Human Rights of the People of Namibia

A Statement of The American Lutheran Church, 1980

A resolution adopted by the Tenth General Convention of The American Lutheran Church, 1-7 October 1980 (GC 80.6 .120).

Whereas, the Republic of South Africa, entrusted with a mandate after World War I for the administration of Namibia under the League of Nations, has for many years refused to honor the findings of the International Court of Justice at the Hague as to the status of that country, and has deliberately ignored all appeal for free and open elections, including a United Nations plan of transition set forth in U.N. Security Council resolution 439*, and has brought about the installation of a puppet government through "elections" conducted in December 1978, under military occupation and duress, with a large proportion of the population effectively outlawed and disenfranchised; and

* Comparable to UN Resolution 435 (1978).

Whereas, the population of Namibia is being governed under "emergency powers" which involve continuous deprivation of the most elementary human rights, and is daily subjected to continual harassment, arbitrary detentions, torture, brutalities, degradations and extortions, and politically motivated and protected homicide; and

Whereas, the issue of economic sanctions against the Republic of South Africa will be debated in the United Nations within the next two months, and therefore urgent action is required; therefore be it

Resolved, that The American Lutheran Church:

a. urge the Republic of South Africa immediately to agree to the proposals of UNSC resolution 439E, and cooperate in the organization of internationally supervised elections in Namibia;
b. urge the President and Congress of these United States of America to cooperate with the UN in bringing pressure to bear on the Republic of South Africa, without further delay, for compliance with UNSC resolution 439E, including the application of whatever economic or other sanctions may be necessary; and
c. urge all congregations of The American Lutheran Church, through their councils and social action committees, and by every other possible means, to sponsor and organize an intensive lobbying campaign with their congressmen and congresswomen to "conscientize" both our President and our Congress on this matter.