African Opinion - Freedom Archives

massive support - moral, political, financial and
military - which Pretoria receives from its allies of
the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, South Africa,
already an international outcast, would not defy the
ever growing African resistance, world opinion and
decisions of this organization . South Africa's military
expenditure increased from $62 million in 1960 to $409
million in 1968 .
I must stress, however, that these figures derived
from official South African sources do not include
spending on the police . These are the startling figures
spent, by the Pretoria regime with the blessings of their
NATO allies to commit indescribable acts of genocide
against the people of Namibia . The Western Powers
must be singled out for censure and condemnation for
aiding and abetting South African racists .
The famous terrorism trial evoked world attention
and condemnation from the United Nations, churches,
emminent jurists, and editorial columus all over the
world . This was because it was the first mass indictment
of 31 Namibian nationals following the termination
of South Africa's mandate by the United Nations,
and the United Nations assumption of responsibility
for Namibia .
Jungle Law Is Pretoria's
It was condemned also because the Terrorism Act
was ex post facto legislation especially enacted by the
South African Parliament to apply to Namibia. It is
probable that only the pressure of world opinion saved
some of the defendants from the death chambers, and
yet the sentences were severe. An unknown number
of Namibians have been
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detained under the Terrorism
Act .
The legal question is phrased as to whether or not
the Supreme Court in Pretoria has "jurisdiction to
inquire into or pronounce upon the validity of Terrorism
Act in so far as they purport to apply to the
mandated territory of Namibia" .
As is well known, the Security Council condemned
the Terrorism Trial on 14th March, 1968 in the following
terms :-
" . . . . the continued detention and trial and
subsequent sentencing of the Namibians constitutes
an illegal act and flagrant violation
of Human Rights, and the international
status of the territory now under direct
United Nations control ."
As yet the Security Council has not dealt responsibly
with the whole question of application of the General
Assembly resolution of 1966 which established the
United Nations as the administering Power in
Namibia. In the absence of such effective action South
Africa continues to deepen her control over the
territory.
While Africa Protests, Gangsters Act
The "Development of Self-Government for Native
Nations in South West Africa Bill" was enacted by
the Parliament of South Africa on 6th June, 1968 .
The so-called "Native Nations" are bantustans, fragmenting
the country. The first of these, Ovamboland
in the North has already been established, and its
AFRICAN OPINION
so-called Parliament met on 17th October, 1968 .
The latest measure in the extension of apartheid in
Namibia zvas to force 8,000 inhabitants of the old
location in Windhoek, Capital of the territory to move
from their homes to a new township of Katutura .
After a nine year resistance, nearly all these defenceless
people were forced out last September, although
it was acknowledged that Katutura did not have adequate
housing for them .
Many of these people had to seek refuge in impoverished
rural reserves. Each continuing step toward
destruction of Namibia and its incorporation into
South Africa--trials, appeals, dispossession, fragmentation
into "Native Nations" must surely arouse the
attention of the great Powers who have to date refused
even to serve on, the Council for Namibia.
The Triple Alliance Consolidated
Apartheid has found its allies in the colonial policies
of Portugal and Britain . The Lisbon-Pretoria-Salisbury
axis has been consolidated to give new props to the
South African Government and to strengthen the basis
of the minority regimes in Rhodesia, Angola, and'
Mozambique .
With this strength, massive campaigns of psychological
warfare have been mounted with full forceparticularly
in Western Capitals, not only to defend
apartheid, but to undermine the efforts of all men ofgood-will
the world over who are trying to bring about
a just and lasting solution for all human beings in
that area .
The spectre of a racial conflict on a global scale and
the consequences for the world cannot but be frightening
to all peace loving nations. Apartheid as applied
in Namibia and South Africa is thus a dangerousrationalisation
of an instrument protectionist in purpose,
but defeatist in fact and destructive in the final
result.
We Await Security Council's Answer
Lastly, I appeal to all the major trading partners
of South Africa, to discontinue their present policies
and to assume a more humane posture towards the
people of Namibia. Zambia is irrevocably committed
to the total and unconditional liberation of Namibia:
IVe shall continue to sustain the struggle of the people
of Namibia until final victory is achieved. No amount
of file power will stop the determined people of-
Namibia from attaining their independence.
We call upon the Security Council to take firm and
unrelenting measures to ensure South Africa's expulsion
from Namibia . A player's .refusal to abide by therules
of the game cannot be condoned. The sooner such
measures are adopted the better for humanity as a
whole . Further delays and procrastination can and will
only add fuel to the already explosive situation.
This organization cannot and should not allow innocent
citizens of Namibia to suffer at the hands of a
few Power hungry racists . My country has played
and will actively continue to play its role, both within
the framework of the Organization of African Unity
and that of the United Nations until Namibia is free
and independent .
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