Distr.
GENERAL
s/14652
27 August 1981
ORIGINAL:

ENGLISH

LETTER DATED 27 AUGUST 1981 FROMTHE CHARGED'AFFAIRFS A.I.
OF THE PERMANENTMISSION OF SOUTH AFRICA TO THE UNITED
NATIONS ADDRESSEDTO THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
At the rquest
of the South African Minister
of Foreign Affairs
and
Information,
the Honourable R. F. Botha, I am enclosing the text of a letter
has addressed to Your Excellency on 27 August 1981.
I should appreciate
the Security Council

it

if

this

letter

could be circulated

(Signed)

81-21842

he

as a document of

David W. STEWARD
Char& d'Affaires
a.i.

/ ..*

 s /lb652
English
Page 2
Letter
Foreign

dated 27 Auwst
1981 from the Minister
of
Affairs
and Information
of South Africa
addressed
to the Secretary-General

I must urgently
draw your attention
to the premeditated
attacks
from across
the border
conducted
by SWAP0 against
the civilian
population
of South West Africa/
Namibia.
These acts of aggression
have escalated
to new levels
of intensity
during
the past few weeks.
It is clear
that
SWAP0 plans
to perpetuate
its terrorist
Its strategy
to achieve
this
objective
is to build
attacks
against
the Territory.
up a terrorist
force
in neighbouring
countries.
It is dependent
on the Soviet
Union and its satellites,
including
Cuba, for its philosophy,
training,
armament
and supplies.
The Soviet
Union together
with Cuba and SWAP0 are responsible
for the unstable
conditions
in the border
re:gion
and for introducing
Soviet
imperialism
into
this
region
of Africa.
SVAPO's presence
and actions
threaten
its host countries
and
impede the evolution
of pemeful
relations
in the region,
since no country,
least
of all
South West Africa/Namibia,
can afford
to ignore
the build-up
of hostile
concentrations
in a neighbouring
state.
SWAP0 is being
deliberately
aided
by vast
numbers
of Cuban troops
and other
foreign
elements
in Angola.
The presence
of
such foreign
forces
in the area immediately
bordering
on South T&Jest Africa/Namibia
poses a serious
threat
to the Territory
and its people.
Indeed
sophisticated
weapon systems
supplied
by the Soviet
Union are now being
deployed
in southern
Angola.
This situation
is incompatible
with the proclaimed
d~esire of Angola
to
live
6n peace with its neighbours.
In fact,
it would seem to indicate
that
Angolan
intentions
are the opposite.
Neither
South West Africa/Namibia
nor South Africa
is prepared
to acquiesce
in the offensive
actions
which are planned
and launched
from awoss
the border.
Neither
this
region
of Africa
nor any other
part
of Africa
will
survive
the
destabilizing
effect
of Soviet
encroachment
unless
the free world,
and in
particular
the African
States,
awake to the long-term
objectives
of the Soviet
Union.
How many Afghanistans
will
have to be endured
before,
in the words Of
former
President
Carter,
the true motives
of the Soviet
Union are learned?
SVAPO bands conduct
hit-and-run
forays
into
South West Africa,/Namibia
from
across the border
to intimidate
the local
population
by every grisly
means
possible:
assassination
and mutilation,
planting
of landmines
and bombs, murder
squads,
abduction
and destmxtion
of property.
Despite
their
failure
to achieve
a foothold
in the Territory,
the SWAP0 leadership
persists
with these tactics,
sacrificing
its members for propaganda
purposes.
SWAP0 deliberately
provokes
counter-operations
against
its actions
in order to induce
the Angolan
Government
to lodge
complaints
against
South Africa
at the United
Nations,
in the hope that
IJnited
Nations
action
will
be taken
against
South Africa
which in turn would
assist
SWAP0 in its designs
to achieve
power through
force
of arms.

 S/14652
English
Page 3
In countering
SWAP0 incursions,
South Africa has been guided by the objective
of limiting
its operational
response to SWAP0targets.
Because of an
understandable
political
embarrassment over the resistive
role of UNITA, South
Africa is conveniently
blamed for the military
feats of this liberation
movement.
We refuse, however, to accept responsibility
for the consequences of UNITA
operations.
SWAP0has visibly
demonstrated
in its programme of eliminating
its
to face in a free and fair contest
Despite the increased Soviet-backed
fallen back to a greater degree on
This it hopes, will protect
Angola.

that it will not hesitate
to stoop to excesses
democratic opponents, whom it is not prepared
in a peaceful environment
at the polling
booths.
build-up
and training
of SihJAPO,it has now
the support of the Cuban occupation
forces in
its personnel
from retribution.

