RESTRICTED
067632 MDADAN 9288
REFUGEES,
RETURNEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA.
17. YET, THE ABHORRENT SYSTEM OF APARTHEID REMAINS ENTRENCHED IN SOUTH AFRICA. THIS YEAR HAS AGAIN BEEN MARKED BY SERIOUS AND DISTURBING DEVELOPMENTS LIKE THE ADOPTION IN FEBRUARY OF NEW RESTRICTIVE MEASURES AGAINST A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS PEACEFULLY OPPOSING APARTHEID AND SEVERAL OF THEIR LEADERS, THE ARRESTS OF CHURCH AND TRADE UNION LEADERS, THE DETENTION WITHOUT CHARGE OF MEN, WOMEN AND EVEN YOUNG CHILDREN AND THE MALTREATMENT AND TORTURE INFLICTED ON A NUMBER OF DETAINEES, THE SWORD OF DAMOCLES HANGING OVER THE SHARPEVILLE SIX AND THE BILL THREATENING TO DEPRIVE PEACEFUL ANTI-APARTHEID ORGANIZATIONS OF EXTERNAL FUNDING. ALL THESE POINTS TO THE FACT THAT PRETORIA IS STILL UNWILLING TO COMMIT ITSELF TO REAL AND SIGNIFICANT CHANGE, WHICH WE FEAR WILL WORSEN EVEN FURTHER THE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWELVE AND SOUTH AFRICA.
THE TWELVE ONCE MORE STRESS THAT APARTHEID MUST BE TOTALLY ABOLISHED BY PEACEFUL MEANS AND THE VICIOUS CIRCLE OF REPRESSION AND VIOLENCE THAT IT PROVOKES MUST BE REPLACED BY A CONSTRUCTIVE NATIONAL DIA- GENUINE REPRESENTATIVES OF LOGUE. ONLY NEGOTIATIONS INVOLVING THE THE BLACK MAJORITY AND ALL OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN POPULATION CAN BRING ABOUT THE FUTURE OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY IN A FREE, DEMOCRATIC, NON-RACIAL AND UNITED SOUTH AFRICA.
IN OUR VIEW THERE CAN BE NO DIALOGUE AS LONG AS THE STATE OF EMERGENCY IS STILL IN FORCE, THE ANC, PAC AND OTHER POLITICAL PARTIES ARE PROSCRIBED AND WHILE, BOTH NELSON MANDELA, NOW SERIOUSLY ILL, AND OTHER POLITICAL PRISONERS ARE NOT RELEASED. IN PURSUIT OF THEIR STATED OBJECTIVES, THE TWELVE FOLLOW A POLICY OF PERSUASION AND PRESSURE. APART FROM DECLARATIONS AND PRESSING DEMARCHES TO THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT, THEY HAVE ADOPTED A NUMBER OF RESTRICTIVE MEASURES AS WELL AS POSITIVE PROGRAMMES OF ASSISTANCE TO THE VICTIMS OF APARTHEID.
THE POLICY OF THE TWELVE REMAINS UNDER CONSTANT REVIEW.
18. AS REGARDS THE HORN OF AFRICA, THE TWELVE HAVE NOTED WITH
SATISFACTION THAT NORMAL RELATIONS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED BETWEEN ETHIOPIA AND SOMALIA, WHICH REPRESENTS A STEP FORWARD TOWARDS ACHIEVING LASTING PEACE IN THE REGION. HOWEVER, THE SERIOUS TENSIONS WHICH REMAIN IN ETHIOPIA CONTINUE TO BE THE CAUSE OF GREAT CONCERN. THE NORTH OF THE COUNTRY ENDANGERS THE THE ESCALATION OF THE WAR IN
2
PAGE RESTRICTED
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.