UNITED NATIONS Economic and Social Council Distr. GENERAL E/CN.4/1989/SR.10 13 F e b r u a r y 1 9 8 9 Original: ENGLISH COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS session Forty-fifth SUMMARY RECORD OF THE l O t h MEETING Held a t t h e P a l a i s des N a t i o n s , Geneva, on M o n d a y , 6 F e b r u a r y 1 9 8 9 , a t 3 p.m. Chairman: later: M r . BOSSUYT Mr HELLER CONTENTS (Belgium) (Mexico) S t a t e m e n t by M r . M. R o c a r d , P r i m e M i n i s t e r o f F r a n c e The r i g h t o f p e o p l e s t o s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n a n d i t s a p p l i c a t i o n t o p e o p l e s under c o l o n i a l or a l i e n d o m i n a t i o n o r f o r e i g n o c c u p a t i o n ( c o n t i n u e d ) This record i s subject to correction. C o r r e c t i o n s s h o u l d be s u b m i t t e d i n one o f t h e w o r k i n g l a n g u a g e s . They s h o u l d be s e t f o r t h i n a memorandum a n d a l s o i n c o r p o r a t e d i n a c o p y o f t h e record. T h e y s h o u l d be s e n t w i t h i n one week o f t h e d a t e o f t h i s d o c u m e n t t o t h e O f f i c i a l R e c o r d s E d i t i n g S e c t i o n , E . 6 1 0 8 , P a l a i s d e s N a t i o n s , G e n e v a . Any c o r r e c t i o n s t o t h e r e c o r d s o f t h e p u b l i c m e e t i n g s o f t h e C o m m i s s i o n a t t h i s s e s s i o n w i l l be c o n s o l i d a t e d i n a s i n g l e c o r r i g e n d u m , t o be i s s u e d s h o r t l y a f t e r t h e end o f t h e s e s s i o n . GE.89-10457/0208B E/CN.4/1989/SR.10 page 2 The STATEMENT BY MR. M. m e e t i n g was called t o o r d e r a t 3.20 FRANCE p.m. ROCARD, PRIME M I N I S T E R OF 1. The CHAIRMAN, s p e a k i n g on b e h a l f o f t h e C o m m i s s i o n o n Human R i g h t s and on h i s own b e h a l f , s a i d t h a t t h e p r e s e n c e o f M r . R o c a r d , P r i m e M i n i s t e r o f F r a n c e , who was a b o u t t o a d d r e s s t h e C o m m i s s i o n , d e m o n s t r a t e d t h e i m p o r t a n c e w h i c h F r a n c e a t t a c h e d t o r e s p e c t f o r human r i g h t s . 2. I n h i s a d d r e s s on t h e o c c a s i o n o f t h e f o r t i e t h a n n i v e r s a r y o f t h e U n i v e r s a l D e c l a r a t i o n o f Human R i g h t s , P r e s i d e n t F r a n ç o i s M i t t e r r a n d had s a i d t h a t F r a n c e w o u l d s u p p o r t any p r o p o s a l a i m e d a t i n c r e a s i n g t h e r o l e o f t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s and i t s h u m a n - r i g h t s e x p e r t s i n o r d e r t o make t h e i r m i s s i o n s i n t h e f i e l d more p r o d u c t i v e and t o e n s u r e t h a t t h e i r r e p o r t s w e r e made p u b l i c , s i n c e o p p r e s s i o n welcomed s i l e n c e . 3. M r . R o c a r d was known a s a s t a t e s m a n who, t h r o u g h o u t h i s b r i l l i a n t p o l i t i c a l c a r e e r , had b e e n a n o u t s t a n d i n g d e f e n d e r o f human r i g h t s and i t w i t h g r e a t p l e a s u r e t h a t he i n v i t e d h i m t o a d d r e s s t h e C o m m i s s i o n . was 4. M r . ROCARD ( P r i m e M i n i s t e r o f F r a n c e ) s a i d t h a t h i s p r e s e n c e i n t h e C o m m i s s i o n , i n t h e y e a r o f t h e B i c e n t e n n i a l o f t h e F r e n c h R e v o l u t i o n and t h e D e c l a r a t i o n o f t h e R i g h t s o f Man and t h e C i t i z e n was, f i r s t o f a l l , an a c t o f f a i t h i n the a c t i v i t i e s of the U n i t e d N a t i o n s . 5. Some p e o p l e - and t h e r e w e r e f a r t o o many o f them - had c a l l e d i n t o q u e s t i o n the very u s e f u l n e s s o f the U n i t e d N a t i o n s . However, the O r g a n i z a t i o n had s i l e n c e d t h o s e c r i t i c s , j u s t a s i t had h e l p e d t o s i l e n c e t h e g u n s i n many areas of the w o r l d . Through i t s r e c e n t p r o p o s a l s f o r p e a c e f u l s e t t l e m e n t s , i t s p e a c e - k e e p i n g o p e r a t i o n s and t h e m e d i a t i o n o f i t s S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l , t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s had c o n f o u n d e d i t s d e t r a c t o r s a g a i n and a g a i n . I n f a c e , who c o u l d h a v e i m a g i n e d two y e a r s p r e v i o u s l y t h a t t h e r e w o u l d be s u c h a r e s u r g e n c e o f t h e p e a c e f u l s e t t l e m e n t o f c o n f l i c t s , a r e s u r g e n c e w h i c h was u n d o u b t e d l y f a c i l i t a t e d by t h e E a s t - W e s t r a p p r o c h e m e n t b u t c r e d i t f o r w h i c h was due t o t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s and i t s S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l who, t h r o u g h h i s u n t i r i n g c a m p a i g n f o r p e a c e and t h u s f o r human r i g h t s , had r a i s e d h i s o f f i c e t o an u n p r e c e n t e d l e v e l o f p r e s t i g e . M e n t i o n s h o u l d a l s o be made o f t h e f a c t t h a t t h e " B l u e H e l m e t s " had j u s t b e e n a w a r d e d a N o b e l P r i z e , an h o n o u r w h i c h r e f l e c t e d on t h e entire Organization. 6. W h i l e e x c e s s i v e o p t i m i s m was t o be a v o i d e d , i t was h e a r t e n i n g t o n o t e t h e e x t e n t o f the r e c e n t i n i t i a t i v e s i n c l u d i n g p e a c e n e g o t i a t i o n s between I r a n and I r a q , i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e G e n e v a A c c o r d s on A f g h a n i s t a n , m e d i a t i o n o f t h e S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l i n C y p r u s , n e g o t i a t i o n o f a peace p l a n i n the W e s t e r n S a h a r a , d e v e l o p m e n t o f a n i n d e p e n d e n c e p r o c e s s i n N a m i b i a a n d , more g e n e r a l l y , a redoubling of e f f o r t s i n southern A f r i c a . 7. I n t h a t r e g a r d , a s p e c i a l t r i b u t e s h o u l d be p a i d t o t h e v i g i l a n c e e x e r c i s e d by t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s t o e n s u r e t h a t a p a r t h e i d became t h e s u b j e c t o f unanimous c e n s u r e . The C o m m i s s i o n ' s u n t i r i n g p r e s s u r e t o t h a t end w o u l d c e r t a i n l y c o n t r i b u t e t o the d i s m a n t l i n g o f a p a r t h e i d . France r e j e c t e d a p a r t h e i d u n e q u i v o c a l l y , and t h e members o f h i s G o v e r n m e n t n e v e r f a i l e d t o show by u n a m b i g u o u s g e s t u r e s t h e i r u n r e s e r v e d c o n d e m n a t i o n o f t h e a p a r t h e i d régime. E/CN.4/1989/SR.10 page 3 8. H i s p r e s e n c e i n t h e C o m m i s s i o n was a l s o a n a c t o f f a i t h i n m u l t i l a t e r a l diplomatic a c t i o n , which the United Nations symbolized. With regard t o the I s r a e l i - P a l e s t i n i a n c o n f l i c t , f o r i n s t a n c e , F r a n c e was i n f a v o u r o f t h e c o n v e n i n g o f an i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o n f e r e n c e which would b r i n g t o g e t h e r t h e p a r t i e s d i r e c t l y c o n c e r n e d a n d t h e f i v e p e r m a n e n t members o f t h e Security Council. S u c h a c o n f e r e n c e w o u l d n o t be a b l e t o i m p o s e s o l u t i o n s , but m u l t i l a t e r a l a c t i o n c o u l d and s h o u l d p l a y t h e r o l e o f a c a t a l y s t w h i c h a l o n e made p o s s i b l e t h e c o n v e r g e n c e o f t h e w i l l o f t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s t o s u c c e e d . 9. A n o t h e r e x a m p l e was a c o n f e r e n c e w h i c h h a d r e c e n t l y b e e n h e l d i n P a r i s o n t h e i n i t i a t i v e o f P r e s i d e n t M i t t e r r a n d . One h u n d r e d a n d f o r t y - n i n e S t a t e s h a d adopted unanimously a d e c l a r a t i o n whereby they e x p r e s s e d t h e i r d e t e r m i n a t i o n t o p r e v e n t a n y u s e o f c h e m i c a l weapons by e l i m i n a t i n g them c o m p l e t e l y a n d c a l l e d o n S t a t e s w h i c h h a d n o t y e t done s o t o a c c e d e t o t h e 1 9 2 5 P r o t o c o l . Ten S t a t e s h a d a n n o u n c e d s u c h a c c e s s i o n a t t h e e n d o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e . The p a r t i c i p a n t s had i n v i t e d t h e Geneva C o n f e r e n c e on Disarmament t o r e d o u b l e i t s e f f o r t s t o r e s o l v e o u t s t a n d i n g problems p r o m p t l y and t o c o n c l u d e a c o n v e n t i o n i n t h e s h o r t e s t p o s s i b l e t i m e . A new p h a s e o f t h e n e g o t i a t i o n s f o r t h e a d o p t i o n o f t h e c o n v e n t i o n was s h o r t l y t o b e g i n a n d t h e M i n i s t e r f o r F o r e i g n A f f a i r s o f h i s c o u n t r y would a t t e n d i n p e r s o n t o underscore F r a n c e ' s commitment t o t h e s u c c e s s o f t h o s e m u l t i l a t e r a l n e g o t i a t i o n s . 