The violence
which SWAP0 espouses is aimed at depriving
the inhabitants
of
South West Africa/Namibia
of their right to self-determination
and undermining
their resolve to secure a peaceful independence through democratic and
constitutional
means - which the United Nations is supposedly propagating.
The lack of United Nations condemnation of 37APO is destroying
the confidence
of the people of the Territory
in the United Nations.
hloreover,
the silence of the
United Nations in respect of SFIAPO's actions,
is prejudicial
to the achievement of
a peaceful solution.
It is a travesty
that the United Nations, whose main function
is the maintenance of peace and security,
openly provides
financial,
moral and
propaganda support to an organization
which publicly
proclaims
its dedication
to
violence.
The fact that this violence
is practised
against the civilian
population
does not seem to arouse any concern in the United Nations.
What is even more
deplorable
is that the United Nations continues to encourage SWAP0 to pursue its
campaign of violence.
This connivance by the General Assembly which will no
doubt be repeated in future,
in effect
amounts to SWAP0being given a mandate to
frustrate
the wishes of the democratic majority
in South West Africa/Namibia,
to
violate
with impunity their right to freedom, liberty
and justice,
to entrench the
concept of seizing power by force.
Because of the sponsorship of SFJAPOby the General Assembly and its ritual
annual resolutions
condoning all that SWAP0does, the world is becoming
desensitized
to the barbarity
of SWAPO's conduct.
A heavy responsibility
rests
upon Your Excellency to encourage all organs of the United ?Mions which aid
There is no need
SWAPO, immediately to cease their support of that Organization.
for any party in South West Africa/Namibia
to conduct a struggle to secure its
All that has been demanded of South Africa in this respect,
political
objec,tives.
and more, has been agreed to.
As long ago as 20 September 1978, I stated in a letter
to Your Excellency
(s/12854) that "(South Africa)
is willing
to confirm that the moment SWAP0
undertakes to stop violence
and, in fact, carries out its undertakings,
action
against SWAP0by the South African forces would cease".
But this offer has been
ignored.
I repeat this offer today while there is still
time to implement it.
/ ...

 S/14652
English
Page 4
The growing commitment of certain Governments in Africa to the philosophy
of
violence
and officially
sanctioned acts of subversion
is not limited to the
southern part of Africa or for that matter to Africa.
It is a global threat.
By
providing
sanctuary to the perpetrators
of terrorism
these Governments are just as
This double-edged
danger threatens
to assume
guilty as if they were accessories.
proportions
that may very soon become uncontrollable
and irreversible.
Not much
time is left for the responsible
leaders of southern Africa in particular
to
reflect
on the consequences of the impending cycle of conflict
which confronts
them. IJnless they take a resolute
stand against allowing
their territories
to
serve as launching
sites for aggression against a neighbouring
state, the entire
sub-continent
is headed for a turbulent
era with potentially
catastrophic
dimensions.
The options have beconle limited.
A choice has to be made urgently.
It is
my earnest belief
that those of us in the region who desire to secure and maintain
a stable future for our pecsple have but one alternative.
The economic and
geographic
imperatives
should be allowed to set the scene and to establish
the
basis for constructive
co-operation
among all neighbouring
nations.
This is the
choice, uncomplicated
in nature and realistic
in character.
South Africa is determined in its choice.
Peaceful co-existence
and economic
stability
should supersede all other considerations.
Ideological
and political
differences,
however important,
should not be allowed to sink our destinies
in a
vortex of violence
and conflict.
On the other hand South Africa cannot achieve this objective
if it is to be
subjected to subversion
under the protection
of neighbouring
governments in
violation
of the rules of international
law.
It is my urgent appeal to gou,
Mr. Secretary-General,
to call upon all the States of southern Africa to arrest
and contain the drift
towwds confrontation.
Of overriding
importance at this juncture
is to establish
the cause of the
instability
and conflict
in the border area.
Perceptions ) prejudices
and
propaganda should be laid to rest by uncovering
the facts.
There is a rather
simple answer to rhetorical
debates and verbal delays.
Observe and act.
To make
this possible I now wish to invite
through you !lr. Secretary-General
all members
of the Security Council to visit
the Territory
of South West Africa/Namibia
for
personal observation.
The South African Government will make all facilities
available
to ensure
Security Council respresen%atives
access to any and all parts of the Territory
and to any and all of those individuals
or groups in the Territory
whom they would
wish to interview.
Only in this way can a factual
finding
be made in an effort
to resolve the impasse.
T:he South African Government will guarantee the protection
and safety of the Security Council representatives
during the visit.
We are making
this proposal in an attempt to assist the Security Council.
We have nothing to
hide.
If the other parties
involved
in this matter are equally committed to a
peaceful settlement
process, there can be no reason for eschewing this proposal.

 s/14652
English
Page 5
At the same time it will be useful for Security Council members to visit
the
entire border area.
Such a visit
will enable the Council to see for itself
what
is happening in that region and to assess by personal observation
who is to blame
for the disruption
and breakdown of the socio-economic
structure
in Angola.
If my Government's
exposition
of the facts is not accepted by .the Security
Council I suggest that it is an elementary rule of fairness
to establish
the facts
before giving judgement.
It is a fundamental
rule of law, recognized by civilized
nations,
that an institution
which is entitled
to make decisions which may affect
the rights of others,, should not only apply its nlind to every particular
instance
in which such a decision is called for, but should also be familiar
with all the
relevant
facts and to this end allow ample opportunity
for it to he presented with
such facts.
The Security Council, on which rests the primary responsibility
for the
maintenance of international
peace and security,
should apply this rule even more
stringently
because of the implications
for the international
community at large.
In view of these considerations
I appeal to Member States who are sincere in their
efforts
to find a peaceful
settlement
to accept this invitation.
It demands so
little
yet the outcome may be surprisingly
rewarding.

Minister

R. F. BOTHA
of Foreign Affairs
and Information