Assembly asked to condemn 'wanton killing' in South Africa, other aspects of racism throughout the world - column

UN Chronicle, Nov-Dec, 1985

Other activities would include a training course in 1987 for legislative draftsmen to focus on the preparation of national legislation against racism, and an international seminar in Africa in 1986 on aid to those struggling against colonialism, racism, racial discrimination and apartheid.

By a sixth text, approved without a vote, the Assembly would ask all States that had not yet done so to ratify or accede to the 1965 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. States parties to the Convention would be called on to consider the possibility of agreeing to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination receiving complaints from groups and individuals.

Discussion

During October meetings, the Committee considered simultaneously items relating to the elimination of racial discrimination, the Programme of Action for the Second Decade against Racism and Racial Discrimination, and the importance of self-determination for the effective observance of human rights.

Delegates expressed concern over the human rights situation in South Africa. The racist regime had escalated what many representatives termed a "reign of terror' against the majority population through the state of emergency it had imposed. South Africa's persecution and repression of its black population was unacceptable as was the odious system of apartheid, they said.

Many States called for imposition of mandatory sanctions against South Africa. Some said that the argument that economic sanctions would hurt the black population was self-serving. Unfortunately, they said, a few States professed a commitment to freedom and to human rights but had chosen to appease and reinforce South Africa by collaborating with it. Other nations maintained that those who called for disinvestment and severe mandatory sanctions were either "naive' or interested only in manipulating the apartheid issues for their own ulterior motives.

Many countries deplored South Africa's incursions into Angola and condemned its border violations against front-line States. Some States said South Africa's aggression against neighbouring black States would not have been possible without the assistance of imperialist Powers. Some expressed alarm over what they viewed as South Africa's growing "military might', for which they felt Western countries were at least partially responsible.

The release of Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners in South Africa was called for by many Committee members. Others deplored South Africa's refusal to negotiate with the African National Congress of South Africa. The view was expressed that to deny a people the right to express their ideas, feelings and concerns was to leave them with no choice but to resort to force.

The call was made for Namibia's independence within the terms laid down in Security Council resolution 435 (1978). Most States said that the United Nations independence plan had not been implemented because of South Africa's intransigence and because of the attempt to link the presence of Cuban troops in Augola with Namibia's independence. They also rejected all attempts to link independence with any extraneous issue.