Decolonization Committee concludes 1986 session, considers Namibia, non-self-governing territories.

Decolonization Committee concludes 1986 session, considers Namibia, Non-Self-Governing Territories

The Special Committe ondecolonization during its 1986 session (4-15 August, 10 September, New York), considered the future of Namibia and other southern Africa issues and examined the status of 17 Territories under review by the United Nations. Seven resolutions and two decisions were adopted and 17 reports approved.

The Committee agenda also included:activities of foreign economic and other interests impeding the implementation of the 1960 Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples; military activities and arrangements by colonial Powers in Territories under their administration which might be impeding the decolonization Declaration's implementation; Puerto Rico, in relation to the list of Territories to which the Declaration applies; dissemination of information on decolonization; implementation of the Declaration by specialized agencies and international institutions associated with the United Nations; visiting missions to Territories; and information from Non-Self-Governing Territories.

The Committee decided, subject toany directives of the General Assembly, to take up in 1987 a request by 13 Heads of Government of the South Pacific Forum (Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Western Samoa) that the General Assembly reinscribe New Caledonia on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories.

Petitioners, administering Powers,non-members of the Committee, non-governmental organizations and other interested bodies also addressed the Committee on various issues.

The Committee held its first organizationalmeeting of 1986 on 18 March. Its Sub-Committee on Petitions, Information and Assistance was in session from 19 March to 20 June, while the Sub-Committee on Small Territories had its meetings from 25 March to 5 June.

Decolonization Committee membersare: Afghanistan, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Ethiopia, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Mali, Sierra Leone, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Soviet Union, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela and Yugoslavia.

Namibia: By a consensus decision,adopted on 11 August, the Committee reiterated that any political solution to the Namibian situation must be based on the immediate and unconditional termination of South Africa's illegal occupation of the Territory and the free and unfettered exercise by the Namibian people of their right to self-determination and independence.

The Committee categorically rejectedand denounced all manoeuvres by South Africa to bring about a "sham indepdence" in Namibia through "fraudulent constitutional and political schemes" designed to perpetuate its colonial domination in Namibia. It condemned South Africa for its military build-up in Namibia, particularly its persistent acts of aggression and subversion against the neighbouring States.

The Committee demanded thatthose States whose transnational corporations continued to operate in Namibia comply with all pertinent United Nations resolutions by ensuring the immediate withdrawal of all investments from Namibia.

The Security Council, which "hasbeen prevented from discharging effectively its responsibilities for the maintenance of international peace and security in the region owing to the opposition of certain Western permanent members, notably the United Kingdom and the United States", should respond positively to the overwhelming demand of the international community by imposing comprehensive mandatory sanctions against the regime, it stated.

The Committee also condemned thepolicy of "constructive engagement" and firmly rejected attempts by the United States, South Africa and other States to establish a "linkage" or "parallelism" between the independence of Namibia and "irrelevant issues, in particular the withdrawal of Cuban forces from Angola".

Chile and Sweden expressed reservationson some formulations in the Committe decision on Namibia. Trinidad and Tobago hoped the practice of singling out some States for condemnation would not be continued in the future.

Tokelau: A United Nations VisitingMission--composed of representatives of Fiji, Trinidad and Tobago and Tunisia--was in Tokelau from 4 to 28 July 1986 at the invitation of New Zealand to assess the situation in the Territory and ascertain the wishes of its people regarding its future.

Tokelau consists of three small atollsin the South Pacific--Nukunonu, Fakaofo and Atafu--with a total land area of 12.2 square kilometres. Its total 1985 population was 1,700.

The Mission in its report (A/AC.109/877and Add. 1) outline general economic, social and educational conditions in Tokelau, detailed its activities, and put forward observations, conclusions and recommendations.

It asked that New Zealand continueto encourage Tokelau to pursue its political development towards assuming greater political autonomy while preserving its cultural heritage. It might be desirable, it said, to adopt a flexible approach to the evolving political relationship between New Zealand and Tokelau, taking into account developments in countries that had undergone similar experiences as Tokelau.

Priority should be given to improvementof communication and transportation including construction of an air-strip on each atoll; continued technical and financial assistance; improved adult education courses and in-service teacher training; updating facilities at existing health centres; construction of sea walls to combat land erosion by the sea, and membership in United Nations specialized agencies.

The Special Committee, in a consensusresolution adopted on 10 September, endorsed the Mission's observations, conclusions and recommendations, nothing that the people of the Territory had expessed their desire to maintain at this stage their present status and relationship with New Zealand, the administering Power.

New Zealand was urged to expandand intensify its programme of political education in the Territory so as to improve the awareness of the people of the options available to them in the exercise of their right to self-determination and independence.

The people of Tokelau commendedfor their determination to manage their economic and political development in such a way as to ensure that it did not compromise or undermine their cultural heritage, and the administering Power's assurance that legislation affecting Tokelau would only be passed after consultation with the General Fono, Tokelau's highest political body, was welcomed.

Falkland Islands (Malvinas): By avote of 20 in favour to none against, with 4 abstentions, the Special Committee on 14 August adopted a resolution urging Argentina and the United Kingdom to resume negotiations in order to find a peaceful solution to the sovereignty dispute in the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) and reiterating its firm support for the renewed mission of good offices undertaken by the Secretary-General in order to assist the parties in initiating negotiations.

According to a Committee workingpaper (A/AC.109/878), during the year under review, the United Kingdom had continued to maintan that while desirous of improving its relations with Argentina and of holding talks towards that end, it was not willing to have included in them the question of sovereignty over the islands. Argentina, while maintaining its sovereignty claim to the islands, was ready to resume talks with the United Kingdom for the purpose of improving relations, without excluding from the agenda of such taks the central issue which, in its view, was the source of their other differences, the paper said.

East Timor: The Committeedecided to continue its consideration of the item on East Timor in 1987. Twenty-one petitioners addressed the Committee, some stating Indonesia was illegally occupying East Timor and was continuing a policy of colonization there.

Indonesia opposed any discussion ofthe question, reiterating its position that East Timor was a province of Indonesia, as a decade ago, the overwhelming majority of East Timorese people had chosen "independence through integration" with the Republic of Indonesia. Therefore, the Committee's review of the question was outside its jurisdiction.

The Committee had before it aSecretariat working paper on the subject (A/AC.109/871) and four letters from the Permanent Representative of Indonesia addressed to the Acting Chairman of the Special Committee (A/AC.109/872 and Add.1-3). The paper dealt with the military situation, human rights, and economic, social and cultural conditions, as well as action taken at the United Nations on the item.

Western Sahara: On the question ofWestern Sahara, the Special Committee heard a petitioner from POLISARIO and then decided to transmit to the General Assembly all relevant documentation and to continue its examination of the situation at its 1987 session. The Committee had before it a Secretariat working paper on the topic (A/AC.109/873) which covered developments in the region in 1985-1986, including talks conducted by the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Chairman of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) with the representatives of Morocco and the Frente POLISARIO.

The Committee, in another resolution,adopted without vote on 4 August, reaffirmed that, in the absence of a decision by the General Assembly that a Non-Self-Governing Territory had attained a full measure of self-government, the administering Powers concerned should continue to transmit information under Article 73e of the Charter with respect to that Territory. The administering Powers concerned were requested to transmit to the Secretary-General such information, as well as the fullest possible information

on political and constitutional developments in the Territories concerned. Article 73e calls for transmission of information on geography, history, population and economic, social and education conditions.

Puerto Rico: The Special Committeereaffirmed the inalienable right of the people of Puerto Rico to self-determination and independence, and expressed its hope that the people of Puerto Rico might exercise without hindrance its right to self-determination, with the "express recognition of the people's sovereignty and full political equality". It acted by adopting a resolution on 14 August by a vote of 10 in favour to 1 against, with 8 abstentions.

Chile said the committee had nojurisdiction over the question of Puerto Rico. The people of Puerto Rico had expressed its will through a referendum and any action taken by the Committee should not ignore that act of political will.

During debate, the Committeheard statements by representatives of 28 Puerto Rican organizations, United States non-governmental organizations and other interested bodies, which generally voiced criticism of United States policy regarding Puerto Rico and of economic and social conditiions on the island.

In a 23 August 1985 letter, theUnited States had informed the Special Committee that it did not consider the issue of Puerto Rico a proper subject for examination at the United Nations since Puerto Rico had been removed from the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories by resolution 748 (VIII) in 1953, through a vote of the General Assembly. By that resulution, the Assembly had recognized that the people of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico "have been vested with attributes of political sovereignty which clearly identify the status of self-government attained by the Puerto Rican people as that of an autonomous political entity?.

Visiting missions: In another resolutionadopted by consensus on 4 August, the Committee stressed the need to dispatch periodic visiting missions to colonial Territories in order to facilitate the full, speedy and effective implementation of the Declaration on decolonization and called upon the administering Powers concerned to continue to co-operate with the United Nations by permitting the access of visiting missions to the Territories under their administration.

The Committee also appealed to theUnited Kingdom to reconsider its decision not to participate in the work of the Committee and urged it to permit the access of visiting missions to the Territories under its administration.

In January 1986, the United Kingdominformed the Special Committee that, while it would continue transmitting information called for under the Charter, it would no longer participate in its work. As far as it and the Territories it administered were concerned, the colonial era was over. It would not stand in the way of independence for those Territories nor would it force independence upon them.

Dependent Territories: The SpecialCommittee adopted without vote reports on the situation in 12 dependent Territories, all of them islands or group of islands, dealing with the political, economic and social development of the Territories, and measures for enabling their peoples to achieve self-determination.

The territories are: Pitcairn, Anguilla,Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman IslandsM Montserrat, Turks and Caicos Islands, St. Helena, American Samoa, United States Virgin Islands, Guam and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (Micronesia). Most are located in the Atlantic or the Caribbean. Three-Micronesia, American Samoa and Guam-are in the Pacific.

In approving those reports, theCommittee reaffirmed the inalienable right of the peoples of the Territories to self-determination and independence and stated that it was ultimately for those peoples themselves to determine the ir future political status. With respect to most Territories, the Committee reiterated the view that such factors as territorial size, geographical location, size of population and limited natural resources should in no way delay the speedy exercise by the peoples of their right to self-determination and independence. The Committee reaffirmed the importance of fostering an awareness among the peoples of Territories of the possibilities open to them in the exercise of that right.

In most reports, the Committeereiterated that it was the obligation of the administering Powers to create such conditions in the Territories under their administration as would enable their peoples to exercise freely and without interference their right to self-determination and independence. The administering Powers were also urged to promote the economic and social development of the Territories and safeguard the inalienable right of their peoples to the enjoyment of their natural resources.

With respect to Bermuda, Guamand Micronesia, the Committee reaffirmed its strong conviction that the presence of military bases and installations in those Territories could constitute a major obstacle to the implementation of the Declaration on decolonization and urged the administering Powers to continue to take all necessary measures not to involve those Territories in any offensive acts or interference against other States.

Regarding St. Helena, the Committeenoted with concern the trade and transportation dependency of the Territory on South Africa as well as the continued presence of military facilities on the dependency of Ascension Island.

Micronesia: In adopting the reporton Micronesia, the Committee noted the intention of the Administering Authority to seek termination of the Trusteeship Agreement, urging that the United States ensure that that be done in strict conformity with the Charter.

The Committee also recalled itsprevious appeals to the Administering Authority that the people of Micronesia should be given the fullest opportunity to inform and educated themselves about the various options open to them in the exercise of their inalienable right to self-determination and independence. It called on the United States not to take any action that might impede the unity of the Trust Territory or the rights of its people.

It also regretted the repeated refusalof the United States to co-operate with the Committee on this item by declining to participate in the examination of the situation in the Trust Territory.

Foreign economic interests: Byconsensus, the Committee adopted a resolution condemning activities of foreign economic and other interests in the colonial Territories for impeding the implementation of the Declaration on decolonization and condemning the policies of Governments that continued to support or colaborate with those interests engaged in exploiting the natural and human resources of the Territories.

The body strongly condemnedSouth Africa for its continued exploitation and plundering of the natural resources of Namibia; and declared that all activities of foreign economic interests in Namibia had been considered to be illegal under international law and that South Africa and all those foreign interests operating in Namibia were liable to pay damages t the future lawful government of an independent Namibia.

Military activities: By consensus decisiontaken on 11 August, the Special Committee condemned military activities and arrangements by colonial Powers in Territories under their administration that were detrimental to the rights and interests of the colonial people concerned. It deplored that the colonial Powers concerned had taken no steps to withdraw immediately and unconditionally their military bases and installations from colonial Territories and to refrain from establishing new ones.

The committee demanded the urgentdismantling of all military bases in Namibia and called for the immediate cessation of the war of oppression waged by the racist minority regime against the people of Namibia and their national liberation movement, the South West Africa Peoples's Organization (SWAPO).

Specialized agencies: Again by aconsensus resolution adopted on 15 August, the Committee expressed concern that the assistance extended so far by certain specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to the colonial peoples, particularly the people of Namibia and their national liberation movement, SWAPO, was far from adequate in relation to the actual needs of the peoples concerned. Specialized agencies and other organizations were asked to render or continue to render, as a matter of urgency, all possible and material assistance to the colonial peoples strugling for liberation from colonial rule and to extend substantial material assistance to the front-line States.

The Committee also recommendedthat a separate item on assistance to national liberation movements recognized by the OAU should be included in the agenda of future high-level meetings between the General Secretariat of OAU and the secretariats of the United Nations and other organizations of the United Nations system.

In adopting a report of its Sub-Committeeon Petitions, Information and Assistance (A/AC.109/L.1953), the Committee reiterated its view that all specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system should take all necessary measures to stop all collaboration with or assistance to South Africa. The Committee regretted that the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) continued to maintain certain financial and technical links with south Africa and expressed the view that those two bodies should end such links. The General Assembly in 1986, it said, should proposes the urgent inclusion in the agenda of the Board of Governors of IMF of an item dealing with the relationship between IMF and South Africa.

It also condemned the "extensivelinks and collaboration between the apartheid regime of South Africa and certain Western countries, especially the United States of America and Israel, in the political, diplomatic, economic, nuclear, military and other fields".

Information: The Special Committealso approved without vote four reports of its Sub-Committee on Petitions, Information and Assistance, on the dissemination of information on decolonization.

Among other things, the Committeereiterated support for SWAPO, "the sole, authentic and legitimate representative" of the Namibian people, and reiterated its conviction that close contracts, co-operation, periodic consultations and systematic exchanges of views with the Executive Secretary of OAU to the United Nations and with representatives of national liberation movements were useful and should be further strengthened.

The Committee also stronglydenounced the attempts by "South Africa and its allies and certain mass media in some Western and other countries" to misrepresent the strugle for freedom and independence in southern Africa as terrorist activities and to label the national liberation movements as terrorist organizations. The United Nations, it said, must take all possible steps to intensify its activities in the field of dissementation of information in order to counter such attempts.

The Committee encouraged non-governmentalorganizations active in the field of decolonization to continue and intensify their campaign against "the evils and dangers of colonialism in all its forms and manifestations", and to intensify their support for all colonial peoples, in particular those in southern Africa.

The Sub-Committee also examinedprogress made in carrying out the 1980 Plan of Action for the Full Implementation of the Declaration of the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. The Special Committee welcomed the fact that, as of May 1986, 37 Member States had forwarded to the Secretary-General information on measures undertaken with a view to implementing the Plan.