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 * Origin: UNITEX --> Toward a United Species (1:107/501) --- Patt Haring | United Nations | Screen Gems in patth@sci.ccny.cuny.edu | Information | misc.headlines.unitex patth@ccnysci.BITNET | Transfer Exchange | -=- Every child smiles in the same language. -=-