[Speech by E.S.Reddy at the special meeting of the Committee in observance of its 25th anniversary, May 6, 1988]
Mr. Chairman,
The Special Committee has been so much a part of my life - and I had the privilege of working with it for so many years - that I can hardly contribute an objective assessment of its work.
Nor can I find adequate words to pay tribute to the Committee, its Chairmen and members for their untiring efforts for the liberation of South Africa, trying to secure the participation of all governments and all segments of world public opinion in the campaign of solidarity. The official records hardly do justice to its contribution and to the impact it has had on the functioning of the United Nations.
I must also pay tribute to numerous organisations and individuals around the world whose friendship and cooperation have enabled the Committee to make a unique contribution. I will only mention a few who have passed away recently - Mrs. Alva Myrdal, Canon L. John Collins, Olof Palme, Sean MacBride and most recently Fenner Brockway.
When the Special Committee was established, not a single Western country supported the simple request to end collaboration and fraternisation with the regime of apartheid. There was not much support even in Latin America and other regions. Today almost all governments - including even a majority of Western States - as well as numerous public organisations, call for sanctions against apartheid.
The South African liberation movements now receive assistance from governments and peoples in all regions of the world.
The Special Committee can be proud of its contribution in building this alliance against apartheid.
The task has not been easy. It has demanded courage, determination, imagination and even sacrifice.
How many times have the Committee and the Centre against Apartheid been attacked and threatened for merely taking note of reports of support from some countries to the apartheid regime, especially in the military field, and making enquiries from the governments concerned - years later to receive confirmations and confessions!
How many times have they received forged letters and poison-pen letters! How many times have their papers been stolen and how many times have they been trailed!
How many times have they been attacked as far too radical and anti-Western for being uncompromisingly anti-apartheid!
Yet, no one can find in the voluminous records of the Special Committee any trace of hatred for the Afrikaners or the other whites in South Africa.
The Committee could count among its friends many Western leaders - not only from the smaller countries, but also from the major Powers, not only bishops and archbishops and other public leaders, but officials - I might mention Governor Adlai Stevenson, Justice Arthur Goldberg, Lord Caradon, Claude Cheysson and Andy Young.
If we faced hostility from time to time, we also had many occasions for immense satisfaction because of the results of our labours and the affection of numerous friends around the world.
Mr. Chairman,
I have no advice to proffer to the Committee.
I would only express my hope that the Committee will, at least now, receive the sincere cooperation of all those who profess detestation of apartheid.
Nelson Mandela, speaking before the racist court a day after the General Assembly decided in 1962 to establish this Committee, declared that in fighting against racial discrimination, he was sustained by the knowledge that the overwhelming majority of humanity was with him.
Our responsibility today is not merely to sustain the faith of freedom fighters.
The issue is no longer merely support for freedom in South Africa, but the solemn responsibility of the United Nations to the people of Namibia, the security and even survival of the frontline States, the right of self-defence of Africa, and the imperative need to put an end to the growing threat to international peace and security.
The destruction of apartheid is our goal as much as that of the people of South Africa.
Mr. Chairman,
I cannot feel free, as an Indian, until South Africa is free of apartheid. You can count on me as a volunteer in the international campaign against apartheid until that great day.