FOURTH COMMITTEE, 1834th GENERAL MEEliNG ASSEMBLY Friday, 17 October 1969, at 3.25 p.m. TWENTY-FOURTH SESSION Official Records NEW YORK

CONTENTS conferred upon and had assumed direct responsibility for the Territory, and that in 1969 the Page Agenda items 64, 65 and 102: Security Council had called upon the South African Question of (continued) Government to withdraw its administration from the Question of Territories under Portuguese administration Territory immediately. In defiance of those decisions (continued) South Africa continued to occupy Namibia illegally and Question of Southern (continued) General debate (continued) ...... 123 maintained its intransigent attitude, obstructing all the efforts of the United Nations Council for Namibia to Agenda item 64: discharge its mandate. Moreover, South Africa had ex­ Question of Namibia (continued) tended its policy of to Namibia, even though that Hearing of petitioners (continued) ...... 130 policy had been condemned by the vast majority of Consideration of draft resolution A/C.4/L.934 130 Member States, with the clear intention of destroying the Requests for hearings (continued) ...... 130 ~dentity a?d integrity of the Territory. It was intensifying Its repressive measures and intended to divide the Territory into African "homelands", forcibly removing whole groups Chairman: Mr. Theodore IDZUMBUIR of the population with a view to integrating Namibia for (Democratic Republic of the Congo). ever into South Africa. He was deeply concerned over the plight of the Namibians and felt that it was imperative to AGENDA ITEMS 64,65 AND 102 put an end to the situation. 4. In its resolution 269 (1969) of 12 August 1969, the Question of Namibia (continued) Security Council had decided that if the South African (A/7623/ Add.2 and Corr.1) Government failed to withdraw its administration from the Territory before 4 October 1969, it would meet immedi­ Question of Territories under Portuguese administration ately to decide upon effective measures in accordance with (continued) (A/7623/ Add.3, A/7694) the appropriate provisions of the relevant chapters of the United Nations Charter. In view of South Africa's refusal to Question of Southern Rhodesia (continued) comply with that resolution,! he thought that the Security (A/7623/ Add.1) Council should meet without. delay and take the necessary measures. If such measurns were to be effective however GENERAL DEBATE (continued) they should have the support of the larges~ possibl~ majority. His Government would support unreservedly any 1. Mr. P ACHARIY ANGKUN (Thailand) thought that the measures which, in conformity with the Charter, might Committee had been right in deciding to consider jointly in compel South Africa to comply with the resolutions of the the general debate the three items on the questions of United Nations. Namibia, Territories under Portuguese administration and Southern Rhodesia. Not only were those items closely 5. With regard to Southern Rhodesia, he viewed with related, but they raised problems which were of concern to concern the constant aggravation of the situation as a result mankind for the same reasons, since they resulted from the of the existence of the illegal regime of Mr. Smith, which violation of human rights and of the right to self-determi­ spared no efforts to consolidate its policy and continued to nation and independence of millions of men. defy the United Nations. In order to perpetuate the 2. By adopting a policy which ran counter to the domination of the white settler minority over the African objectives of the United Nations Charter the Universal majorities, it was intensifying its repressive measures and Declaration of Human Rights and the res~lutions of the had even adopted a new constitution. Furthermore, since General Assembly and the Security Council, the colonial 1968, it had strengthened its ties of co-operation with countries in southern Africa were impeding the decoloniza­ South Africa, which provided it with military and police tion efforts of the United Nations. There was no doubt that forces to help it to suppress the African liberation such a situation had the effect of aggravating tension, that movements. The situation had resulted in increased tension and constituted a threat to peace and security not only in it was an extremely serious challenge to the authority of Africa but also in the whole world. Consequently, the the United Nations and that it constituted a potential United Nations should take effective steps to put an end to danger to international peace and security. it. The sanctions adopted against Southern Rhodesia had 3. With regard to the question of Namibia, he recalled that in 1966 the United Nations had terminated the Mandate I See document S/9463, annex I.

