§ Lord Gray of Continasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the latest position on the deployment of observers to South Africa in accordance with the terms of UN Security Council Resolution 772.
§ Baroness TrumpingtonThe UN, the EC, the Commonwealth and the OAU are all sending groups 115WA of observers to South Africa. Their role will be to seek, by their presence in situations of potential conflict, to prevent violence, defuse tension and promote peace. They will be operating in close co-operation with each other, and with the National Peace Secretariat (as well as with the UN and observer teams from other international organisations).
There will be 15 EC observers drawn from throughout the Community. The majority of participants have a police background. Two of them are British. They will arrive in South Africa on 29th October.
The EC is also providing six police experts to be attached to Judge Goldstone's recently-established investigative task forces. A senior British police officer will act as the co-ordinator of the team. This officer arrived in South Africa on 7th October.
The Commonwealth has recruited 20 observers to play a similar role to that of the EC group. One of the group is a UK police officer.
The 50 UN observers are drawn from the staff of the UN Secretariat. The composition of the OAU group is still under discussion.