1.
GV EXT UN Building
0.14

2.
GV INT Delegates seated
0.19

3.
SV OAU Representative Mustapha Sam speaking
1.30

4.
SV Acting Council Secretary Robeson speaking
2.10


One of the speakers on Monday was the Organisation of African Unity's (OAU) representative on the Council Mustapha Sam, who said:



MUSTAPHA SAM: "As we are meeting this hour, the racialist regime of South Africa is submitting the Namibian people to inhuman measures of oppression, deportation, torture and imprisonment. Furthermore, South Africa exhibits a distant policy (INDISTINCT) to Namibia. To complement this and to legitimise its legal presence South Africa has established a so-called advisory council whose members were hand-picked puppets. Mr. President, it is sad to know that, despite the opinion of the International Court of Justice of the 21st of June, 1971, the racist and minority Government of South Africa has blankly refused to allow the United Nations Council for Namibia - acting on behalf of the Organisation - to carry out the mandate entrusted to it in respect to Namibia. the OAU has dedicated itself to the common cause of the Namibian people. That is, to see the birth of the free and independent Namibia. Thank you, Mr. President."



Another speaker was Acting Secretary of the Council John F. Robeson, who said:



ROBESON: "With this timely and laudable decision, the United Nations joins millions all over the world who have been commemorating Namibia Day since 1966 as a day of solidarity with the fighting people of Namibia. Now, we are back again in the same spirit to mark the eighth anniversary of the 26th of August, the day on which our armed liberation struggle commenced. Mr. Chairman, we thank you, and through you the Council for Namibia and the entire international community for all you have done and will continue to do for us during this period




Initials LD/0420



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: South Africa's attitude towards Namibia came under strong attack during speeches at the United Nations on Monday (26 August) to mark Namibia Day. The United Nations Council for Namibia (South West Africa) was set up in 1967 to administer the disputed territory after the U.N. had stripped South Africa of its mandate. South Africa still regards this action as illegal and refuses to cooperate with the Council.