123 A/C .4/SR.1834 124 General Ass1:mbly- Twenty-fourth Session- Fourth Committee unfortunately not yet had decisive result>; on the contrary, 11. The development of the situation in Namibia was a it seemed that the Rhodesian economy had even become source of increasing concern, not only for the peoples very prosperous. The sanctions could, however, have involved, but also for the United Nations itself, since its paralysed the economy of Southern Rhodesia if South future was thus at stake. The Security Council had met Africa and Portugal had not established close relations with several times in 1969 without being able to produce a the Territory, despite the resolutions of the United Nations. formula acceptable to all which could force the South He wished to point out that the Goverr.ment of Thailand African Government to withdraw its administration from was faithfully applying the sanctions. Whatever difficulties the Territory. The Afro-Asian countries had attempted in might arise in connexion with the a Jplication of the vain, both in the Security Council and in other United sanctions, the delegation of Thailand re nained convinced Nations organs, to convince those who were in a position to of their usefulness and was ready to support any other influence South Africa to make a sincere move in that similar measures agreed upon by the Unit1

17. The Indian Prime Minister had stated at the Common­ 22. South Africa was unquestionably the richest and most wealth Prime Ministers' Conference in London in January powerful country in the alliance in southern Africa. 1969 that his country could not accept a solution to the Realizing that its interests lay in the preservation pf Rhodesian problem that was not based on majority rule. Rhodesia and the in their present forms, His Government could hardly support the negotiations South Africa was prepared to give massive military, between the United Kingdom Government and the-Smith financial and economic aid to Rhodesia and Portugal. regime on the basis of the "six principles" (see A/7623/ Hence the South African Government was playing a major Add.l, annex I, para. 71). No constitutional guarantees for role in the Cunene River basin development scheme and in unimpeded progress towards majority rule could be accept­ the construction of the Cabora Bassa Dam, in addition to able to his Government as long as the racists remained in its massive investments in mining in and in power in Rhodesia. Indeed, it would be naive in the agriculture in . Nevertheless, the fact should extreme to trust the Smith regime to carry out measures not be overlooked that South Africa was not the only that would one day assure satisfactory representation to the country with massive investments in those Territories; side vast African majority. As the talks on board the Fearless by side with it were the great companies of the Western had shown, Mr. Smith had no intention of accepting the world. United Kingdom's proposals. The United Kingdom claimed that the use of force was not the proper way to bring about 23. The Indian delegation fully shared the ideals and justice in the Territory but that argument seemed to sentiments embodied in the Manifesto on Southern Africa,z indicate that the United Kingdom wished to obscure the adopted at . If there was a peaceful solution to the sorry truth with words. It was an astonishing fact that problems in southern Africa, his delegation would be the Rhodesia was the only colony where force had not been first to subscribe to it. But so long as the peoples of used by the United Kingdom Government to quell a southern Africa were oppressed, India would pledge its rebellion. The United Kingdom Government justified its whole-hearted support to the freedom fighters. At the same position by stating that public opinion in Britain would not time, it continued to hope that all Members of the United accept the use of force in Rhodesia. His delegation Nations would undertake a searching reappraisal of their considered however that internal opposition could not in policies and would direct all their efforts to the liberation any way lessen the United Kingdom's international respon­ of the peoples of southern Africa. sibility. 24. Mr. CAWEN (Finland) said that the remarkable 18. With regard to the effectiveness of sanctions on the progress made in decolonization since the founding of the political level, the only result they had had to date was to United Nations seemed now to have come to a standstill. strengthen the ties between Rhodesia, South Africa and The past year, as the Secretary-General had rightly said (see Portugal. So long as the latter two countries continued to A/7601/Add.l, para. 159), had been one of continuing support the Smith regime, no political changes could be disappointment. expected. Moreover, it was unfortunate that, while meticu­ lously trying to prove their compliance with the sanctions, 25. In its efforts to conclude the decolonization process, certain great Powers-in particular the administering the United Nations should keep in mind that the remaining Powers-continued to be among the main trading partners problems were the most complicated and most difficult to of South Africa, without whose aid the illegal regime in solve. At its present session, the Committee had decided Rhodesia would long since have ceased to exist. (1817th meeting) to discuss jointly the questions of Southern Rhodesia, Namibia and Territories under Portu­ 19. One of the most reprehensible actions of the South guese administration. The justification for the decision was African Government was the use of troops in Namibia, Rhodesia and the Territories under Portuguese administra­ 2 The text of the Manifesto was subsequently circulated as tion in order to suppress the freedom fighters. document A/7754. 