Statement by Robert Resha, member of the National Executive Committee, ANC before the Special Committee against Apartheid

18 March 1969¹

Mr. Chairman and distinguished delegates,

We begin the fourth and the last meeting of this seminar with the knowledge that at practically every session of the United Nations resolutions on apartheid have been adopted by very substantial majorities, declaring that the policies of apartheid of the Government of South Africa are in gross conflict with the United Nations Charter, and, in fact, constitute a crime against humanity, calling upon the South African Government to release political prisoners and quit South West Africa; calling upon Member States of the United Nations to impose economic sanctions against, sever diplomatic relations with and place an embargo on the sale of arms and ammunition to the South African apartheid regime. It is common knowledge that all these resolutions have been flouted with impunity by the South African white minority government.

We know also that decisions have been taken by international and national organizations, trade unions, sporting, cultural, students, religious, anti-apartheid movements and other bodies to isolate South Africa and boycott her goods. We are equally aware of the efforts of the Organization of African Unity to provide practical and material assistance to the liberation movement in order to further the cause of freedom and democracy in South Africa.

All these activities are a clear evidence of a universal recognition of the world significance of the situation in South Africa. Naturally, such activities have been of immense value, and we of the African National Congress wish to place on record our profound appreciation to the tireless labours of the freedom-loving peoples of the world. Yet we must admit that excellent as this solidarity work has been, the apartheid regime continues to survive and flourish. It has intensified the repression of the masses, of the people. There is more oppression and exploitation. More Draconian measures have been passed by the whites-only Parliament. Why?

It is quite clear that although the opponents of apartheid inside South Africa have numerous friends and supporters throughout the world, the protests against apartheid and the assistance to the liberation struggle are not co-ordinated; whereas the few countries that uphold the apartheid regime - the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Western Germany and Japan, to name the leading partners - wield enormous influence in the spheres of governments and finance and act effectively and purposefully.

The economic, political and military ties the fascist South African regime has with the western democracies has enabled South Africa to pursue a policy of expansionism.

South Africa has become the senior member of the Unholy Alliance whose other members are Caetano's fascist Portugal and rebel Ian Smith's Rhodesia. It is the declared policy of the South African apartheid regime to give financial and military assistance to the alliance. South African soldiers are fighting in Angola and Mozambique in support of the Portuguese colonial forces. In August 1967, at the request of the rebel Ian Smith Government, South Africa invaded Rhodesia - a British colony - without a murmur or protest from Her Majesty's Government. Today, the joint Vorster-lan Smith forces are locked in battle in the valleys, hills and mountains of Zimbabwe against the combined units of ZAPU and ANC.

Realizing this lack of co-ordination, the six liberation movements in southern Africa and the Portuguese colonies initiated the convening of an international conference in support of the peoples of the Portuguese colonies and southern Africa.

Sponsored by the Afro-Asian Peoples' Solidarity Organization and the World Council for Peace, together with the six liberation movements, namely, PAIGC of Guinea Bissau, MPLA (Angola), FRELIMO (Mozambique), ZAPU (Zimbabwe), SWAPO (Namibia) and ANC (South Africa) - an International Conference in Support of the Peoples of the Portuguese Colonies and Southern Africa was held in Khartoum; Sudan, from I8 to 20 January 1969.

This historic conference, attended by delegates from more than fifty countries and from a number of international organizations, unanimously adopted a declaration and two resolutions, one political and the other on mobilization of the world community in support of the just struggle of the peoples of Portuguese colonies and southern Africa.

I read some extracts from the Declaration:

"The Conference declares its fervent and unequivocal support for the freedom fighters of the Portuguese colonies and southern Africa.

"It calls upon the progressive, anti-imperialist forces of the entire world to back the armed struggles which have been forced upon them as the only possible alternative to slavery for the foreseeable future.

"The Conference calls upon democratic forces everywhere to support the political demands of the liberation movements for independence, democracy and the unqualified and immediate implementation of majority rule.