1 0 . H o w e v e r , h i s p r e s e n c e i n t h e C o m m i s s i o n was p r i m a r i l y f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f p a y i n g t r i b u t e t o t h e c o n s i d e r a b l e w o r k d o n e by t h e C o m m i s s i o n s i n c e 1 9 4 6 , i n i t i a l l y through the e l a b o r a t i o n o f fundamental t e x t s such as t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Covenant on C i v i l and P o l i t i c a l R i g h t s and t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Covenant on Economic, S o c i a l and C u l t u r a l R i g h t s , t h e C o n v e n t i o n a g a i n s t T o r t u r e a n d O t h e r C r u e l , Inhuman o r D e g r a d i n g T r e a t m e n t o r P u n i s h m e n t a n d s o forth. I t was t o be h o p e d t h a t , a f t e r 10 y e a r s o f n e g o t i a t i o n s , t h e d r a f t C o n v e n t i o n o n t h e R i g h t s o f t h e C h i l d w o u l d s o o n be a d o p t e d . 1 1 . However, t h e Commission had n o t c o n f i n e d i t s e l f t o s t a n d a r d - s e t t i n g . From t h e 1970s o n w a r d s , i t had been c o n c e r n e d w i t h m o n i t o r i n g t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f s u c h s t a n d a r d s by a d o p t i n g p r o c e d u r e s s u c h a s t h e c o n f i d e n t i a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e s i t u a t i o n o f c e r t a i n c o u n t r i e s under t h e s o - c a l l e d " r e s o l u t i o n 1503 ( X L V I I I ) p r o c e d u r e " o r t h r o u g h t h e a d o p t i o n o f p u b l i c r e s o l u t i o n s , the appointment o f s p e c i a l r a p p o r t e u r s o r t h e d i s p a t c h o f observation missions. I t was t r u e t h a t t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f t h o s e v a r i o u s m e c h a n i s m s was s t i l l t o o l i m i t e d . The v i e w m i g h t be v e n t u r e d , p e r h a p s , t h a t S t a t e s s o m e t i m e s t e n d e d t o p r o t e c t one a n o t h e r a n d t h a t some o f them w e r e r e l u c t a n t t o co-operate f u l l y with the Commission. N e v e r t h e l e s s , over the p a s t 15 y e a r s , p r o g r e s s h a d u n d o u b t e d l y b e e n made. A s t h i n g s s t o o d , n o S t a t e i n c u l p a t e d by t h e C o m m i s s i o n c o u l d r e m a i n i n d i f f e r e n t t o t h e f a c t . 1 2 . T h u s , 40 y e a r s a f t e r t h e a d o p t i o n o f t h e U n i v e r s a l D e c l a r a t i o n o f Human R i g h t s , i t was a p p a r e n t t h a t a v e r i t a b l e i n t e r n a t i o n a l e t h i c h a d b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d w i t h r e g a r d t o human r i g h t s . L e g a l i n s t r u m e n t s e x i s t e d w h i c h made i t p o s s i b l e t o d e f i n e a common l a n g u a g e o n t h e b a s i s o f w h i c h d i a l o g u e h a d become p o s s i b l e . H o w e v e r , h i s t o r y showed t h a t i t was n o t e n o u g h f o r Governments t o s t a t e p r i n c i p l e s and t o u n d e r t a k e commitments f o r t h o s e p r i n c i p l e s t o b e r e s p e c t e d . A c t i o n by t h o s e who d i d n o t g o v e r n was a l s o necessary. 13. I n 1 9 4 8 , t h e Member S t a t e s o f t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s h a d s i g n e d t h e U n i v e r s a l D e c l a r a t i o n w h i c h e n u m e r a t e d i n i t s 30 a r t i c l e s t h e f u n d a m e n t a l f r e e d o m s a n d E/CN.4/1989/SR.10 page 4 r i g h t s o f a l l human b e i n g s . He w o n d e r e d , h o w e v e r , w h e t h e r t h e r e w a s ' a s i n g l e S t a t e o f t h o s e w h i c h h a d s i g n e d t h e D e c l a r a t i o n 40 y e a r s p r e v i o u s l y w h i c h c o u l d a s s e r t t h a t i t had s c r u p u l o u s l y r e s p e c t e d e v e r y one o f t h o s e a r t i c l e s over the four decades i n q u e s t i o n . Human R i g h t s w e r e e f f e c t i v e o n l y i f human b e i n g s s e i z e d upon t h e m . T h a t was w h e r e t h e e s s e n t i a l r o l e o f t h e n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s came i n . 14. W h a t e v e r g o o d w i l l m i g h t e x i s t , i t c o u l d h a r d l y be e x p e c t e d t h a t G o v e r n m e n t s w o u l d s p o n t a n e o u s l y b r i n g b e f o r e n a t i o n a l and I n t e r n a t i o n a l p u b l i c o p i n i o n v i o l a t i o n s - l a r g e o r s m a l l - o f human r i g h t s p e r p e t r a t e d i n t h e i r t e r r i t o r y o r t h a t they would a u t o m a t i c a l l y denounce a l l those c o m m i t t e d e l s e w h e r e . When G o v e r n m e n t s w e r e s i l e n t , t h e n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s s p o k e . When G o v e r n m e n t s w e r e p o w e r l e s s , t h e n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s acted. T h e n t h e o p p r e s s o r s h e s i t a t e d , t h e o p p r e s s e d r e s i s t e d a n d t h o s e who had b e e n e x c l u d e d b e g a n t o h o p e . T h a t was w h y , a s P r e s i d e n t M i t t e r r a n d h a d s a i d , F r a n c e w o u l d be i n f a v o u r o f a n y m e a s u r e t h a t c o n s o l i d a t e d t h e a c t i o n o f n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s , d e f i n e d t h e i r s t a t u s more p r e c i s e l y a n d p r o t e c t e d t h e i r members a n d t h e i r w i t n e s s e s . 15. L a s t l y , h i s presence i n t h e Commission t e s t i f i e d t o t h e eminent p o s i t i o n w h i c h t h e C o m m i s s i o n o n Human R i g h t s s h o u l d h o l d w i t h i n t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s . H o w e v e r , i t was t h e b o u n d e n d u t y o f any w i t n e s s t o s p e a k t h e w h o l e t r u t h a n d t h u s t o a s s e s s t h e c r i t i c i s m s t h a t h a d b e e n made o f t h e C o m m i s s i o n . 16. The f i r s t s u c h c r i t i c i s m was t h a t t h e C o m m i s s i o n o n Human R i g h t s was t o o free i n i t s interpretation of the p r i n c i p l e of non-interference i n internal affairs. C l e a r l y t h e r e was no q u e s t i o n o f c a l l i n g t h a t p r i n c i p l e i n t o q u e s t i o n , i n view o f i t s major c o n t r i b u t i o n t o m a i n t a i n i n g peace i n t h e world H o w e v e r , i t was a l s o r e l e v a n t t h a t A r t i c l e s 55 a n d 56 o f t h e C h a r t e r o f t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s s o l e m n l y a f f i r m e d t h a t human r i g h t s w e r e e s s e n t i a l l y u n i v e r s a l a n d t h a t a l l Member S t a t e s h a d i m p o s e d t h a t u n i v e r s a l i t y u p o n themselves a s an o b j e c t i v e l i m i t a t i o n on t h e p r i n c i p l e o f n o n - i n t e r f e r e n c e : i f human r i g h t s w e r e i n v o l v e d , t h e n n o S t a t e t h a t was a s i g n a t o r y o f t h e Charter could l e g i t i m a t e l y object t o another signatory State and, a f o r t i o r i , a non-governmental o r g a n i z a t i o n concerning i t s e l f w i t h the matter. 17. T h a t was t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f t h e i m p o r t a n t r e s o l u t i o n adopted o n 8 December 1 9 8 8 , o n a t t h e i n i t i a t i v e o f F r a n c e , by t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y o f t h e United N a t i o n s . While r e c a l l i n g the Imperatives of n a t i o n a l sovereignty, the r e s o l u t i o n a f f i r m e d the primacy o f a c c e s s t o v i c t i m s i n the case o f n a t u r a l d i s a s t e r s and emergency s i t u a t i o n s . I n t h a t c o n n e c t i o n , he p a i d t r i b u t e t o t h e S o v i e t a u t h o r i t i e s w h i c h , o n t h e v e r y d a y t h a t r e s o l u t i o n was a d o p t e d , h a d i m p l e m e n t e d i t by o p e n i n g t h e i r b o r d e r s t o t h e r e s c u e p a r t i e s , w h i c h h a d a r r i v e d t o h e l p t h e v i c t i m s .of t h e A r m e n i a n e a r t h q u a k e . That u n p r e c e d e n t e d a c t i o n , h e l d o u t new p r o m i s e f o r e f f e c t i v e r e c o g n i t i o n o f t h e u n i v e r s a l i t y o f human r i g h t s . I t showed t h a t , w h e r e f u l l c o - o p e r a t i o n was e s t a b l i s h e d i n t h e s e r v i c e o f v i c t i m s , a c t i o n s i n f a v o u r o f human r i g h t s c o u l d no l o n g e r be r e g a r d e d a s u n f r i e n d l y , b u t a s t h e p r a c t i c a l r e f l e c t i o n o f human solidarity. 18. A s e c o n d c r i t i c i s m was t h a t t h e C o m m i s s i o n ' s i n d i g n a t i o n was s e l e c t i v e , a c o m p l a i n t f o r w h i c h t h e r e was some f o u n d a t i o n . T h a t had harmed t h e r e p u t a t i o n o f t h e C o m m i s s i o n b u t i t was t e n d i n g t o d i m i n i s h . F o r e x a m p l e , t h e r e c o u l d be no d o u b t t h a t t h e i n d i g n a t i o n o f t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s h a d b e e n t o o o f t e n e x p r e s s e d w i t h regard t o L a t i n America as a w h o l e . However, r e c e n t E/CN.4/1989/SR.10 page 5 i n i t i a t i v e s showed t h a t o t h e r c o n t i n e n t s w e r e h a v i n g t h e i r t u r n a n d w e r e i n c r e a s i n g l y becoming t h e o b j e c t o f t h e v i g i l a n t a t t e n t i o n o f t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l community and o f i t s j u s t i f i e d s e v e r i t y . 