126 General A ;sembly - Twenty-fourth Session - Fourth Committee that the Territories had certain characteristics in common tiona! community with no hope of establishing normal and they were all being considered by the Security Council. relations with other countries. In southern Africa, the main problen was not that one State was committing aggression agamst another in the 30. The situation in Namibia was another matter of grave traditional sense but that aggression a~ainst human rights concern; the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly was being committed by one race aga nst another. As the in the two years since the termination of the Mandate had Secretary-General had observed in the introduction to his had no effect. During its consideration of the question in annual report on the work of the Or1;anization (A/7601/ August 1969, the Security Council had unfortunately failed Add .I, para. 161) the situation rer:resented the most to reach agreement on measures for dealing with the conspicuous violation of human righ: s and fundamental situation. However, it was not thereby absolved from its freedoms and presented the most serious challenge to the responsibility with regard to the Territory, and the search collective will and authority of the Unit ~d Nations. for a peaceful solution must be continued. The Security Council would no doubt be resuming its consideration of 26. In the case of Southern Rhodesia, the United Nations the question. had for the first time in its history mposed mandatory economic sanctions under Chapter \1 II of the Charter. 31. The seriousness of the situation in the Territories Although the sanctions had obvious)) had an effect on under Portuguese administration was clear from the many Southern Rhodesia's economy, they h 1d still not brought incidents taking place along the frontiers between Angola, about the desired results on the political level, since the Mozambique and Guinea (Bissau) on the one hand, and illegal regime of Mr. Smith was continuing to deny the neighbouring African States on the other. black population the exercise of its political rights in defiance of the decisions of the United Hations. 32. Portugal had consistently refused to comply with the basic principles set forth in the Declaration on the Granting 27. His Government was convinc~d that, having once of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. The embarked on a policy of sanctions, 1he United Nations resolution adopted by a large majority during the General must find the means of carrying the policy through, for the Assembly's twenty-third session (resolution 2395 (XXIII)) sake of the people of Southern Rhode::ia and for the sake had reflected the hope that the new Portuguese Govern­ of the Organization's own authority. The Organization ment would reverse the present colonial policies, but there should therefore do its utmost to makt the comprehensive was so far no sign of that. It would be tragic if, by its sanctions as effective as possible; and that would of course persistent refusal to take into account either the pertinent require the co-operation of all Member States. So far, resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security unfortunately, the necessary co-operation had not been Council or the realities of the situation in those Territories, forthcoming. Not only had South Africa and Portugal the Government of Portugal were to create a situation in openly refused to comply with the Security Council's which a peaceful solution would no longer be possible. decision, but nationals of other States w~re still maintaining trade relations with Southern Rhodesia. The latest report of 33. Finland had taken an active interest in colonial the Committee set up by the Security Council to deal with problems in recent years; for two years it had been a sanctions3 had shown the extent of that illegal trade. member of the Special Committee on the Situation with Finhmd for its part was scrupulously al'Plying the Security regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Council's decisions through special legislation enacted for Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and that purpose. Peoples, had served on the Ad Hoc Committee for South West Africa and was now, as a member of the Security 28. In order to increase the effectivent·ss of sanctions, the Council, deeply concerned With the problems of southern United Nations should carefully examine all practical Africa. His delegation had always considered that, in order measures for stopping the illegal trade with Southern to be effective, United Nations recommendations must Rhodesia. His delegation had previously expressed the command the support of a large and representative majority opinion that, because of the relatively ;imple structure of of Member States. It was convinced that only by concerted Southern Rhodesian exports, it should be possible to find action, based on extensive consultations, could the imple­ means of stopping, or at least conside1 ably reducing, the mentation of such recommendations be assured. It wel­ export of certain essential raw materials through South comed the adoption of the Lusaka Manifesto, which had Africa or Mozambique. That question could best be been introduced in the General Assembly (I 780th plenary examined by the Security Council Comn ittee. meeting) by the President of the Federal Republic of Cameroon, and was deeply impressed by its constructive 29. In his delegation's opinion, to dis,:ard sanctions as a spirit. failure would inevitably give rise to doubts as to the possibility of enforcing the measures r:rovided for in the 34. Mr. BONNICK (Jamaica) observed that the problems Charter, and would confuse internatio 1al opinion which of southern Africa remained among the gravest and most had been ready to support the sanctions. The application of urgent with which the United Nations was required to deal. sanctions had already Jed to the isola :ion of the illegal The effects of apartheid or of separate and unequal regime in Southern Rhodesia, which was still surviving in an development of the races were felt in all aspects of life in economic sense, but only as an outcas1 from the interna- that part of the African continent.

