GA/AP/913, 14 November 1978
The Special Committee against Apartheid today issued the following statement:
The Special Committee notes with alarm the reports of military build-up by the apartheid regime in northern Namibia and its incessant violations of the territorial integrity of the People's Republic of Angola.
The communiqué of the Ministry of Defence of the People's Republic of Angola on 7 November 1978, concerning plans by the apartheid regime for a massive invasion of that country, reflects the gravity of the situation.
The apartheid regime, it may be recalled, had launched a criminal invasion of Angola, on the eve of its independence only three years ago. It was forced to withdraw from that country as a result of the heroic resistance of the Angolan people with the support and sympathy of the international community. The Security Council of the United Nations condemned the invasion and demanded reparations for Angola. The South African regime has, however, defied the Security Council and continued constant violations of Angolan territory. It launched an attack on Cassinga in May 1978, and cold-bloodedly murdered over 700 Namibian refugees.
The apartheid regime has been encouraged in its aggression against neighbouring States by the absence of effective action by the Security Council because of the attitudes of the Western Powers. Its attack on Cassinga, and the recent brutal attacks by the Smith regime against Zambia and Mozambique, have remained unpunished by the international community.
The apartheid regime is planning new aggression against Angola, because of the commendable support rendered by the people and Government of Angola to the liberation movements of southern Africa, in the mad hope that it can thereby retard the advance of liberation. It is acting with impunity in the confidence that the Western Powers will prevent effective international action under the Charter.
In drawing attention to this grave situation, the Special Committee appeals to all Governments and peoples dedicated to freedom to lend all necessary assistance to the People's Republic of Angola and the southern African liberation movements in repelling aggression by the criminal apartheid regime.
As the Special Committee has stressed repeatedly, any aggression by the racist regimes against the front-line States, for their assistance to liberation movements in accordance with United Nations resolutions, is an aggression against the United Nations and the international community.
The Special Committee once again calls on world public opinion to exert its influence on the major Western States to persuade them to abandon their collaboration with the apartheid regime and their blocking of all effective international action against that regime.