§ 16. Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects an agreement on the independence of Namibia to be reached between the contact group and the other parties.
§ Mr. OnslowThe Western Five hope to resolve the outstanding issues in time for implementation of the United Nations plan to begin during 1982. This would mean that a ceasefire would come into effect this year, together with the deployment of the United Nations transition assistance group and the start of the process leading to elections. Actual independence for Namibia would follow some time in 1983.
§ Mr. HooleyIn the light of the Government's current sensitivity on the issues of aggression and self-determination, will they now show a greater sense of urgency on South African aggression against Angola, which continues day by day, and on self-determination for the people of Namibia, who have waited 16 years for that?
§ Mr. OnslowThe whole purpose of the Government's exercise is to put an end to that state of affairs. The hon. Gentleman might like to know that we have received a memorandum indicating SWAPO's views on the proposals in phase 1. We look to the current meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the front-line States in Dar-es-Salaam for an authoritative response to our proposals. We shall then make proposals on how to take negotiations forward, once we have had time to study the authoritative responses of the parties, and do not intend to waste time in that process.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsHas my hon. Friend had an opportunity to meet Mr. Dirk Mudge during his current visit to London? Is he aware that those of us who have recently been to Namibia know that the people who suffer most from SWAPO are the indigenous minorities, such as the bushmen, and that those who benefit most from the South African presence, curiously enough, are precisely those ethnic minorities whose future could be at risk unless the matter is handled with great delicacy?
§ Mr. OnslowI hope to meet Mr. Mudge tomorrow. I look forward very much to discussing with my hon. Friend his findings during his recent visit to Namibia.
§ Mr. Alexander W. LyonWhen the Minister listens to claims such as those made by the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Griffiths), will he remember the sort of claims made by similar people about Rhodesia, and will he bear in mind that Dirk Mudge is no more than the Bishop Muzorewa of Namibia?
§ Mr. OnslowIt is not likely to help my discussions with anyone if I make prejudgments of that kind.
§ Mr. WilkinsonHas my hon. Friend seen reports in the press that about 500 Cuban personnel have been withdrawn from Angola? Are they military or civilian personnel, or persons who in any way supported the SWAPO incursions into South-West Africa?
§ Mr. OnslowI have seen such reports, but I suggest that my hon. Friend should address his question to the Cuban Government rather than to me.