Question of Territories under Portuguese administration

XXIII. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE FOURTH COMMITTEE
2395. Question of Territories under Portuguese administration

The General Assembly, Having considered the question of Territories under Portuguese administration, Having heard the statements of the petitioners, Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, Recalling also all the revelant resolutions concerning the Territories under Portuguese administration adopted by the General Assembly and the Security Council, Expressing its profound concern over the persistent refusal of the Government of Portugal to implement the relevant United Nations resolutions, Gravely concerned about the deteriorating situation in the Territories under Portuguese domination, which constitutes a serious disturbance of international peace and security, Deeply disturbed about the continued and intensified activities of foreign economic, financial and other interests which impede the realization of the legitimate aspirations of the African peoples in those Territories, Deploring the aid which the Government of Portugal continues to receive from its allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and from other countries, which enables it to pursue its military operations against the African population of those Territories, Gravely concerned about that Government's constant threats against and violations of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the independent African States that border the Territories under its domination, Noting with satisfaction the progress towards national independence and freedom made by the liberation movements in those Territories both through their struggle and through reconstruction programmes,

1. Reaffirms the inalienable right of the peoples of the Territories under Portuguese domination to self-determination, freedom and independence, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), and the legitimacy of their struggle to achieve that right;

2. Condemns the persistent refusal of the Government of Portugal to implement resolution 1514 (XV) and all other relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and of the Security Council;

3. Calls upon the Government of Portugal to apply without delay to the peoples of the Territories under its domination the principle of self-determination, freedom and independence in accordance with the provisions and objectives of the Charter of the United Nations and of resolution 1514 (XV);

4. Draws the attention of the Security Council to the grave situation in the Territories under Portuguese domination, which has also aggravated the explosive situation in southern Africa;

5. Appeals to all States to grant the peoples of the Territories under Portuguese domination the moral and material assistance necessary for the restoration of their inalienable rights;

6. Reiterates its appeal to all States, and in particular to members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, to withhold from Portugal any assistance which enables it to prosecute the colonial war in the Territories under its domination;

7. Condemns the collaboration between Portugal, the minority racist régime of South Africa and the illegal racist minority regime in Southern Rhodesia, which is designed to perpetuate colonialism and oppression in southern Africa;

8. Condemns the violations by the Government of Portugal of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of independent African States;

9. Urgently appeals to all States to take all measures to prevent the recruitment or training in their territories of any persons as mercenaries for the colonial war being waged in the Territories under Portuguese domination and for violations of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the independent African States;

10. Deplores the policy of the Government of Portugal, which violates the economic and political rights of the indigenous population by the arbitrary eviction of the African population and the settlement of foreign immigrants in the Territories, and calls upon Portugal to cease those practices immediately;

11. Deplores also the activities of the financial interests operating in the Territories under Portuguese domination, which obstruct the struggle of the peoples for self-determination, freedom and independence and which strengthen the military efforts of Portugal;

12. Calls upon the Government of Portugal, in view of the armed conflict prevailing in the Territories and the inhuman treatment of prisoners, to ensure the application to that situation of the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War of 12 August 1949;[1]

13. Expresses its appreciation to the Member States concerned, to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and to the specialized agencies and other international relief organizations concerned for the help they have given so far and invites them to increase their assistance, including health and medical facilities, to the victims of Portuguese colonialism;

14. Invites the Secretary-General, in the light of General Assembly resolution 2349 (XXII) of 19 December 1967 and in consultation with the specialized agencies and the host Governments, to develop and expand training programmes for the indigenous inhabitants of the Territories under Portuguese domination, taking into account their needs for cadres of civil servants, technical and professional personnel to assume responsibilities for the public administration and the economic and social development of their own countries;

15. Requests the Secretary-General to take such action as he may deem appropriate for the implementation of the present resolution and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its twenty-fourth session;

16. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to keep the situation in the Territories under review.

1730th plenary meeting,
29 November 1968.


[1] Ibid.,
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