO, in their struggle to gain independence. to press for the speedy withdrawal of the illegal South In resolution 39/21, the Assembly encouraged African administration from Namibia in accordance with the Council for Namibia in its endeavours towards the resolutions of the United Nations relating to Namibia; eliminating apartheid from the Territory and attaining (b) Counter the policies of South Africa against the independence for the Namibian people. The As- Namibian people and against the United Nations, as well sembly, in resolution 39/91, requested States to with- as against the United Nations Council for Namibia as the legal Administering Authority for Namibia; hold all assistance from South Africa until the Na- (c) Denounce and seek the rejection by all States of mibian people achieved independence, within a all fraudulent constitutional or political schemes through united Namibia including Walvis Bay, and to refrain which South Africa may attempt to perpetuate its presence from actions which might imply recognition of the in Namibia; legitimacy of that régime’s occupation of Namibia. (d) Ensure non-recognition of any administration or States were urged to provide moral and material entity installed at Windhoek not issuing from free elec- assistance to the Namibian people. tions in Namibia conducted under the supervision and control of the United Nations, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, in particu- Work programme of the UN Council for Namibia lar resolution 439(1978) of 13 November 1978; On 12 December, the General Assembly adopted (e) Undertake a concerted effort to counter the at- resolution 39/50 C by recorded vote. tempts to establish linkage or parallelism between the independence of Namibia and extraneous issues such as Programme of work of the United Nations the withdrawal of Cuban forces from Angola; Council for Namibia 5. Decides further that, in pursuance of the aforemen- The General Assembly, tioned objectives, the United Nations Council for Na- Having examined the report of the United Nations Council mibia shall: for Namibia, (a) Consult Governments in order to further the im- Reaffirming that Namibia is the direct responsibility of plementation of United Nations resolutions on the question the United Nations and that the Namibian people must of Namibia and to mobilize support for the cause of be enabled to attain self-determination and independence Namibia; in a united Namibia, (b) Represent Namibia in United Nations conferences Recalling its resolution 2248(S-V) of 19 May 1967, by and intergovernmental and non-governmental organi- which it established the United Nations Council for Na- zations, bodies and conferences to ensure that the rights mibia as the legal Administering Authority for Namibia and interests of Namibia shall be adequately protected; until independence, 6. Decides that Namibia, represented by the United Taking into consideration the Bangkok Declaration and Nations Council for Namibia, shall participate as a full Programme of Action on Namibia, adopted by the United member in all conferences and meetings organized by Nations Council for Namibia on 25 May 1984 at its ex- the United Nations to which all States or, in the case of traordinary plenary meetings held at Bangkok, regional conferences and meetings, all African States are Convinced of the need for continued consultations with invited; the South West Africa People’s Organization in the for- 7. Requests all committees and other subsidiary bodies mulation and implementation of the programme of work of the General Assembly and of the Economic and So- of the United Nations Council for Namibia, as well as cial Council to continue to invite a representative of the in any matter of interest to the Namibian people, United Nations Council for Namibia to participate Deeply conscious of the urgent and continuing need to whenever the rights and interests of Namibians are dis- press for the termination of South Africa’s illegal occu- cussed, and to consult closely with the Council before pation of Namibia and to put an end to its repression submitting any draft resolution which may involve the of the Namibian people and its exploitation of the natural rights and interests of Namibians; resources of the Territory, 8. Reiterates its request to all specialized agencies and 1. Approves the report of the United Nations Coun- other organizations and institutions of the United Nations cil for Namibia, including the recommendations contained system to grant full membership to Namibia, represented therein, and decides to make adequate financial provi- by the United Nations Council for Namibia, so that the sion for their implementation; Council may participate as the legal Administering 2. Expresses its strong support for the efforts of the United Authority for Namibia in the work of those agencies, or- Nations Council for Namibia in the discharge of the ganizations and institutions; responsibilities entrusted to it both as the legal Administer- 9. Reiterates its request to all specialized agencies and ing Authority for Namibia and as a policy-making organ other organizations of the United Nations system that of the United Nations; have not-yet done so to grant a waiver of the assessment 3. Requests all Member States to co-operate fully with of Namibia during the period in which it is represented the United Nations Council for Namibia in the discharge by the United Nations Council for Namibia; Namibia 1043

10. Again requests all intergovernmental organizations, (l) Conduct hearings, seminars and workshops in order bodies and conferences to ensure that the rights and in- to obtain relevant information on all aspects of the situ- terests of Namibia are protected and to invite Namibia, ation in and relating to Namibia, in particular, the ex- represented by the United Nations Council for Namibia, ploitation of the people and resources of Namibia by South to participate as a full member whenever such rights and African and other foreign interests, and to expose such interests are involved; activities; 11. Requests the United Nations Council for Namibia, (m) Organize regional symposia on the situation in in its capacity as the legal Administering Authority for Namibia with a view to intensifying active support for Namibia, to accede to any international conventions as the Namibian cause; it may deem appropriate; (n) Prepare and publish reports on the political, eco- 12. Takes note of the final communiqués issued by the nomic, military, legal and social situation in and relat- regional symposia and seminars organized by the United ing to Namibia; Nations Council for Namibia in 1984; (o) Secure the territorial integrity of Namibia as a 13. Requests the United Nations Council for Namibia unitary State, including Walvis Bay and the offshore is- to promote and secure the implementation of the Bangkok lands of Namibia; Programme of Action on Namibia; 15. Decides to make adequate financial provision in 14. Decides that the United Nations Council for Na- the section of the programme budget of the United Nations mibia shall: relating to the United Nations Council for Namibia to (a) Consult regularly with the leadership of the South finance the office of the South West Africa People’s Or- West Africa People’s Organization by inviting them to ganization in New York in order to ensure appropriate New York and by sending high-level missions to the head- representation of the people of Namibia at the United quarters of that organization, as it deems appropriate, Nations through the South West Africa People’s Organi- in order to review the progress of the liberation strug- zation; gle in Namibia; 16. Decides to continue to defray the expenses of (6) Review the progress of the liberation struggle in representatives of the South West Africa People’s Organi- Namibia in its political, military and social aspects and zation, whenever the United Nations Council for Na- prepare periodic reports related thereto; mibia so decides; (c) Consider the compliance of Member States with 17. Requests the United Nations Council for Namibia the relevant United Nations resolutions relating to Na- to continue to consult with the South West Africa Peo- mibia, taking into account the advisory opinion of the ple’s Organization in the formulation and implementa- International Court of Justice of 21 June 1971; tion of its programme of work, as well as in any matter (d) Consider the activities of foreign economic interests of interest to the Namibian people; operating in Namibia with a view to recommending ap- 18. Requests the United Nations Council for Namibia propriate policies to the General Assembly in order to to facilitate the participation of the liberation movements, counter the support which those foreign economic in- recognized by the Organization of African Unity, in meet- terests give to the illegal South African administration ings of the Council away from Headquarters, whenever in Namibia; such participation is deemed necessary; (e) Continue to examine the exploitation of and trade 19. Requests the United Nations Council for Namibia, in Namibian uranium by foreign economic interests and in the discharge of its responsibilities as the legal Ad- report on its findings to the General Assembly at its fortieth ministering Authority for Namibia, to hold a series of session; plenary meetings in Western Europe during 1985 and (f) Notify the Governments of States whose corpo- to recommend appropriate action to the General Assembly rations, whether public or private, operate in Namibia in the light of South Africa’s refusal to implement Security of the illegality of such operations; Council resolution 435(1978) of 29 September 1978; (g) Send missions of consultation to Governments of 20. Requests the Secretary-General to defray the cost States whose corporations have investments in Namibia of the plenary meetings of the United Nations Council in order to review with them all possible action to dis- for Namibia and to provide the necessary staff and services courage the continuation of such investments; for them; (h) Contact administering and managing bodies of 21. Decides that, in order to expedite training of the corporations, tanker companies and other shipping in- personnel required for an independent Namibia, quali- terests involved in the illicit transportation and/or sup- fied Namibians should be given opportunities to develop ply of petroleum and petroleum products to South Africa further their skills in the work of the United Nations and Namibia; Secretariat and the specialized agencies and other or- (i) Contact specialized agencies and other interna- ganizations of the United Nations system, and autho- tional institutions associated with the United Nations, rizes the United Nations Council for Namibia, in con- in particular the International Monetary Fund, with a sultation with the South West Africa People’s Organization, view to protecting Namibia’s interests; to take, on an urgent basis, necessary action towards that (j) Draw the attention of the specialized agencies to end; Decree No. 1 for the Protection of the Natural Resources 22. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation of Namibia, enacted by the United Nations Council for with the President of the United Nations Council for Na- Namibia on 27 September 1974; mibia, to review the requirements of personnel and fa- (k) Take all measures to ensure compliance with the cilities of all units which service the Council so that the provisions of Decree No. 1 for the Protection of the Natural Council may fully and effectively discharge all tasks and Resources of Namibia, including consideration of the in- functions arising out of its mandate; stitution of legal proceedings in the domestic courts of 23. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Office States and other appropriate bodies; of the United Nations Commissioner for Namibia with 1044 Trusteeship and decolonization

the necessary resources in order for it to strengthen, political and academic institutions and cultural or- under the guidance of the United Nations Council for ganizations. Namibia, the assistance programmes and services for Namibians, the implementation of Decree No. 1 for the The Council organized publicity for its sympo- Protection of the Natural Resources of Namibia, the sia, seminars and missions (see above). Press preparation of economic and legal studies and the ex- releases were disseminated to the press, delegations isting activities of dissemination of information under- and NGOs at Headquarters and to United Nations taken by the Office. information centres (UNICs) around the world, and material was provided to the pool of non- General Assembly resolution 39/50 C aligned news agencies. On the occasion of Na- 12 December 1984 Meeting 97 148-0-7 (recorded vote) mibia Day (26 August) and the Week of Solidar- Draft by Council for Namibia (A/39/24); agenda item 29. ity with the People of Namibia and Their Libera- Financial implications. ACABQ, A/39/7/Add.13 & Corr.1; 5th Committee, A/39/813; SWAPO S-G, A/39/C.5/39/70 & Add.1 & Corr.1. tion Movement, (week of 29 October), Meeting numbers. GA 39th session: 4th Committee 15, 19: 5th Committee 46; coverage was provided in press releases, radio and plenary 78-84, 86, 94, 97. television, and by a special photographic exhibit Recorded vote in Assembly as follows: at Headquarters. For those two events, most In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Ar- gentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, UNICs issued press releases and organized activi- Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, ties such as screenings of United Nations films, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Byelorussian SSR, Cameroon, Cape Verde Central lectures and round-tables on the United Nations African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Democratic Kampuchea, Democratic Yemen, role in the liberation of Namibia, press conferences Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, and television interviews. Pamphlets were issued Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, German Democratic Republic, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hon- on the military situation in Namibia and on so- duras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Ivory Coast, cial conditions there. A series of six 15-minute Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Leb- anon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, radio programmes (in English, French and Span- Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mon- ish), entitled Namibia: Update, and three pro- golia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, grammes of the feature series Perspective dealing Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philip