Security Council calls on South Africa to lift state of emergency.

Security Council calls on South Africa to lift state of emergency

Security Council members on 13 June called for the immediate lifting of the state of emergency imposed in South Africa on 12 June to permit the observance of the 10th anniversary of the Soweto massacre on 16 June without "any provocative interference or intimidation on the part of the police and military forces'.

In a statement by Council President Blaise Rabetafika (Madagascar) on behalf of Council members (S/18157), they condemned "the policy and all the repressive measures which only serve to perpetuate the apartheid system, in particular the recent imposition of a nation-wide state of emergency and the arrest and detention of thousands of persons involved in the struggle against apartheid'. They also urged the immediate and unconditional release of all persons detained in that respect.

Council members recalled Council resolution 392 (1976) by which South Africa was condemned for "its resort to massive violence against and killings of the African people, including schoolchildren and students and others opposing racial discrimination' in June 1976 at Soweto.

"A repetition of such tragic events', they stated, would "aggravate the already serious threat that the situation in South Africa poses to the security of the region and could have wider implications for international peace and security.'

Council members warned the South African Government that it would be held "fully responsible' for any violence, bloodshed, loss of life, injury and damage to property which might result from acts of repression and intimidation "on the occasion of the observance of the 10th anniversary of the Soweto massacre'.

Council members reaffirmed "the legitimacy of the struggle of the oppressed people of South Africa for the total elimination of apartheid' and recalled previous resolutions calling upon "the racist regime in South Africa to abolish apartheid and to establish a non-racial democratic society based on majority rule, through the full and free exercise of adult universal suffrage by all the people in a united and unfragmented South Africa.'

Zaire, on behalf of the African Group, had requested the convening of the Council to consider "the serious situation in South Africa on the occasion of the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Soweto massacres'.

At a 12 June meeting with South African Ambassador Kurt von Schirnding, the Secretary-General expressed regret that the state of...