“The Conference calls on all governments to recognize the liberation movements as the alternative and future governments of the territories concerned; to break off all relations with the illegal and despotic regimes, to give every facility and aid to the representatives and supporters of the liberation movements and remove every let or hindrance to their noble missions.

"This Conference calls on all democratic organizations and individuals in all countries constantly to educate public opinion regarding the true facts of the situation in unliberated Africa, to contribute material aid for the freedom-fighters, for the defence of political prisoners and support of their dependents; to isolate the racists from participation in every sort of international sporting, cultural and similar activities."

The resolution on mobilization reads as follows:

"The International Conference in Support of the Peoples of the Portuguese Colonies and Southern Africa,

"Having considered the reports of the national liberation movements and the political resolution of the Conference;

"Taking into consideration the developments reached by the national liberation wars in the territories of Africa, dominated by Portugal, i.e. Angola, Mozambique, Portuguese Guinea and Cape Verde, and noting the urgent problems created by this situation;

"Noting the needs created in the newly liberated areas of the Portuguese colonies;

“Having in mind the atrocities of the colonialists and racists in the Portuguese colonies and Southern Africa;
“Noting that Portugal represents the weakest link in the colonialist-imperialist circle and that the intensification of the international struggle against Portuguese colonialism and fascism is a matter of urgent priority;

"Bearing in mind the urgent problems created by the armed struggle of the people under colonial yoke and the racist regimes;

"Noting that South Africa constitutes the main pillar in Africa for the maintenance and support of colonial and racist regimes and the increasing threat emanating from this danger for the whole of Africa and the urgent necessity to support more actively the struggle of the people of South Africa and South West Africa;

“Noting that Britain continues to entrench its agents, the Rhodesian racist regime, in oppressing the African people of Zimbabwe, thus resulting in the direct confrontation of the popular forces and the racist regime;

“Suggests the following practical measures:

1. Recommends that the AAPSO, WCP and other interested organizations co-operate in establishing in each individual country special national committees for the furthering of the scope of this Conference and the implementation of its decisions. Anti-apartheid movements and committees supporting the struggle in the Portuguese colonies should be broadened so as to be able to carry out the decisions of the Conference. All existing committees and those to be established should co-ordinate their activities according to the special conditions in each individual country, including the establishment of special committees on special issues.

"(a) To undertake an intense campaign for publicizing the struggle of the people of the Portuguese colonies and Southern Africa, the needs of the national liberation movements and the atrocities of the colonial and racist regimes by issuing bulletins, films and books, by carrying out cultural and political manifestations; using all the national public media, i.e. press, radio and television.

“(b) To celebrate the solidarity days of the national liberation movements by mass demonstrations.

February 4	Angola
March 17	Zimbabwe
May 25	Africa
June 26	South Africa
August 3	Portuguese Guinea and Cape Verde
August 26	Namibia
September 25	Mozambique

Where possible to invite representatives of the national liberation movements to be present during these celebrations.

"(c) To press the U.N. Association in each country to popularize the United Nations resolutions regarding colonialism, and help the anti-colonial movement.

