Council for Namibia calls for decisive action for territory's independence.Council for Namibia calls for decisive action for Territory's independence In a dramatic appeal made on the occasion of its 20th anniversary, the Council for Namibia has called urgently for decisive action to end the illegal occupation of Namibia and to assist victims of "racist South Africa's repression'. The 15-paragraph text was adopted by acclamation on 19 May at a special commemorative com·mem·o·ra·tive adj. Honoring or preserving the memory of another. n. Something that honors or preserves the memory of another. com·mem meeting, held in observance of the twentieth year of the establishment of the Council as the legal administering authority for the Territory. Under the appeal, the Council urged: imposition by the Security Council of comprehensive, mandatory sanctions against South Africa South Africa, Afrikaans Suid-Afrika, officially Republic of South Africa, republic (2005 est. pop. 44,344,000), 471,442 sq mi (1,221,037 sq km), S Africa. ; support for its activities as the legal Administering Authority for Namibia; increased aid to the Namibian people through the South West Africa People's Organization South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) Party in South West Africa (now Namibia) that advocated immediate independence from South Africa. Founded in 1960, it used diplomacy to attain its goals until 1966, when it turned to armed struggle. (SWAPO SWAPO or Swapo South-West Africa People's Organization SWAPO n abbr (= South-West Africa People's Organization) → SWAPO f SWAPO n abbr (= ); and withdrawal by the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. of its support for South Africa's policy of "linkage', and "obstruction' to the independence of Namibia. The 31-member Council, at the conclusion of a series of "extraordinary meetings' (Luanda, Angola, 18-22 May), also adopted by acclamation a Declaration and Programme of Action. Attending were representatives of 56 Governments and two liberation movements A liberation movement is a group organizing a rebellion against a colonial power (Anti-imperialism) or seeking separation from a state for parts of the population that feel suppressed by the majority. , as well as of intergovernmental in·ter·gov·ern·men·tal adj. Being or occurring between two or more governments or divisions of a government. in organizations and United Nations specialized agencies. By the Declaration, the Council reaffirmed that Namibia was the direct responsibility of the United Nations until independence in accordance with Assembly resolution 2145 (XXI). It strongly condemned South Africa for its continued illegal occupation of the Territory, and the political, military, diplomatic, economic, financial, cultural and other collaboration between certain Western countries and South Africa. The Council declared that Namibia's independence could not be "subordinated to the designs of certain Western Powers and to the convenience of a universally condemned regime'. Under the Programme of Action, the Council detailed specific actions which could be taken to facilitate the independence process. It also called for full implementation of Decree No. 1 for the protection of the Natural Resources of Namibia and termination by transnational corporations Any corporation that is registered and operates in more than one country at a time; also called a multinational corporation. A transnational, or multinational, corporation has its headquarters in one country and operates wholly or partially owned subsidiaries in one or more of all activities and investments in the Territory. Its President was asked to hold consultations on convening con·vene v. con·vened, con·ven·ing, con·venes v.intr. To come together usually for an official or public purpose; assemble formally. v.tr. 1. a special Council for Namibia meeting, at the level of Foreign Ministers, to discuss implementation of Security Council resolution 435 (1978), which contains the United Nations plan for the independence of Namibia. That meeting of the Council for Namibia would take place at the beginning of the regular forty-second session of the General Assembly, which opens at Head-quarters on 15 September. The United Nations plan for Namibian independence foresees a cease-fire in the Territory under United Nations supervision to be followed by withdrawal of South African forces and free elections, also supervised by the Organization. A United Nations peace-keeping force would be sent to the Territory. Photo: The Council for Namibia has been the legal administering authority for the Territory for 20 years. Shown here, view of capital city Windhoek. |
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