19. H i s Government hoped t h a t t h a t t r e n d w o u l d c o n t i n u e and t h a t t h e C o m m i s s i o n w o u l d n o t h e s i t a t e t o t a k e up s i t u a t i o n s s u c h a s t h a t o f t h e u n f o r t u n a t e R o m a n i a n p e o p l e whose r u l e r s w e r e i s o l a t i n g t h e m s e l v e s f r o m t h e E u r o p e a n m a i n s t r e a m t h a t h a d r e c e n t l y b e e n c h a n n e l l e d by t h e a d o p t i o n w i t h o u t r e s e r v a t i o n a t V i e n n a by t h e C o n f e r e n c e o n S e c u r i t y a n d C o - o p e r a t i o n i n E u r o p e o f p r o c e d u r e s f o r t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f human r i g h t s . 20. The t h i r d c r i t i c i s m was t h a t , g i v e n t h e v a r i e t y o f p r o c e d u r e s e m p l o y e d , i t was s u r e l y a d v i s a b l e t o r a t i o n a l i z e them f o r t h e s a k e o f e f f i c i e n c y . If i t t r i e d t o p e r f e c t a s i n g l e procedure, however, t h e Commission might w e l l l o s e what had been t o d a t e i t s most v a l u a b l e a d v a n t a g e : the innovative f l e x i b i l i t y w h i c h h a d e n a b l e d i t t o e s t a b l i s h new p r o c e d u r e s w h e n e v e r n e c e s s a r y . I t would be p r e f e r a b l e t o e n s u r e , f o r i n s t a n c e , t h a t t h e r e p o r t s b e i n g p r e p a r e d by s p e c i a l r a p p o r t e u r s were g i v e n g r e a t e r p u b l i c i t y . The C o m m i s s i o n ' s o n l y s a n c t i o n was p u b l i c i t y , w h i c h a c t e d a s a d e t e r r e n t t o o p p r e s s o r s . Whenever a genuine s p i r i t of co-operation e x i s t e d , of course, a c o n s t r u c t i v e recommendation s h o u l d be t h e r u l e . Only i n the c o n t r a r y c a s e , would p u b l i c i t y be n e e d e d . 21. F a s t e r r e a c t i o n o n t h e p a r t o f t h e C o m m i s s i o n s h o u l d be p r o m o t e d when f l a g r a n t and m a s s i v e v i o l a t i o n s o c c u r r e d . P u b l i c o p i n i o n had d i f f i c u l t y i n understanding the long-drawn-out r e a c t i o n times which gave r i s e t o doubt a n d , i n t h e l o n g r u n , harmed t h e c r e d i b i l i t y o f t h e O r g a n i z a t i o n . 22. The f o u r t h , a n d l a s t , c r i t i c i s m c o n c e r n e d t h e i n s u f f i c i e n t importance attached to advisory services. The p r o t e c t i o n o f human r i g h t s s h o u l d n o t neglect that other aspect: t h e p r o m o t i o n o f human r i g h t s , p a r t i c u l a r l y when a d e m o c r a t i c p r o c e s s began f o l l o w i n g a p e r i o d o f o p p r e s s i o n . I t was f i n e t h a t t h e d e f e n d e r s o f human r i g h t s s h o u l d m o b i l i z e a g a i n s t o p p r e s s o r s . A l l too o f t e n , however, they abandoned t h e campaign once an a p p a r e n t l y d e c i s i v e v i c t o r y h a d b e e n won, w h e r e a s t h e most d i f f i c u l t t a s k s t i l l r e m a i n e d t o be tackled: the r e s t o r a t i o n of a durable democratic f a b r i c . D e m o c r a c y was fragile; n o n e o f i t s a t t r i b u t e s was p e r m a n e n t l y g u a r a n t e e d . I t was a n ongoing f i g h t , a p e r p e t u a l hope, sometimes t h r e a t e n e d w i t h r e t r o g r e s s i o n and always capable o f f u r t h e r improvement. Needless t o s a y , such a d v i s o r y s e r v i c e s s h o u l d n o t be a l l o w e d t o become a c o v e r f o r r é g i m e s p a y i n g mere l i p - s e r v i c e t o democracy. 23. He c o n g r a t u l a t e d t h e U n d e r - S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l f o r Human R i g h t s o n h i s d e c i s i o n t o accord p r i o r i t y t o the development o f a d v i s o r y s e r v i c e s as a s p e c i a l i n s t r u m e n t f o r t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f human r i g h t s . H i s Government s u p p o r t e d t h o s e e f f o r t s a n d h i s c o u n t r y w o u l d make a m a j o r c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e financing o f the advisory s e r v i c e s . 24. Two c e n t u r i e s p r e v i o u s l y , t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e F r e n c h p e o p l e , meeting i n a N a t i o n a l A s s e m b l y , had t a k e n t h e view t h a t , even b e f o r e e l a b o r a t i n g a c o n s t i t u t i o n , i t was e s s e n t i a l t o s e t f o r t h i n a s o l e m n D e c l a r a t i o n t h e i n a l i e n a b l e a n d s a c r e d n a t u r a l r i g h t s o f man s o t h a t i t w o u l d c o n s t a n t l y r e c a l l t h e i r r i g h t s a n d d u t i e s t o a l l members o f t h e s o c i a l b o d y . T h a t D e c l a r a t i o n o f 26 A u g u s t 1789 h a d become a m i l e s t o n e i n t h e h i s t o r y o f t h e w o r l d b e c a u s e i t c a t e g o r i c a l l y s t a t e d t h a t human r i g h t s w e r e u n i v e r s a l a n d E/CN.4/1989/SR.10 page t h a t a p o l i t i c a l r é g i m e had no p u r p o s e o t h e r t h a n t o p r e s e r v e t h e n a t u r a l i n d e f e a s i b l e r i g h t s o f man, n a m e l y , f r e e d c w i , p r o p e r t y , s e c u r i t y , and r e s i s t a n c e t o o p p r e s s i o n , t h a t w e r e i n h e r e n t i n t h e human b e i n g and p r i o r a l l s o c i e t y and a l l p o w e r . and to 2 5. The a d o p t i o n o f t h e U n i v e r s a l D e c l a r a t i o n o f Human R i g h t s i n 1948 c l e a r l y m a n i f e s t e d a f t e r t h e h o r r o r s o f t h e S e c o n d W o r l d War, t h e d e c i s i o n o f t h e Member S t a t e s o f t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s t o make t h e u n i v e r s a l i t y o f r i g h t s effective. I n p r o p o s i n g w h a t t h e y c a l l e d "a common s t a n d a r d o f a c h i e v e m e n t f o r a l l p e o p l e s and a l l n a t i o n s " , t h e a u t h o r s o f t h e U n i v e r s a l D e c l a r a t i o n had s e t a k i n d o f i m p o s s i b l e a i m , s i n c e t h e h u m a n - r i g h t s dawn a p p e a r e d a t t h e t i m e t o be e x t r e m e l y r e m o t e . H o w e v e r , b e c a u s e women and men, g o v e r n o r s and g o v e r n e d , had, i n e v e r - i n c r e a s i n g numbers a p p r o p r i a t e d t o t h e m s e l v e s t h a t common s t a n d a r d , w h a t was p o s s i b l e i n r e s p e c t o f human r i g h t s had c o n s t a n t l y e x p a n d e d . A c c o r d i n g t o the words o f the p h i l o s o p h e r , a l l h i s t o r i c a l e x p e r i e n c e c o n f i r m e d t h a t the p o s s i b l e c o u l d never have been a c h i e v e d w i t h o u t c o n s t a n t and i n c e s s a n t e f f o r t s t o a t t a i n t h e i m p o s s i b l e . 26. The CHAIRMAN, s p e a k i n g on b e h a l f o f t h e C o m m i s s i o n , t h a n k e d t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r o f F r a n c e f o r h i s s t a t e m e n t w h i c h w o u l d be a s t i m u l u s t o e v e r y o n e s t r i v i n g t o p r o m o t e human r i g h t s t h r o u g h o u t t h e w o r l d . I t was m o s t e n c o u r a g i n g t o know t h a t t h e C o m m i s s i o n c o u l d c o u n t o n t h e f i r m s u p p o r t o f t h e government o f France i n i t s endeavours t o a c h i e v e t a n g i b l e r e s u l t s i n the c a m p a i g n t o s e c u r e r e s p e c t f o r a l l human r i g h t s and t h e i r e n j o y m e n t by a l l human b e i n g s . The m e e t i n g was s u s p e n d e d a t 4 p.m. and r e s u m e d a t 4.10 p.m. THE RIGHT OF PEOPLES TO SELF-DETERMINATION AND ITS A P P L I C A T I O N TO PEOPLES UNDER COLONIAL OR A L I E N TOMINATION OR FOREIGN OCCUPATION ( a g e n d a i t e m 9) (continued) ( E / C N . 4 / 1 9 8 9 / 1 3 , 1 4 , 4 9 , 5 2 , 5 3 , 5 5 , 59 and 6 1 ; E/CN.4/1989/NGO/33; A/43/735) 27. M r . TRAN mm ( O b s e r v e r f o r V i e t Nam) s a i d t h a t the Vietnamese p e o p l e , w h i c h had made i n n u m e r a b l e s a c r i f i c e s d u r i n g more t h a n 30 y e a r s o f war i n o r d e r t o r e g a i n i t s r i g h t t o d e c i d e on i t s own d e s t i n y , r e s p e c t e d t h e r i g h t o f o t h e r p e o p l e s t o s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n . H i s Government f i r m l y s u p p o r t e d the P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e ' s s t r u g g l e f o r t h e r i g h t t o e s t a b l i s h an i n d e p e n d e n t S t a t e and t o l i v e i n a r e g i o n o f p e a c e and s e c u r i t y . I t a l s o s u p p o r t e d t h e e f f o r t s o f the Arab p e o p l e s t o r e g a i n t h e i r t e r r i t o r i e s from the Z i o n i s t o c c u p i e r s , and e n c o u r a g e d t h e p e o p l e s o f s o u t h e r n A f r i c a i n t h e i r s t r u g g l e f o r t h e independence of Namibia. 