Anti-S.A. resolution vetoed

Press, 10 March 1988, Page 8

Anti-S.A. resolution vetoed

NZPA-Reuter New York The United States and Britain yesterday vetoed a Security Council resolution falling for new, mandatory economic sanctions against South Africa after its recent crackdown on anti-apartheid groups. The vote in the 15nation council was 10 in favour and two against, with France, West Germany and Japan abstaining/ Voting for the resolution were ■ the Soviet

Union, China, Brazil and Italy, together with the resolution’s six nonaligned sponsois, Algeria, Argentina, Nepal, Senegal, Yugoslavia anc Zambia. The vote came at the j end of a debate requested by African Sta es seeking j condemnation of Pretoria’s action in imposing an almost total ban on the i activities of id anti-apart- ; heid groups ana a number | of individuals. ! . An initial resolution condemning the curbs had

been changed to include economic sanctions after an unusually defiant speech on the debate's opening by the South African representative, A. Leslie Manley.

Mr Manley said: "We will not bow to your threats or demands; and we will reject your accusations with contempt and invite you to do your damnedest."

The tone and content of his speech drew a public rebuke the following day

from the council president, Dragoslav Pejic, of Yugoslavia, who called Mr Manley's remarks “an affront to the international community and absolutely ’unacceptable".

The vetoed resolution would have banned further investment 1 in and loans to South Africa, importation of its [iron and steel, promotion of trade with South Africa, sale of krugerands and all other coins minted in South Africa, all forms of mili-

tary, police or intelligence co-operation, particularly the sale of computer equipment, and export and sale of oil to South Africa.

The sanctions would have been in force initially for 12 months, after which the council would decide whether to retain them or make them tougher if Pretoria failed to carry out a number of reforms abolishing apartheid and releasing all political prisoners.