TNAG-1151-FCO40-1431-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-United-Nations-1983 — Page 59

DSR 11C

horrifying in its toll of innocent life has been the

Israeli invasion of the Lebanon. Of course Israel was

understandably concerned to establish the security of

its inhabitants. But the operation undertaken went far

beyond the requirements of Israeli security. The

intention has been to destroy the capability of a

people to continue to struggle for its legitimate

rights. In the process thousands of innocent people

have been killed and it is the Lebanese who have paid

the price. A people's rights and aspirations cannot be

destroyed by force. Only if all the peoples of the

region accept each other's rights to security and to

self-determination will there be lasting peace.

SAD (Moration)

Since

16. But just because events in the Lebanon have

rightly held the attention of the world they must not

be allowed to make us forget other areas where

fúndamental rights are also being flouted. It is now

nearly three years since the Soviet Union mounted a

massive military intervention into Afghanistan.

then no one knows exactly how many people have been

killed, how many villages destroyed, how much

disruption caused to the lives of innocent people.

What we do know is that nearly 3 million refugees have

fled their country imposing an almost intolerable

burden on neighbouring Pakistan. We also know that the

Afghan people continue to resist the imposition by

Soviet arms of a regime they do not want.