28. V i e t Nam s t o o d s i d e by s i d e w i t h t h e f r a t e r n a l p e o p l e s o f C u b a , N i c a r a g u a and A n g o l a i n t h e i r j u s t f i g h t t o d e f e n d t h e i r i n d e p e n d e n c e and sovereignty a g a i n s t the t h r e a t of i m p e r i a l i s t a g g r e s s i o n . In that connection, h i s d e l e g a t i o n v e h e m e n t l y condemned t h e i m p e r i a l i s t f o r c e s ' use o f m e r c e n a r i e s a s a means o f p r e v e n t i n g t h e e x e r c i s e o f t h e r i g h t t o s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n C e n t r a l A m e r i c a and s o u t h e r n A f r i c a . 29. O v e r t h e p a s t y e a r , a number o f v e r y p o s i t i v e d e v e l o p m e n t s i n Kampuchea and S o u t h - E a s t A s i a i n g e n e r a l had o p e n e d t h e way f o r a p o l i t i c a l s o l u t i o n t o t h e p r o b l e m o f K a m p u c h e a . A t t h e end o f 1 9 8 8 , V i e t Nam had c o m p l e t e d i t s w i t h d r a w a l o f 50,000 v o l u n t e e r t r o o p s , and had s o l e m n l y d e c l a r e d t h a t t h e E/CN.4/1989/SR.10 page 7 r e m a i n i n g t r o o p s w o u l d be w i t h d r a w n b y S e p t e m b e r 1989 a t t h e l a t e s t , a s p a r t of a p o l i t i c a l s o l u t i o n t o t h e p r o b l e m o f Kampuchea. I f no p o l i t i c a l s o l u t i o n w e r e r e a c h e d , a l l V i e t n a m e s e t r o o p s w o u l d be w i t h d r a w n f r o m Kampuchea i n 1 9 9 0 . 30. A n o t h e r s i g n i f i c a n t d e v e l o p m e n t was t h a t , f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e , a f t e r 10 y e a r s o f c o n f r o n t a t i o n a n d d e a d l o c k , t h e t w o g r o u p s o f S o u t h - E a s t A s i a n c o u n t r i e s a n d t h e f o u r Kampuchean f a c t i o n s h a d met a t J a k a r t a f r o m 25 t o 28 J u l y 1988 i n t h e " J a k a r t a I n f o r m a l M e e t i n g " ( J I M ) i n o r d e r t o seek a p o l i t i c a l s o l u t i o n t o t h e p r o b l e m o f Kampuchea. I n h i s c l o s i n g statement a t the J I M , the Indonesian M i n i s t e r f o r F o r e i g n A f f a i r s had s t a t e d t h a t a l l t h e p a r t i e s s h a r e d t h e v i e w t h a t t h e two c r u c i a l i s s u e s i n t h e p o l i t i c a l s o l u t i o n o f t h e Kampuchean p r o b l e m w e r e t h e w i t h d r a w a l o f V i e t n a m e s e t r o o p s and t h e p r e v e n t i o n o f a r e t u r n t o t h e p o l i c i e s and g e n o c i d a l p r a c t i c e s of P o l P o t . 31. The p r e s e n c e o f V i e t n a m e s e v o l u n t e e r t r o o p s i n Kampuchea by n o means s i g n i f i e d a n armed f o r e i g n o c c u p a t i o n o f K a m p u c h e a , w h i c h p r e v e n t e d t h e Kampuchean p e o p l e f r o m e x e r c i s i n g i t s r i g h t t o s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n . On t h e c o n t r a r y , V i e t n a m e s e t r o o p s were i n t h a t c o u n t r y p r e c i s e l y i n o r d e r t o g u a r a n t e e t h a t t h e Kampuchean p e o p l e was a b l e t o e x e r c i s e a l l i t s r i g h t s , t h e most f u n d a m e n t a l o f w h i c h was t h e r i g h t t o l i v e f r e e f r o m t h e t h r e a t o f genocide. 32. S i n c e t h e f i r s t J I M i n J u l y 1 9 8 8 had p r o d u c e d i m p o r t a n t r e s u l t s , a l l t h e p a r t i e s c o n c e r n e d h a d a g r e e d t o h o l d a s e c o n d J I M f r o m 19 t o 21 F e b r u a r y 1989 f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f f u r t h e r i n g t h e p r o c e s s o f d i a l o g u e among t h e c o u n t r i e s o f S o u t h - E a s t A s i a and b e t w e e n t h e Kampuchean f a c t i o n s i n o r d e r t o a c h i e v e a j u s t a n d l a s t i n g p o l i t i c a l s o l u t i o n i n t h e i n t e r e s t o f t h e Kampuchean p e o p l e a n d o f peace and s t a b i l i t y i n S o u t h - E a s t A s i a . 33. R e s o l u t i o n 1 9 8 8 / 6 o f t h e C o m m i s s i o n o n Human R i g h t s , e n t i t l e d " S i t u a t i o n i n Kampuchea" i n no way r e f l e c t e d t h e s p i r i t o f d i a l o g u e a n d c o - o p e r a t i o n t h a t had c h a r a c t e r i z e d t h e J I M and f a l s i f i e d t h e a c t u a l s i t u a t i o n i n Kampuchea. Such a r e s o l u t i o n would o n l y p r o l o n g t h e d e a d l o c k on t h e i s s u e w i t h i n t h e United N a t i o n s , thus p r e v e n t i n g the O r g a n i z a t i o n from c a r r y i n g o u t i t s noble t a s k o f f i n d i n g a s o l u t i o n t o t h e p r o b l e m o f K a m p u c h e a . V i e t Nam a d v o c a t e d t h e b e g i n n i n g o f a new e r a o f c o - o p e r a t i o n among t h e c o u n t r i e s o f S o u t h - E a s t A s i a w i t h i n t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s , which would enable the U n i t e d N a t i o n s t o t a k e an a c t i v e r o l e i n t h e s e t t l e m e n t o f t h e p r o b l e m . 34. M i s s CHAALAN ( O b s e r v e r f o r t h e S y r i a n A r a b R e p u b l i c ) s a i d t h a t , s i n c e 1 9 4 8 , t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e had been t h e v i c t i m o f one o f t h e most serious crimes against humanity, which not only deprived i tof i t s c i v i l , p o l i t i c a l and c u l t u r a l r i g h t s b u t a l s o t h r e a t e n e d i t s v e r y e x i s t e n c e . I s r a e l ' s p o l i c y o f a g g r e s s i o n and e x p a n s i o n i s m and i t s v i o l a t i o n s o f human r i g h t s i n d e f i a n c e o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l law posed an o b s t a c l e t o t h e achievement of a j u s t and l a s t i n g peace i n t h e M i d d l e E a s t . The w o r l d Z i o n i s t movement was a t t e m p t i n g t o f o r c e t h e A r a b p o p u l a t i o n o u t o f t h e o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r i e s and t o r e p l a c e i t w i t h s e t t l e m e n t s o f J e w s frcan a l l o v e r t h e w o r l d . To a c h i e v e t h a t g o a l , t h e I s r a e l i a u t h o r i t i e s c o n f i s c a t e d A r a b l a n d and p r o p e r t y , d e p o r t i n g or i m p r i s o n i n g the l o c a l p o p u l a t i o n . I s r a e l ' s abominable Nazi p r a c t i c e s h a d l e d t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s t o e q u a t e Zionism w i t h r a c i s m . 35. The e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f s e t t l e m e n t s was n o t t h e o n l y means by w h i c h I s r a e l sought t o change t h e demographic c h a r a c t e r o f t h e o c c u p i e d Arab t e r r i t o r i e s . E/CN.4/1989/SR.10 page 8 P u r s u i n g t h e i r p o l i c y o f e x p a n s i o n i s m and a g g r e s s i o n , t h e Z i o n i s t s p l a n n e d t o annex t h e West Bank, t h e Gaza S t r i p and t h e G o l a n H e i g h t s , a s w e l l a s E a s t J e r u s a l e m . I n 1 9 8 1 , I s r a e l had adopted a r e s o l u t i o n d e c l a r i n g t h e annexation o f the Golan Heights i n defiance o f S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l r e s o l u t i o n 497 ( 1 9 8 1 ) . I s r a e l ' s a c t i v i t i e s i n the occupied Arab t e r r i t o r i e s were f l a g r a n t v i o l a t i o n s o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l l a w , i n p a r t i c u l a r t h e F o u r t h Geneva C o n v e n t i o n o f 12 A u g u s t 1 9 4 9 a n d S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l r e s o l u t i o n s 607 and 608 ( 1 9 8 7 ) . The r u t h l e s s p r a c t i c e s o f t h e I s r a e l i a u t h o r i t i e s i n t h e o c c u p i e d t e r r i t o r i e s had a r o u s e d t h e i n d i g n a t i o n even o f I s r a e l ' s s t a u n c h e s t supporters. 36. The r e g i o n o f s o u t h e r n A f r i c a h a d l o n g b e e n s u b j e c t e d t o a r é g i m e j u s t a s odious as the r a c i s t Z i o n i s t régime. South A f r i c a v i o l a t e d the c i v i l , p o l i t i c a l , s o c i a l , economic and c u l t u r a l r i g h t s o f i t s b l a c k m a j o r i t y ; i t had o c c u p i e d N a m i b i a and engaged i n a c t s o f a g g r e s s i o n a g a i n s t t h e f r o n t - l i n e States. 37. I t was n o a c c i d e n t t h a t t h e Z i o n i s t a n d a p a r t h e i d r é g i m e s c o - o p e r a t e d i n various f i e l d s , especially i n nuclear research. Together they planned t o dominate t h e A r a b and A f r i c a n p e o p l e s through t h e use o f t h r e a t s and t e r r o r . The U n i t e d S t a t e s - w h i c h s u p p l i e d t h e a r s e n a l s o f b o t h I s r a e l a n d South A f r i c a - had c o n s i s t e n t l y opposed t h e implementation o f comprehensive and m a n d a t o r y s a n c t i o n s a g a i n s t t h o s e t w o r é g i m e s . 