3 Sec Official Records of the Security Comcil. Twenty-fourth 35. The representatives of certain developed countries Year, Supplement for April, May and June 19,>9, document S/9252 condemned the policies of the minority regimes in their and Add.l. statements in the United Nations; but when it came to 1834th meeting - 17 October 1969 127 adopting a resolution condemning the guilty parties, the supporting the status quo in southern Africa and thereby same representatives either abstained or voted against the open the way to a settlement. If the war of liberation resolution. The countries concerned were of course those against the colonial forces were intensified to the point with large investments in the Territories. In view of the where it threatened the economic interests of the United impotence of the United Nations, the Africans had no Kingdom and the , for example, what would alternative but to resort to arms. be the position of the Governments of those countries? Might they not be fighting side by side with the forces of 36. Portuguese intransigence had led to the formation of apartheid against the African patriots? After quoting what liberation movements which were now engaged in an armed the President of the United States, Mr. Richard M. Nixon, struggle in the Territories under Portuguese administration. had said in the General Assembly (I 755th plenary meeting) A documentary film on the Frente de Libertayao de on the subject of Viet-Nam, he suggested that the same Moyambique (FRELIMO) and its activities had been shown principle should be applied in southern Africa by the four to the Committee during the General Assembly's twenty­ main permanent members of the Security Council-namely, third session. The members of the North Atlantic Treaty peoples should be able to decide their own future them­ Organization (NATO) which were at present supporting selves. The great Powers were consistently urging the Portugal had a moral obligation to the oppressed peoples of Africans to adopt a policy of restraint. Nothing could be those Territories and, instead of helping Portugal, they more moderate than the Manifesto recently adopted by the should bring pressure to bear on it to recognize the African countries at Lusaka. legitimacy of the struggle of the African peoples. Moreover, when the right to self-determination was ultimately 39. After the Second World War, the partitioning of granted, those States should ensure that power was not Europe had been determined by three major Powers, and it transferred to the minority of Portuguese settlers. The time now looked as if yet another continent was to be divided. had come for Portugal's allies in NATO to stop providing it The three basic obstacles to the settlement of the situation with military, economic, political and moral assistance; or, in southern Africa were the various vested interests; the if they felt obliged to go on doing so, the NATO countries apparent psychological need of the major Powers for should at least provide similar assistance to the liberation external sources of conflict to ensure economic stability at movements. Moreover the United Nations, through its home and to promote their military industrial complex; and Office of Public Information, should launch a publicity the moral numbness of the developed countries. campaign directed at the Portuguese people to show how fruitless colonial wars were affecting Portugal's own eco­ 40. The Soviet Union had been giving moral and material nomic development. assistance to the national liberation movements in southern Africa, in accordance with various General Assembly 37. With regard to Namibia, he said that the United resolutions. That assistance was not enough, however, Nations Council for Namibia was unable to carry out its because the intention of those resolutions was to enable the task of administering the Territory, because of South indigenous Africans to exercise their inalienable right to Africa's defiance of the relevant resolutions and the freedom and independence and not to provide countries reluctance of the major Powers to take action against South with material for political propaganda. Neither were those Africa. Since the time-limit set by the Security Council had resolutions intended to shift the cold war to southern expired and South Africa was still occupying Namibia, the Africa. four main permanent members of the Security Council should decide to take action; otherwise, the Namibians 41. His delegation appealed to the Soviet Union to would feel that they had been truly deserted by the translate the policy of building a foundation for a lasting international community. peace-the policy proclaimed in the General Assembly (1756th plenary meeting) by the Soviet Minister for 38. After briefly surveying the history of the question of Foreign Affairs-into something of significance not only for Southern Rhodesia, he observed that the United Kingdom 30 million black Africans but also for the rest of a Government had recommended the adoption of mandatory multiracial world. economic sanctions to try to bring down the Smith regime. The Prime Minister of Jamaica had reaffirmed to the leaders 42. It was time for the major Powers to change their of the African