S.A. sanctions veto attacked

Press, 23 February 1987, Page 10

S.A. sanctions veto attacked

NZPA-Reuter London British anti-apartheid campaigners criticised the Government yesterday for vetoing a United Nations Security Council resolution that called for mandatory economic sanctions against South Africa. Bishop Trevor Huddleston, president of Britain’s Anti-Apartheid Movement, described the move as “a morally indefensible abuse of the veto power." He said that by vetoing the sanctions package at the United Nations on Friday night, the Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, and United States President, Ronald Reagan, had gone against a big majority of nations and were “equally at odds with public opinion in their own countries.”

Bishop Huddleston added: “I have a simple message to Mrs Thatcher: you have shamed our country once again by your support for apart-

held." West Germany also opposed the draft, while France and Japan abstained. Italy, the other Western member of the 15-nation Security Council, voted for the resolution.

The resolution would have imposed a range of mandatory sanctions similar to those enacted last year by the United States Congress , .over Mr Reagan’s veto. It would have barred imports of South African Krugerrand coins, military goods, sugar, uranium, coal, iron, steel and agricultural products, and would have prohibited exports to South Africa of computers, crude oil and petroleum products. Air links, nuclear trade, South African deposit accounts and the promotion of tourism would also have been banned, and tax treaties ended.