Anti-apartheid notes.

Anti-Apartheid Notes

Buenos Aires seminar calls for sanctions, Namibian independence

A Council for Namibia seminar held in Buenos Aires from 21 to 24 April adopted a "Call for Action', by which an urgent appeal was made to all States, the United Nations and its specialized agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other concenred institutions to work for the imposition of comprehensive mandatory sanctions under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter to end South Africa's illegal occupation of Namibia, and to increase their support to Namibians and their liberation movement, the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO).

Participants included representatives of 33 NGOs, labour organizations and liberation movements, as well as scholars, parliamentarians and legal experts. Journalists and representatives of Member States and a number of intergovernmental bodies also participated.

The United States, the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Germany were urged not to oppose imposition of comprehensive mandatory sanctions against South Africa by the Security Council. All parliamentarians and legislators were asked to increase political, diplomatic and economic pressure on States which continued to collaborate with South Africa and which refused to impose effective sanctions against Pretoria.

Unequivocal support was expressed for the legitimate struggle of Namibians, "including in particular armed struggle', under the leadership of SWAPO, their sole and authentic representative. Participants also underscored the urgent need for material, political and moral support by the international community for front-line and other States.

The policy of linking Namibia's independence to the "irrelevant and extraneous issue of the withdrawal of Cuban troops from Angola' was condemned. The question of Namibia was considered strictly a decolonization issue and must not be viewed as part of an East-West conflict.

Lauds measures by Sweden, Norway to ban trade with South Africa

The United Nations Council for Namibia on 6 April called on other Governments to follow the "positive lead' of the Governments of Norway and Sweden in taking concrete measures to prohibit trade with South Africa and to extend those measures to Namibia.

Council President Peter D. Zuze (Zambia) said the provisions of the Norwegian Act on Economic Boycott against South Africa and Namibia, to take effect on 20 July 1987, included unilateral measures in order to reduce commercial and other relations with South Africa.

Acts of "repression and terrorism' condemned

The Council for Namibia on 7 May strongly condemned bombings of or arson against at least 13 primary schools in northern Namibia by the "forces of the illegal South African occupation regime' in the Territory, adding it believed that other educational institutions in the area were also in great danger.

"Whites-only' election indicates "no hope'

The achievement of majority rule through elections in South Africa did not seem to be a possibility in the near future, the Special Committee against Apartheid declared on 8 May in a statement issued by its Chairman. The Committee stated it was "dismayed, but not surprised' at the results of the 6 May "whites-only' election in South Africa. South Africa appeared to be "heading to a long-drawn-out suppression of black aspirations, which will end in much bloodshed'. The results also confirmed that "there is no hope for a peaceful change in South Africa so long as the National Party is in power and that it is imperative that effective mandatory sanctions should be imposed on the apartheid regime', he stated. The oppressed people of South Africa were left with no alternative but to continue their struggle.

On 5 and 6 May, more than one-and-a-half million black workers and students stayed away from work and school in the biggest peaceful protest strike in the country's history, the Committee pointed out.

Council urges action for political prisoners

On 29 May, the United Nations Council for Namibia urged action for the release of all Namibian political prisoners and support for United Nations efforts towards securing Namibian independence.

Council President Peter Zuze of Zambia issued a statement following the 27 May conviction of six Namibians in South African courts of various offences related to "endangering maintenance of law and order'. The results of the trials--jail terms of from 3 to 18 years--proved that Pretoria continued "its brutal methods of crushing any opposition by the Namibian people to its illegal and colonial rule', the Council stated.

Sullivan Principles abandoned

The Special Committee against Apartheid on 5 June welcomed the decision of the Rev. Leon Sullivan to abandon a code of conduct he formulated for American companies doing business in South Africa and to call on them to end all commercial ties with Pretoria. It also endorsed his appeal to the United States Government to impose a total embargo on trade with South Africa and to sever diplomatic relations with the apartheid regime.

Under the Sullivan Principles, issued in 1977, American companies could do business with South Africa if they widened opportunities for blacks and worked to end race segregation.

India, Japan, China consulted

High-level delegations of the United Nations Council for Namibia visited India, China and Japan in May and June. The delegations were led by Council President Peter D. Zuze of Zambia, and included Andimba Toivo ya Toivo, Secretary General of the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO).