Fourth Committee focuses on foreign economic interests and military activities impeding decolonization.

Fourth Committee focuses on foreign economic interests and military activities impeding decolonization 

The Fourth (Decolonization) Committee on 29 October approved two texts on major interrelated issues it had considered--foreign economic and other interests and military activities impeding the decolonization process.

In a draft on foreign economic and other interest impeding the implementation of the 1960 Declaration on decolonization, the General Assembly would call upon all States, particularly certain Western States, to take urgent, effective measures to terminate all collaboration with the racist regime of South Africa in the political, diplomatic, economic, trade, military and nuclear fields.

The Assembly would also strongly condemn South Africa for its continued exploitation and plundering of the natural resources of Namibia in complete disregard of the legitimate interests of the Namibian people, and condemn policies of those Governments that continued to support or collaborate with foreign economic and other interests engaged in exploiting the natural and human resources of the Territories, violating the political, economic and social rights and interests of the indigenous peoples and thus obstructing the full and speedy implementation of the Declaration on decolonization.

The text was approved by a recorded vote of 98 in favour to 9 against (Belgium, France, Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, United Kingdom and United States), with 15 abstentions.

By the draft on military activities and arrangements in Non-Self-Governing Territories, the Assembly would reiterate its condemnation of all military activities and arrangements by colonial Powers in Territories under their administration detrimental to the rights and interests of the colonial peoples concerned, and strongly condemn South Africa for its large-scale military build-up in Namibia and its introduction of compulsory military service for Namibians.

It would also condemn "the continued military, nuclear and intelligence collaboration between South Africa and certain countries'. The text was approved by a recorded vote of 95 in favour to 11 against (Belgium, Canada, France, Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, United Kingdom and United States), with 14 abstentions.

Both drafts were approved by the Fourth Committee on the recommendation of the Special Committee on decolonization, which considered those issues during August.

The Committee considered working papers prepared by the Secretariat concerning foreign economic interests in Namibia (A/AC.109/826), Bermuda (A/AC.109/803), Montserrat (A/AC. 109/805), British Virgin Islands (A/AC.109/811), United States Virgin Islands (A/AC.109/812), Cayman Islands (A/AC.109/815) and Turks and Caicos Islands (A/AC.109/819).

In reviewing military activities and arrangements by Colonial Powers in Territories under their administration, the Committee considered working papers on Namibia (A/AC.109/825); on Bermuda, Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands (A/AC.109/810); and on Guam (A/AC.109/917).

During its two-week debate, the Committee heard a total of 61 statements. Many speakers stressed that the activities of foreign economic interests, as well as military activities, in dependent Territories constituted a major obstacle to political independence and economic self-sufficiency.

Military Activities

Namibia: South Africa continued to strengthen its military presence in Namibia by sharply increasing its occupation forces inside the Territory, by recruiting large numbers of mercenaries and by forcibly conscripting Namibians into its military machinery. The South Aftrican force in Namibia was estimated at 100,000. The actual number of troops was reported to increase considerably when preparations were being made for military attacks on neighbouring States. The forces of occupation were stationed at 85 to 90 South African bases in Namibia.

TNCs and financial institutions operating illegally in Namibia had emerged as major supporters of South Africa's military establishment. They purchased South African defence bonds, serviced that part of the economy concerned with the production of military equipment, financed armed purchases by South Africa, provided loans which augmented South Africa's military expenditures, provided facilities for South African military personnel and served on the Defence Advisory Board, which united the private sector behind South Africa's military machine.

Some countries had continued to provide military support to the Pretoria regime. The local production and acquisition of arms by South Africa was carried out under the aegis of the State-owned Armaments Development and Production Corporation (ARMSCOR). Besides its own production facilities, ARMSCOR depended upon about 800 private-sector contractors, including many local subsidiaries of United States and Western European companies. Those subsidiaries produced a wide range of weapons, including naval equipment, armoured vehicles and heavy artillery. All of the subsidiaries operated under the stringent secrecy laws that covered defence matters. Although the South African regime claimed success in the development of its armaments industry, it had simultaneously expanded its dependence upon imports of foreign military components and sophisticated technology.

The development of South Africa's nuclear capability had been also accelerated by the collaboration of certain Western States.

Other Territories: As for Bermuda, Turks and Caicos Islands, United States Virgin Islands and Guam, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada maintained military facilities in one or more of those Territories, with the exception of the Turks and Caicos Islands where the United States stopped maintaining any military installations in February 1984, and undertook various military activities in the area.