Statement of Michael I. Davis, member of the executive board of the American Committee on Africa, before the Subcommittee on International Organizations, International Affairs Committee of the United States House of Representatives, at a hearing on Namibia
Statement of Michael I. Davis, member of the executive board of the American Committee on Africa, before the Subcommittee on International Organizations, International Affairs Committee of the United States House of Representatives, at a hearing on Namibia
The testimony says it is now beyond dispute that South Africa's presence in Namibia, as a matter of International Law, is illegal and that South Africa continues to occupy Namibia in breach of her legal obligation to withdraw. Underlying the revocation of the mandate was the reality that South Africa's racist and repressive rule continued over Namibia throughout the period that the territory fell under its control. Far from building a free and independent country, South Africa held the majority African population under subjugation pursuant to its segregation -later "apartheid" policies. SWAPO, the principle liberation movement of the Namibians, has become the focus of organized...
The testimony says it is now beyond dispute that South Africa's presence in Namibia, as a matter of International Law, is illegal and that South Africa continues to occupy Namibia in breach of her legal obligation to withdraw. Underlying the revocation of the mandate was the reality that South Africa's racist and repressive rule continued over Namibia throughout the period that the territory fell under its control. Far from building a free and independent country, South Africa held the majority African population under subjugation pursuant to its segregation -later "apartheid" policies. SWAPO, the principle liberation movement of the Namibians, has become the focus of organized resistance to end South African rule. The official response has been to impose a police state in Namibia. The Terrorism Act of 1967, and a battery of related South Africa "security laws" permit the police to arrest anyone without warrant or charge at any time, and hold the person seized indefinitely -in solitary confinement without access to counsel, family or friends. Realizing that resistance has continued notwithstanding its direct measures, the South African regime has promoted its Bantustan policy (developed and practiced in South Africa) in Namibia. The American Committee on Africa has strongly supported the United Nations in rejecting entirely the presence of South Africa in Namibia. The U.S. government has supported U.N. resolutions terminating South Africa's mandate in Namibia. But our Committee believes that these are serious dangers in the present U.S. stance on Namibia, which is to give tacit support to South Africa's tactics and policies. The U.S. should support Decree No 1 of the U.N. Council for Namibia. The U.S. should disallow subsidies to the shipping lines carrying goods to the United States from Namibia. The U.S. should terminate the policy of giving tax credits to American corporations doing business in Namibia. The U.S. should reject any proposal coming out of the Turnhalle Constitutional discussions which violates the principle of national unity. The U.S. should support United Nations supervision and control of the transfer of power to the Namibian people.