pines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent exclusively with Namibia were produced. and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suri- The Department continued to give film, televi- name, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and sion and photo coverage of the Council’s activi- Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukrainian SSR, USSR, United Arab Emirates. ties to news syndicators. It also distributed 25 tel- United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe. evision news packages and filmed 260 metres of Against: None. archival material. Some 140 copies of the films Free Abstaining: Canada, France Germany, Federal Republic of, Grenada, Paraguay, United Kingdom, United States. Namibia and Namibia: A Trust Betrayed were dis- tributed through UNICs and the Office of the In explanation of vote, Japan said that its posi- Commissioner for Namibia. DPI organized live tive vote should not be construed as support for journalists’ encounters in advance of the Coun- all paragraphs; as in previous years, it had reser- cil’s symposia, seminars and extraordinary plenary vations on parts of the Council’s report. For the meetings. The encounters-discussions between Netherlands, the request to the Council, in para- a panel of the Council and 15 journalists and graph 19, to hold 1985 meetings away from Head- broadcasters approved by the Council, as well as quarters would require considerable additional some local and foreign-based journalists-focused cost in return for a questionable benefit; further- on specific aspects of the Namibia question and more, it did not agree that the Council must enjoy on the role of the media in generating greater pub- the same rights in international organizations as lic awareness of the Namibian cause and promot- those reserved for States. Belgium also had strong ing the implementation of United Nations reso- reservations on the financial implications of the lutions on the issue. The President of the Council resolution. addressed the Inter-Regional Mass Media Leaders’ Round-table on the Problems of Information dissemination Southern Africa (Arusha, 26-28 March), which In 1984, the Council for Namibia continued its was attended by approximately 30 media leaders. activities aimed at disseminating information to As part of its co-operation with NGOs to inten- Governments, organizations and directly to the sify the efforts of the international community to public in order to mobilize world public opinion bring about Namibia’s independence, the Coun- in support of independence for Namibia.(2) In cil made financial contributions to seven such or- these efforts, the Council acted through its Stand- ganizations for their publicity campaigns. DPI ing Committee III which co-operated with the held several briefings on developments in Namibia Department of Public Information (DPI) of the for non-governmental and other organizations. Secretariat and with NGOs supporting the Namib- The Office of the Commissioner for Namibia ian cause and opposing apartheid, and disseminated served as an additional source of information and information to leading opinion makers, the media, assisted the Council in many activities, including Namibia 1045 publication and distribution of United Nations the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to and other materials on Namibia. It prepared the the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting Namibia Bulletin, a quarterly review and analysis of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, of events relating to Namibia issued in English, Recalling its resolutions 2145(XXI) of 27 October 1966, 2248(S-V) of 19 May 1967 and 38/36 A to E of 1 De- French, German and Spanish, and Namibia in the cember 1983, as well as all other resolutions of the General News, a weekly newsletter. The Office also gave Assembly and the Security Council relating to Namibia, briefings to support groups on the Council’s ac- Taking into consideration the Paris Declaration on Na- tivities. At the Asia and Pacific Mass Media mibia and the report of the Committee of the Whole and Leaders’ Round Table (Shanghai, China, 30 the Programme of Action on Namibia, April-3 May), the Commissioner discussed Na- Taking into consideration the Bangkok Declaration and mibia and southern Africa. UNICs at Copenha- Programme of Action on Namibia, adopted by the United gen, Brussels, Dar es Salaam, Paris and Vienna Nations Council for Namibia on 25 May 1984 at its ex- arranged for press conferences when the Commis- traordinary plenary meetings held at Bangkok, sioner visited the respective countries. Taking into consideration also the conclusions and recom- mendations adopted at the Regional Symposium in Sup- In its Bangkok Declaration and Programme of port of the Namibian Cause in Latin America, held at Action, the Council emphasized the importance San José from 16 to 19 August 1983, the Regional Sym- of action by local authorities, trade unions, reli- posium on South Africa’s Illegal Occupation of Namibia: gious bodies, academic institutions, mass media, The Threat to International Peace and Security, held at solidarity movements and other NGOs, as well as Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, from 2 to 5 April individuals, in mobilizing public opinion, partic- 1984,(42) the Seminar on the Activities of Foreign Eco- ularly in Western countries, in support of the Na- nomic Interests in the Exploitation of Namibia’s Natural mibian liberation struggle. The Council stated it and Human Resources, held at Ljubljana, Yugoslavia, would intensify efforts to mobilize international from 16 to 20 April 1984, the Seminar on the Efforts by the International Community to End South Africa’s Illegal public opinion and to expose the intransigence of Occupation of Namibia, held at Montreal, Canada, from the South African régime and its flouting of 23 to 27 July 1984, and the Regional Symposium on In- United Nations resolutions. The Council appealed ternational Efforts to Implement Decree No. 1 for the to NGOs to increase awareness of their national Protection of the Natural Resources of Namibia, held communities regarding the exploitation of Namib- at Geneva from 27 to 31 August 1984,(43) ian resources by foreign economic interests (see Deploring the continued assistance rendered by Israel below), and to insist that they withdraw from Na- and certain Western States, especially the United States mibia. NGOs were urged to campaign in their of America, to South Africa in the political, economic, countries in support of sanctions in order to iso- military and cultural fields and expressing its conviction that this assistance should be exposed by the United late South Africa. The Council appealed to the Nations Council for Namibia by all means available to it, media to intensify the dissemination of informa- Stressing the urgent need to mobilize international public tion on Namibia’s struggle for independence and opinion on a continuous basis with a view to assisting said DPI should try to reach a wider audience, par- effectively the people of Namibia in the achievement of ticularly in countries where information was lack- self-determination, freedom and independence in a united ing or available in distorted form. Namibia and, in particular, to intensify the world-wide The Committee on colonial countries, in a de- and continuous dissemination of information on the strug- cision of 20 August,(34) repeated its request that gle for liberation being waged by the people of Namibia the Secretary-General, in view of the publicity under the leadership of the South West Africa People’s Organization, their sole and authentic representative, campaign by South Africa to gain support for its Recognizing the important role that non-governmental occupation of Namibia, intensify his efforts, organizations are playing in the dissemination of infor- through all available media, to mobilize world mation on Namibia and in the mobilization of interna- public opinion against South Africa’s policy on Na- tional public opinion in support of the Namibian cause, mibia and, in particular, to increase dissemination Reiterating the importance of publicity as an instrument of information on the liberation struggle. The for furthering the mandate given by the General Assembly Committee also emphasized the importance of ac- to the United Nations Council for Namibia and mind- tion by all in mobilizing Governments and public ful of the pressing need for the Department of Public In- opinion, particularly in the Western countries. formation of the Secretariat to intensify its efforts to ac- quaint world public opinion with all aspects of the question of Namibia, in accordance with policy guidelines formu- GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTION lated by the Council, On 12 December, the General Assembly 1. Requests the United Nations Council for Namibia, adopted resolution 39/50 D by recorded vote. in pursuance of its international campaign in support of the struggle of the Namibian people for independence, Dissemination of information and mobilization of to continue to consider ways and means of increasing international public opinion in support of Namibia the dissemination of information relating to Namibia; The General Assembly, 2. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the Having examined the report of the United Nations Council Department of Public Information of the Secretariat, in for Namibia and the relevant chapters of the report of all its activities of dissemination of information on the 1046 Trusteeship and decolonization question of Namibia, follows the policy guidelines laid the Protection of the Natural Resources of Namibia, down by the United Nations Council for Namibia as enacted by the Council on 27 September 1974; the legal Administering Authority for Namibia; (m) Acquisition of books, pamphlets and other 3. Requests the Secretary-General to direct the materials relating to Namibia for further dissemination; Department of Public Information, in addition to its 6. Requests the United Nations Council for Namibia responsibilities relating to southern Africa, to assist, as to organize an international conference at United a matter of priority, the United Nations Council for Na- Nations Headquarters in 1985 with the participation of mibia in the implementation of its programme of dis- prominent personalities, parliamentarians, scholars, sup- semination of information in order that the United port groups and others from all parts of the world, in Nations may intensify its efforts to generate publicity order to mobilize and strengthen further international and disseminate information with a view to mobilizing support for the just cause and heroic struggle of the Na- public support for the independence of Namibia, par- mibian people, led by their sole and authentic repre- ticularly in the Western States; sentative, the South West Africa People’s Organization; 4. Requests the United Nations Council for Namibia 7. Requests the Secretary-General to allocate, in con- to continue to organize journalists’ encounters prior to sultation with the United Nations Council for Namibia, the activities of the Council during 1985, in order to sales numbers to publications on Namibia selected by mobilize further international public support for the just the Council; struggle of the Namibian people under the leadership 8. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the of the South West Africa People’s Organization, their United Nations Council for Namibia with the work pro- sole and authentic representative; gramme of the Department of Public Information for 5. Decides to intensify its international campaign in the year 1985 covering the activities of dissemination support of the cause of Namibia and to expose and of information on Namibia, followed by periodic reports denounce the collusion of the United States of America, on the programmes undertaken, including details of ex- certain other Western countries and Israel with the South penses incurred; African racists and, to this end, requests the United 9. Requests the Secretary-General to group under a Nations Council for Namibia to include in its pro- single heading, in the section of the proposed pro- gramme of dissemination of information for 1985 the gramme budget of the United Nations for the biennium following activities: 1986-1987 relating to the Department of Public Infor- (a) Preparation and dissemination of publications on mation, all the activities of the Department relating to the political, economic, military and social consequences the dissemination of information on Namibia, and to of the illegal occupation of Namibia by South Africa, direct the Department of Public Information to present as well as on legal matters, on the question of the ter- to the United Nations Council for Namibia a detailed ritorial integrity of Namibia and on contacts between report on the utilization of the allocated funds; Member States and South Africa; 10. Requests the Secretary-General to direct the (b) Production and dissemination of radio pro- Department of Public Information to disseminate the grammes in the English, French, German and Spanish list of prisoners in Namibia; languages designed to draw the attention of world pub- 11. Requests the Secretary-General to direct the lic opinion to the current situation in and around Department of Public Information to give the widest Namibia; possible publicity and to disseminate information on the (c) Production of material for publicity through commemoration of a century of heroic struggle of the radio and television broadcasts; Namibian people against colonial occupation; (d) Placement of advertisements in newspapers and 12. Requests Member States to broadcast pro- magazines; grammes on their national radio and television networks (e) Production of films, film-strips and slide sets on and to publish material in their official news media, in- Namibia; forming their populations about the situation in and (f) Production and dissemination of posters; around Namibia and the obligation of Governments and (g) Full utilization of the resources related to press peoples to assist in the struggle of Namibia for in- releases, press conferences and press briefings in order dependence; to maintain a constant flow of information to the pub- 13. Requests the United Nations Council for Namibia. lic on all aspects of the question of Namibia; in co-operation with the Department of Public Infor- (h) Production and dissemination of a comprehen- mation and the Department of Conference Services of sive economic map of Namibia; the Secretariat, to continue to inform and provide in- (i) Production and dissemination of booklets on the formation material to leading opinion makers, media activities of the Council; leaders, academic institutions, trade unions, cultural or- (j) Preparation and wide dissemination of a book- ganizations, support groups and other concerned per- let containing resolutions of the General Assembly and sons and non-governmental organizations about the ob- the Security Council relating to Namibia, together with jectives and functions of the United Nations Council for relevant portions of Assembly resolutions on the activi- Namibia and the struggle of the Namibian people under ties of foreign economic interests in Namibia and on the leadership of the South West Africa People’s Organi- military activities in Namibia; zation and also to hold consultations with, and seek the (k) Publicity for and distribution of an indexed refer- co-operation of, those personalities and institutions by ence book on transnational corporations which plun- inviting them on special occasions to participate in the der the natural and human resources of Namibia, and deliberations of the Council, and to continue to estab- on the profits extracted from the Territory; lish for this purpose a regular and expeditious pattern (l) Preparation and dissemination of a booklet based of distribution of information material to political par- on a study on the implementation of Decree No. 1 for ties, universities, libraries, churches, students, teachers, Namibia 1047 professional associations and others falling into the Turkey, Uganda, Ukrainian SSR, USSR, United Arab Emirates, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, general categories enumerated above; Zambia, Zimbabwe. 