38. S y r i a attached p a r t i c u l a r importance t o the question o f mercenaries, s i n c e t h e i r t e r r o r i s t a c t s were d e s i g n e d t o d e s t a b i l i z e d e v e l o p i n g S t a t e s and to p r e v e n t peoples from e x e r c i s i n g t h e i r r i g h t t o s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n . The u s e o f m e r c e n a r i e s was c o n t r a r y t o t h e b a s i c p r i n c i p l e s o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l l a w , n a m e l y , n o n - i n t e r f e r e n c e i n t h e i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s o f S t a t e s and r e s p e c t f o r t h e independence and t e r r i t o r i a l i n t e g r i t y o f s o v e r e i g n S t a t e s . 39. The i n t i f a d a h i n t h e o c c u p i e d A r a b t e r r i t o r i e s was a g e n u i n e p o p u l a r r e v o l t a g a i n s t i n j u s t i c e and o p p r e s s i o n , a n d S y r i a b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e A r a b P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e h a d no a l t e r n a t i v e b u t t o e s t a b l i s h t h e i r own S t a t e , a n d t h a t t h e r e was no a l t e r n a t i v e t o t h e r e t u r n o f t h e G o l a n H e i g h t s t o S y r i a . A l l t h a t implied the t o t a l w i t h d r a w a l o f I s r a e l i troops from t h e occupied t e r r i t o r i e s , i n c l u d i n g J e r u s a l e m . The c o n v e n i n g o f a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l p e a c e c o n f e r e n c e on t h e M i d d l e E a s t u n d e r U n i t e d N a t i o n s a u s p i c e s a n d w i t h t h e p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f a l l parties concerned, including the Palestine Liberation O r g a n i s a t i o n a n d t h e p e r m a n e n t members o f t h e S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l , was t h e o n l y way t o e n s u r e a j u s t a n d l a s t i n g p e a c e i n t h e r e g i o n . 40. W i t h r e g a r d t o s o u t h e r n A f r i c a , t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l community s h o u l d i n t e n s i f y i t s e f f o r t s t o end a p a r t h e i d i n South A f r i c a through t h e r i g o r o u s a p p l i c a t i o n o f c o m p r e h e n s i v e and mandatory s a n c t i o n s a g a i n s t t h a t c o u n t r y . S y r i a hoped t h a t t h e t r i p a r t i t e agreement between C u b a , A n g o l a and South A f r i c a , together w i t h the implementation o f S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l r e s o l u t i o n 435 ( 1 9 7 8 ) , w o u l d l e a d t o t h e t o t a l i n d e p e n d e n c e o f N a m i b i a . 41. M r . NGO TEAM ( O b s e r v e r f o r D e m o c r a t i c K a m p u c h e a ) , h a v i n g r e a f f i r m e d h i s c o u n t r y ' s unwavering support f o r the j u s t causes o f the peoples o f A f g h a n i s t a n , P a l e s t i n e , s o u t h e r n A f r i c a and N a m i b i a i n t h e i r e f f o r t s t o exercise their right to self-determination, a f u n d a m e n t a l human r i g h t w i t h o u t w h i c h t h e r e c o u l d be n e i t h e r i n t e r n a t i o n a l p e a c e n o r i n t e r n a t i o n a l s e c u r i t y , s a i d t h a t i n c r e a s i n g e f f o r t s w e r e b e i n g made t o f i n d a p o l i t i c a l s o l u t i o n t o E/CN.4/1989/SR.10 page 9 t h e p r o b l e m o f K a m p u c h e a , w h i c h had s u f f e r e d i n v a s i o n , o c c u p a t i o n a n d h u m i l i a t i o n f o r o v e r 10 y e a r s . P r i n c e S i h a n o u k had r e c e n t l y p r o p o s e d a f i v e - p o i n t peace p l a n : f i r s t l y , V i e t n a m e s e t r o o p s w o u l d be w i t h d r a w n f r o m Kampuchea a c c o r d i n g t o a s t r i c t t i m e t a b l e and w i t h o u t l i n k a g e t o t h e q u e s t i o n o f f o r e i g n a i d t o Kampuchean army f a c t i o n s ; secondly, before general e l e c t i o n s w e r e h e l d , t h e " P e o p l e ' s R e p u b l i c o f Kampuchea" a n d D e m o c r a t i c Kampuchea ( i . e . t h e C o a l i t i o n G o v e r n m e n t ) w o u l d be s i m u l t a n e o u s l y d i s m a n t l e d ; t h i r d l y , g e n e r a l e l e c t i o n s w o u l d t a k e p l a c e under i n t e r n a t i o n a l s u p e r v i s i o n ; f o u r t h l y , a p r o v i s i o n a l q u a d r i p a r t i t e g o v e r n m e n t w o u l d be f o r m e d and a q u a d r i p a r t i t e n a t i o n a l army; a n d , l a s t l y , an i n t e r n a t i o n a l U n i t e d N a t i o n s p e a c e - k e e p i n g f o r c e s h o u l d be d i s p a t c h e d t o K a m p u c h e a . 42. The C o a l i t i o n G o v e r n m e n t o f D e m o c r a t i c K a m p u c h e a had e x p r e s s e d i t s f u l l s u p p o r t f o r t h e f i v e - p o i n t p e a c e p l a n , w h i c h i t r e g a r d e d a s a programme f o r t h e Khmer n a t i o n a s a w h o l e , w i t h P r i n c e S i h a n o u k a s i t s l e a d e r . The S o c i a l i s t R e p u b l i c o f V i e t Nam h a d , o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , r e j e c t e d i t , a s i t h a d p r e v i o u s p l a n s , thereby p r e v e n t i n g the achievement of a p o l i t i c a l s o l u t i o n to t h e p r o b l e m o f K a m p u c h e a . The Kampuchean p e o p l e w o u l d n e v e r a g r e e t o a c c e p t t h e V i e t n a m e s e d i k t a t , w h i c h w o u l d mean s u f f e r i n g t h e f a t e o f K a m p u c h e a Krom ( w h i c h had become S o u t h V i e t Nam i n t h e n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y ) and b e c o m i n g a Vietnamese c o l o n y . 43. As f o r t h e V i e t n a m e s e " w i t h d r a w a l " i n S e p t e m b e r 1 9 8 9 , t h e V i e t n a m e s e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e h i m s e l f had i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e w i t h d r a w a l o f t h e l a s t V i e t n a m e s e t r o o p s m u s t be s u b j e c t t o p r i o r a g r e e m e n t and t o t h e s a t i s f a c t o r y r e s o l u t i o n o f t h e Kampuchean p r o b l e m by t h e f o u r Kampuchean f a c t i o n s . Since V i e t Nam r e s o l u t e l y r e f u s e d t o a l l o w t h e Kampuchean p e o p l e t o e x e r c i s e t h e r i g h t t o s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n , s u c h an a g r e e m e n t was c u r r e n t l y o u t o f t h e question. 44. With regard to g e n e r a l e l e c t i o n s , although the C o a l i t i o n Government, u n l i k e t h e P e o p l e ' s R e p u b l i c , was r e c o g n i z e d de j u r e by t h e u n i t e d N a t i o n s , i t h a d a g r e e d t o o p p o s e no r e s i s t a n c e i f Hun Sen and h i s Phnom P e n h r é g i m e won g e n e r a l e l e c t i o n s c o n d u c t e d u n d e r i n t e r n a t i o n a l s u p e r v i s i o n . T h e r e was no q u e s t i o n of g e n e r a l e l e c t i o n s t a k i n g p l a c e i n the c o n t e x t of the People's R e p u b l i c o f K a m p u c h e a , s i n c e t h a t had b e e n c r e a t e d by c o m m u n i s t and c o l o n i a l i s t V i e t Nam. The Kampuchean p e o p l e c o u l d n o t a c c e p t p e a c e w i t h o u t f u l l n a t i o n a l i n d e p e n d e n c e and t h e r e s t o r a t i o n o f t h e i r r i g h t t o self-determination. V i e t Nam w o u l d be a b l e t o p r o v e t h a t i t s d e s i r e f o r p e a c e was s i n c e r e o n l y i f i t a p p l i e d t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y r e s o l u t i o n s a d o p t e d a t t h e forty-third session. 45. The C o a l i t i o n G o v e r n m e n t a t t a c h e d t h e g r e a t e s t i m p o r t a n c e t o c o - o p e r a t i o n w i t h t h e A s s o c i a t i o n o f S o u t h - E a s t A s i a n N a t i o n s (ASEAN) i n t h e s e a r c h f o r a c o m p r e h e n s i v e and e q u i t a b l e s o l u t i o n . V i e t Nam and t h e r é g i m e i t h a d i n s t a l l e d i n Phnom P e n h c o n t i n u e d t o r a i s e i s s u e s , s e e k i n g t o l i n k them t o t h e w i t h d r a w a l o f V i e t n a m e s e t r o o p s from Kampuchea, an o b v i o u s manoeuvre t o a v o i d beginning that withdrawal. T h e r e was no r e a s o n f o r l i n k a g e w i t h o t h e r m a t t e r s , w h i c h c o u l d be r e s o l v e d r a p i d l y a t a l a t e r s t a g e . I f the Vietnamese were c o n c e r n e d as t o what would happen n e x t , they s h o u l d u n h e s i t a t i n g l y a c c e p t t h e p r e s e n c e o f an i n t e r n a t i o n a l p e a c e - k e e p i n g f o r c e . 46. B e t w e e n J u n e and December 1 9 8 8 , V i e t Nam had d i s p a t c h e d r e i n f o r c e m e n t s o f 40,000 men t o K a m p u c h e a . The H a n o i a u t h o r i t i e s w e r e f a r f r o m r e n o u n c i n g t h e i r p o l i c y o f c o l o n i a l i s t e x p a n s i o n a t the expense o f t h e i r weaker E/CN.4/1989/SR.10 page 10 n e i g h b o u r s , Kampuchea and L a o s . P r i n c e S i h a n o u k had d e s c r i b e d t h e successive w i t h d r a w a l s o f V i e t n a m e s e t r o o p s f r o m t h e c o u n t r y as m e r e " r o t a t i o n s " , i n o t h e r w o r d s , t h e e x i s t i n q t r o o p s had s i r a o l y been r e l i e v e d . 