gle. To us, it is a battleground on which many battles have fought successfully in furtherance of the efforts of the peoples of Namibia and Southern Africa as well South Africa to free themselves from racial and colonial domination, exploitation and aggression. It stands already as an historic tribute to the resolve of the peoples of Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas Australia maintain their humanity by refusing to accept the subjugation of our people.
As you know, Mr Chairman, we say this because, over the years; we have convened a number times in this very hall of UNESCO, to consider what should collectively be done to bring to a speedy end the intolerable situation which continues to persist in Southern Africa. here there emerged decisions expressing point of view which made an enormous contribution to the process which has brought us to the stage when we can say that although hard battles, bigger battles remain yet to be fought, yet our common victory stands in sight.
We thank the United Nations and in particular, the UN Special Committee Against Apartheid which has enabled us to convene here today especially at this critical time in the struggle to free Namibia South Africa.
UNESCO for hosting this ference.
There have been brought here eading personalities from aroun he world, well-known opponent of colonialism, racism and apartheid. We have even heard again the voice of that great fighter for justice and peace, Olaf Palme.
A voice which came through by way of a statement made here by his widow, our sister, Palme. We extend to everyone present here the greeting of African National Congress and the beleagured people of South Africa.
We salute all our friends in the United States. our supporters in Britain and West Germany as well as in this country. We salute our fellow fighters, the PLO SWAPO. And to you all we bring the assurance that racism and colonialism in Southern Africa cannot survive our common efforts.
cannot survive much longer.
At the same time, we carry with us the simple message that the times demand of all of us, drawn from all parts of the globe, that we sue for victory now rather than later, today rather than tomorrow.
The fact that victory is proaching is no longer open to doubt. The questions that remain unanswered are when and at what been to of have costs: The answer to the latter has question rests entirely with the international community. pay any cost necessary to liberation to our country in the shortest possible time. But the time may be protracted by the hesitations of the international munity to intervene at our call and on our appeal.
Gains In that sense, it is most apthank propriate that we meet in this hall to cóntinue the were born here. It is manifestly imperative that gathered as we are at this we deliberately build on our successes, and basing ourselves on our gains, yet move forward in an uninterrupted offensive that will banishment of racism, colonialism, fascism and war in Southern Africa once and for all time.
Lizabeth And what, Mr Chairman, these gains to which we refer? The the result of our common efforts is that today there are few people in the world who do not know what apartheid means, who aware of the evil nature of this man hating system. There are today very few people who will not oppose the apartheid monster by deed, who are unwilling to do that little more which will bring this monster to its knees. In reality, It even the argument in favour of sanctions has been won except on the part of those who, of racist principle or avaricious self-interest, continue to argue that the Pretoria regime must be treated as an errant child within the bosom of the family of ap- Halvis. Occasionally, chided and offered sweets as an inducement to mend its Tambo: 'The fact that victory is approaching is no longer open to doubt' us that from these successes, which We shall are truly significant, we can in fact bring enhance the isolation of apartheid South Africa, in a meaningful way.
Taking advantage of mass, popular sentiment in favour of sanctions, comin an era of peace, tions. endeavours that should result in the the people themselves.
Soweto uprising.
word or Massacre for reasons - lovingly kept gently wayward It would therefore seem clear to governments that are committed to anti-racism and truly interested to minimise the bloodshed and usher freedom and justice in Southern Africa, can and must take firm steps towards the imposition of comprehensive sancEqually, this feeling in favour of meaningful action against the apartheid regime provides the basis for the imposition of sanctions by Surely, it has by now become patently clear to all thinking people that unless the world takes decisive action now, a bloodbath in South and Southern Africa is inevitable.
We met yesterday on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the youth who were killed ten years ago and to advance the cause for which they perished, the African National Congress and all other democratic forces in our country called for a national general strike, as well as commemorative mass rallies and As all of us here know, the apartheid regime, in response, took unprecedented measures to place itself in a position where it could, on that very day, massacre our people in their tens of thousands. Huge numbers of armed soldiers and policemen were deployed and con- humanity. tinue to be deployed in both the black and white areas of our coun try. The enemy hopes that through serve sheer use of terror, it can force our people to go to work against their own decision, and having done so, not to engage in mass demonstrations in the centres of towns and from work. It has perhaps been the history of South Africa which as we have said was deployed everywhere across the What we do not know and what has not yet come through fully is what did the regime do behind the screen imposed by restrictions against the publication of information. was it necessary to cut off from the South African scene the eyes and the ears of the world? What crime was the regime preparing for? The perpetration of which should not be known to the international comhappened, some reports yet to be slaughter in South Africa yesterhave gone ahead with their mass demonstrations and rallies. And it appears that they were treated to what may have been monstrous will do everything within its power to conceal the magnitude of that crime. But the crime will be there nonetheless. And exactly because of that crime, the need arises very strongly for the criminals to be liquidated and eliminated. The apartheid system has to be destroyed and put an end to this crime against For death, which has become our daily bread in South Africa, has also become so much a part of our daily lives that it can no longer as deterence discouraging struggle. Indeed, death has become so much a part of our daily lives that the urgent necessity to end the murderous system of apartheid presses on us with the greatest insistence. And therefore, having learnt the lessons that the enemy seeks to teach us today, our people will join the armed offensive in even greater numbers, displaying the same bravery and the same contempt for death that they have shown in the past two years and even before.
