GA/AP/787, 30 January 1978
Consults with World Peace Council
The Special Committee against Apartheid this morning observed the thirtieth anniversary of the death of Mahatma Gandhi, and held consultations with a delegation from the World Peace Council (WPC), headed by its President, Romesh Chandra.
Consultations were also scheduled to be held with Indres Naidoo, who had been imprisoned for 10 years on Robben Island, and who recently escaped from South Africa. However, they were deferred until a later meeting, as Mr. Naidoo's arrival in New York was delayed.
The Chairman of the Committee, Leslie O. Harriman (Nigeria), in speaking of the meetings now being held by the Security Council regarding South Africa, said the African members of the Council were expected to present two draft resolutions to the Council: one on repression in South Africa, based on the report made by the Committee on that subject, and one on the cessation of investments in South Africa.
"It is now clear that mandatory action to stop investments in South Africa has become imperative", he said. The Security Council-and especially its five Western members who had been alone in abstaining on the resolution on this matter in the General Assembly-must face up to their obligations, he said.
But the cessation of new investments could only be a step in a programme of action which must, he felt, be expanded soon to include an oil embargo and total economic sanctions.
African people and world public opinion could no longer "tolerate any profiteering from apartheid", he declared.
At this morning's meeting, the Chairman announced plans to undertake a mission to Europe in February, on behalf of the Committee, during which he hoped to address the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva and to suggest that the Commission should urgently arrange to compile a list of persons guilty of the crime of apartheid.
The Committee approved preliminary arrangements for a special meeting it is to hold on 23 February, marking the 110th anniversary of the birth of the late Dr. William E.B. Du Bois, black American leader.
The meeting, to which all United Nations delegations will be invited, will have the theme: "Dr. Du Bois, Pan-Africanism and Liberation of southern Africa".
The Committee also approved a report from its Working Group regarding the arrangements for the launching on 21 March of the International Anti-Apartheid Year, and authorized the Chairman, in consultation with the Working Group, to send appeals to Governments and organizations for the effective observance of the Year.
Tributes to Mahatma Gandhi
The Chairman, in his tribute this morning to Mahatma Gandhi, called him "one of the greatest leaders of humanity in the twentieth century, a fighter for freedom and human dignity, and an apostle of peace".
He recalled that Gandhi had spent 20 years of his life in South Africa, where he had led the struggle of the Indian people against racial discrimination, before returning to India to lead that country to independence.
"The struggle of Gandhi in South Africa has built an indissoluble bond between South Africa and India, and, indeed, between Asia and Africa", he said. Many African leaders had been inspired by Gandhi in launching campaigns of passive resistance or positive action for independence.
The South African people had carried on a non-violent struggle for many decades in the face of police brutality, and even massacres, in the hope that they could ultimately persuade their oppressors to see reason, Mr. Harriman went on. But there was a limit to non-violence and "that limit was perhaps reached in South Africa in 1960", when the leaders of the apartheid regime had "met the non-violent movement with the Sharpeville massacre".
The national liberation movement in South Africa had been obliged, he said, to abandon its strict adherence to non-violence, and prepare for an armed struggle.
The apartheid regime had a massive arsenal of arms, and was even trying to get nuclear weapons, he said. But the oppressed people were no longer totally unarmed, and they had many friends. "They will surely get all the arms they need to defeat the oppressors", remarked Mr. Harriman.
This day, the anniversary of the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, was observed in India as the "martyrs day", he noted. The martyrs who fell in the struggle for freedom, in any country, were the martyrs for the freedom of all humanity. "We therefore, associate ourselves with the people of India in paying tribute to the memory of Mahatma Gandhi and all other martyrs in the cause of freedom", he said.
Rikhi Jaipal (India) said it was appropriate for the Committee to observe the thirtieth anniversary of Gandhi's "martyrdom", for Gandhi's "road to immortality" had begun in South Africa.
He said that if Gandhi had been alive today, he would surely have wanted the United Nations to deal with the apartheid problem through collective international non-violent action against the apartheid regime.