47. Some g r a v e m e a s u r e s a d o p t e d by V i e t Nam i n Kampuchea i n c l u d e d t h e i s s u i n g o f c e r t i f i c a t e s o f Kampuchean n a t i o n a l i t y t o V i e t n a m e s e s e t t l e r s e s t a b l i s h e d i n K a m p u c h e a , and t h e t e a c h i n g o f t h e Khmer l a n g u a g e t o V i e t n a m e s e s o l d i e r s i n o r d e r t o i n c o r p o r a t e them i n t o t h e army o f t h e i l l e g a l r e g i m e . S u c h m e a s u r e s c o n s t i t u t e d a v e r y s e r i o u s t h r e a t t o t h e s u r v i v a l o f t h e Kampuchean p e o p l e , who w e r e i n d a n g e r o f b e c o m i n g a m i n o r i t y i n t h e i r own c o u n t r y l i k e t h e Khmers Krom i n w h a t had become S o u t h V i e t Nam, and i n d i c a t e d t h a t V i e t Nam w a s , come what m i g h t , p u r s u i n g i t s p o l i c y o f a n n e x i n g Kampuchea i n t o t h e Vietnamese "Indo-Chinese F e d e r a t i o n " . 48. The C o a l i t i o n G o v e r n m e n t h a d r e p e a t e d l y r e j e c t e d a l l a g r e e m e n t s s i g n e d w i t h t h e i l l e g a l r é g i m e , w h i c h m u s t , as a t h r e a t t o t h e p r o c e s s o f n a t i o n a l r e c o n c i l i a t i o n and r e c o n s t r u c t i o n , b e d i s m a n t l e d . A l l Kampucheans m u s t , t h e r e f o r e , s t r u g g l e t o d e f e n d n a t i o n a l i n d e p e n d e n c e , f r e e d o m , h o n o u r and dignity. A c c o r d i n g l y , the i n t e r n a t i o n a l community s h o u l d s u p p o r t the f i v e - p o i n t p e a c e p l a n t o e n a b l e Kampuchea t o a c h i e v e f u l l i n d e p e n d e n c e . 49. Mr. Heller (Mexico) took the Chair. 50. Mr. BRANOO (Sao Tome a n d P r i n c i p e ) s a i d t h a t , t h r o u g h i t s e n s h r i n e m e n t i n t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s C h a r t e r , t h e U n i v e r s a l D e c l a r a t i o n o f Human R i g h t s and other i n t e r n a t i o n a l instruments, the r i g h t of peoples to s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n h a d become a f u n d a m e n t a l p r i n c i p l e o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e l a t i o n s . The p e o p l e s and n a t i o n s o f A f r i c a , A s i a a n d L a t i n A m e r i c a h a d made an i m p o r t a n t c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e d e v e l o p m e n t and i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h a t p r i n c i p l e , t h e i r commitment t o t h e r i g h t t o s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n b e i n g a t t h e r a i s o n d ' ê t r e o f t h e i r sovereign States. 51. The i s s u e o f s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n was n o t r e s t r i c t e d t o p e o p l e s u n d e r d i r e c t f o r e i g n o c c u p a t i o n and c o l o n i a l d o m i n a t i o n . The h o l d i n g o f f r e e and p e r i o d i c e l e c t i o n s , f o r e x a m p l e , s h o u l d n o t be r e g a r d e d as an u l t i m a t e p r o o f of self-determination. Formal e s t a b l i s h m e n t of the r i g h t to vote d i d not n e c e s s a r i l y mean t h a t a l l members o f s o c i e t y w e r e a b l e t o e x e r c i s e t h a t right. I t was a w e l l - k n o w n f a c t t h a t h u m a n - r i g h t s v i o l a t i o n s o c c u r r e d i n c o u n t r i e s t h a t w e r e n o t u n d e r c o l o n i a l o r f o r e i g n d o m i n a t i o n and a c c o u n t must be t a k e n t h e r e o f , r e g a r d l e s s o f t h e l e g a l s t a t u s o f t h e p e o p l e c o n c e r n e d . 52. O c c u p a t i o n and f o r e i g n d o m i n a t i o n , h o w e v e r , a l w a y s i n v o l v e d f l a g r a n t and g r o s s v i o l a t i o n s o f b a s i c human r i g h t s . The d e b a t e s w i t h i n t h e C o m m i s s i o n on a g e n d a i t e m s 4 and 9 , a n d t h e i n f o r m a t i o n a v a i l a b l e on t h e P a l e s t i n i a n q u e s t i o n , A f g h a n i s t a n , N a m i b i a and S o u t h A f r i c a , Kampuchea and W e s t e r n S a h a r a , a l l attested to that. 53. The "new mood o f u n d e r s t a n d i n g and common s e n s e " , a s t h e S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l had d e s c r i b e d i t , was l a r g e l y due t o t h e i m p r o v e m e n t i n r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e two s u p e r - P o w e r s . T h e r e was a n o t h e r e x p l a n a t i o n howeverÎ t i m e and t i m e a g a i n , i t had b e e n p r o v e d t h a t no Power c o u l d i m p o s e i t s w i l l i n d e f i n i t e l y upon a p e o p l e d e t e r m i n e d t o e x e r c i s e i t s i n a l i e n a b l e right to self-determination. F u r t h e r m o r e , whenever the i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i t y a d o p t e d a f i r m and u n a m b i g u o u s s t a n c e and r e m a i n e d v i g i l a n t i n i t s E/CN.4/1989/SR.10 p a g e 11 defence of i n t e r n a t i o n a l p r i n c i p l e s , those f i g h t i n g f o r t h e i r r i g h t s gained i n s p i r a t i o n and t h e c o u r a g e t o c o n t i n u e t h e i r s t r u g g l e . The c o m m i t m e n t o f t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i t y s h o u l d be a l l - e m b r a c i n g and e x t e n d t o any s i t u a t i o n i n w h i c h t h e r i g h t t o s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n had n o t y e t b e e n e x e r c i s e d . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , some g r o s s and f l a g r a n t v i o l a t i o n s o f b a s i c human r i g h t s a p p e a r e d c o v e r e d by a c o n s p i r a c y o f s i l e n c e o r , w o r s e s t i l l , t o h a v e b e e n o b s c u r e d by g e o p o l i t i c a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n s . 54. I n the case of the T e r r i t o r y o f E a s t T i m o r , s i n c e the I n d o n e s i a n i n v a s i o n o f 1975 n u m e r o u s n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l b o d i e s had e x p r e s s e d c o n c e r n and d e n o u n c e d t h e g r o s s v i o l a t i o n s o f human r i g h t s o c c u r r i n g t h e r e . The C o m m i s s i o n s h o u l d a d d r e s s t h a t s i t u a t i o n and e n d e a v o u r t o p e r s u a d e t h e G o v e r n m e n t o f I n d o n e s i a t o t a k e a d v a n t a g e o f t h e p r e v a i l i n g c l i m a t e o f g o o d w i l l and c o - o p e r a t i o n i n i n t e r n a t i o n a l a f f a i r s and g i v e t h e p e o p l e o f E a s t T i m o r a f a i r o p p o r t u n i t y t o exercise their r i g h t to self-determination. By a c t i n g i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h i n t e r n a t i o n a l p r i n c i p l e s , t h a t G o v e r n m e n t w o u l d make an i m p o r t a n t c o n t r i b u t i o n t o the task o f b u i l d i n g a b e t t e r w o r l d , 55. M r . HACENE ( O b s e r v e r f o r A l g e r i a ) s a i d t h a t p r o s p e c t s f o r p e a c e i n v a r i o u s p a r t s o f the w o r l d gave reasons f o r o p t i m i s m t h a t s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n w o u l d be a t t a i n e d by o t h e r p e o p l e s . The u n i t e d N a t i o n s had f o r a number o f y e a r s been p u r s u i n g i t s a c t i v i t i e s i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h d e c o l o n i z a t i o n , o n t h e b a s i s , i n p a r t i c u l a r , o f G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y r e s o l u t i o n 1514 ( X V ) , w h i c h e m b o d i e d r e c o g n i t i o n o f t h a t r i g h t i n r e s p e c t o f o p p r e s s e d p e o p l e s and had i n s p i r e d t h e p r o c e s s o f d e c o l o n i z a t i o n i n many p a r t s o f t h e w o r l d . 56. N e v e r t h e l e s s , t h e r e were s t i l l p e o p l e s , i n c l u d i n g t h o s e of P a l e s t i n e , the o t h e r o c c u p i e d A r a b t e r r i t o r i e s and S o u t h A f r i c a , w h i c h w e r e d e n i e d t h e i r n a t u r a l r i g h t to s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n . The u p r i s i n g o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e had u n d e r l i n e d t h e f a c t t h a t r e c o g n i t i o n o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n n a t i o n and t h e r i g h t of the P a l e s t i n i a n s t o l i v e i n t h e i r homeland c o n s t i t u t e d the c e n t r a l i s s u e i n the c o n f l i c t i n t h a t r e g i o n . I s r a e l ' s Z i o n i z a t i o n p o l i c y i n the o c c u p i e d P a l e s t i n i a n t e r r i t o r i e s had f o u n d e x p r e s s i o n i n t h e p r o l i f e r a t i o n o f J e w i s h c o l o n i e s and i n t h e e x p r o p r i a t i o n o f P a l e s t i n i a n l a n d , f o r c i n g t h e people into e x i l e . 