countries which he had visited in September attitude, and for the African majorities in southern Africa 1969 that his country believed it was still the United to exercise their right to freedom and independence. Kingdom's responsibility to crush the rebellion, by the use of force if necessary. Although Jamaica had been convinced 43. Mr. MOHAMMED (Malaysia) said that the way the from the outset that sanctions would fail, it had never­ situation had developed during the past year had not been theless complied with the resolutions adopted on the at all encouraging and that racism and colonialism were subject, as with the recommendations of the Common­ becoming further entrenched in southern Africa. wealth Sanctions Committee. The United Kingdom was still refusing to engage in a confrontation with the Smith regime 44. His delegation felt that the problems raised by the or with South Africa. By its own acts, the United Kingdom extension of the policies of apartheid to Namibia, the Government had made sanctions ineffective, and he feared consolidation of the white minority regime in Southern that it might shortly consider the unilateral declaration of Rhodesia and the ruthless suppression of fundamental independence as a fait accompli. How could the Security freedoms and self-determination in Mozambique, Angola Council ensure that sanctions were respected if no enforce­ and Guinea (Bissau) could not be solved until South ment action was envisaged? The United Kingdom should Africa's attitude to the United Nations had changed. The be more logical, and the major Powers should stop question of South Africa and its policies of apartheid, 128 General As:.embly- Twenty-fourth Session- Fourth Committee ------which had been before the United Nations for many years, 48. In Southern Rhodesia, the possibility of a return to was certainly the central issue in the I resent situation in legality and unimpeded progress towards majority rule southern Africa. In spite of Security Council resolutions seemed to be further and further away. The sanctions called 181 (1963) of 7 August 1963, 182 (19,)3) of 4 December for by Security Council resolutions 232 (1966) of 16 1963, and 190 (1964) of 9 June 1964 and many General December 1966 and 253 (1968) of 29 May 1968 had not Assembly resolutions, South Africa was continuing to flout been fully implemented by Member States and had there­ the decisions of the world communit) . In addition, the fore not brought about the desired results, and there was major Powers in the Organization had constantly shown nothing to prevent oppression and exploitation in Southern their unwillingness to co-operate fully \lith the majority of Rhodesia. Mr. Smith had spoken in no uncertain terms of Member States, which were demanding that pressure be maintaining the "white civilization" and independence of brought to bear on South Africa to induce it to change its Southern Rhodesia. He had affirmed time and again that policy. His delegation once more appealed to the majority rule would not come during his lifetime. The permanent members of the Security Co mcil, who had the referendum of 20 June 1969 had been designed to obtain primary responsibility for the maintenauce of world peace endorsement for new constitutional proposals, not only to and security, to reconsider their po: itions before the eliminate for good the possibility of African majority rule situation in southern Africa degenerat< d into conflict. If but also to ensure that any increase in African representa­ Members of the Organization acted at once and acted tion in the legislature would be exceedingly slow. The together, the colonial problems in south1!rn Africa could be referendum, voted upon by 9 I ,000 votes-including more settled, thereby preventing the development of a conflict than 81,000 Whites-out of a total population of 5 miilion, similar to the one in western Asia. In ·hat connexion, he had indicated approval of the proposal for an apartheid­ quoted the statement made by the Malaysian Prime style constitution which would entrench white rule for Minister to the General Assembly (1781 s: plenary meeting), ever. The regime was also to declare itself a republic, thus in which he had warned the major Powers of the incalcu­ endorsing Smith's earlier announcement that he had finally lable consequences of the present situatic n. abandoned hope of reaching any agreement with the United Kingdom Government on independence. 45. The Territory had been the concern of the inter· national community for more than tw) decades. As the 49. Sanctions had been applied against Southern Rhodesia South African Government had not fulfilled its obligations in accordance with resolution 253 (1968), which had been as Mandatory Power, the United Nations had assumed unanimously adopted by the Security Council. After more responsibility for the Territory and, in General Assembly than a year, there was still no sign of dislocation in the resolution 2248 (S-V) of 19 May 1967, had established the Southern Rhodesian economy. Instead, the Rhodesian United Nations Council for Namibia, which unfortunately economy continued to grow in strength. The ineffectiveness had so far been prevented from dischargi 1g its functions by of sanctions