Namibia: UN Forces (Hansard, 7 March 1989)

§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Glenarthur)
My Lords, we support the recommendations in the United Nations Secretary General's report of 23rd January, which were approved unanimously by the Security Council on 16th February.

§ Lord Hatch of Lusby
My Lords, will the Minister tell us why the United Nations force is to be reduced from 7,500 to about 4,500? It was considered that 7,500 was the appropriate figure at the time when Resolution 435 was passed. Is the noble Lord aware that already, before these elections take place, there is mobilisation of pressure groups, lobby groups and propaganda groups? They are led by South Africans and by the South African administrator general within Namibia. That could lead to a very ugly and probably unfair situation when the elections take place unless there is thorough supervision by the United Nations.

§ Lord Glenarthur
My Lords, we agree with the Secretary General that the proposed reductions to which the noble Lord refers will not prejudice the smooth and efficient implementation of the plan. The Secretary General has retained 7,500 as the ceiling for UNTAG's military component and has increased the number of police and military observers. The terms of the United Nations plan provided that actual numbers deployed should depend on the United Nations Secretary General's assessment of the current situation on the ground.
As regards ensuring fairness of elections, I am aware that certain allegations have been made. Implementation of the plan is a matter for the Secretary General himself. We know that he and his staff are doing their utmost to ensure that the elections to be held are both fair and free.

§ Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos
My Lords, will the noble Lord give an assurance on behalf of Her Majesty's Government that if the Secretary General makes an appeal for further forces to secure the borders and to ensure that fair elections are carried out, Her Majesty's Government will support the action and seek to persuade our allies and friends on the Security Council to agree to increase the number of troops? Furthermore, can the noble Lord tell the House the position with regard to the withdrawal of South African and Cuban troops from the area? Is the withdrawal proceeding as it should?

§ Lord Glenarthur
My Lords, I can tell the noble Lord that of course we accept that the Secretary General must be given the resources he needs to fulfill his mandate. If genuine problems arose, we would consider promptly and sympathetically any request made by the Secretary General. The South Africans have significantly reduced police levels in the territory and have disbanded the counter-insurgency police unit. They have also undertaken to reduce the combined strength of the South African defence forces and the South-West African territorial forces to 15,000 by 1st April. That is quite encouraging.

The Earl of Selkirk
My Lords, what about the Cuban forces? Have they been entirely withdrawn from the area?

§ Lord Glenarthur
My Lords, there was an agreement that that should be the case. As I understand it, if they have not already gone they are well on the way to going.

Lord Paget of Northampton
My Lords, does the noble Lord agree that the present administration in Namibia has done rather well in the difficult process of getting out from under Resolution 435? That resolution must rank among the most idiotic efforts ever put forward by the United Nations. As a result of antics under Resolution 435, the United Nations blue beret in Namibia has much the same effect as a red muleta in a bullring.

§ Lord Glenarthur
My Lords, I certainly do not agree with the noble Lord in either of those suppositions. Security Council Resolution 435, dated 29th September 1978, is more or less brought into effect by the later Resolution 632 of 16th February, which describes precisely how it should operate. We should support them both.

§ Lord Mackie of Benshie
My Lords, is the Minister aware that the Cuban forces have not gone, and that the agreement is that they will be withdrawn some time after 1990?

§ Lord Glenarthur
My Lords, I was not aware of that fact put in quite the way the noble Lord has addressed it. But I shall certainly examine the position.

§ Lord Mellish
My Lords, can the Minister say what proportion of the United Nations peacekeeping force is British? Is he aware that some of us on this side of the House at any rate are delighted that we have some forces to send?

§ Lord Glenarthur
My Lords, the element that we are going to provide is a signals unit. Initially it will consist of a group of about 70; later, I believe, that group will consist of 162 members. They will fly out on Friday.

§ Lord Hatch of Lusby
My Lords, will the Minister tell both sides of the House that Cuban forces have never been in Namibia? Cuban forces were in Angola, not in Namibia. The Minister has not answered my original Question. Why is it that a decision has been taken to reduce the forces from their original complement? I think back to the time of the Rhodesian election in 1980. I recognise that in Namibia 70 per cent. of the population live in rural areas, but 94 per cent. of the population is black. The South Africans have promoted that small section of the community which is white, who were the poor Afrikaners sent there by Smuts many years ago. They are now organising themselves to resist the conclusion of United Nations Resolution 435. Why has that been done?

§ Lord Glenarthur
My Lords, the recommendations of the United Nations Secretary General were based on the observations of a United Nations reconnaissance team which visited Namibia and were also made in the light of the positive developments in the region which have taken place since 1978, notably the agreements of 22nd December reached between Angola, Cuba and South Africa.