57. V i o l a t i o n s , such as the b a r b a r o u s d e m o l i t i o n o f houses c o n t i n u e d , as d i d t h e d e p o r t a t i o n o f P a l e s t i n i a n s , i n s p i t e o f c o n d e m n a t i o n by t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i t y . The s o l u t i o n l a y i n an end t o t h e I s r a e l i o c c u p a t i o n and t h e c o n v e n i n g o f an i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o n f e r e n c e under t h e a u s p i c e s o f t h e United Nations. As t h e s o l e l e g i t i m a t e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e P a l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e , t h e P a l e s t i n e L i b e r a t i o n O r g a n i z a t i o n (PLO) m u s t t a k e p a r t i n t h a t conference. I n f a c t , on t h e o c c a s i o n o f t h e d e c l a r a t i o n o f the S t a t e o f P a l e s t i n e , a t A l g i e r s i n November 1 9 8 8 , i t had b e e n p o s s i b l e t o work o u t a basis for negotiations within that context. 58. I n S o u t h A f r i c a , t h e s y s t e m o f a p a r t h e i d c o n t i n u e d t o d e p r i v e t h e members o f t h e b l a c k m a j o r i t y o f t h e i r most f u n d a m e n t a l r i g h t s . The i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i t y h a d become u n a n i m o u s i n i t s v i e w o f t h a t s y s t e m , a g r e e i n g t h a t i t c o u l d be n e i t h e r amended n o r r e f o r m e d . The o n l y s o l u t i o n was t o e r a d i c a t e i t o n c e and f o r a l l . I t was r e g r e t t a b l e , t h e r e f o r e , t h a t some G o v e r n m e n t s c o n t i n u e d t o b e l i e v e t h a t p o l i t i c a l p r e s s u r e on t h e P r e t o r i a r e g i m e w o u l d E/CN.4/1989/SR.10 p a g e 12 improve c o n d i t i o n s f o r t h e black people o f South A f r i c a . The i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i t y must i n t e n s i f y i t s e f f o r t s t o a c h i e v e t h e t o t a l e r a d i c a t i o n o f a p a r t h e i d a s an e s s e n t i a l s t e p towards a j u s t and l a s t i n g peace i n southern A f r i c a . A l g e r i a h a d a l w a y s shown s o l i d a r i t y w i t h t h e l e g i t i m a t e s t r u g g l e o f t h e South A f r i c a n p e o p l e , under t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e A f r i c a n N a t i o n a l C o n g r e s s (ANC), and w i t h a l l t h e f r o n t - l i n e S t a t e s . 59. He w e l c o m e d t h e s i g n a t u r e o f t h e a g r e e m e n t o p e n i n g t h e way t o N a m i b i a n i n d e p e n d e n c e t h r o u g h i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l r e s o l u t i o n 435 ( 1 9 7 8 ) . H i s Government h a d a l w a y s condemned t h e u n l a w f u l o c c u p a t i o n o f N a m i b i a and supported the s t r u g g l e o f the Namibian p e o p l e . A l l o b s t a c l e s t o the f r e e e x p r e s s i o n o f t h a t p e o p l e ' s d e s i r e f o r i n d e p e n d e n c e m u s t be r e m o v e d . 60. I n Western Sahara, t h e c u r r e n t p r o s p e c t s f o r peace i n d i c a t e d t h a t i t s h o u l d be p o s s i b l e t o a c h i e v e t h e i d e a l o f u n i t y i n t h e M a g h r e b , t o w h i c h t h e p e o p l e s o f t h a t r e g i o n a s p i r e d . The r e c e n t m e e t i n g b e t w e e n M o r o c c a n a n d S a h r a w i r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s had r e p r e s e n t e d an i m p o r t a n t s t e p f o r w a r d i n t h a t regard. H i s Government welcomed t h a t d i a l o g u e , w h i c h s h o u l d l e a d t o a j u s t and p e a c e f u l s o l u t i o n i n W e s t e r n S a h a r a . The i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i t y s h o u l d s u p p o r t t h e j o i n t e f f o r t s o f t h e S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l and t h e O r g a n i z a t i o n o f A f r i c a n U n i t y (OAU) t o a c h i e v e p e a c e i n t h e r e g i o n . A U n i t e d N a t i o n s - O A U j o i n t d e l e g a t i o n had r e c e n t l y accomplished a f a c t - f i n d i n g mission i n p r e p a r a t i o n f o r t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f a referendum on t h e s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f the S a h r a w i p e o p l e . 61. The C o m m i s s i o n was p e r f o r m i n g v a l u a b l e w o r k w i t h r e g a r d t o t h e e x e r c i s e o f t h e r i g h t t o s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n . S u c h e f f o r t s s h o u l d be i n t e n s i f i e d i n o r d e r t o e n s u r e t h a t t h o s e t e r r i t o r i e s s t i l l under o c c u p a t i o n o r f o r e i g n domination achieved the goal o f e x e r c i s i n g that r i g h t . 62. M r . LITTMANN ( W o r l d U n i o n f o r P r o g r e s s i v e J u d a i s m ) s a i d t h a t t h e Commission had been c r i t i c i z e d - n o t u n f a i r l y - i n a r e c e n t l e a d e r i n The T i m e s f o r f o c u s i n g d i s p r o p o r t i o n a t e a t t e n t i o n o n a s m a l l g r o u p o f s c a p e g o a t s and o v e r l o o k i n g we11-documented e v i d e n c e o f h u m a n - r i g h t s v i o l a t i o n s in l e s s unpopular c o u n t r i e s . That c r i t i c i s m a p p l i e d p a r t i c u l a r l y t o item 9 o f t h e C o m m i s s i o n ' s a g e n d a , o n w h i c h i t h a d a l l o w e d i t s e l f t o be s t e e r e d i n t o a p o s i t i o n o f minimum f l e x i b i l i t y a n d maximum s e l e c t i v i t y . 63. I t h a d become c o m m o n p l a c e t o r e s t r i c t t h e n o t i o n o f " c o l o n i a l r u l e " t o the European v a r i e t y o f i m p e r i a l i s m ; b u t t h e l a t t e r was o n l y o n e f o r m o f a u n i v e r s a l phenomenon, p r e s e n t t h r o u g h o u t h i s t o r y and s t i l l t h r i v i n g . Although some o p p r e s s e d n a t i o n s a u t o m a t i c a l l y h a d t h e e a r o f U n i t e d N a t i o n s f o r u m s o f t e n f o r w o r t h y r e a s o n s - t h e r e w e r e many v a n q u i s h e d p e o p l e s whose v o i c e s r e m a i n e d u n h e a r d . A t h o u g h t s h o u l d be s p a r e d i n t h a t r e g a r d f o r t h e Armenians, p a r t i c u l a r l y i n view o f t h e r e c e n t t r a g e d i e s they had s u f f e r e d i n t h e i r S o v i e t homeland; t h a t a n c i e n t n a t i o n h a d become f o r h i s t o r i a n s a p a r a g o n - l i k e t h e J e w i s h p e o p l e - o f w h a t c o u l d be e n d u r e d b y a p e o p l e determined t o r e s i s t i n order t o s u r v i v e . 64. B u t i t was t h e K u r d i s h p e o p l e - t h e e r s t w h i l e e n e m i e s o f t h e A r m e n i a n s a b o u t whom he c h i e f l y w i s h e d t o s p e a k u n d e r t h e c u r r e n t a g e n d a i t e m . In that r e g a r d , a r e s p o n s e t o t h e l e a d e r he h a d m e n t i o n e d h a d b e e n p u b l i s h e d i n The T i m e s o n 2 F e b r u a r y 1 9 8 9 , s i g n e d by s e v e r a l d i s t i n g u i s h e d p e r s o n a l i t i e s , i n c l u d i n g a former U n i t e d Kingdom r e p r e s e n t a t i v e t o t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s , E/CN.4/1989/SR.10 p a g e 13 e x p r e s s i n g c o n c e r n a b o u t t h e K u r d s o f I r a q , whose i d e n t i t y had b e e n i g n o r e d when t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m had i n c o r p o r a t e d t h e e n t i r e r e g i o n , f o r s t r a t e g i c r e a s o n s , i n t o the n e w l y - f o r m e d H a s h e m i t e Kindgom o f I r a q . 65. The a u t h o r s s t a t e d t h a t t h e r e was o v e r w h e l m i n g e v i d e n c e t h a t I r a q had u s e d c h e m i c a l w e a p o n s on i t s own p o p u l a t i o n and h a d r a z e d o v e r 3,000 v i l l a g e s , f o r c i b l y r e m o v i n g a l m o s t 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 p e o p l e f r o m t h e i r homes and d r i v i n g t e n s o f thousands to seek asylum i n n e i g h b o u r i n g S t a t e s . Human-rights abuses i n I r a q , h o w e v e r , w e r e n o t i n c l u d e d on t h e a g e n d a f o r p u b l i c d i s c u s s i o n by t h e Commission. 66. M r . YOUSIF ( I r a q ) , s p e a k i n g o n a p o i n t o f o r d e r , s a i d t h a t t h e s t a t e m e n t b e i n g made had n o t h i n g t o do w i t h a g e n d a i t e m 9 ; the Kurds o f I r a q were p a r t o f t h e n a t i o n and n o t a p e o p l e u n d e r c o l o n i a l r u l e . 67. The CHAIRMAN i n v i t e d t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e W o r l d U n i o n f o r P r o g r e s s i v e Judaism t o continue h i s statement but t o c o n f i n e h i s remarks the s u b j e c t o f agenda i t e m 9. to 68. Mr. LITIMANN ( W o r l d U n i o n f o r P r o g r e s s i v e J u d a i s m ) s a i d t h a t h i s s t a t e m e n t d i d i n d e e d r e l a t e t o t h a t agenda i t e m , w h i c h i n c l u d e d p e o p l e s under a l i e n d o m i n a t i o n . The C o m m i s s i o n ' s c u r r e n t s e s s i o n was t a k i n g p l a c e a few w e e k s a f t e r a c o n f e r e n c e a t w h i c h 149 S t a t e s h a d r e a f f i r m e d t h e i r a b h o r r e n c e o f t h e use o f c h e m i c a l w e a p o n s ; i n t e r n a t i o n a l d e c l a r a t i o n s w e r e o f l i t t l e use i f a b u s e s w e r e n o t condemned by t h e C o m m i s s i o n a s s t r o n g l y a s p o s s i b l e . 