Question of Territories under Portuguese administration

XXVII. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE FOURTH COMMITTEE
2918. Question of Territories under Portuguese administration

The General Assembly, Having considered the question of Territories under Portuguese domination, Having examined the relevant chapters of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,[1] including in particular the report of the Special Mission which visited the liberated areas of Guinea (Bissau) in April 1972,[2] Having examined the report of the Secretary-General concerning the present item,[3] Having invited, in consultation with the Organization of African Unity and through it, representatives of the national liberation movements of Angola, Guinea (Bissau) and Cape Verde and Mozambique to participate in an observer capacity in its consideration of those Territories, and having heard the statements of Mr. Amílcar Cabral, Secretary-General of the Patido Africano da Independência da Guiné Cabo Verde[4] and Mr. Marcelino dos Santos, Vice-President of the Frente de Libertação de Moçambique,[5] Having heard the statements of the petitioners,[6] Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and its resolution 2621 (XXV) of 12 October 1970, containing the programme of action for the full implementation of the Declaration, as well as all other resolutions relating to the question of Territories under Portuguese administration adopted by the General Assembly, the Security Council and the Special Committee, Condemning the persistent refusal of the Government of Portugal to comply with the relevant provisions of the aforementioned resolutions of the United Nations and, in particular, the continuation by Portuguese military forces of the indiscriminate bombing of civilians, the wholesale destruction of villages and property and the ruthless use of napalm and chemical substances in Angola, Guinea (Bissau) and Cape Verde and Mozambique, as well as the continued violations of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of independent African States neighbouring Angola, Guinea (Bissau) and Cape Verde and Mozambique, which seriously disturb international peace and security, Condemning the continued collaboration of Portugal, South Africa and the illegal racist minority régime in Southern Rhodesia, designed to perpetuate colonialist and racialist domination in the region, and the persistent intervention against the peoples of the Territories concerned by police and armed forces, as well as mercenaries from South Africa and Southern Rhodesia, Taking note with appreciation of the concrete programmes of assistance to the national liberation movements of those Territories initiated by several Governments and by organizations within the United Nations system as well as a number of non-governmental organizations, Noting with satisfaction the progress towards national independence and freedom made by the national liberation movements in those Territories, both through their struggle and through reconstruction programmes, particularly in the liberated areas of Guinea (Bissau) by the Partido Africano da Independência da Guiné Cabo Verde, the sole and authentic representative of the people of Guinea (Bissau) and Cape Verde,

1. Reaffirms the inalienable right of the peoples of Angola, Guinea (Bissau) and Cape Verde and Mozambique and other Territories under Portuguese domination to self-determination and independence as recognized by the General Assembly in its resolution 1514 (XV), and the legitimacy of their struggle to achieve that right;

2. Affirms that the national liberation movements of Angola, Guinea (Bissau) and Cape Verde and Mozambique are the authentic representatives of the true aspirations of the peoples of those Territories and recommends that, pending the accession of those Territories to independence, all Governments, the specialized agencies and other organizations within the United Nations system and the United Nations bodies concerned should, when dealing with matters pertaining to the Territories, ensure the representation of those Territories by the liberation movements concerned in an appropriate capacity and in consultation with the Organization of African Unity;

3. Deems it imperative that negotiations should be initiated at an early date between the Government of Portugal and the national liberation movements referred to above with a view to the full and speedy implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples with respect to Angola, Guinea (Bissau) and Cape Verde and Mozambique, particularly in order to bring about as a matter of priority:

(a) He immediate cessation by Portugal of its colonial wars and all acts of repression against the peoples of Angola, Guinea (Bissau) and Cape Verde and Mozambique, the withdrawal of its military and other forces and the elimination of all practices which violate the inalienable rights of those populations, including the eviction and regrouping of the African populations and the settlement of foreign immigrants in the Territories;

(b) The just treatment of the freedom fighters of Angola, Guinea (Bissau) and Cape Verde and Mozambique captured during the struggle for freedom as prisoners of war, in accordance with the principles of the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, of 12 August 1949,[7] and in compliance with the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949;[8]

4. Appeals to all Governments, the specialized agencies and other organizations within the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations to render to the peoples of Angola, Guinea (Bissau) and Cape Verde and Mozambique, in particular the populations in the liberated areas of those Territories, all the moral and material assistance necessary to continue their struggle for the achievement of their inalienable right to self-determination and independence;

5. Requests all Governments, particularly those members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization which continue to render assistance to Portugal, to withdraw any assistance that enables Portugal to prosecute the colonial war in Angola, Guinea (Bissau) and Cape Verde and Mozambique, and to prevent the sale or supply of weapons, military equipment and material to the Government of Portugal, as well as all supplies, equipment and material for the manufacture or maintenance of weapons and ammunition that it uses to perpetuate its colonial domination in Africa;

6. Calls upon all States to take forthwith all possible measures to put an end to any activities that help to exploit the Territories under Portuguese domination and the peoples therein and to discourage their nationals and bodies corporate under their jurisdiction from entering into any transactions or arrangements that contribute to Portugal's domination over those Territories and impede the implementation of the Declaration with respect to them;

7. Recommends that, in the event of the non-compliance by the Government of Portugal with the provisions of paragraph 3 above, the Security Council should urgently consider taking all effective steps with a view to securing the full and speedy implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and of the related decisions of the Council;

8. Requests the Secretary-General to follow the implementation of the present resolution, in particular to provide such assistance as may be necessary with respect to the negotiations referred to in paragraph 3 above, and to report thereon, as appropriate, to the General Assembly and the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples;

9. Commends the Special Committee for the work it has accomplished during the year, particularly through the dispatch of the Special Mission to Guinea (Bissau), and requests it to continue to seek the best ways and means of effectively assisting in the achievement by the peoples of the Territories under Portuguese domination of the goals set forth in the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and the Charter of the United Nations.

2084th plenary meeting
14 November 1972

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[1] Official Records of the General Assembly, Twenty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/8723/Rev.1), chaps. II, III and X. [2] Ibid., chap. X, para. 36. [3] A/8758 and Add.1. [4] See Official Records of the General Assembly, Twenty-seventh Session, Fourth Committee, 1986th meeting. [5] Ibid., 1987th meeting. [6] Ibid., 1980th and 1992nd meetings. [7] United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 972, p. 135. [8] Ibid., No. 973, p.287.