was due mainly to the failure of certain the refusal of the South African Govemment to comply Member States, particularly Portugal and South Africa, to with General Assembly resolutions 2145 (XXI) and implement Security Council resolution 253 (1968). As long 2248 (S-V). Other resolutions had not had any effect as South Africa and Portugal continued to defy the United either. All the steps taken by the Pretoria regime in Nations, sanctions would never achieve the desired result. Namibia were described in the report of the Special Nevertheless, his delegation believed that every effort Committee (A/7623/Add.2). Following the extension of should be made to explore further ways of tightening the apartheid policy to that Territory, t 1e authorities had sanctions and to expose to the world at large those Member begun to create separate "homelands". That situation could States which were responsible for their ineffectiveness. not be allowed to continue, and the Uni1ed Nations should do everything to live up to its obliga :ions in Namibia. 50. His delegation was happy to note that the Committee Certain suggestions had been made by tf e petitioners who established by the Security Council pursuant to resolution had addressed the Fourth Committee. 11 might be helpful 253 (1968) was attempting to close all loop-holes in the to consider the idea of appointing a judicii! committee with implementation of the sanctions by Member States. How­ powers not only to enforce human 1ights in Namibia ever, in its report to the Security Council, the Committee through investigation and prosecution of persons suspected had stated that the Governments of South Africa and of committing violations of human right::, but also to deal Portugal had not taken any measures to implement the with concessions and property titles. Members of the provisions of resolution 253 (1968). Those two countries Committee, especially those who were al::o members of the were therefore largely to blame for the ineffectiveness of United Nations Council for Namibia, wonld no doubt wish the sanctions. to give further thought to that suggestion. 51. An analysis of the situation in Namibia, the Territories 46. In the Territories under Portugue: e admhistration, under Portuguese administration and Southern Rhodesia Portugal-whose colonial record in Afri :a dated back to underscored the undeniable truth that, without the co­ 1500--was engaging in various forms of e ~onomic exploita­ operation of the major Powers concerned, which were also tion and was denying the indigenous pee pies their inalien­ permanent members of the Security Council, all inter­ able right to self-detennination and other 1uman rights. national action would be ineffective; that was clear from the results both of the economic sanctions against Southern 47. The new Portuguese Government h1d not shown the Rhodesia and of the embargo on the sale of anns to South liberalism expected of it in regard to its colonial policy. Africa. As a result, the prestige and usefulness of the United Instead, the regime had been further consolidated by Nations as a machinery for the implementation of effective various measures, especially in Angola and Mozambique, collective measures for the removal of any threat to peace where the war against the liberation movements was being was, even in the twenty-fourth year of the Organization's waged on a vast scale. existence, still at stake. 1834th meeting- 17 October 1969 129 52. Nevertheless, his delegation saw a ray of hope in the a new realism based on modem conceptions of inter­ Lusaka Manifesto adopted at the end of the Summit national life and on the inalienable right of peoples to Conference of East and Central African States in April, in self-determination. Unfortunately, undertakings such as the which the Heads of State and Government of those construction of the Cabora Bassa Dam in Mozambique countries resolved to liberate their African brothers in the could only serve to delay self-determination and indepen­ Territories of southern Africa, in accordance with the dence. The immigration of new settlers to the Portuguese principles of human dignity, equality and the right of Territories-a procedure similar to the one followed by the self-determination, regardless of race or colour. In the Zionists in Arab Palestine-could only impede fulfilment of Manifesto the independent African States expressed their the aspirations to nationhood of the peoples of those desire to seek negotiations by peaceful means in order to Territories. find a way out of the present impasse. That offer should spur the Members of the United Nations to address an 57. His delegation had taken note with keen interest of urgent appeal to the administrative authorities in the the Manifesto on Southern Africa adopted by the Confer­ Territories of southern Africa to enter into a dialogue. His ence of Heads of State and Government of the Organization delegation hoped that in 1970, when the United Nations of African Unity.4 The Manifesto bore witness to an celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary, a turning-point energetic search for new ways and means to eliminate the would be reached in the struggle to solve the problems that last vestiges of colonialism in southern and eastern Africa. afflicted southern Africa. 