69. F o l l o w i n g a f u r t h e r o b s e r v a t i o n by M r . YOUSIF ( I r a q ) o n a p o i n t o f o r d e r , t h e CHAIRMAN r e i t e r a t e d t h a t s t a t e m e n t s must be c o n f i n e d t o t h e s u b j e c t o f a g e n d a i t e m 9 and i n v i t e d t h e s p e a k e r t o c o n c l u d e h i s s t a t e m e n t a c c o r d i n g l y . 70. M r . LITTMANN ( W o r l d U n i o n f o r P r o g r e s s i v e J u d a i s m ) s a i d t h a t h i s s t a t e m e n t - w h i c h was i n d e e d r e l e v a n t t o t h e a g e n d a i t e m u n d e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n c o u l d n o t be c o n c l u d e d q u i c k l y i f he w e r e c o n s t a n t l y i n t e r r u p t e d . I n A u g u s t 1988 - t h e a u t h o r s o f t h e l e t t e r w e n t on t o s a y - t h e Secretary-General had r e p o r t e d on i n t e n s i f i e d I r a q i use o f c h e m i c a l w e a p o n s , b u t t h e S u b - C o m m i s s i o n had f a i l e d , by a m a j o r i t y v o t e , t o condemn I r a q p u b l i c l y ; a week l a t e r t h e w o r l d p r e s s had r e p o r t e d t h e a r r i v a l i n T u r k e y a s r e f u g e e s o f t e n s o f t h o u s a n d s o f I r a q i K u r d s , many b e a r i n g f r e s h wounds f r o m c h e m i c a l w e a p o n s . The a u t h o r s had e x p r e s s e d t h e hope t h a t t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m G o v e r n m e n t and o t h e r s w o u l d e n s u r e t h a t t h e I r a q i G o v e r n m e n t ' s t r e a t m e n t o f i t s own c i t i z e n s was d i s c u s s e d p u b l i c l y a t G e n e v a ; a s p e c i a l r a p p o r t e u r s h o u l d be a p p o i n t e d on t h e m a t t e r and t h e S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l s h o u l d be i n v i t e d t o make use o f h i s g o o d o f f i c e s . 71. M r . YOUSIF ( I r a q ) , s p e a k i n g on a p o i n t o f o r d e r , s a i d t h a t , n o t f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e i n t h a t f o r u m , t h e s p e a k e r was e m p l o y i n g d u b i o u s t a c t i c s t o a i r extraneous contentions. I f t h e s p e a k e r w i s h e d t o make s u c h s t a t e m e n t s , he was e n t i t l e d t o do s o when t h e C o m m i s s i o n came t o c o n s i d e r a g e n d a i t e m 1 2 . 72. The CHAIRMAN s a i d t h a t , s i n c e t h e s p e a k e r ' s c o n t e n t i o n had n o t on t h e C o m m i s s i o n , he c o u l d p e r h a p s c o n c l u d e h i s s t a t e m e n t , b e a r i n g the terms o f agenda i t e m 9. been l o s t i n mind E/CN.4/1989/SR.10 p a g e 14 73. M r . LITTMANN ( W o r l d U n i o n f o r P r o g r e s s i v e J u d a i s m ) s a i d t h a t t h e I r a q i K u r d s had b e e n s u f f e r i n g f o r d e c a d e s , n o t j u s t s i n c e 1 9 8 8 , u n d e r one o f t h e m o s t b r u t a l c o n t e m p o r a r y r é g i m e s , w h i c h was r e s o r t i n g t o t h e d e v e l o p m e n t and use o f b a c t e r i o l o g i c a l and c h e m i c a l w e a p o n s . On 15 M a r c h 1 9 8 7 , t h e O b s e r v e r h a d r e p o r t e d t h e r e t u r n , by I r a q i a u t h o r i t i e s , t o t h e K u r d i s h c i t y o f S u l a i m a n i y a o f 57 b o x e s , e a c h c o n t a i n i n g a d e a d c h i l d , a p p a r e n t l y d r a i n e d o f blood; t h e c h i l d r e n had n o t b e e n g i v e n b a c k t o t h e i r f a m i l i e s , who had b e e n f o r c e d t o a c c e p t a communal g r a v e and t o pay f o r t h e b u r i a l . 74. T h a t same y e a r , t h e c u r r e n t U n d e r - S e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l f o r Human R i g h t s , i n h i s i n a u g u r a l a d d r e s s , had s a i d t h a t , w h i l e s i l e n c e was t h e a c c o m p l i c e o f t y r a n n y , i n f o r m a t i o n was t h e b e a c o n t h a t l i t t h e p a t h t o human r i g h t s a n d f u n d a m e n t a l f r e e d o m s . As t h e E n g l i s h p o e t J o h n Donne h a d w r i t t e n , no man was an i s l a n d . The b e l l t o l l i n g f o r t h e I r a q i K u r d s , h o w e v e r f a i n t l y , t o l l e d f o r e v e r y o n e , and s h o u l d g i v e c a u s e t o h o p e t h a t t h e C o m m i s s i o n w o u l d a c t a t o n c e o n t h a t awesome t r a g e d y . 7 5 . M r . YOUSIF ( I r a q ) , s p e a k i n g o n a p o i n t o f o r d e r , s a i d t h a t t h e s t a t e m e n t j u s t made had n o t h i n g t o do w i t h i t e m 9 o f t h e C o m m i s s i o n ' s a g e n d a , w h i c h r e l a t e d m a i n l y t o t h e i s s u e s o f S o u t h A f r i c a and N a m i b i a . I t was n o t t h e f i r s t t i m e t h a t t h e p r e v i o u s s p e a k e r who, a s a l l members o f t h e C o m m i s s i o n knew, r e p r e s e n t e d the i n t e r e s t s o f I s r a e l , had manoeuvred e x t r a n e o u s s u b j e c t - m a t t e r i n t o the d e l i b e r a t i o n s ; t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n t o w h i c h he b e l o n g e d was one o f s e v e r a l w h i c h w e r e n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l i n name o n l y . The G o v e r n m e n t o f I r a q r e i t e r a t e d t h a t i t s K u r d i s h c i t i z e n s l i v e d i n p e a c e and s e c u r i t y and were n o t under a l i e n d o m i n a t i o n . H i s d e l e g a t i o n r e s e r v e d the r i g h t t o speak a g a i n o n t h e m a t t e r a t an a p p r o p r i a t e moment. 76. Mr. Bossuyt (Belgium) resumed the Chair. 77. M r . MALAEB ( I n t e r n a t i o n a l U n i o n o f S t u d e n t s ) s a i d t h a t t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s e m b r a c e d t h e d e f e n c e o f human r i g h t s , i n c l u d i n g t h e r i g h t s t o f r e e d o m and s o v e r e i g n t y o v e r n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e s . The p e o p l e o f s o u t h e r n L e b a n o n had b e e n d e p r i v e d o f t h o s e r i g h t s s i n c e 1 9 7 8 , when t h e f i r s t l a r g e - s c a l e I s r a e l i i n v a s i o n o f t h e t e r r i t o r y had t a k e n p l a c e . Israeli f o r c e s , i n d e f i a n c e o f S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l r e s o l u t i o n 425 ( 1 9 7 8 ) , r e f u s e d t o w i t h d r a w f r o m t h e t e r r i t o r y and c o n t i n u e d t o o p p o s e an i n t e r n a t i o n a l monitoring presence. 78. H a v i n g i n v a d e d t h e c o u n t r y a s e c o n d t i m e i n J u n e 1982, I s r a e l had i g n o r e d f u r t h e r S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l r e s o l u t i o n s , 508 a n d 509 ( 1 9 8 2 ) , and c o n t i n u e d t o occupy p a r t o f southern Lebanon, committing a c t s of b r u t a l o p p r e s s i o n , i n t e r f e r i n g i n t h e i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s o f a n o t h e r S t a t e a n d v i o l a t i n g t h e human r i g h t s of i t s p e o p l e , thus f l o u t i n g the p t o v i s i o n s o f the C h a r t e r , the U n i v e r s a l D e c l a r a t i o n o f Human R i g h t s and o t h e r i n s t r u m e n t s . The o c c u p i e r s ' m i s d e e d s , i n c l u d i n g the bcmbing o f c i v i l i a n t a r g e t s , c o l l e c t i v e s a n c t i o n s , a n n e x a t i o n o f t e r r i t o r y t o I s r a e l , d e m o l i t i o n o f homes, h o s t a g e - t a k i n g , d e t e n t i o n s and i l l - t r e a t m e n t o f p r i s o n e r s , c o n s t i t u t e d c r i m e s i n i n t e r n a t i o n a l law. 79. The s o - c a l l e d S o u t h e r n L e b a n e s e Army u s e d by I s r a e l was i n f a c t a m e r c e n a r y f o r c e i n t o w h i c h young Lebanese were f o r c i b l y d r a f t e d . Resistance f i g h t e r s were s u b j e c t e d t o m i l i t a r y t r i b u n a l s i n I s r a e l . I s r a e l i oppression E/CN.4/1989/SR.10 p a g e 15 a l s o e x t e n d e d t o e d u c a t i o n i n s o u t h e r n L e b a n o n , w h e r e t h e s y l l a b u s was b e i n g d i s t o r t e d a n d f a c u l t y members p e r s e c u t e d . A 2 1 - y e a r - o l d wanan s t u d e n t h a d r e c e n t l y b e e n a r r e s t e d a n d was d e t a i n e d i n I s r a e l . H i s o r g a n i z a t i o n appealed to t h e Commission t o support t h e P r e s i d e n t o f Lebanon i n h i s a p p e a l f o r h e r r e t u r n t h r o u g h ICRC, i n o r d e r t h a t the l e g i t i m a t e Lebanese a u t h o r i t i e s c o u l d consider her c a s e . 80. I s r a e l s h o u l d n o t be a l l o w e d t o p e r s i s t i n i t s o c c u p a t i o n a n d o p p r e s s i o n , w h i c h i n t e n s i f i e d t h e c i v i l c o n f l i c t i n Lebanon and h i n d e r e d i n t e r n a l d é t e n t e . The I n t e r n a t i o n a l U n i o n o f S t u d e n t s c a l l e d f o r a n i m m e d i a t e e n d t o the i l l e g a l o c c u p a t i o n and t o I s r a e l ' s c r i m e s a g a i n s t t h e t e r r i t o r i a l i n t e g r i t y o f L e b a n o n a n d t h e human r i g h t s o f i t s p e o p l e . The meeting rose a t 6 p.m.