unitex@rubbs.fidonet.org (unitex) (10/25/89)
New Caledonia was. If it was not a colony, why had the
petitioner come before the Committee now?
Mr. UKEIWE of the Rassamblement pour la Republique, said that
New Caledonia was a Territory within the Republic. There were
three provinces that were completely autonomous. That had been
elaborated in agreement with FLNKS. The Caledonians had taken a
decision on the future of its Territory in 1988.
Mr. LOHIA (Papua New Guinea) said that in that case, it was true
that the petitioner was representing the Administering Authority
because he was saying New Caledonia was a part of France.
Mr. UKEIWE of the Rassamblement pour la Republique, said that he
was a parliamentarian and not part of the Administering
Authority. New Caledonia was a Territory.
ROSEMARY MEALY of the National Alliance of Third World
Journalists, welcomed the recent steps made towards
implementation of the Namibia settlement plan. She said she
hoped that the independence movements and long suffering peoples
of other countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the
Caribbean would finally gain their right to self-determination.
One of the most difficult aspects of the Namibia decolonization
process had been the struggle to "shatter the blanket of
silence" separating the Namibian people from the rest of the
world, since press restrictions and other repressive measures
had caused impediments to the truth.
She said there was grave concern that the possibilities for free
and fair elections in Namibia could be derailed by the present
precarious conditions existing there and by the escalating
violence and assaults made on South West Africa People's
Organization (SWAPO) supporters, United Nations police monitors,
Namibian journalists and an American voter education organizer.
She believed existing dangers could be resolved by the actions of
Member States, particularly the Western Contact Group which
wielded influence over
Pretoria. South Africa must know there was no support for its
attempts at manipulation. The Namibian people should know that
their inalienable rights remained protected.
DONALD M. PAYNE, speaking on behalf of the United States
Congressional Black Caucus, said the Caucus was fighting for
human dignity against oppression and discrimination both at home
and abroad, and was making tangible contributions to formulating
a humane and fair United States foreign policy. The black
community was now in a position to move beyond observers' status
in international affairs, he added.
Decades of struggle for independence in Namibia were now reaching
their final stage; two members of the Caucus had already visited
Namibia with a fact-finding mission. Senator Payne said he
hoped that although serious problems connected with the
forthcoming elections still existed, they could be solved with
additional resources and the continued vigilance of the United
Nations.
In view of the increased violence that had been witnessed in
recent months in Namibia, the Caucus had issued an appeal to the
political leaders in Namibia urging them to stop the violence
and to start a political dialogue. The Caucus also thought that
the Administrator-General could contribute more in doing away
with violence and ensuring more security.
The Caucus supported the struggle of the indigenous people of
New Caledonia and hoped that the positive processes that had
been started would lead to independence and self-government.
Senator Payne expressed the willingness of Caucus members to
participate in United Nations fact-finding missions to the
Territory.
BERNICE POWELL, speaking on behalf of Benjamin F. Chavis, United
Church of Christ, Commission for Racial Justice, expressed their
support for the process of decolonization, independence and
freedom throughout the world, and said they appreciated the
efforts of the United Nations towards these goals.
She said the Commission she represented supported FLNKS
independence movement of New Caledonia. They called upon France
to grant full and unconditional independence to New Caledonia,
to immediately grant permission to a United Nations visiting
mission to go to New Caledonia to assess the current situation,
and to accelerate negotiations leading to New Caledonian
independence. They appealed to President Mitterrand of France to
respect the universal principles of human rights and initiate a
speedy independence process.
She also expressed concern about increasing actions by the
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