58. The situation in Southern Rhodesia was continuing to 53. Mr. MOBARAK (Lebanon) said that the problems of deteriorate. The Security Council had imposed mandatory Namibia, the Portuguese possessions in Africa and Southern sanctions to put an end to the illegal minority Salisbury Rhodesia were a permanent threat to world peace and regime, yet since 1965 the white minority had only security. The situation in southern Africa, which had consolidated its control over the Zimbabwe people, inten­ continued to deteriorate, was likely to explode violently if sifying its repressive measures against all who opposed the a rapid solution was not found; the various resolutions police State based on racial discrimination. His delegation concerning the Territories in the area must therefore be refused to recognize the validity of the sham referendum applied with the utmost urgency. held on 20 June 1969 in contempt of the most funda­ mental human rights. 54. The General Assembly, in resolution 2145 (XXI), had terminated South Africa's Mandate over Namibia and the 59. In Southern Rhodesia, as in Namibia, tribes were being Security Council, in resolution 269 (1969), had called upon forcibly displaced under the Land Apportionment Act in South Africa to withdraw from the Territory by 4 October order to dismember the national entity constituted by the 1969 at the latest. That date having passed, his delegation Zimbabwe people, after which white settlers occupied the considered that South Africa's persistent refusal to comply indigenous inhabitants' land. The establishment of separate with the resolutions of the General Assembly and the enclaves within a single nation was designed solely to Security Council was a threat to peace and security, and it weaken resistance to oppression and dictatorship. condemned the policy of apartheid of the Government of South Africa, holding that that country's gradual annexa­ 60. His delegation believed that the United Kingdom, in tion of Namibia was a flagrant violation of United Nations failing to fulfil its responsibilities, was helping to prolong an resolutions. intolerable situation which had prevailed for four years. The United Kingdom could and should take the effective 55. South Africa was breaking up the national territory of action of which it was capable as the administering Power Namibia by deporting and resettling the inhabitants and to overthrow the illegal Salisbury regime. The minority establishing Bantustans.' Redistributing the population which held power de facto in Southern Rhodesia was could only aggravate the already unfavourable economic imposing a dictatorship on the black majority; the new and social situation of the indigenous inhabitants and constitution denied the African majority any possibility of facilitate the extension and consolidation of the system of gradual evolution towards majority rule. The time had apartheid. Moreover, the Namibians lived in a state of come for the peoples of southern Africa to exercise permanent insecurity, since South Africa subjected them to self-determination and accede to independence. His delega­ frequent arbitrary arrest under the Terrorism Act. It was tion would spare no effort to help restore justice in that obvious that South Africa was attempting to integrate the part of the world. administration of Namibia with that of South Africa by refusing to allow the indigenous inhabitants a voice in the 61. The CHAIRMAN suggested that the general debate Government and at the same time imposing the "separate should be suspended so that two delegations which had de:velopment of the races". His delegation therefore be­ asked to exercise their right of reply could speak. Further­ lieved that the United Nations should not rest until a more, a number of delegations had asked that the peti­ referendum was held to enable the indigenous inhabitants tioners representing the South West Africa People's to determine their own future. Organization (SWAPO) should make a statement on their organization's proposals before the draft resolution on the 56. The situation in the African Territories under Portu­ question of Namibia was submitted. If he heard no guese domination also posed a threat to peace and security objection, he would invite them to speak. in the area. His delegation staunchly supported the right to self-determination of the peoples of the Territories adminis­ It was so decided. tered by Portugal and had voted in favour of General Assembly resolution 2395 (XXIII), which gave evidence of 4 See foot-note 2. 