14. Requests all Member States to commemorate and Against; None. publicize Namibia Day and to issue special postage Abstaining: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, stamps for the occasion; Germany, Federal Republic of, Grenada, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Portugal, Spain, 15. Requests the Secretary-General to direct the Sweden, United Kingdom, United States. United Nations Postal Administration to issue a special postage stamp on Namibia by the end of 1985 in com- The United States proposed amending the sixth memoration of Namibia Day; preambular paragraph and paragraph 5 to delete 16. Calls upon the United Nations Council for Na- references to itself and Israel. Both amendments mibia to enlist the support of non-governmental organi- were rejected: by votes of 52 in favour to 66 zations in its efforts to mobilize international public opinion in support of the liberation struggle of the Na- against, with 26 abstentions, and 61 to 63, with mibian people and of their sole and authentic represen- 21 abstentions, respectively. tative, the South West Africa People’s Organization; Before the votes, the Assembly had decided that 17. Requests the United Nations Council for Namibia the amendments were important questions and to prepare, update and continually disseminate lists of would therefore need a two-thirds majority for non-governmental organizations from all over the world, adoption (see p. 1040). in particular those in the major Western countries, in Explaining its vote on the text as a whole, Bel- order to ensure better co-operation and co-ordination gium said that the volume of the programme of among non-governmental organizations working in sup- information dissemination and mobilization was port of the Namibian cause and against apartheid; 18. Requests those non-governmental organizations excessive, and that it contained points of view that and support groups that are actively engaged in sup- Belgium did not share. Japan stressed that infor- porting the struggle of the Namibian people under the mation to be disseminated must be accurate and leadership of the South West Africa People’s Organiza- fair; it supported close co-operation and co- tion, their sole and authentic representative, to continue ordination between the Council for Namibia and to intensify, in co-operation with the United Nations DPI so that the latter’s facilities would be utilized Council for Namibia, international action in support effectively. Turkey had reservations about the men- of the liberation struggle of the Namibian people, in- tion of a specific country and group of countries. cluding assistance to the Council in the monitoring of the boycott of South Africa called for in General As- The Bahamas felt that the language of paragraph sembly resolution ES-8/2 of 14 September 1981; 5 failed to show any correlation between the ob- 19. Decides to allocate the sum of $300,000 to be used jective thought and the methods to be employed. by the United Nations Council for Namibia for its pro- gramme of co-operation with non-governmental organi- UN Commissioner for Namibia zations, including support to conferences in solidarity with Namibia arranged by those organizations, dissemi- Activities of the Commissioner nation of conclusions of such conferences and support The Office of the Commissioner for Namibia to such other activities as will promote the cause of the continued in 1984 to collect and analyse informa- liberation struggle of the Namibian people, subject to tion on Namibia, including related information on decisions of the Council in each individual case taken in consultation with the South West Africa People’s Or- internal political, economic and legal develop- ganization. ments in South Africa.(2) The Commissioner, through his offices at Headquarters; Gaborone, General Assembly resolution 39/50 D Botswana; Luanda, Angola; and Lusaka, Zambia; 12 December 1984 Meeting 97 130-0-24 (recorded vote) acted to protect Namibian interests by issuing Draft by Council for Namibia (A/39/24); agenda item 29. travel documents through the Council for Namibia Financial implications ACABQ A/39/7/Add.13 & Corr.1; Fifth Committee, A/39/813; and by attempts to implement the 1974 Decree S-G. A/39/C.5/39/70 & Corr.1 & Add.1. Meeting numbers. GA 39th session: 4th Committee 15, 19; 5th Committee 46; No. 1 for the Protection of the Natural Resources plenary 78-84, 86, 94, 97. of Namibia, banning extraction of those resources Recorded vote in Assembly as follows: without the Council’s consent(12) (see below). In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Ar- From 1 September 1983 to 31 August 1984, the gentina, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, offices issued 1,472 new and renewed travel and Byelorussian SSR, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, identity documents in Africa, 29 in North America China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Democratic Kampuchea, Democratic Yemen, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican and 16 in Western Europe. Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, As part of its activities to implement Decree Gambia, German Democratic Republic, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, No. 1, the Office arranged briefings for NGOs and Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, educational institutions. In March, a representa- Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mal- tive addressed the John Jay College of Criminal dives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Justice of the City University of New York on Na- Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and mibia and the Decree’s implementation. Pursuant the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, to a 1982 General Assembly resolution,(44) the Swaziland, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Office was preparing a reference book on trans- 1048 Trusteeship and decolonization national corporations operating or investing in Na- settlement, and also assisted in placing Namibians mibia, to identify foreign commercial and invest- in educational institutions. ment practices there and the extent of their exploi- tation of Namibian resources. It continued work Appointment of the Commissioner on studies on assistance needs of the front-line On 14 December,(45) the Secretary-General pro- States and on economic planning in an indepen- posed to the General Assembly that it extend the dent Namibia. A study analysing the demographic appointment of Brajesh Chandra Mishra as United structure and socio-economic characteristics of the Nations Commissioner for Namibia for one year Namibian population, including size estimates and beginning on 1 January 1985; he had served in that growth projections, was completed in May. Con- capacity since 1 April 1982.(46) cerning the legal situation, the Office prepared: a review of “legislation” promulgated by the ille- GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTION gal administration in Namibia in 1983; a booklet On the Secretary-General’s recommendation, the on labour legislation and labour conditions; and General Assembly adopted decision 39/325 without a draft booklet on the administration’s attempts vote. to devise new “constitutions” from 1968 to 1983. The Office continued to administer assistance Appointment of the United Nations programmes under the United Nations Fund for Commissioner for Namibia Namibia (see below), executing 11 projects and At its 105th plenary meeting, on 18 December 1984, preparing project proposals for the Fund’s Com- the General Assembly, on the proposal of the Secretary- mittee. The Commissioner and his staff met with General, appointed Mr. Brajesh Chandra Mishra as United Nations Commissioner for Namibia for a fur- the SWAPO Co-ordinating Committee on the Na- ther one-year term beginning on 1 January 1985. tionhood Programme in Lusaka in April 1984 to review the assistance programme for Namibians. General Assembly decision 39/325 The Luanda Office, which became operational 18 December 1984 Meeting 105 Adopted without vote in 1983, served as liaison between the New York Proposal by Secretary General (A/39/832); agenda item 17 (j). Office and SWAPO’s provisional headquarters at Lu- anda. In 1984, the Luanda Office was responsible Political and military aspects for 31 projects and was involved in preparing others The Council for Namibia continued in 1984 to in consultation with SWAPO and the executing agen- monitor the political and military aspects of Na- cies concerned. It facilitated the work of a consul- mibia. The Council’s Standing Committee II, in tant responsible for a training programme for Na- two April reports, reviewed political develop- mibian broadcasters and assisted in placing ments (47) and the military situation.(48) In addition, Namibians in training programmes in various coun- the Secretariat of the Committee on colonial countries tries. It also facilitated the travel and participation issued a July working paper on military activities of SWAPO officials in international meetings and and arrangements in Namibia impeding its indepen- concluded negotiations with Angola regarding the dence(49) and another in August which described issuance of Council for Namibia travel documents. political developments in Namibia from August 1983 The Lusaka Office operated as an administra- to May 1984.(50) tive office for assistance programmes under the In its annual report,(2) the Council said that Fund for Namibia, and as a centre for political and South Africa sought to entrench its occupation information activities in the region. It was respon- through militarization of Namibia, brutalization sible for 26 projects, providing support for execut- of Namibians, and detention and assassination of ing agencies and consultants. From September SWAPO members and supporters. Refusing to co- 1983 to August 1984, several consultancies were operate in the 1978 United Nations independence completed and three project seminars were held plan for Namibia, South Africa continued to im- to review draft consultancy reports. Some 63 stu- pose on the Namibian people puppet institutions dents completed their training in Zambia, which in contravention of that plan. Following the collapse included labour administration, teacher training in 1983 of two internal settlements proposed by South and video and cinematography; others continued Africa,(51) a third scheme, known as the Multi-Party their training in radio broadcasting, railway oper- Conference (MPC), was sponsored by South Africa ations, soil surveying, labour administration and as an “internal alternative to SWAPO”. teacher training. On 16 February, Angola and South Africa held Implementation of assistance programmes was high-level talks at Lusaka, and agreed to set up a the main concern of the Gaborone Office, which joint military commission to monitor the disengage- also continued to monitor developments in ment of forces in southern Angola. Subsequently, southern Africa. It maintained contact with Bo- the United States established a mission in Wind- tswana, SWAPO, UNDP and UNHCR concerning aid hoek to help monitor the disengagement. On 19 to Namibian refugees, particularly at the Dukwe March, Cuba and Angola stated their intention to Namibia 1049 initiate the gradual withdrawal of Cuban forces from attention of the international community, but de- Angola as soon as South Africa had withdrawn from tained others. Following its release in March 1983 Angolan territory, resolution 435(1978)(5) had been of Andimba Toivoya Toivo, the founder of SWAPO, implemented, South African aggression against who had been imprisoned for 16 years, South Africa Angola had ceased, and Western aid to counter- released in May 1984 another 15 SWAP0 members revolutionary organizations, such as the União Na- who were serving jail sentences and 54 detainees. cional para a Independência Total de Angola South Africa admitted it was holding 146 others (UNITA), was cut off (see also p. 1031). In April and at the Mariental prison near Windhoek. In June, May, the Prime Minister of South Africa reiter- South Africa detained for a few days 37 prominent ated that his Government would not change its de- leaders and supporters of SWAPO as well as two white mand for the Cuban withdrawal before granting lawyers who had supported that organization. Most independence to Namibia. Independence talks be- of them would be tried for violating the Prohibi- tween SWAPO, the South African Administrator- tion and Notification of Meetings Act of 1981. There General of Namibia and a delegation of MPC took were also numerous cases of “disappearances” and place at Lusaka from 10 to 13 May, the first direct torture of civilian detainees under interrogation. encounter between South Africa and SWAPO since In its Bangkok Declaration and Programme of the failure of pre-implementation meetings in Geneva Action, the Council denounced South Africa for in January 1981.