[ 1984 ] Part 1 Sec 3 Chapter 3 Namibia
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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