GA/AP/784, 24 January 1978
The following statement was made today by the Chairman of the Special Committee Against Apartheid, Leslie O. Harriman (Nigeria):
The Special Committee against Apartheid notes with satisfaction that Amnesty International issued a special report on 18 January on "Political Imprisonment in South Africa" and invited all its national sections to launch a world-wide campaign for release of prisoners of conscience, repeal of discriminatory and repressive legislation and an end to torture in South Africa. The report rightly points out that "no reforms in the present structure will be sufficiently far-reaching to remove the causes of political imprisonment unless the whole system of apartheid is dismantled".
The campaign for release of South African political prisoners is most timely. The apartheid regime has flagrantly violated the unanimously adopted Security Council resolution of 31 October 1977 demanding that it end repression and killings of peaceful demonstrators, release political prisoners and seek a peaceful solution based on the exercise of right of self-determination by all the people of South Africa. Instead it has murdered more political detainees and instituted numerous political trials under obnoxious laws providing for death sentences. The racist police have resorted to indiscriminate shootings of African people on several occasions. Urgent and effective action to stop the crimes of the apartheid regime is imperative.
I wish to recall that the United Nations General Assembly declared in 1975 that the international community has a special responsibility for political prisoners in South Africa. They have suffered torture and persecution for upholding principles of the United Nations and for making a valuable contribution to mankind's struggle against racism.
I must draw particular attention to the plans of the apartheid regime to execute patriots after current trials under the Terrorism Act and other obnoxious legislation. These trials by racist courts should not deceive anyone. The international community must defend all those who are driven by their uncompromising opposition to racism and their concern for the oppressed majority to non-violent resistance or armed resistance. It must warn the apartheid regime and its supporters that the persecution of patriots, in particular the execution of any death sentences, will be punished as an international crime.
I would earnestly hope that the Security Council will meet the challenge flung by the apartheid regime. The Special Committee considers that mandatory economic sanctions under Chapter VII as requested by the oppressed people of South Africa and their national liberation movement, and supported by an overwhelming majority of Member States, are the only effective means to enable the South African people to eliminate apartheid and repression.