(52) The Lusaka conference ended its illegal occupation, its increasing and large-scale without agreement on key issues. On 27 June, the military buildup in Namibia, its use of Namibian Prime Minister said in South African Parliament territory as a staging ground for launching armed that his country remained committed to resolution aggression against neighbouring States, its introduction 435(1978), but added that Cuban withdrawal from of compulsory military service for Namibians, its Angola was an absolute prerequisite. forced recruitment and training of Namibians for According to the Council, the Lusaka talks failed tribal armies and its use of mercenaries to carry because MPC refused to call for the implementa- out internal repression and external aggression. The tion of resolution 435(1978) and insisted on link- Council called on States to prevent the recruitment, ing Namibian independence to extraneous issues. training and transit of mercenaries for service in South African forces in Namibia were estimated Namibia. at 100,000, stationed at approximately 85 to 90 bases. The Committee on colonial countries, on 20 During preparations for attacks against Angola, ad- August,(34) condemned South Africa for the same ditional troops were moved into the Territory. On reasons and called on States to take the same ac- 28 March, South Africa announced a 21.4 per cent tion. As the Council had done, it condemned military increase in military spending for 1984. For the and other collaboration between South Africa and planned 1984/85 budget, the increase would bring certain Western and other States. On 21 August,(53) military spending to $3 billion out of the total budget the Committee on colonial countries, again con- of $20.7 billion. The Windhoek Advertiser reported on demning South Africa for those reasons, deplored 23 October that South Africa had made its Defence that it engaged in military activities and maintained Act applicable to Namibia, thus imposing conscrip- bases in Namibia, and that, in its war against the tion into the South African army on all Namibian Namibians, it committed aggression against neigh- males between 17 and 55 years of age. bouring countries. The Committee appealed to States The People’s Liberation Army of Namibia to render moral, political, financial, military and (PLAN) continued to mount attacks against South other support to SWAPO to enable it to intensify its African military installations in Namibia, result- struggle for Namibian independence. It stated that ing in the regime’s loss of arms and military air- the militarization of Namibia had led to forced con- craft. The combat zone covered nearly half of the scription and to a flow of refugees. The Commit- Territory. tee condemned the displacement of Namibians from The Council reported that South Africa’s nuclear their homes. capability had been enhanced and accelerated by the collaboration extended by certain Western States, SECURITY COUNCIL ACTION particularly the United States, and by Israel, through In resolution 546(1984) of 6 January adopted after assistance in uranium extraction and processing, Angola complained of South Africa’s aggression, the supply of nuclear equipment, and the transfer the Security Council condemned South Africa for of technology. The Council quoted press reports its bombing, as well as its continuing occupation stating that in 1984 Israel and South Africa estab- of parts of Angola, and for its use of Namibia as lished a ministerial committee to work out an agree- a springboard for perpetrating the attacks. ment by which South Africa would be supplied with technology for nuclear armaments. (See also p. 140.) GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTION In 1984, South Africa selectively released polit- The General Assembly, in decision 39/412, deplored ical prisoners, especially those who had caught the South Africa’s military activities and its maintaining 1050 Trusteeship and decolonization military bases in Namibia, and condemned it for sues such as the withdrawal of Cuban forces from its military buildup, the compulsory military serv- Angola. ice for Namibans, the forced recruitment for tribal armies and the use of mercenaries-calling on REFERENCES States to prevent their use and to provide all kinds (1)YUN 1967, p. 709, GA res. 2248(S-V), sect. II, 19 May of support to SWAPO. It demanded the dis- 1967. (2)A/39/24. (3)A/40/24. (4)YUN 1965, p. 440, GA mantling of all those military bases and con- res. 2106 A (XX), annex, 21 Dec. 1965. (5)YUN 1978, p. 915, SC res. 435 (1978), 29 Sept. 1978. (6)A/39/286-S/16601. demned the forcible displacement of Namibians (7)A/39/207. ( 8)A/AC.115/L.611. (9)YUN 1974, p. 846, GA from their homes for military and political pur- res. 3314(XXIX), 14 Dec. 1974. (l0)YUN 1960, p. 49, GA poses. Compulsory military conscription was res. 1514(XXV), 14 Dec. 1960. (11)YUN 1983, p. 1069, GA declared null and void. res. 38/36 C, 1 Dec. 1983. (12)YUN 1974, p. 152. (13)YUN 1983, p. 1077. (14)S/16256. (l5)YUN 1983, p. 174. (16)A/39/138- By resolution 39/42, the Assembly requested S/16427. (17)A/39/151-S/16434. (18)S/16725. (19)S/16735. States to end all assistance, including military sup- (20)A/39/688-S/16838. (21)A/39/689-S/16839. (22)A/40/56- plies, to South Africa, which used such assistance S/16869. (23)S/16389. (24)A/39/131-S/16414 & Corr.1. (25)YUN 1983, p. 1055, SC res. 539(1983), 28 Oct. 1983. (26)A/39/450- to repress the Namibians. S/16726. (27)A/39/560-S/16773. (28)A/39/590 & Corr.1. In resolution 39/50 A, it denounced all fraudu- (29)A/40/87. (30)A/39/336. (31)YUN 1983, p. 1061, GA lent constitutional and political schemes through res. 38/36 A, 1 Dec. 1983. (32)Ibid., p. 1066, GA res. 38/36 B, which South Africa might attempt to perpetuate 1 Dec. 1983. (33)A/39/508. (34)A/39/23 (dec. A/AC.109/794). (35)Ibid. (res. A/AC.109/797). (36)E/1984/14 (res.1984/4). its colonial domination, condemned its attempts (37)Ibid (res. 1984/5). (38)Ibid. (res. 1984/6). (39)A/C.4/39/4. through MPC to circumvent the United Nations (40)A/39/675. (41)YUN 1981, 1153, GA res. ES-8/2, 14 Sept. 1981. (42)A/AC.131/116. (43)A/AC.131/138. (44)YUN 1982, independence plan, and declared such manoeuvres 4 null and void. The Assembly welcomed the release 1314, GA res. 37/233 E, 20 Dec. 1982. c 5)A/39/832. (46)YUN 1982, p. 1310, GA dec. 36/325, 29 Mar. 1982. of SWAPO leaders as a victory for the international (47)A/AC.131/114. (48)A/AC.131/119. (49)A/AC.109/781. campaign. It declared that all laws proclaimed by (50)A/AC.109/784. (51)YUN 1983, p. 1060. (52)YUN 1981, South Africa in Namibia were illegal. With regard p. 1128. (53)A/39/23 (dec. A/AC.109/796). to the military situation, the Assembly condemned South Africa for the military buildup in Namibia, the imposition of compulsory military service there, the recruitment of Namibians for tribal ar- Economic and social conditions mies, the use of mercenaries, the forcible displace- ment of Namibians from their homes, and its use of Namibian territory as a staging ground for Foreign investment launching aggression against neighbouring States. The Council for Namibia, in its Bangkok Decla- States were called upon to prevent the recruitment, ration and Programme of Action on Namibia in- training and transit of mercenaries for service in cluded in its 1984 annual report to the General Namibia. The Assembly called on all specialized Assembly,(r) viewed with concern the increased agencies to terminate collaboration with South assistance rendered by major Western countries Africa, since such assistance augmented the mili- and Israel to South Africa in several areas, includ- tary capability of South Africa, thus enabling it ing economic and financial areas, and stated that to continue repression in Namibia and South such assistance constituted a hostile act against the Africa and to commit aggression against neigh- Namibian people and the front-line States. The bouring States. Council demanded that an immediate end be put In resolution 39/50 B, the Assembly condemned to such assistance and called on the international South Africa’s attempts to set up puppet political community to intensify efforts for South Africa’s institutions and impose an “internal settlement” complete isolation. in Namibia, in defiance of the United Nations, The Council’s Standing Committee II, in an and, in that context, rejected the puppet MPC as April report on the activities of foreign economic the latest in a series of political stratagems aimed interests operating in Namibia,(2) described re- at imposing a neo-colonial settlement in Namibia. cent international action against such interests and The Assembly, in resolution 39/50 C, decided stated that the campaign against economic co- that the Council for Namibia would denounce and operation with South Africa had grown rapidly. seek rejection by States of fraudulent schemes by The campaign had sought the support of church, which South Africa might attempt to perpetuate university and community groups in promoting its presence in Namibia; it would ensure non- action by stockholders in favour of disinvestment recognition of any administration installed at in South African interests, as well as boycotts of Windhoek not issuing from free elections in Na- community banks and other firms doing business mibia conducted in accordance with Security with South Africa. Most observers, the Council Council resolutions, and counter attempts to link said, felt that disinvestment had proved a partic- the independence of Namibia and extraneous is- ularly effective way to organize church and univer- Namibia 1051 sity groups. In disregard of the international campaign The secretariat, in another working paper on Na- and of United Nations resolutions against South mibia,(4) gave an overview of the Namibian econ- Africa and other foreign economic interests oper- omy and the activities of foreign economic interests ating illegally in Namibia, certain Western nations in the Territory. Stating that South Africa’s economic continued to maintain wide-ranging economic interests grip on Namibia was a stranglehold, the secretariat in Namibia and South Africa. The unwillingness noted that South Africa owned the rail-transport on the part of those countries to prevent the activities system, the airline and the communication network, of transnational corporations (TNCs) and their sub- it supplied the Territory’s oil and coal, and most sidiaries operating in Namibia had contributed to of the civil servants were South Africans. Two thirds the illegal exploitation of the Territory’s natural and of the Territory’s imports originated in South Africa human resources (see below), it said. and nearly half of its imports from other countries The mining and agricultural sectors (see below) were routed through that country. As in previous provided the major portion of Namibia’s gross years, Namibia had to borrow to balance its 1983/84 domestic product (GDP). Namibia’s commercial and budget. The borrowing rate equalled 15 per cent manufacturing sectors produced 10 to 15 per cent of its GDP; if the trend continued, Namibia’s ex- of GDP. All sectors were completely dominated by ternal debt would, by 1987, equal its GDP, mak- South Africa and other foreign economic interests. ing it one of the most indebted countries in the world. The manufacturing sector comprised fewer than Capital outflow to South Africa amounted to about 300 enterprises, accounted for under 5 per cent of 20 per cent of its GDP and nearly a third of its GDP and employed 10 per cent of the workforce. 1983/84 budget. The disparities between social ex- The South African presence in the manufacturing penditure for blacks and whites continued; for ex- and commercial sectors was strong, and foreign in- ample, the white minority, which comprised 7 per terests held direct and indirect interests, mainly in cent of the population, received over 50 per cent mining, but also in such areas as property, build- of the 1983 drought aid. ing, drilling, freight services, insurance and banking The secretariat said that foreign economic in- and trade. Financing was mainly generated in South terests, which were lured to Namibia because of Africa. Decades of foreign economic investment in unusually high profits made possible by abundant Namibia and the magnitude of profits had en- cheap, enslaved labour under South Africa’s apartheid couraged South Africa’s intransigence with regard system, conducted their operations under licences to Namibia’s independence. By their operations in issued by South Africa. Namibia, TNCs supported South Africa, thereby In order to obtain information on the exploita- reinforcing and perpetuating its occupation of Na- tion of the Namibian people and resources by mibia. South Africa did not require TNCs in Na- South Africa and other foreign economic interests mibia to reinvest any part of their profits in the Ter- and to expose such activities, the Council for Na- ritory for development purposes. The bulk of profits mibia conducted the Seminar on the Activities of were repatriated to foreign shareholders, resulting Foreign Economic Interests in the Exploitation of in a huge gap between the Territory’s GDP, the total Namibia’s Natural and Human Resources (Ljubl- value of goods and services produced, and gross jana, 16-20 April).