'Unprovoked and unwarranted attack' on Botswana condemned by Security Council.

'Unprovoked and unwarranted attack' on Botswana condemned by Security Council

The Security Council has strongly condemned "the unprovoked and unwarranted military attack" by South Africa on 14 June 1985 on Gaborone, Botswana's capital, characterizing it as "an act of aggression" against Botswana and "a gross violation" of its territorial integrity and national sovereignty.

The 15-member Council also condemned "all acts of aggression, provocation and harassment, including murder, blackmail, kidnapping and destruction of property" committed by South Africa against Botswana. It acted unanimously in adopting resolution 568 (1985) on 21 June.

Under other provisions, the Council denounced and rejected South Africa's practice of "hot pursuit" to "terrorize and destabilize Botswana and other countries in the southern African region", and demanded "full and adequate" compensation by South Africa to Botswana for the damage to life and property resulting from such acts of aggression.

The Council affirmed Botswana's right to receive and give sanctuary to the victims of apartheid, and requested the Secretary-General to enter into immediate consultation with Botswana and relevant United Nations agencies on measures to be undertaken to assist Botswana in ensuring the safety, protection and welfare of refugees in that country.

The Secretary-General was also asked to detail a mission to visit Botswana for the purpose of: assessing the damage caused by South Africa's "unprovoked and premeditated acts of aggression"; proposing measures to strengthen Botswana's capacity to receive and provide assistance to South African refugees; and determining the consequent level of assistance required by Botswana.

The Council requested all States and relevant United Nations agencies and organizations urgently to extend all necessary assistance to Botswana.

In a 17 June letter to the Council President (S/17279), requesting a meeting, Botswana's Permanent Representative, Legwaila, J.M.J. Legwaila, cited the "serious situation arising as a result of Southn Africa's military attack" on Gaborone on 14 June.

The Council met twice on 21 June and reviewed, among other documents, a press release concerning the "South African commando attack" on Gaborone, issued by the Office of the President of Botswana on 14 June and transmitted to the Council President in a letter dated the same day (S/17274).

The Botswana press release said that during the raid by the South African Defence Force, 12 persons had been killed and six injured. Some people might have been kidnapped by the raiders. Four houses had been completely demolished during the raid and others had been extensively damaged. The raiders, who appeared to have entered Botswana by road using a number of vehicles, escaped. The act was particularly deplorable considering Botswana's repeated assurances that it did not permit its territory to be used for launching attacks against neighbouring countries, the release stated.

Italty, in a 20 June letter to the Secretary-General (A/40/396-S/17289), transmitted a 19 June declaration by the European Community strongly condemning the South African incursion into Botswana. "This unacceptable action runs counter to the continuation of a dialogue aimed at seeking peaceful solutions to the problems of the region and South Africa itself."

Liberia, in a 20 June letter to the Council President (S/17290), transmitted a letter of the same date from Oliver Tambo, President of the African National Congress of South Africa (ANC), who urged the Council to impose comprehensive and mandatory sanctions against South Africa.

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