22 October 19851
I have come here from a meeting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government held in the Bahamas. Combating apartheid was on the top of our agenda. The pain and the passion with which leaders spoke at that meeting are still echoing in my ears.
I was heartened to find at the Commonwealth meeting that nation after nation made common cause with the South African people. It is a struggle between humanity and inhumanity. It is a battle between freedom and oppression. Governments, who genuinely believe in human equality, are on one side. The Pretoria regime, clinging to the totally untenable and discredited doctrine of apartheid, is on the other.
Some Governments had believed that the Pretoria regime could be brought round through persuasion. Their opposition to sanctions was on the ground that they would be ineffective, not that Pretoria deserved a respite. They are gradually finding out that a Government without conscience is not amenable to a change of heart. There is no alternative to the removal of the regime and the installation of a Government based on racial equality.
The Commonwealth has demonstrated solidarity with the struggling people of South Africa. It has called for dismantling of the detestable apartheid regime. To this end it has worked out a package of specific measures that bind all its members. We shall carefully monitor how they work. We hope that these measures will help the freedom fighters who are struggling valiantly to end apartheid.
The people of South Africa are capable of doing that on their own. But the regime has amassed such vast military power that the people, unaided, will have to fight a long battle. Our duty is to shorten the battle and save lives and avoidable agony. But let us not underestimate the regime's brazenness. Did it not, only last week, execute Benjamin Moloise, mocking international opinion? Does it not continue to hold Nelson Mandela in prison, defying the pleas and protests of an anguished world?
The people's organizations in South Africa have shown exemplary courage. Barring a handful of collaborators, they have spurned enticing offers from the regime. There is "no easy walk to freedom".
South Africa compounds the guilt of apartheid by the crime of aggression against its neighbours and by the illegal occupation of Namibia. The Security Council has unanimously agreed on steps to vacate that colonialism and end that aggression. The countries that have so far temporized in enforcing the resolution should know the damage to their credibility. They must now come out on the side of positive and effective action.
Many nations have imposed economic sanctions unilaterally against racist Pretoria. India was the first to do so, forty years ago. But sanctions have not been imposed by those whose decision will have the maximum effect on South Africa. It is up to them to show how else they plan to change the Government in South Africa and usher in the rule of law and equality there.
As Indira Gandhi declared:
"The idea of freedom cannot be stamped out. Some spark will persist to burst into flame, somewhere, some time, to light the way and illumine hearts and ultimately lead to success. Neither colour nor caste nor sex makes one person superior or inferior. No matter what laws South Africa devises for itself, history cannot be denied, nor will the inexorable march of the future be halted. Apartheid cannot survive."
We have gathered here to pledge our support to Nelson Mandela and to the hundreds of thousands of men, women and children of South Africa who, through their suffering, are upholding our collective cause. Their victory will be our victory. I give my good wishes to the work of the Special Committee against Apartheid, which has done so much to bring the heroism of the South African people to the world's notice.
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