(1) The seminar was also in- national product (GNP), the total value of products tended to mobilize international public opinion in after foreign payments were made. support of United Nations demands that foreign In an August working paper on Namibia,(3) the economic, financial and other interests operating secretariat of the Committee on colonial countries in Namibia refrain from new investments or ac- stated that the economic distortions created in Na- tivities there, withdraw from the Territory and end mibia by years of colonial domination, by the ravages their co-operation with the South African adminis- of South African and other foreign economic in- tration. terests and by South Africa’s war of attrition against Among its recommendations, the seminar said the people had left the Territory’s economy in a state the Council should commission an investigation into of near collapse. The Territory’s rich resources were the role of the mineral resources of South Africa exclusively controlled by South Africa and other and Namibia in the economies of the importing coun- foreign economic interests. Some studies showed tries and the part played by TNCS in exploiting those that as much as 60 per cent of Namibia’s GDP was resources. The Council was urged to stimulate further appropriated as company profits before taxes. As research on strategic shipping links with Namibia, a result, Namibia continued to suffer an economic compile legislation from countries which adhered decline-recent GDP figures showed negative growth to the oil embargo and publish a list of tankers and rates while administrative expenditures by the illegal oil companies which had been involved in shipping administration of the Territory continued to increase. oil to Namibia and South Africa. It also recom- In the Territory’s 1983/84 budget, 75 per cent of mended that action be taken in national courts of total funds were allotted for administrative expen- certain States which permitted their TNCS to plun- ditures which included the military and police. der Namibia’s natural resources. Governments, 1052 Trusteeship and decolonization specialized agencies, trade unions and other or- tecting Namibia’s interests, and drawing their ganizations were urged to expand their support to attention to Decree No. 1 to protect its natural the National Union of Namibian Workers so that resources;(6) ensuring compliance with the it might resist the growing exploitation of labour Decree, including consideration of legal proceed- by South Africa and the TNCS. ings in domestic courts of States and other ap- Japan, in a note verbale of 13 September to the propriate bodies; and conducting hearings, semi- President of the Council,(5) protested the semi- nars and workshops to obtain information on the nar’s recommendation that the Council urge exploitation of the Namibian people and resources Japan to stop the purchase of Namibian uranium and to expose such activities. by Japanese companies. Japan said it had pub- lished in the official Japanese trade bulletin its Natural resources recognition of Decree No. 1 for the Protection of Activities of the Council for Namibia. The the Natural Resources of Namibia, adopted by the Council for Namibia, in its annual report,(1) Council in 1974 to prevent the exploitation of described the exploitation of Namibia’s natural Namibia’s resources;(6) since then, there had been resources by foreign economic interests, and, as no official record of Namibian uranium having requested by the Assembly in 1983,(9) recom- been imported into Japan (see also p. 1031). mended policies to counter their support to the ille- On 20 August(7) and again on 21 August,(8) the gal South African administration. The Council Committee on colonial countries also took action based its findings on the April report of its Stand- on foreign investment in Namibia. The Commit- ing Committee II.(2) According to the Council, tee condemned South African and other foreign Western-based TNCS and other interests continued economic interests exploiting and plundering the to exploit, in collaboration with South Africa, the Territory’s human and natural resources. It natural resources, despite repeated United Nations reaffirmed that all such resources were the heritage resolutions and the Council’s 1974 Decree No. 1 of the people, and condemned South Africa’s ex- for the Protection of the Natural Resources of Na- ploitation, including its extension of the territorial mibia,(6) banning the exploitation of those sea, its proclamation of an economic zone off the resources without the Council’s permission. coast of Namibia and its exploitation of marine Namibia’s rich natural resources (including ura- resources. It demanded that States whose TNCS nium, diamonds, copper, lead, zinc, aluminium, were operating in Namibia comply with United silver, gold, pyrite, tin, vanadium, tungsten, man- Nations resolutions, withdraw all investments from ganese, coal, iron, platinum and other metals, as Namibia and end co-operation between those well as agricultural and fishery products) were con- TNCs and the South African administration. trolled by South Africa and other foreign economic The Committee also called on States to ter- and financial interests, thereby causing an un- minate any investments in Namibia or loans to balanced and precarious economic structure. South Africa and to refrain from promoting trade Although mining constituted almost half of the or other economic relations with that country. It Territory’s total GDP, it employed only 10 per cent declared that all activities of foreign economic in- of the labour force. Commercial agriculture terests in Namibia were illegal and that South provided a lucrative income for some 5,000 white Africa and those interests were liable to pay farmers who produced more than 95 per cent of damages to its future lawful Government. the marketed agricultural output. Subsistence In December, the General Assembly also took agriculture constituted virtually the only economic action on foreign economic interests in Namibia. activity for the indigenous population and its share In resolution 39/42, it called on States to terminate of the total marketed agricultural output was 2.5 any investments in Namibia or loans to South per cent. The agricultural sector contributed about Africa and to refrain from promoting trade or eco- 14 per cent to the GDP and 20 per cent to exports. nomic relations with it. The Assembly also In the past, Namibia’s fish resources were econom- declared the activities of such interests illegal and ically significant, but exploitation by South Afri- that they were liable for damages to the future Na- can and other foreign economic interests had seri- mibian Government. In resolution 39/50 C, the ously depleted those resources, resulting in the loss Assembly decided on the work programme of the of several thousand jobs. Council for Namibia, which included: consider- The gap between Namibia’s GDP and GNP in- ing policies to counter the support which foreign dicated the extent of exploitation. Over 60 per cent economic interests gave to the South African ad- of Namibia’s GDP was appropriated as company ministration; notifying States whose corporations profits before taxes. Foreign economic interests in- operated in Namibia of their illegality; sending volved in exploiting Namibia’s resources included missions to consult those Governments to dis- some of the world’s largest corporations and finan- courage the continuation of investments; contact- cial institutions from South Africa,, Western Eu- ing international organizations with a view to pro- rope and North America-all licensed by South Namibia 1053

Africa. They were attracted to Namibia because Republic of Germany, the Netherlands and the of the unusually high profits made possible by South United Kingdom, which operated the Urenco Africa’s apartheid system, which provided abundant uranium-enrichment plant at Almelo, the Nether- cheap labour. lands, to have Namibian uranium specifically ex- In the mining sector, which contributed almost cluded from the 1970 Treaty of Almelo, which regu- half of the GDP and nearly 90 per cent of exports, lated Urenco’s activities. The Council urged four corporations-two mostly South African owned, Governments, particularly of those Western States one United States owned and another mostly British and Israel whose corporations were involved in min- owned-accounted for about 95 per cent of mineral ing and processing Namibian uranium, to take meas- production and exports and held approximately 80 ures, including requiring negative certificates of ori- per cent of the Territory’s mineral assets. Diamond gin, to prohibit State-owned and other corporations production and exports were controlled by South from dealing in Namibian uranium and from en- Africa through the Diamond Board of Namibia and gaging in uranium prospecting in Namibia. The marketed through the De Beers Central Selling Or- Council stated its intention to consider the feasi- ganization, which buffered market fluctuations bility, in the exercise of its rights under the United through stockpiling and selective sales. A wide range Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,(l0) of of base metals and other precious metals made up proclaiming an exclusive economic zone for Namibia. 20 per cent of the total output of the mining sector. Council’s mission to Western Europe. In 1984, For more than a decade, Namibia’s reserves of the Council sent a mission to France, the Nether- uranium, estimated to be among the largest in the lands, the Federal Republic of Germany and the world, had attracted foreign mining interests. South United Kingdom (24 April to 12 May), in pursu- Africa, in particular, sought to maintain its con- ance of the General Assembly’s 1983 decision(9) that trol over the Territory’s uranium deposits. The only it should take all measures to ensure compliance active uranium mine in Namibia was operated by with Decree No. 1 on protecting Namibia’s natural a consortium of Western and South African firms resources,(6) including consideration of legal incorporated in 1970, Rössing Uranium, Ltd. United proceedings in the domestic courts of States and States companies were prospecting for uranium. other appropriate bodies. The mission held discus- In the agricultural sector, white farmers owned sions with NGOs and other groups on ways of im- and managed the most important commercially plementing the Decree. It sought legal advice on oriented agricultural activities, namely, cattle raising, the possibility of the Council’s instituting legal dairy farming and the production of caracul pelts proceedings in national courts against TNCS and (a valuable type of sheep’s fleece), producing over other business concerns importing or dealing with 97 per cent of the total marketed agricultural out- Namibian goods incompatible with the Decree. It put. The main market for beef was South Africa sought clarification on three issues: the legal sta- with its Meat Board setting quotas for Namibian tus in those countries of the United Nations reso- exports. The fishing industry was also controlled lutions on Namibia; persons or organizations com- by South Africa. petent to bring legal action in those countries; and The Council, in its Bangkok Declaration and Pro- possible procedures for instituting legal action. In gramme of Action adopted on 25 May, reaffirmed July, the mission made recommendations to the that the natural, including marine, resources of Na- Council for action.(1) mibia were the inviolable heritage of its people, and In France, the mission was informed that the reso- in that regard, underscored the importance of im- lutions did not have juridical value under French plementing Decree No. 1. It said that the rapid deple- law, except for those of the Security Council relat- tion of the resources, as a result of their illegal plunder ing to maintenance of peace. It was suggested that by South Africa and other foreign economic interests, indirect enforcement of the Decree could be achieved was a threat to the integrity and prosperity of an by bringing it within the purview of international independent Namibia. Calling on corporations to instruments of human rights, or through corporate terminate such activities, the Council urged Govern- action. The Netherlands had recognized both the ments to ensure the cessation of those activities and Decree and the competence of the Council to enact any new investments in Namibia by corporations it. In the Federal Republic of Germany and the under their jurisdiction, as well as their compliance United Kingdom, the Decree could not be enforced with the Decree. The Council reiterated its resolve by the courts since an Assembly resolution was not to ensure compliance, including by initiating legal considered binding. In its recommendations to the proceedings in domestic courts. It reaffirmed that Council, the mission strongly advised that the Coun- foreign economic interests which were illegally ex- cil clarify the relationship between the Decree and ploiting Namibia’s resources were liable to pay repa- relevant resolutions of the Security Council so as rations to an independent Namibia. Condemning to enhance its effectiveness and enforceability in the exploitation of Namibia’s resources, including those countries whose Governments regarded it as uranium, it reiterated its request to the Federal a mere recommendation of the Assembly. 1054 Trusteeship and decolonization

Concerning the issue of who was competent to tact with NGOs in the countries it visited. It recom- bring legal action, lawyers said that in France legal mended that the Office of the United Nations Com- standing could be given to the Council, the United missioner for Namibia prepare a compendium of Nations Commissioner for Namibia, NGOS with all existing reports and studies on the implemen- United Nations consultative status, anyone who ad- tation of the Decree. vocated the principles of human rights, SWAP0 Symposium on implementation of Decree and/or Namibians residing in France. In the Fed- No. 1. The Council organized the Symposium on eral Republic of Germany, only the Council, act- International Efforts to Implement Decree No. 1 ing on behalf of the United Nations, would have for the Protection of the Natural Resources of Na- legal standing in its courts. In the Netherlands, such mibia (Geneva, 27-31 August) to consider ways of standing would be accorded to either the Council instituting legal proceedings in the domestic courts or the Commissioner. In the United Kingdom, there of States and other appropriate bodies in order to could be reasonable grounds for satisfying the courts ensure compliance with the Council’s 1974 that the Council had legal standing, but it was ad- Decree.(6) Attended by 13 Member States, 40 par- visable for the United Nations itself and the Council ticipants from NGOs and trade unions, as well as to be joint plaintiffs. The mission said that the sug- lawyers and parliamentarians, the Symposium came gestion that the Council consider initiating legal to a number of conclusions and made recommen- proceedings by bodies or persons other than the dations to the Council.