Vorster tough line

Press, 15 April 1978, Page 8

Vorster tough line

NZPA-Reuter Cape Town The South African Prime; Minister (Mr John Vorster) i said today no South African; forces would be withdrawn! from Namibia (South-West { Africa) until violence ended there. His declaration in Parlia-i ment suggested that his; Government would take a tough stand over the Western plan for independence in the South African-ruled territory, observers said. Mr Vorster said that South African security forces were there at the invitation of elected Governments in the territory to protect lives and property against “people coming in from outside” a reference to guerrillas of the nationalist movement, the South-est Africa People’s Organisation. “There have been demands! that they (South African forces) leave the territory,”! he said, alluding to the proposals of a five-nation West-, ern “contact group.” “I wish to state that;

unless and until it is absolutely clear that there is no i more violence and no more I killings South Africa cannot ! reduce its security forces 'let alone withdraw them.” South Africa is believed to have between 12,000 and ; 2 ,000 troops in the terI ritory, the exact figure is a military secret. Proposals drawn up by the United States, Britain, France, Canada, and West Germany after prolonged discussions with South Africa and S.W.A.P.O. call for these forces to be cut to 1500 by the time elections are held for a constituent assembly which will lead the territory to independence, it is hoped by the end of this year. Observers said that Mr! Vorster’s remarks appeared! Ito herald a strong stance {when the American Secreitary of State (Mr Cyrus; 'Vance) and the British For-; jeign Secretary (Dr David' Owen) visit Pretoria tomor-i

row for talks with the South African Foreign Minister (Mr Pik Botha). Mr Vorster rejected any suggestion that Walvis Bay, an enclave in Namibia that South Africa rules under a nineteenth-century treaty, could be an issue in independence negotiations over the territory. S.W.A.P.O. has demanded that the port be handed over as part of an independence settlement, although the West has proposed shelving the issue for the time being.

“It is South African territory,” Mr Vorster said, “and as far as I am concerned will remain so until this Parliament decides otherwise.” In Amersfoort, in the Netherlands, the Dutch Council of Churches has called on Dutch firms to withdraw all their investments in South Africa and urged the travel business not to encourage tourism there.