1. Requests all governments of the world to recognize as the sole official and legitimate authorities of the respective countries the following fighting movements: MPLA (Angola), PAIGC (Guinea-Bissao), FRELIMO (Mozambique), ANC (South Africa), SWAPO (South West Africa), and ZAPU (Zimbabwe).
2. Stresses the necessity for the establishment of offices of the abovementioned liberation movements in all countries where it is possible.
3. Recommends visits of representatives of liberation movements to all possible countries. It also stresses the necessity for visits of delegations of AAPSO, WCP, interested organizations and personalities to the liberated areas at the request of the liberation movements.
4. 6. Recommends the boycott of all Portuguese, Rhodesian and South African goods.
5. Urges all national committees to expose the involvement of NATO in all the colonialist, neo-colonialist and racist activities in Africa.
6. Requests the national committeesto put every pressure on their respective governments for the implementation of the United Nations resolutions regarding Zimbabwe, South Africa, South West Africa and the Portuguese colonies.
7. Urges the intensification of all possible measures for the isolation of South Africa, and Rhodesia in all spheres (political, economic, cultural and social).
8. Calls upon all governments to apply all possible measures for the political, economic and diplomatic isolation of Portugal.
9. Requests the AAPSO and the WCP to furnish the national committees with copies of the United Nations resolutions connected with all colonial problems.
10. Recommends the issuing of a special bulletin for exchange of experience, informations and listing of communication routes for dispatch of material aid.
11. Requests the Ad Hoc mobilization committee to take the necessary steps for the convening in Western Europe of a Conference on the Portuguese colonies, to be held under the broadest sponsorship of all anti-colonialist forces.
12. Calls for a campaign for the release of all  political prisoners.
13. Calls for a campaign so that the prisoners taken in the course of the current national liberation struggle, should be considered as prisoners of war and be treated in accordance with the Geneva Convention.
14. Recommends that international and national organizations involved in assisting families in liberated areas or those who are destitute due to the national liberation struggle, should do so with the co-operation of the national liberation movements mentioned above.
15. Requests the national committees to collect material to aid the national liberation movements, especially funds, vehicles, medicines, clothing, blankets, food-stuff, etc.
16. Stresses the necessity of medical services in the liberated areas and calls upon governments, international organizations and national committees to organize the enlisting of doctors and para-medical staff for service in these areas.
17. Emphasizing the importance of training cadres for the national liberation movements, this Conference requests the countries to which there will be applications from the national liberation movements to consider them with the proper attention and to expand the training facilities.
18. It calls upon governments, international organizations andnational committees to assist in financing these training facilities.
19. It calls upon friendly governments to accept travel documents issued by the national liberation movements. Also to provide passports or travel documents to the cadres of the movements mentioned in paragraph 3 for use in all other countries of the world.
20. Requests friendly governments, international organizations and national committees to offer scholarships to the above-mentioned national liberation movements in various fields.
21. Recommends the co-operation of the International Association of Democratic Lawyers, the International Commission of Jurists and African Jurists to deal with the legal aspects of the struggle of the people of the Portuguese colonies and Southern Africa whenever necessary.
22. Entrusts the executive committee, which prepared this Conference, composed of representatives of the six national liberation movements, representatives of the AAPSO and the WCP, to function as an Ad Hoc mobilization committee operating from Cairo for the implementation of the Conference decisions and for the exchange of information between different international organizations and national committees. The Secretary-General of this committee shall be the Secretary-General of the AAPSO. The Chairmanship of this committee shall rotate among the representatives of the six national liberation movements.

Mr. Chairman, the Khartoum Conference resolution on mobilization of support for the liberation struggle in southern Africa and the Portuguese colonies is a historic document. It spells out the material assistance required by the liberation movements. It makes concrete suggestions for political activity and co-ordination. To put it simply, it answers the nagging question often asked by our friends and would-be supporters: WHAT CAN WE DO? Now no one, no organization, be it revolutionary, progressive, religious or pacifist, can say it has no specific role in this all-in struggle for national independence, freedom and human dignity. There is scope for religious and humanitarian, as well as educational bodies, as there is for progressive and peace forces.

The world community has a definite role and duty to perform. The clash between the African peoples of southern Africa and the white racist regimes which oppress and exploit them cannot be regarded as a purely local conflict. It is one of fundamental international interest and concern affecting directly or indirectly all peoples everywhere.

Thus, we call on all freedom-loving Governments and peoples of the world to render effective practical and material support to the brave soldiers for African freedom, conducting a just war of liberation against oppressive racist regimes.

Our organization needs money. Our soldiers need clothing, blankets, food and medicines.

Today soldiers of the African National Congress, combined with the soldiers of Zimbabwe African People's Union, are locked in battle against the joint Ian Smith-Vorster forces in the hills and mountains of Zimbabwe; tomorrow they will be inside the Republic of South Africa. For we, in the African National Congress, are convinced the struggle for the freedom of the African people of .South Africa will be fought and won by the African masses inside South Africa.

The certainty of our final victory, however bitter, grim and long the struggle may be, is not in doubt. With your practical and material support the day of freedom may be brought nearer.