unitex@rubbs.fidonet.org (unitex) (08/14/89)
legal action by the Government of an independent Namibia, to assist in the
development of the country.
VIRENDRA GUPTA (India) said colonialism represented a continuing affront
to the Charter and the international community's moral conscience. The
economic activities of foreign and other interests in dependent Territories
were inimical to the interests of the people of those Territories, and
therefore could not be permitted. Administering Powers were obligated to
develop the economies of those Territores to promote self-reliance. The
specialized agencies of the United Nations could also play a pivotal role in
that regard. Any attempts by administering Powers to test or deploy nuclear
and other weapons of mass destruction in Territories should be condemned as
should the dumping of nuclear waste in colonial territories and the areas
adjacent to them.
Free and fair elections in Namibia were in jeopardy because of loopholes
in the electoral law, the integration of Koevoet gangsters into the Southwest
African Police Force and malicious and false allegations made against SWAPO.
At the same time, Namibia's resources were being plundered by transnational
corporations acting in collusion with the Pretoria regime. The Government of
Namibia should be compensated for economic losses suffered during the
occupation. The outrages of the South African Government's apartheid policies
continued. Only the complete dismantling of that evil system could bring
freedom and dignity to the people of that country and the surrounding region.
He was encouraged by the contributions to the Africa Fund by donor countries
and the specialized agencies.
MARIA CECILIA BERMUDEZ (Cuba) said foreign and other economic interests
seriously hampered the development of dependent Territories. Economic,
financial and other interests perpetuated colonial domination and exploited
the natural and material resources of Territories around the world. The
continued nuclear collaboration and trade between South Africa and Israel was
a threat to international peace and security and decolonization. The people
of the Caribbean could not reap the benefit of their own natural resources
because of colonial exploitation. Many Territories were depositories to
nuclear and toxic wastes and served as bases for foreign military forces.
She said the IMF and the World Bank had not heeded the international
community's call to cease all links with South Africa. The international
financial instituions should immediately sever such links and assist the
struggling peoples of Namibia and South Africa. Namibia was still a colonial
Territory and therefore, the mandate of the Council for Namibia had not
ended. Her country reserved the right to comment on that question.
ALEXANDER SAVOV (Bulgaria) said specialized agencies and institutions
within the United Nations system should increase their assistance to colonial
peoples and their national liberation movements in accordance with the
relevant resolutions of the Organization. His country would continue to
oppose any links by agencies and institutions of the system with the racist
Pretoria regime and it urged the World Bank and the IMF to discontinue such
contacts. He called for more assistance to the frontline States.
With reference to Namibia, he said there were now opportunities for
specialized agencies to provide the Territory with technical assistance to
maintain its crucial sectors and services during the transition to
independence and also to help the future Namibian government meet the
challenges of development. Bulgaria shared the recommendations of the
Sub-Committee on Petitions, Information and Assistance that all organizations
in the United Nations system should co-operate with colonial peoples and their
national liberation movements and that assistance provided them should create
conditions conducive to development after their attainment of independence.
* Origin: UNITEX --> Toward a United Species (1:107/501)
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