16 Governments Attacked By Student Conference

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30482, 2 July 1964, Page 14

16 Governments Attacked By Student Conference

The Governments of at least 16 countries were condemned, or protests made at their actions, in resolutions and statements passed by the International Student Conference which has been working in Christchurch for the last 10 days.

Several resolutions condemn Britain for “colonialism.” The resolution on British Guiana says: “ . . . since many years Great Britain has subjected a number of Latin American countries to the yoke of colonialism . . .” and says Britain arbitrarily defends its rights in Latin American territories.

Other countries the governments of which were the subject of protests or condemnation included Australia, Ecuador, Russia, Cuba, Brazil, France, Honduras, South Korea, China, South Africa, the United States, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador and Haiti. There was considerable opposition to some of the condemnations and allegations. Australia was condemned for its treatment of aborigines, Ecuador for the suppression of students, Cuba and Russia for installing atomic weapons in the Caribbean, the United States for blockading Cuba and intervening in Brazil’s internal affairs, Honduras for repressive measures and a dictatorial Government, South Korea for the suppression of student demonstrations, China for aggression against India

and South Africa for apartheid. South Africa was also condemned for colonialism in South-West Africa, Nicaragua for its “fraudulently-establish-ed and illegally-maintained regime,” Guatemala for dictatorship and El Salvador also for “retrograde unconstitutional military dictatorship, which is oppressing the students and people. ...” The ”... brptal Duvalier tyranny” in Haiti was condemned, and a resolution demanded that the United States Government discontinued its financial and military aid to the regime. All peace-loving nations

were urged to protest to France about its proposed nuclear tests, and a statement “strongly” protested at France’s intentions to test, and ”... demands that the French Government ceases its preparations.” The army had set up a dictatorial regime in Honduras, another resolution said, and the coup d’etat violently interrupted peaceful and democratic elections. “Although in the beginning the military regime tried to remain independent of North American influence, it later changed its position and has now surrendered to a shameless degree.” This resolution also alleged misuse of public funds, corruption and repressive measures.

China’s Attitude

China’s “contemptuous attitude” to Colombo proposals was deplored, and a demand made that China vacate the Indian territory it occupied. The release of political prisoners in South Africa was demanded. All national student unions are called on to support the students and people of South-west Africa in their struggle for freedom. The Nicaraguan Government was accused of rigging elections, arresting, torturing and killing persons, and neglecting education. Guatemala was accused of false elections and violation of "tniversity autonomy. A demand was made that the EL Salvador Government cease its persecution of university students and professors, and the U.S. Government was condemned for providing aid to the Salvador Government. Free elections in El Salvador were demanded. Britain was condemned for exploitation in Latin America, ”, . . pretending to comply with the demands for independence .. . with the sole objective of maintaining influence and control over the political and economic situation in the colonised territories. ...” Britain was also condemned for harassing South African political refugees in Basutoland, and being “culpably deficient in the economic and constitutional development" of Basutoland, Swaziland and Bechuanaland. She was further condemned for “colonial domination” and suppression in Aden, lack of attention to educational facilities, restricting public freedom and human rights, “imperialist” and “neo-colonialist” military bases, repression, the bombing of villages, and other things. > Haiti was condemned for its secret police, terrorism, assassination, torture, and the denial of student rights. The Malaysian Government will be sent a cable protesting at the arrest of 40 students in Singapore on Saturday. The delegate from Singapore yesterday said

police entered the university at 3 a.m. and in five hours detained 40 students. The conference resolved it welcomed the formation of Malaysia. It regretted the misunderstandings which had arisen and called on the countries involved to cease all hostile acts against Malaysia. S. Rhodesia Because several British Ministers, including Sir Alec Douglas-Home, and the former Commonwealth Secretary, Lord Salisbury, owned large properties in Southern Rhodesia, the United Kingdom was delaying constitutional talks, the Southern Rhodesian delegate alleged. A resolution passed by the conference called on. the British Government to convene an immediate constitutional conference at which a political solution could be reached. The delegate from Southern Rhodesia claimed he faced possible trouble with the police when he returned home and said the students of his country were prepared to go to war if the situation becamg any worse. They would fight against the minority government. Brazil

The "dictatorial measures taken by the military Government of Brazil, and the detention and expatriation of student leaders”, and the “intervention of the United States” and its sanctioning of the coup d’etat was “energetically” condemned. The resolution also condemned the Brazilian Government for depriving many politicians and congressmen of their political rights, supported the Brazilian students in their “. . . struggle for restoration of their legitimate rights . . .” and protested against the overthrow of the regime which had been legally installed by the Brazilian people. A resolution called on the military junta in power in Ecuador to abrogate the decree closing the Ecuador University Students’ Federation was passed. The resolution expressed the conference’s solidarity with the Ecuadorean students in their “. . . brave struggle for restoration of democratic freedom in Ecuador,” and noted the military junta had assumed power by a coup d’etat which had been repudiated by the student body and the people of Ecuador.