(1) Council, and without using the Decree as the basis The Symposium recommended, among other of the proceedings, should be examined, bearing things, that the Council and the Commissioner in- in mind that such a course of action might be in- stitute legal proceedings in the Netherlands as soon terpreted as compromising the legal standing of the as possible, and prepare similar action in other coun- Council and/or that of the Decree. tries known to be involved in mining, transport- To commence legal action, French lawyers sug- ing, processing or receiving Namibian minerals, gested that an investigation be conducted to ascertain paying particular attention to Belgium-a Coun- what actions stood the best chances of success with cil member. They were also urged to: notify Govern- regard to the involvement of French corporations ments whose national corporations defied the Decree engaged in the illegal exploitation of Namibian and United Nations resolutions; request States to resources. In the Netherlands, the recommended promote the Decree’s imp1ementation; notify each preliminary procedural step was to obtain from scho- corporation violating it of their intention to insti- lars of international law a written opinion on all tute legal proceedings; consider recommending that the issues involved in the implementation of the the Security Council or the General Assembly re- Decree in that country. The lawyers in the Federal quest another advisory opinion from the Interna- Republic of Germany considered that action could tional Court of Justice on what measures the Security be initiated in the European Court in Luxembourg, Council should apply to States refusing to comply which considered alleged illegal acts by corpora- with its resolutions and the Decree; and engage ex- tions in EEC countries, against those buying Na- perts in those Western States whose corporations mibian uranium or arranging contracts for deliv- were exploiting the resources to compile a list for ery. Lawyers in the United Kingdom suggested that publication. legal Counsel draft the documentation in order to The Symposium also recommended that the commence the proceedings, whether in the form Council establish a register of profits earned by cor- of writ or summons or petition, depending on the porations through their Namibia operations, and nature of the proceedings. Possible defendants would to publicize the Decree with the help of public re- include companies in the United Kingdom involved lations experts. It was urged to ensure Namibia’s in exploring, exploiting or exporting Namibian territorial integrity by countering South Africa’s natural resources, or companies which imported claims to the Orange River, Walvis Bay and the or distributed such resources. offshore islands, and to proclaim an exclusive eco- The mission recommended that any legal action nomic zone for Namibia under the Law of the Sea envisaged by the Council for Namibia be brought Convention. The Council was also called on to first in the courts of the Netherlands, since it had assist trade unions trying to prevent transportation recognized the Council and its competence to enact of natural resources originating in Namibia, and the Decree. Such legal action should initially focus to publish a list of tankers and oil companies in- on the exploitation of Namibian uranium. As for volved in shipping oil to it. the suggestion that legal proceedings be initiated Activities of the Committee on colonial coun- by bodies or persons other than the Council without tries. The secretariat of the Committee on colonial using the Decree as the basis for such proceedings, countries, in an August working paper on activi- this might be interpreted as admission of a certain ties of foreign economic and other interests in Na- weakness in the legal standing of the Council and mibia,(4) reported findings similar to those of the the Decree. The Council called for frequent con- Council for Namibia. It named some corporations 1055 Namibia based in Western Europe which operated or invested zone. The Assembly declared that all activities of in Namibia, and noted that they included two of foreign economic interests in Namibia were ille- the ten largest mining corporations of the Western gal and that consequently they and South Africa world (both of the United Kingdom); two of the were liable to pay damages to the future lawful largest international banking companies (of the Government. States were called on to comply with United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Ger- Decree No. 1, including the requirement of nega- many); and two of the seven largest Western tive certificates of origin, to prevent corporations petroleum companies (one of the United Kingdom from dealing in Namibian uranium and from and the other a multinational corporation mostly prospecting. Dutch and British owned). The United States was States were also called on to refrain from rela- involved as part owner of mining concerns oper- tions with South Africa and to cease economic and ating in Namibia. Other North American corpo- trade relations with it which might support its oc- rations were involved in the oil and caracul indus- cupation of Namibia. The Assembly requested the tries. Since 1980, the trend in the activities of foreign Secretary-General to expose the pillaging of natural economic interests operating in the Namibian resources in colonial Territories by foreign monopolies mineral sector had been towards maintaining the and, in respect of Namibia, the support they ren- existing level of direct foreign investment without dered to South Africa. any appreciable expansion, and staking mining The Assembly took similar action in resolution claims and prospecting. A few companies had pulled 39/50 A, reaffirming that the resources were the out of the Territory during that period, resulting inviolable heritage of the people and declaring the in a corresponding increase in South African owner- illegality of the activities of foreign economic in- ship of Namibian mines and other economic ac- terests. It expressed concern at the rapid depletion tivities. of the natural resources, particularly uranium, as Action by Committee on colonial countries. a result of plunder by South Africa and certain On 21 August,(8) the Committee on colonial coun- Western and other foreign interests, in violation of tries condemned South Africa for plundering United Nations decisions. Governments were again Namibia’s natural resources, for creating an eco- called on to prohibit corporations from dealing in nomic structure there dependent on its mineral Namibian uranium. The Assembly requested the resources, and for its illegal extension of the ter- Federal Republic of Germany, the Netherlands and ritorial sea and proclamation of an economic zone the United Kingdom to have uranium specifically off Namibia’s coast. It reiterated that such exploi- excluded from the Treaty of Almelo, which regu- tation by South African and other foreign interests lated activities of the Urenco uranium-processing was illegal and contributed to maintaining the oc- plant. The Assembly demanded that TNCS engaged cupation regime. The Committee condemned the in exploitation withdraw from the Territory and end plunder of Namibian uranium and called on States co-operation with the South African administra- to comply with Decree No. 1 to prevent corpora- tion and Member States were requested to ensure tions from dealing in and prospecting for it. compliance with Decree No. 1. The Assembly On 20 August,(7) the Committee demanded that declared that by their exploitation, the interests were foreign exploitation cease and reaffirmed that the obstructing Namibia’s independence. natural resources were the inviolable heritage of the The Assembly, in resolution 39/50 C on the work Namibians. Noting with concern their rapid deple- programme of the Council for Namibia, decided tion as a result of the illegal plunder, the Commit- that it would continue to examine the exploitation tee considered it a grave threat to an independent of and trade in Namibian uranium by foreign in- Namibia. It demanded that those States whose terests, draw the attention of the specialized agencies TNCs operated in Namibia under the illegal ad- to Decree No. 1, and take measures to ensure com- ministration of South Africa comply with United pliance with it, including consideration of instituting Nations resolutions by immediately withdrawing legal proceeding in States’ domestic courts and other all investments from Namibia. bodies. By resolution 39/50 D, the Assembly re- quested the Council to include in its 1985 activi- GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTION ties distribution of a book on TNCs plundering Na- In resolution 39/42, the General Assembly con- mibian resources and on the profits extracted, and demned the Governments supporting foreign in- a booklet on implementation of the Decree. terests exploiting the resources of the colonial Ter- ritories, particularly Namibia’s marine resources. It called on States to stop investing in Namibia. South Social conditions and exploitation of labour Africa was condemned for its plunder, for creat- The Council for Namibia, in its 1984 annual ing an economic structure in Namibia dependent report,(1) as well as its Standing Committee II, in on its minerals and for the illegal extension of the April(2) and July(11) reports, reviewed the social con- territorial sea and proclaiming the economic coastal ditions and exploitation of labour in the Territory. 1056 Trusteeship and decolonization

The secretariat of the Committee on colonial coun- provided a captive cheap labour force for the white tries also described that exploitation in an August economy. The total black work force was estimated working paper on Namibia.(3) The Council noted at 500,000, of whom 240,000 were engaged in sub- that in Namibia, as in South Africa, the division sistence agriculture. Of the remainder, about of the population into ethnic groups (bantus) was 56,500 worked on commercial farms, 28,000 in the principal means by which the regime sought mining, 7,500 in the fishing industry, 28,500 in the to perpetuate white power, prevent unity among secondary and 148,000 in the tertiary sectors, and black Namibians and maintain a pool of cheap 75,000 in domestic service. Almost half of the non- labour. The African population had been forced agricultural labour force excluding whites (about into the poverty-stricken “homelands” or "ban- 110,000) were migrant workers on short-term con- tustans". The educational system imposed in Na- tracts and were mainly from the north. The esti- mibia was designed to perpetuate white mated unemployment level for 1984 was 25 per supremacy, with education for blacks based on the cent, which did not take into account the agricul- premise that they were to be trained for subser- tural sector where unemployment was exacerbated vient jobs. Educational facilities for black children by the 1983 drought. were non-existent in some areas and mediocre at Cosmetic changes in racist labour laws in- best in others. According to available information, troduced by South Africa to placate the labour $1,500 per year was spent on educating each white force and to improve its image abroad had not child, seven times more than the allocation for each changed the status of black workers. The require- black and “coloured” (mixed race) child. ments of the registration laws for black trade un- The health sector was also characterized by ions had made it almost impossible for them to gross inequities, with health services for the black function, thereby forcing the National Union of majority either rudimentary or virtually non- Namibian Workers, a country-wide organization existent while those available to whites were com- affiliated with SWAPO, to operate underground parable to that of the best of any country. Many since 1980. Laws prohibited trade unions from diseases associated with malnutrition resulting pursuing political objectives and the administra- from abject poverty and overcrowded living con- tion had frequently banned union activity. ditions were common among blacks, but almost In the Bangkok Declaration and Programme of unknown among whites. Housing was governed Action, the Council urged Governments, special- by discriminatory laws, and that provided for black ized agencies and other organizations to provide Namibians was exceptionally poor. Temporary and material assistance to the Namibian refugees who makeshift camps and shanties were a prominent had been forced to flee into neighbouring States. feature of black townships, where living conditions were cramped with minimal facilities. REFERENCES South Africa continued to apply its repressive (1)A/39/24. (2)A/AC.131/115. (3)A/AC.109/784. (4)A/AC.109/782. laws aimed at thwarting the legitimate national (5)A/39/489. (6)YUN 1974, p. 152. (7)A/39/23 (dec. A/AC.109/794). (8)Ibid. (res. A/AC.109/795). (9)YUN 1983, liberation struggle of the Namibian people, giv- p, 1069, GA res. 38/36 C, 1 Dec. 1983. (l0)YUN 1982, p. 181. ing the South African police and occupation forces (11)A/AC.131/130. power to carry out mass arrests, to ban organiza- tions and publications, to detain or deport Namib- ians without trial, to ban meetings, and to restrict the movement of opposition leaders. The security International assistance forces conducted arrests, intimidation, detention, incarceration and murder. Expropriation, war and The Council for Namibia, in its Bangkok Decla- repression had forced thousands of Namibians to ration and Programme of Action, included in its flee to Angola and Zambia. According to 1984 1984 annual report,(1) stated that, at the current figures compiled by UNHCR,, there were some critical stage in the struggle of the Namibian peo- 70,000 Namibian refugees in Angola and 4,500 in ple for independence, all-round support to SWAPO Zambia, which had created emergency needs in must be urgently intensified. It urged all States agriculture, health, education and housing. and United Nations bodies to increase political, Namibians in Angola were frequently a target of moral, material, military and financial assistance South African forces based in Namibia who to SWAPO in that struggle, as well as material as- crossed the border into Angola to harass the refu- sistance to Namibian refugees forced to flee into gees, operating under the pretext that the camps neighbouring countries. United Nations organi- were SWAPO bases. zations were urged to give priority to assisting In Namibia, the labour force was divided ra- Namibians through SWAPO. cially; apartheid existed in the conditions of work, The Council believed that the front-line States’ wages earned, the right to organize in trade un- support for the Namibian cause continued to be ions and the types of jobs available. The system important in efforts to achieve independence. It Namibia 1057