We speak not with a sense of satisfaction when we say that the Botha regime is dragging our coun Death, which has become our daily b
should steel selves for war' ror it can force our people to go to work try into the situation which we witness today. The growing numbers of people killed and injured, be they black or white, does not fill us with any joy. We view it as a sombre prospect and wish it could have been avoided.
However, have look reality in the face.' demands that in order to win our liberty we must make the necessary sacrifices. also demands that we should steel ourselves for war with all the consequences which that implies. are certainly not prepared to live as slaves and will therefore continue to intensify our offensive for the victory of the cause of democracy, national liberation and peace in our The certainty of greatly increasBELEAGE prospect OI countries of that region. many people have learnt to That reality be prepared to Blame We in particular the ed in South Africa, has also become so much a part of our daily lives that it can no longer serve as deterence ed violence is not confined to South ed Africa. It is a prospect which faces the peoples of Southern Africa, the Already died in our region and enormous destruction these has been caused by the aggression of the apartheid regime. Many people are dying and destruction is in process. As the regime grows more desperate, so will it seek to wreak more havoc throughout the region. drawn The major western powers and United States, Great Britain, the Federal Republic of Germany as well as others, cannot avoid taking the blame for this inevitable and terrible outcome. It sons is they who have, above all, shieldthe apartheid regime decisive international action. They have aided and abetted this regime in the past and continue to do so today. Current reports confirm that governments remain determined to persist in their ignoble and dishonourable role as allies of a truly murderous regime.
It has been our fervent hope that these governments would have the necessary conclusions the report of the monwealth Group of Eminent Persons, that to which Sir Shridath Ramphal, secretary general of the Commonwealth referred when he addressed this conference. Moved by what it saw and heard in South Africa, the Group of Eminent Perhas given timely warning about the impending horrendous bloodbath and called for decisive action by the international munity to avert this possibility.
in the first instance to the principal economic South Africa, have already mentioned. It is one of the great tragedies of our epoch that countries which see themselves as the most exemplary democracies of all time should choose to go Com- down in history as the force that blocked the birth of democracy in South Africa and elected instead to appease racism and white minority rule and consequently to see our people perish in their millions.
has not done so already. who have the power and obligation to impose sanctions fail to do so Socialist Action 27 June 1986 Already, despite These democratic Photo:
deed over result, maintain minority violence arguments of promoting negotiated the perpetuation into that trap this call.
Of necessity this call is directed wielding partners of apartheid shooting our the countries armed. handed.
will Time is indeed running out if it to mention If those We, Nations give avoided.
Racist IDAF regime. now, then history will surely judge them as co-conspirators and participants in the commission of a crime of immense dimensions The African National Congress and the masses of the people it leads are committed to the victory of the cause of democracy in our country. There should be no doubt whatsoever that with your support, shall emerge victorious. reports coming out of South Africa today confirm that all the extraordinary measures of state terrorism that the Botha regime has adopted, our people as we have said, have moved to demonstrate their determination to bring the regime down. Liberation their organisation, the ANC and other forces, would have dearly loved to liberate our country from a racist tyranny by peaceful means, including negotiations. Inmany years we tried again and again to achieve this to no avail. The Commonwealth Group of Eminent Persons has now added its confirmation that the Botha regime is not prepared to resolve the problems of South Africa by negotiations. It is instead as committed as ever to the system of white rule by repression and This surely must lay to rest the illusion that negotiations are an option available to us and confirms the hollowness and bankruptcy of that decisive action should be avoided in the interests the chances of settlement. The call made on us to renounce violence, as it is called, is nothing but a ruse to render us impotent precisely for purpose of ensuring the of the apartheid system. We shall certainly not fall It is significant who is making those who power and armed force against the people. They who are people down, they will come to the conference table We must get there empty Offensive To achieve change we must and continue to intensify Our political and military offensive. We owe it to ourselves as a people and to the thousands who've died even in the period since 16 June 1976 not those who died that date. We owe it to the peoples of Southern Africa, the peoples of Africa and the rest of the world as the representatives within South Africa of the objectives contained in the Charter of the United and the Declaration Human Rights count on you all to us all-round support. The obligation to choose to be on the side of the oppressed people of our country and their national liberation movement can no longer be On behalf of the African National Congress and the fighting people of South Africa, we greet all participants at this timely world conterence on Sanctions Against We extend our heartfelt thanks to all who have acted to help end the apartheid system. Over many years you have stood side by side with us because you would not countenance the humanity. We call on you today, commission of a crime agalls. on this important occasion in our history, the 10th anniversary of Soweto, when it is possible that yet more massacres will take place. call on you to act decisively now for the total isolation of the apartheid
Socialist Action 27 June 1986