130------General Assembly - Twenty-fourth Session - Fourth Committee 62. Mr. ISSRAELYAN (Union of Soviet ~ocialist Repub­ 67. Thirdly, SWAPO requested the United Nations Coun­ lics) wished to deny the allegations or the Albanian cil for Namibia, to which it paid a tribute for its efforts to delegation, which, at the morning meeting had questioned carry out its mandate, to amend the laws of the Territory the SoVIet Union's attitude towards the national liberation with respect to corporations doing business in Namibia and movements in Africa. He merely wished to remind the other fiscal matters so as to enable the Organization to members of the Committee that in a docu nentary film on fulfil its obligations in regard to the Territory; to secure the national liberation movements in '\ngola, Guinea compliance by corporations doing business in the Territory (Bissau) and Mozambique, shown during 1he twenty-third with the laws adopted by the United Nations Council for session of the General Assembly, the inscr.ption "Made in Namibia; to provide for the transfer of the rights, claims USSR" had been visible on rhe crates of \\eapons received and immunities of corporations doing business in the by the forces fighting the :,ettlers, where lS the crates of Territory and failing to comply with the laws adopted by weapons received by the Portuguese forces had borne the the Council to other entities founded under such laws; and inscription "Made in USA". to award a larger number of scholarships to Namibians. Lastly, it requested all States to extend the same recogni­ 63. Mr.. CLARK (Nigeria), referring to the statement tion to the laws adopted by the United Nations Council for circulated by Mr. Albert Bonaparte Nank (see 1827th Namibia which they normally extended to the laws of other meeting) in which the latter had complained of the sovereign States. reception he had been given by the Office of the High Commissioner for Nigeria in London, said hat Nigeria was Mr. Gottfried Hage Geingob withdrew. prepared to assist Mr. Nank in his struggle 'gainst coloniza­ tion in the Territories dominated by Portug< I. CONSIDERATION OF DRAFT RESOLUTION A/C.4/L.934 68. Mr. BENSID (Algeria), speaking on behalf of the sixty-six sponsors, introduced the draft resolution relating AGENDA ITEM 64 to the question of Namibia. The draft was an interim text and the main draft resolution dealing with the item would Question nf Namibia (continued) (A/71i23/ Add.2 be submitted later. The sponsors had wished to express and Corr.1, A/C.4/721/ Add.2) their indignation at South Africa's refusal to implement the decisions of the United Nations, its illegal annexation of HEARING OF PETITIONERS (continued) Namibia in violation of the principles of the Charter, and its defiance of the Security Council. That attitude only served At the invitation of the Chairman, Mr. Gottfried Hage to strengthen the doubts of the States of the third world Geingob, representative of the South West Africa People's regarding the Organization's willingness to put an end to Organization (SWAPO), took a place at the Committee the situation prevailing in southern Africa, and would table. weaken the Organization's already shaken prestige. The sponsors drew the Security Council's attention to the 64. Mr. GEINGOB (South West Africa People's Organiza­ deteriorating situation, for they felt that it could and tion (SWAPO)) said that, at the request c•f a number of should take suitable measures to ensure that its resolutions, delegations, he wished to present his organi::ation's specific and those of the General Assembly, were implemented. He proposals. noted that although the sponsors had worded the draft in moderate terms they had not changed their position of 65. Firstly, the South West Africa People's Organization principle, and he hoped that the draft would receive the requested the United Nations to recognize the legitimacy of Committee's unanimous support. the struggle of the people of Namibia ar.d to take the following steps: to explore all possible wa.rs of providing 69. Mr. TAIHITU (Indonesia), Mr. LILANDA (), Mr. NAV A CARRILLO (Venezuela) and Mr. SEVILLA SWAPO with material assistance in its strug:1Ie for indepen­ dence; to assist the Tanzanian Govemmt nt which was BORJA (Ecuador), whose delegations were sponsors of placing the facilities of Radio at the disposal of draft resolution A/C .4/L.934, urged the members of the the freedom fighters for broadcasts to the occupied areas of Committee to adopt it unanimously. southern Africa; and to take note of the fad that SWAPO was totally opposed to capitulation and th 1t it refused to Requests for hearings (continued) believe that dialogue with South Africa w< s fruitful. Any 70. The CHAIRMAN informed the Committee that he had dialogue would be useless unless it was ba ;ed on General received a request for a hearing concerning the question of Assembly resolution 2145 (XXI), which calhd in particular Namibia from Mr. Katuutire ua Kaura, representative of the for the transfer of the administration of the Territory to South West Africa National Union (SWANU). If there was the Namibian people. Accordingly, it was fc·r South Africa no objection, he would take it that the communication to indicate to the United Nations that it .vas complying would be circulated as a Committee document, as was with that resolution. customary, so that it could be considered at the following meeting. 66. Secondly, SWAPO recommended tha · the Security Council should be convened immediately tc take effective It was so decided. s steps to enforce resolution 269 (1969), whi;h called upon The meeting rose at 6 p.m. the Government of South Africa to \\ithdraw from Namibia. The only means to that end were tltose prescribed 5 The request was subsequently c:::·culated as document A/C.4/ in Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. 721/ Add.3.