deemed it necessary that the international commu- port Namibia's struggle and defend themselves nity urgently increase financial, material, military against South Africa. In resolution 39/50 E, the As- and political support to those States so as to ena- sembly decided that the Council would continue ble them to resolve their own economic difficulties to formulate assistance policies and co-ordinate as- and to defend themselves against South Africa's sistance for Namibia provided by United Nations destabilizing attempts. Reaffirming support for organizations. SADCC, it called on States to assist SADCC in promoting regional economic co-operation and de- UN Fund for Namibia velopment and to reduce the economic dependence of countries on South Africa. NGOs were urged to Activities of the Fund intensify, in co-operation with the Council, inter- The United Nations Fund for Namibia, financed national action in support of the liberation strug- mainly by voluntary contributions, continued to gle and to increase their support to SWAPO. serve in 1984 as the main vehicle through which The Committee on colonial countries also called the Council for Namibia channelled assistance to for support for the Namibian people. On 20 the Territory. The Council was trustee for the Fund, August,(2) it paid particular tribute to the front-line which became operative in 1972.(8) As the Coun- 1 States for their commitment and assistance to the cil reported in 1984,( ) the Fund's activities were Namibians and SWAPO. It also called on the inter- divided into three mam programmes: the United national community to increase all kinds of sup- Nations Institute for Namibia (see below); the Na- port to those States and to assist SADCC. It also tionhood Programme for Namibia (see below); and urged States and United Nations organizations to educational, social and relief assistance to Namibians. support all assistance programmes organized by the Expenditures in 1984 from the Fund in the three Council to benefit the Namibians. programmes were: $3,563,147 for the Institute; On 22 August,(3) the Committee expressed con- $1,770,055 for the Nationhood Programme; and cern that assistance extended so far by United $2,188,569 for educational, social and relief assistance. Nations organizations to the colonial peoples, par- The first two programmes were set up with par- ticularly the Namibian people and SWAPO, was in- ticular reference towards future independence, adequate. It noted with satisfaction that SWAPO con- whereas the third programme, which provided in- tinued to benefit from programmes established within dividual scholarships under the administration of the framework of the United Nations Institute for the Commissioner's Office, emphasized the immedi- Namibia (see p. 1061). It urged the organizations ate needs and welfare of Namibians. Financed by to increase assistance to SWAPO, as well as to the the Fund's General Account, it provided assistance Institute and the Nationhood Programme for Na- for health and medical care, nutrition and social mibia (see p. 1060) and to extend material assistance welfare, books and periodicals for Namibian refugee to the front-line States. camps and SWAPO offices, and assistance to Namib- In 1982(4) and 1983(5) the General Assembly had ian representatives at international meetings. During requested the Secretary-General to develop a com- the period from 1 July 1983 to 30 June 1984, 51 prehensive programme of assistance to the States new scholarships were approved and 52 students in question to enable them to become self-reliant. completed their courses. As of 1 July 1984, a total In 1983, he had reported that the basic elements of 124 awards were being used in various fields of of such a programme were available in the national study in 11 countries. Vocational training was development plans of those States and in the SADCC provided in the following fields: law enforcement, programmes, and concluded that since those radio broadcasting, cinematography, video tech- programmes reflected the judgements of the Govern- niques, land use for agriculture, journalism and com- ments concerned, additional international assistance munications, and clerical and transport services. to ensure their implementation would be the most A list of allocations from the General Account and realistic approach.(6) On 15 October 1984,(7) the a brief description of the activities under the pro- Secretary-General stated that as the Governments gramme were provided in an April report of the concerned had not indicated any change in their Commissioner for Namibia.(9) positions, his 1983 suggestion continued to be the In its Bangkok Declaration and Programme of most appropriate response. Action, the Council expressed appreciation to The Assembly, in resolution 39/43, expressed con- Governments and United Nations organizations cern that assistance extended by United Nations that had contributed to the Fund and appealed to organizations to the colonial peoples, particularly them to contribute or to increase their contri- the Namibians and SWAPO, was far from adequate. butions. It called on United Nations organizations to increase assistance to SWAPO, the Institute for Namibia and GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTION the Nationhood Programme, and to extend material On 12 December, the General Assembly aid to the front-line States so that they could sup- adopted resolution 39/50 E by recorded vote. 1058 Trusteeship and decolonization

United Nations Fund for Namibia 6. Requests the Secretary-General and the President The General Assembly, of the United Nations Council for Namibia to intensify Having examined the parts of the report of the United appeals to Governments, intergovernmental and non- Nations-Council for Namibia relating to the United governmental organizations and individuals for more Nations Fund for Namibia. generous voluntary contributions to the General Account, Recalling its resolution 2679(XXV) of 9 December the Nationhood Programme Account and the United 1970, by which it established the United Nations Fund Nations Institute for Namibia Account of the United for Namibia, Nations Fund for Namibia in view of the increased ac- Recalling also its resolution 3112(XXVIII) of 12 De- tivities undertaken through the Fund, and, in this con- cember 1973, by which it appointed the United Nations nection, emphasizes the need for contributions in order Council for Namibia trustee of the United Nations Fund to increase the number of scholarships awarded to Namib- for Namibia, ians under the United Nations Fund for Namibia; Recalling its resolution 31/153 of 20 December 1976, 7. Invites Governments to appeal once more to their by which it decided to launch the Nationhood Pro- national organizations and institutions for voluntary con- gramme for Namibia, tributions to the United Nations Fund for Namibia; Recalling further its resolution 34/92 A of 12 Decem- 8. Requests the Office of the United Nations Com- ber 1979, by which it approved the Charter of the United missioner for Namibia, in order to mobilize additional Nations Institute for Namibia, and its resolution resources, to formulate, in consultation with the South 37/233 E of 20 December 1982, by which it approved West Africa People’s Organization, a programme of as- amendments to the Charter, sistance to the Namibian people to be undertaken by means 1. Takes note of the relevant parts of the report of the of projects co-financed by Governments and non- United Nations Council for Namibia; governmental organizations; 2. Decides that the United Nations Council for Na- mibia shall: 9. Requests the specialized agencies and other organi- zations and institutions of the United Nations svstem. (a) Continue to formulate policies of assistance to in the light of the urgent need to strengthen the programme Namibians and co-ordinate assistance for Namibia of assistance to the Namibian people, to make every ef- provided by the specialized agencies and other organi- fort to expedite the execution of Nationhood Programme zations and institutions of the United Nations system; for Namibia projects and other projects in favour of Namib- (b) Continue to act as trustee of the United Nations ians on the basis of procedures which will reflect the role Fund for Namibia, and, in this capacity, administer and of the United Nations Council for Namibia as the legal manage the Fund; Administering Authority for Namibia; (c) Continue to provide broad guidelines and for- mulate principles and policies for the United Nations 10. Expresses its appreciation to those specialized agen- Institute for Namibia; cies and other organizations and institutions of the United Nations system that have contributed to the Nationhood (d) Continue to co-ordinate, plan and direct the Na- tionhood Programme for Namibia in consultation with Programme for Namibia and calls upon them to con- the South West Africa People’s Organization, with the tinue their participation in the Programme by: aim of consolidating all measures of assistance by the (a) Implementing projects approved by the United specialized agencies and other organizations and insti- Nations Council for Namibia; tutions of the United Nations system into a comprehen- (6) Planning and initiating new project proposals in sive assistance programme; co-operation with, and at the request of, the Council; (e) Continue to consult with the South West Africa (c) Allocating funds from their own financial resources People’s Organization in the formulation and implemen- for the implementation of the projects approved by the tation of assistance programmes for Namibians; Council; (f) Report to the General Assembly at its fortieth session on the programmes and activities undertaken 11. Emphasizes the need for Namibians to gain prac- through the United Nations Fund for Namibia; tical on-the-job experience in various countries, and appeals to all Governments to make generous contributions to 3. Decides that the United Nations Fund for Na- the United Nations Fund for Namibia to enable Namibians mibia, which comprises the General Account, the United trained under various programmes to be placed in ad- Nations Institute for Namibia Account and the Nation- ministrations and institutions in diverse countries, par- hood Programme Account, shall be the primary source ticularly in Africa; of assistance to Namibians; 4. Expresses its appreciation to all States, specialized agen- 12. Expresses its appreciation to the United Nations De- cies and other organizations of the United Nations sys- velopment Programme for its contribution to the financing tem, governmental and non-governmental organizations and administration of the Nationhood Programme for and individuals that have made contributions to the United Namibia and the financing of the United Nations Insti- Nations Fund for Namibia to support the activities under tute for Namibia and calls upon it to continue to allo- the General Account, the activities of the United Nations cate, at the request of the United Nations Council for Institute for Namibia and the Nationhood Programme Namibia. funds from the indicative planning figure for for Namibia and calls upon them to increase their as- Namibia for the implementation of the projects within sistance to Namibians through those channels; the Nationhood Programme and for the United Nations 5. Decides to allocate as a temporary measure to the Institute for Namibia; United Nations Fund for Namibia the sum of $1 mil- 13. Calls upon the United Nations Development Pro- lion from the regular budget of the United Nations for gramme to raise the indicative planning figure for 1985; Namibia; Namibia 1059

14. Expresses its appreciation for the assistance provided for the implementation of the Nationhood Programme by the United Nations Children’s Fund, the Office of for Namibia, as well as other assistance programmes. the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the World Food Programme to Namibian refugees General Assembly resolution 39/50 E and requests them to expand their assistance in order 12 December 1984 Meeting 97 149-0-5 (recorded vote) to provide for the basic needs of the refugees; Draft by Council for Namibia (A/39/24); agenda item 29. 15. Expresses its appreciation to those specialized agen- Financial implications. ACABQ, A/39/7/Add.13 & Corr.1; 5th Committee. A/39/813; cies and other organizations of the United Nations sys- S-G, A/39/C.5/39/70 & Add.1 & Corr.1. tem which have waived agency support costs in respect Meeting numbers. GA39th session: 4th Committee 15.19; 5th Committee 46; plenary 78-84,86,94,97. of projects in favour of Namibians, financed from the United Nations Fund for Namibia and other sources, Recorded vote in Assembly as follows: In favour: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Ar- and urges those that have not yet done so to take appropri- gentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, ate steps in this regard; Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, 16. Notes with appreciation that agreement has been Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Byelorussian SSR, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cen- reached between the United Nations Development Pro- tral African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoro& Congo, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus Czechoslovakia, Democratic Kampuchea, Democratic Yemen, Den, gramme and the organizations of the United Nations sys- mark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, tem to reduce overhead charges to 3.5 per cent for cer- Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Gambia, German Democratic tain types of project costs financed from the United Nations Republic, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Ivory Fund for Namibia; Coast Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 17. Decides that Namibians shall continue to be eligible Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, for assistance through the United Nations Educational Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mon- and Training Programme for Southern Africa and the golia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philip- United Nations Trust Fund for South Africa; pines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and 18. Commends the progress made in the implemen- the Grenadines & Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychells, tation of the pre-independence components of the Na- Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, tionhood Programme for Namibia and requests the United Turkey, Uganda, Ukrainian SSR, USSR, United Arab Emirates, United Republic Nations Council for Namibia to elaborate and consider of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, policies and contingency plans regarding the transitional Zambia, Zimbabwe. and post-independence phases of the Programme; Against; None. Abstaining: Canada, France, Germany, Federal Republic of, United Kingdom, 19. Commends the United Nations Institute for Na- United States. mibia for the effectiveness of its training programmes for Namibians and its research activities on Namibia, In explanation of vote, Japan said that its affir- which contribute substantially to the struggle for free- mative vote should not be construed as support for dom of the Namibian people and to the establishment all paragraphs; in regard to the increase in the budget of an independent State of Namibia; 20. Urges the specialized agencies and other organi- appropriations, Japan, while recognizing and ap- zations and institutions of the United Nations system preciating the role that the United Nations Fund to co-operate closely with the United Nations Institute for Namibia was playing, recalled that it was es- for Namibia in strengthening its programme of activities; tablished as a voluntary fund and expressed reser- 21. Requests the United Nations Council for Namibia, vations regarding paragraph 5, which allocated $1 through the United Nations Institute for Namibia, to million from the regular budget. finalize and publish at an early date a comprehensive reference book on Namibia covering all aspects of the question of Namibia as considered by the United Nations Financing of the Fund since its inception, in accordance with an outline to be In 1984, 41 States made a total contribution of prepared by the Council; $4,397,313 to the United Nations Fund for Namibia 22. Requests the United Nations Council for Namibia, (see table). In addition to voluntary contributions, in consultation with the Office of the United Nations Com- the Fund was financed by the United Nations regular missioner for Namibia, to finalize and publish at an early budget ($1 million for 1984 as authorized by the date a demographic study of the Namibian population General Assembly in 1983(10) and UNDP assistance and a study of its educational needs; for projects. For that purpose, UNDP had established 23. Requests the United Nations Institute for Namibia to complete the preparation, in co-operation with the South an indicative planning figure (IPF) for Namibia West Africa People’s Organization, the Office of the United ($7,750,000 for 1982-1986). Nations Commissioner for Namibia and the United The Council for Namibia organized several fund- Nations Development Programme, of a comprehensive raising missions in 1984: to Denmark, Norway, Fin- document on all aspects of economic planning in an in- land and Sweden (11 to 18 April); Japan (28 and dependent Namibia, and requests the Secretary-General 29 May); and Austria, the Federal Republic of Ger- to continue to provide substantive support through the many, the Netherlands, Belgium, EEC, Italy and Office of the Commissioner for the preparation of that France (13 to 22 June).