Ceasefire after many years of war

Press, 1 April 1989, Page 11

Ceasefire after many years of war

NZPA-Reuter Windhoek The United Nations official who will supervise Namibia’s transition to independence from South Africa was to arrive yesterday on the eve of a formal ceasefire in the long-running Namibian war. A Finn, Martti Ahtisaari, special representative of United Nations Secretary-Gen-eral, Javier Peres de Cuellar, will take charge

of a 50-nation, 5000-man force which from today will oversee the dismantling of Namibia’s Pre-toria-backed Administration. Mr Perez de Cuellar notified the Security Council that he had received separate letters from South Africa and the South West Africa People’s Organisation (5.W.A.P.0.) confirming their agreement to a formal ceasefire begin-

ning at 4 a.m. (4 p.m. New Zealand time) today. Under an agreement signed in December by South Africa, Cuba and Angola, Namibia will become independent in exchange for the pullout of 50,000 Cuban troops from neighbouring Angola. The agreement also provides for a ceasefire in the bush war in northern Namibia waged for more than 20 years by black nationalist

S.W.A.P.O. forces against South African rule.

Only a brief welcoming ceremony was planned for Mr Ahtisaari after his arrival at Windhoek airport.

“Namibia is about to have one big party,” said Dirk Mudge, leader of the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance.

But, in a reflection of South African-imposed apartheid policies, there will be different street

parties for different races.

Mr Mudge said the mainly-white D.T.A. would hold a celebration rally in Windhoek, capital of the mineral-rich territory which is as big as France and West Germany put together.

At the same time and only a few miles away in the black township of Katatura, S.W.A.P.O. is proposing to hold a separate rally.