STATEMENT BY H. E. MR. ABDULRAHIM ABBY FARAH (SOMALIA), CHAIRMAN OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE AGAINST APARTHEID

STATEMENT BY H. E. MR. ABDULRAHIM ABBY FARAH (SOMALIA), CHAIRMAN OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE AGAINST APARTHEID, AT THE MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE ON JUNE 26, 1969

Today, 26 June, is traditionally observed by the African National Congress of South Africa and its ass ociate organisations, as well as by many other bodies, including anti-apartheid movements and vario us international organisations, as "South Africa Freedom Day."

26 June was so designated because it was on 26 June 1950 that the first national stay-at-home stri e was organised as a mark of protest against the Suppression of Communism Act and other undemo cratic and unjust legislation. It was, again, on 26 June 1952, that the historic Campaign of Defiance of Unjust Laws was launched. But above all, 26 June was chosen as "South Africa Freedom Day" as it commemorates the historic adoption, on 26 June 1955, of the Freedom Charter by the Congress of the People of South Africa, a multi-racial conference of the opponents of apartheid and racial discri mination.

The Freedom Charter, describing the democratic and humanist aspirations of the oppressed people of South Africa, is a historic document which is in full harmony with the purposes and principles of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and relevant resolutions of United Nati ons organs. It sets out the democratic changes required to enable all the people of South Africa to live in brotherhood, enjoying equal rights and opportunities without distinction of colour, race, sex or belief.

Its preamble reads:

"WE, THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH AFRICA, DECLARE FOR ALL OUR COUNTRY AND THE WORLD TO KNOW:

- that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white, and that no government can justly claim authority unless it is based on the will of all the people;

- that our people have been robbed of their birthright to land, liberty and peace by a form of government founded on injustice and inequality;

- that our country will never be prosperous or free until all our people live in brotherhood, enjoying equal rights and opportunities;

- that only a democratic state, based on the will of all the people, can secure to all their birthrights without distinction of colour, race, sex or belief;

And therefore, we the people of South Africa, black and white together - equals, countrymen and brothers - adopt this Freedom Charter. And we pledge ourselves to strive together, sparing neither strength nor courage, until the democratic changes set out here have been won."
These are the objectives of the struggle of the South African people - a struggle which the United Nations General Assembly has recognised as legitimate and as deserving international support.

26 June, South Africa Freedom Day, should be a day for rededication to the cause of freedom, to the legitimate struggle of the South African people.

It should be a day to pause and pay our respect to all those who have lost their lives in the course of the struggle and those who have been imprisoned, interned or subjected to other restrictions for having opposed the policies of apartheid.

This is a day to renew our demand for the release of people like Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Ahmed Kathrada, Dennis Goldberg and Raymond Mhlaba, who have been serving sentences of life imprisonment because they stood up for the principles of the Freedom Charter, the principles of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; and for the release of others like Abram Fischer who are in jail because of their opposition to apartheid and because of their courage ous support of the struggle for freedom.

In a statement issued on the occasion of the South Africa Freedom Day, the African National Congr ess has called upon the international community to stand up to the demands of the South African re volution and to give moral, political and material aid to the liberation movement. The United Nations has already recognised the legitimacy of these demands. They are enshrined in the Freedom Charter which, I repeat, is in full accord with the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

I feel that the Freedom Charter should be more widely known to the world public opinion. I would sug gest that the Unit on Apartheid be requested to take the necessary steps to this end.

Source: African National Congress (ANC)