Serge Elie Charlies (Haiti), speaking on behalf of the Latin American delegations, described Gandhi as "a citizen of the world whose name will forever be linked with the struggle for human equality". Gandhi had been a victim of apartheid in South Africa, which had determined the course of his life.
Imre Hollai (Hungary), speaking on behalf of the Eastern European delegations, said that followers, successors, even relatives of Gandhi were fighting today in the first ranks of the South African liberation struggle. Passive resistance, experience had shown, was not enough. Armed struggle was necessary.
K.F. Nyamekye (Ghana), speaking on behalf of the African delegations, said that Gandhi's work had inspired the African nationalists in their subsequent struggles. Most African countries had now achieved independence, and it was sad to see that South Africa still remained "a bastion of racist oppression".
Riad Siage (Syria) speaking on behalf of the Asian delegations, said when human rights were disregarded in any country in the world, it was necessary for all men to unite in fighting for them. He paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi for his great contribution to the struggle for human rights and against racism.
Mohan Prasad Lohani (Nepal) said the struggle for freedom in southern Africa had reached a crucial stage. A fitting tribute to Mahatma Gandhi would be a solemn pledge to intensify the struggle until apartheid was eradicated and majority rule was established in South Africa.
Alejandro Yango (Philippines) said Gandhi had exemplified the goodness in man. He had advocated passive resistance as a great moral force which had led to the dismantling of an empire. Gandhi had been a citizen, not only of India and Asia, but of the world.
Anthony K.S. Yeo (Malaysia) said his delegation was more than pleased to join in the tributes to Mahatma Gandhi. He recalled the work done by Gandhi and the action of the Indian Government in bringing this problem before the United Nations.
Sumaryo Suryokusomo (Indonesia) said Gandhi's life had been an inspiration to oppressed peoples throughout the world, and would continue to inspire the oppressed people of South Africa until they achieved their inevitable victory over apartheid.
Mfanafuthi Johnstone Makatini, of the African National Congress of South Africa (ANC), also praised the contribution made by Gandhi and said he had "lit the torch, sowed the seed" for the freedom struggle in South Africa. The people of Indian origin were struggling side by side with the indigenous people and had refused to be a "buffer" for the racist regime.
Hashi Sheikh Mussa (Somalia) associated his delegation with the tributes to Mahatma Gandhi, who had "spearheaded the struggle against apartheid". Times changed, and methods changed, but timeless was the quest for freedom and equality.
Invitations Received
The Chairman said he had received a letter from the All India Peace and Solidarity Organization stating that it had decided to convene an International Conference for the Liberation of Southern Africa and against Apartheid, from 29 September to 2 October, which was the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi.
Leaders of all political parties and many organizations had agreed to sponsor the Conference, which would be preceded by meetings all over the country, he said. On behalf of the Special Committee, he had commended the organizers and assured them of the full co-operation of the Special Committee and the Centre against Apartheid.
The Committee decided in principle to send a delegation to the Conference, and requested the Working Group to make recommendations in due course, after consultations.
The Chairman also said an invitation had been received from the World Peace Council to send a representative to attend a Conference of Peace Movements in Latin American and Caribbean countries, to be held in Mexico City from 1 to 4 February.
He understood that the observance of the International Anti-Apartheid Year would be on the agenda of the Conference. Consultations had been held, and the representatives of Ghana and Peru had agreed to represent the Committee at the Conference.
The Chairman then said he had received a letter from the Comite Belge contre le Colonialism et l'Apartheid, Brussels, informing him that it was organizing a seminar on "Belgium and the apartheid regime" on 21 and 22 April. Many members of Parliament, and leaders of a number of political, trade union and religious organizations had agreed to serve on the sponsoring committee. The Foreign Minister was among the sponsors and would address the opening sessions.
He said he had been invited to participate in the seminar and address the opening meeting. The Director of the Centre against Apartheid had also been invited to participate in the Conference.
The Committee accepted the invitation in principle and authorized the Working Group to decide on representation…