unitex@rubbs.fidonet.org (unitex) (09/12/89)
NON-ALIGNED NATIONS DEMAND FRESH STEPS FROM U.N. IN NAMIBIA
(Reuter Library Report, September 7, 411 words, DATELINE:
BELGRADE)
Non-aligned nations on Thursday accused South Africa of flagrant
violations of the independence plan for Namibia and appealed to
the United Nations to step in and put extra pressure on
Pretoria.
A declaration to be formally adopted by heads of state at the
close of their summit described the situation in Namibia as
alarming and said South Africa was persistently refusing to
respect Security Council resolution 435, the 11-year-old
blueprint for the territory's independence.
The declaration demanded urgent action from the Security Council
to force South Africa to remove elements of its Koevoet
counter-insurgency unit now serving with the territory's police.
Koevoet members, serving under the authority of South Africa's
administrator-general Louis Pienaar, have been repeatedly accused
by SWAPO, the main nationalist movement, of intimidating its
supporters.
The non-aligned document also urged the U.N. to reinforce its
UNTAG monitoring force and send extra troops to bring the
international contingent, deployed since April, up to full
strength.
It demanded that U.N. Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar
insist on a revision of South African legislation governing the
November 6 elections to a constituent assembly, and an extension
of the September 15 deadline for voter registration.
De Cuellar was also asked to prepare an administrative aid
package to help Namibia during the six-month transition period
between the election and independence, and to take immediate
steps to guarantee the safety of SWAPO leaders.
The president of the South West Africa People's Organisation
(SWAPO), Sam Nujoma, is due to return to Namibia on September 14
after nearly 30 years in exile.
Non-aligned nations were urged to contribute funds to help SWAPO
in its election campaign and prepare to give an independent
Namibia generous aid. During the conference Nujoma expressed
confidence in a SWAPO election victory. But African diplomats
said they were still afraid South Africa would be able to rig
the election, particularly by keeping SWAPO supporters off the
electoral roll.
"There are a number of things which worry us," one envoy of a
southern African Frontline state said. "The main problem seems
to be voter registration.
As well as seeking help from de Cuellar, non-aligned countries
will send their own observers to Namibia during the elections
and are likely to hold a meeting of ministers shortly after the
elections to review the result.
* Origin: UNITEX --> Toward a United Species (1:107/501)
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