(1) Those Governments document; 24. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to pro- recognized the need to prepare the Namibian people vide the Office of the United Nations Commissioner for for independence and expressed their continuing Namibia with the necessary resources for the perform- support for the Council’s assistance programmes. ance of the responsibilities entrusted to it by the United By resolution 39/50 E, the General Assembly Nations Council for Namibia as the co-ordinating authority called for increased assistance to Namibians through 1060 Trusteeship and decolonization the Fund, and decided to allocate $1 million from and fish processing, labour administration, elec- the 1985 regular United Nations budget. It re- tricity supply, water supply, pilot training, nurs- quested the Secretary-General and the President ing, shoemaking and leatherwork, and teacher edu- of the Council to appeal for more contributions cation. In-service training began in truck maintenance, in view of the Fund’s increased activities and the mining and railways operations, and labour adminis- need for more scholarships. Governments were in- tration, and continued in statistics, mining and land vited to appeal to their national organizations for use for agriculture. A group of disabled Namib- voluntary contributions. ians began six-month training courses in various technical areas. Training continued in geology and CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE UN FUND FOR NAMIBIA, 1984 mining, maritime economics and management, aircraft (as at 31 December 1984) maintenance and traffic control, and development Amount (in Us dollar equivaient) planning. The United Nations Vocational Training Centre General Nationhood Institute for Namibia in Angola, which became operational COUNTRY Account Programme for Namibia in 1983,(12) could not be staffed by internationally Afghanistan 500 Australia 65,219 recruited supervisors at the level envisaged because Austria 15,500 of the situation in the area where the Centre was Bahamas 1,000 Bangladesh 15,000 located. Its Governing Board held its fifth meet- Barbados 500 ing in Angola in May 1984, and took measures to Cameroon 2,519 ensure continuous adequate staffing. Canada 153,363 China 30,000 All of the surveys envisaged since the inception Cyprus 196 196 Denmark 95,932 435,054 of the Programme were either completed or were Egypt expected to be completed by the end of 1984. Final Finland 62,002 442,870 259,619 reports on transport, health, land use, human set- France 39,429 104,058 Germany. Federal Republic of 75,680 tlements development, labour legislation and trans- Greece 4,500 5,500 national corporations had been distributed to the Guyana 16,000 Iceland 2,000 Council. The reports on civil aviation, telecommu- India 2,000 2,000 4,000 nications and a draft harbour survey had been finalized Indonesia 4,000 and awaited distribution. Draft reports on agrar- Ireland 6,069 6,069 6,069 Italy 25,981 ian reform, land suitability, protection of food supplies, Japan 10,000 210,000 agricultural education, public administration systems, Kuwait 4,000 1,000 Mexico 5,000 the criminal justice system and energy supply had Netherlands 50,847 101,695 been prepared and awaited further discussion. New Zealand 3,321 Norway 256,115 311,148 In resolution 1984/55, the Economic and Social Pakistan 3,000 Council requested United Nations organizations Panama 1,000 Republic of Korea 7,000 to increase assistance to the Namibian people in Swaziland 777 consultation with OAU and the Council for Namibia, Sweden 379,747 500,801 particularly concerning the Nationhood Programme. Thailand 1,000 Togo 172 172 The General Assembly, in resolution 38/50 E, Trinidad and Tobago 1,493 Tunisia 824 206 decided that the Council for Namibia would con- Turkey 5,406 976 tinue to act as trustee of the Fund, and in that ca- United States 621,986 Venezuela 4,000 2,000 pacity, administer and manage it. The Assembly Zimbabwe 30,802 requested United Nations organizations to expe-

792,304 803,182 dite Nationhood Programme projects and others in favour of Namibians based on procedures reflecting SOURCE: Accounts for the 12-month period of the biennium 1984-1985 ended the Council’s role as the legal Administering Authority 31 December 1984. Schedules of Individual Trust Funds for Namibia The organizations were urged to continue participating in the Programme by implementing Nationhood Programme projects, initiating new project proposals, and al- The Nationhood Programme for Namibia, launched locating funds from their own financial resources by the General Assembly in 1976 to help the Ter- for projects approved by the Council. In that regard, ritory prepare for independence,(11) continued in the Assembly urged U NDP to continue to allocate 1984 to finance training programmes and surveys funds from the IPF for Namibia for the projects. of the Namibian economic and social sectors. The The Assembly commended the progress made in Council for Namibia(1) reported that during 1983 implementing pre-independence components of the and the first half of 1984, a new group of students Programme and requested the Council to elaborate commenced training in the administration of public policies and contingency plans for transitional and enterprises, English language, fisheries management post-independence phases. Namibia 1061

UN Institute for Namibia academic year, the United Nations Educational and Inaugurated in 1976 at Lusaka,(13) the United Training Programme for Southern Africa (see p. 190) Nations Institute for Namibia continued in 1984 granted 32 new scholarship awards to Namibians to develop human resources in anticipation of and extended 17. The scholarships did not include Namibia’s independence.(1) Open to all persons of awards financed by the United Nations Fund for Namibian origin who met the requirements of the Namibia. Institute’s 16-member Senate, the Institute held train- UNDP assistance. In 1984, UNDP continued to ing courses and undertook applied research in various provide assistance to SWAPO through four ongoing sectors. The Senate, which reported annually to projects-three in education and one in health- the Council for Namibia, operated on an average for a total value of $882,617, according to the UNDP annual budget of $4 million financed through the Administrator’s March 1985 report on assistance Fund for Namibia. Financial assistance was also to national liberation movements recognized by provided by U NDP and UNHCR. In 1984, the en- OAU.(15) The educational projects, all executed by rolment totaled 457 students, of whom 183 were UNESCO, included two aimed at strengthening new. The curriculum was expanded to include a SWAPO’s Namibia Education Centres-the move- teacher-training upgrading programme, a special ment’s own primary and secondary school system- programme for magistrates, a secretarial programme, in its settlements at Kwanza Sul, Angola, and courses in English, statistics and mathematics. In Nyango, Zambia. UNDP assistance went towards March, the fifth group of students (92 in 1984) gradu- the salaries of five Zambian mathematics and science ated from the Institute with diplomas in manage- teachers, and living allowances for 48 Namibian ment and development studies, thus bringing the teachers at the two settlements. Assistance was also total number of graduates to 374. provided to meet the living allowances of support The Institute’s research programme was intended personnel. The third educational project was training to make available basic documentation for policy for women’s role in development, for which courses formulation by the future Government of an indepen- were organized in teaching, development of co- dent Namibia. Studies had been completed and pub- operatives, nutrition, home economics and han- lished on human resources requirements, constitu- dicrafts. tional options, agrarian reform, a language policy The fourth project was strengthening basic health for Namibia, a legal system, agricultural economics services, including training, in the two SWAPO set- and a health survey. Studies were under way on de- tlements, with WHO acting as executing agency. Ac- velopment strategy options, the mining industry, cording to the UNDP Administrator, the agency had an administrative system, trade policy options, mone- not been punctual in paying the allowances for the tary policy options, wages and income policy op- three Namibian doctors and 69 paramedical per- tions, the caracul industry and others. The Insti- sonnel working in settlements, or in processing fel- tute continued its work on a Handbook on Namibia lowship forms for SWAPO candidates. covering various aspects of the question as considered In response to a 1983 UNDP Governing Coun- by the United Nations since its inception, and on cil decision,16 the UNDP Administrator submitted a comprehensive study on economic planning in a progress report 17 to the 1984 Council on support an independent Namibia. costs of projects financed from the United Nations In 1984, the Institute’s Namibian Extension Unit, Fund for Namibia (see above). In accordance with which administered an education programme for the Administrator’s recommendation, the Coun- Namibians whose access to formal education was cil adopted a 19 June decision’s by which it ex- limited, served some 40,000 Namibian adults and pressed appreciation to him and the executing agen- youths in Angola and Zambia. cies for action taken to treat part of project costs In resolution 39/59 E, the General Assembly as expenditures against government cash counterpart decided that the Council would continue to pro- contributions, took note of agencies’ views and those vide broad guidelines and formulate principles and of the Commissioner for Namibia on granting total policies for the Institute. It called on UNDP to con- waiver of such support costs, and noted that the tinue allocating funds from the IPF for Namibia for Commissioner intended to continue discussions with the Institute’s projects. The Assembly requested agencies with a view to obtaining full waiver. the Institute to complete the document on economic UNCTAD activities. In 1983, UNCTAD VI, by planning in an independent Namibia, and requested resolution 147(VI)(l9) had urged the UNCTAD the Secretary-General to continue providing sup- Secretary-General to co-operate with the Institute port for its preparation. for Namibia, through the provision of technical ex- pertise, in preparing a document on economic plan- Other UN assistance ning in an independent Namibia. In response, the UN Educational and Training Programme. In UNCTAD secretariat approached UNDP to secure the an October 1984 report to the General Assembly,(14) resources, but funds were not available, according the Secretary-General stated that for the 1983/84 to a June 1984 report by the United Nations 1062 Trusteeship and decolonization

Secretary-General.(20) On 21 September,(21) the parts to repair vehicles; and scholarships to 386 Trade and Development Board requested the Namibians at the lower secondary and vocational UNCTAD Secretary-General to implement the 1983 levels. U NESCO provided training for teachers at resolution, and urged the UNDP Administrator to all levels, school materials and audio-visual equip- provide adequate resources. ment for centres managed by SWAPO. Agency assistance. The Secretary-General, in a June 1984 report to the General Assembly,(20) ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL ACTION transmitted information from the specialized agen- In resolution 1984/55, the Economic and Social cies and other United Nations organizations on Council requested United Nations organizations, their assistance to colonial countries (see p. 999), in the light of the liberation struggle in Namibia, including aid to Namibians. Updated information to do everything possible to increase assistance to was included in a 1985 report.(22) Some agencies, the Namibian people, in consultation with OAU including FAO and ILO provided aid through the and the Council for Namibia, in particular in con- Nationhood Programme for Namibia. FAO con- ducted workshops on nutrition and agriculture, nection with the Nationhood Programme. provided supplies for a day-care centre, and as- sisted in agricultural surveys and related policy op- REFERENCES tions. WHO provided training, fellowships, drugs (1)A/39/24. (2)A/39/23 (dec. A/AC.109/794). (3)Ibid. (res. and medical equipment. UNHCR provided $4.3 A/AC.109/797) (4)YUN 1982,, p. 1300, GA res. 37/233 A, 20 Dec. 1982. (5)YUN 5 1983, p. 1061, GA res. 38/36 A, 1 million for Namibian refugees in Angola for Dec. 1983. (6)lbid., p. 1076. (7)A/39/582. (8))YUN 1972, p. 616. projects including purchase of medicines, basic (9)A/AC.131/113. (l0)YUN 1983. p. 1077, GA res. 38/36 E. 1 relief items, vehicles and agricultural goods; an ad- Dec. 1983. (11)YUN 1976, p. 791, GA res. 31/153, 20 dition to a vocational training centre; construction Dec. 1976. (12)YUN 1983, p. 1080. (13)YUN 1976, p. 779. (14)A/39/351. (15)DP/1985/17. (16)YUN 1983, p. 1082. of a rehabilitation centre for handicapped refugees (17)DP/1984/14/Add.l. (18)E/1984/20 (dec. 84/13). (19)YUN 1983, and school facilities; construction materials for a p. 1082. (20)A/39/293 & Add.l-3. (21)4/39/15, vol. II self-help housing plan and the upgrading of roads; (res. 304(XXIX)). (22)A/40/318 & Add.1.