A/AP/797, 22 February 1978
The Chairman of the Special Committee against Apartheid, Leslie O. Harriman (Nigeria), in an appeal today to Governments for observance of the International Anti-Apartheid Year, called for full implementation of the arms embargo against South Africa and for economic sanctions, particularly with regard to investments and loans and the supply of oil.
The text of the appeal reads as follows:
I have the honour on behalf of the Special Committee against Apartheid and in pursuance of the mandate entrusted to it by the General Assembly in resolution 32/105B, to address a special appeal to all Governments for the effective observance of the International Anti-Apartheid Year beginning on 21 March 1978.
In the programme for the International Anti-Apartheid Year, annexed to resolution 32/105B, the General Assembly has included a number of requests to Governments. The Special Committee recalls that the resolution has been adopted unanimously and trusts that all Governments will take urgent and effective action in response to the specific requests addressed to them and to promote the implementation of the programme as a whole.
The Special Committee considers it essential to emphasize the extreme gravity of the present situation in South Africa and the need for urgent and decisive action. As it indicated in its letter of 19 January 1978, addressed to the Secretary-General (S/12536), the apartheid regime has flagrantly defied resolutions 417 and 418 adopted unanimously by the Security Council on 31 October and 4 November 1977 respectively. Its policies and actions since the adoption of those resolutions have greatly aggravated the situation in South Africa.
The apartheid regime has intensified violence and repression against the black people and other opponents of apartheid. It instituted trials of a number of patriots under obnoxious racist laws which provide for death sentences: the Special Committee is anxious that effective international action should be taken to save the lives of these patriots engaged in a legitimate struggle, and considers that any executions would have grave repercussions.
The apartheid regime has already established two bantustans-in the Transkei and the Bophuthatswana-and has announced plans to rush the establishment of other bantustans in the face of strong opposition by the African people and in defiance of international opinion.
It is also introducing new legislation to intensify oppression of the black people and to prevent humanitarian assistance to victims of apartheid.
The Special Committee, therefore, hopes that all Governments will observe the International Anti-Apartheid Year as a year of effective and meaningful action to isolate the apartheid regime and to assist the oppressed people and their national liberation movement in their legitimate struggle for the eradication of apartheid and the establishment of a non-racial society. It appeals to all Governments to consider separate and collective action to that end.
The Special Committee would lay particular stress on the full implementation of the arms embargo against South Africa and the institution of economic sanctions, particularly with respect to investments and loans, and the supply of petroleum and petroleum products. It appeals for generous humanitarian and educational assistance to the victims of apartheid, as well as financial and material assistance to the national liberation movement. It hopes that Governments would co-operate with the United Nations to make public opinion aware of the inhumanity of apartheid, and contribute to the United Nations Trust Fund for Publicity. It also invites all Governments which have not yet done so to accede to the International Convention for the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid.
The Special Committee invites the co-operation of all Governments in the discharge of its responsibilities and looks forward to consultations with them.