unitex@rubbs.fidonet.org (unitex) (08/14/89)
On the question of foreign military activities in colonies and
self-governing Territories, he said China was opposed to the stationing of
armed forces and the establishment of military bases and installations in
territories of other countries, including colonies. All such foreign troops
should be withdrawn and the bases and installations dismantled.
FERNANDO CISTERNAS (Chile) expressed pleasure that the long-awaited
process towards independence in Namibia was now underway. There were still
problems to be resolved. His delegation was convinced that the right path was
being followed and that the parties concerned would abide by their
obligations. Chile believed that freedom for Namibia was irreversible. He
said the size and economic resources of a Territory should not impede peoples
of colonial territories from exercising their right to self-determination.
Administering Powers should ensure the institutional development of those
territories, making the people aware of the various options open to them to
determine their political future. He expressed concern that some
administering Powers were not participating in the work of the Committee and
were in some cases not providing information vital for its work.
He said it was inadmissible to use the pretext of the General Assembly
resolution relating to specialized agencies and decolonization to comment on
matters within the exlusive competence of certain economic and financial
institutions such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF). He
also expressed opposition to the forthcoming discussion by the Committee of
the situation in Puerto Rico. The people of the Territory had already
declared their choice as free association and would have another opportunity
to decide on their political future in a plebiscite in June l99l.
GEBRE-MEHDIN HAGOSS (Ethiopia) said the United Nations Transition
Assistance Group (UNTAG) faced continued obstacles in ensuring free and fair
elections in Namibia. Paramilitary Koevoet elements enlisted into the ranks
of the South West Africa Police were intimidating and terrorizing the people
of Namibia. Such elements must be completely removed from the Territory's
police force and the command structure of Koevoet must be disbanded. He was
concerned by loopholes in the voter registration and voting procedures. Such
loopholes called for extreme vigilance by UNTAG and the observer missions of
the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and front-line States.
He commended the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR),
the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the specialized agencies for
their Namibian refugee repatriation efforts. The assistance of those agencies
should be sustained through the transition period and into the formative years
of Namibia's independence.
He looked forward to the referendum on self-determination in the Western
Sahara which would be facilitated by the dispatching of the United Nations'
technical mission to that country. Continuing, he said neither the small size
and population of remaining dependent Territories, nor their remoteness or
meagre resources should deter the Organization from promoting their
decolonization. Their marine and natural resources should be protected from
unlawful and merciless exploitation of foreign economic interests. The fate
of those territories should not be left to the "fair judgment" of the
administering Powers. Finally, he called for the intensification of the
international campaign against apartheid in the face of the Pretoria regime's
repression and continued acts of destablization against its neighbours.
MIKHAIL ISSINALIEV (Soviet Union) said transnational corporations had
sunk their roots deeply into dependent Territories and were using them as a
cheap source of material and labour. A new approach to international
relations was required to confront the new global situation facing mankind.
Economic independence was an integral part of a country's general security.
Reliable guarantees should be elaborated for the attainment of independence by
dependent Territories as well as measures to protect their environment. Toxic
wastes had been dispersed around the world and some dependent Territories had
been transformed into toxic dumps. The Special Committee could be
instrumental in elaborating environmental protection measures for dependent
Territories.
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