HC Deb 28 November 1973 vol 865 cc382-3
9. Mr. Robert Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the United Nations over the flogging of civilians in Namibia.

28. Mr. Kinnock

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the United Nations over the flogging of civilians by South African police in Namibia.

Lord Balniel

None, Sir. But I share the hon. Members' concern. We regard this as the primary responsibility of the South African Government, whom we have urged to investigate and to end practices of this kind.

Mr. Hughes

Is the Minister aware that even in South Africa there is widespread outrage at the barbarism practised in Namibia? Does this not show that the South African Government's claim to operate the mandate in the spirit which was intended is an absolute farce? Will the Government now accept the International Court of Justice's ruling that South Africa's presence in Namibia is illegal, and urge them to leave that country as soon as possible?

Lord Balniel

The main point is that we have instructed Her Majesty's Ambassador to express our concern about these reports, and to urge the South African Government to intervene urgently. The hon. Member will know that, just recently, the Supreme Court in Windhoek has granted interim interdicts prohibiting the flogging of their political opponents and of women by one of the two major tribal authorities an the area, and I am sure that the Supreme Court's decision will be respected.

Mr. Kinnock

Is the Minister aware that he can show as much concern as he likes, but the response that has come from M. C. Botha, the Minister for Bantu Administration, is that it is none of the South African Government's business? Is the Minister also aware that if he went to South-West Africa and described that territory as "Namibia" he would be liable to flogging, because calling their country "Namibia" is the offence which most of the hundred people who have been publicly flogged have committed? Surely he can do something more than merely show concern.

Lord Balniel

I should have thought the most we could do was to express concern and urge that the South African Government should intervene urgently, and this we have done.