Security Council resolution 556 (1984) [South Africa]

Resolution 556 (1984) of 23 October 1984

The Security Council,

Recalling its resolution 554 (1984) of 17 August 1984 and General Assembly resolutions 38/11 of 15 November 1983 and 39/2 of 28 September 1984, which declared the so-called "new constitution" contrary to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations,

Reaffirming the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, particularly article 21, paragraphs 1 and 3, which recognize, inter alia, the right of everyone to take part in the Government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives, and the will of the people as the basis of the authority of Government,

Alarmed by the aggravation of the situation in South Africa, in particular the wanton killing and the maiming of defenceless demonstrators and workers on strike as well as the imposition of virtual martial-law conditions intended to facilitate the brutal repression of the black population,

Gravely concerned over the continuing arbitrary arrests and detentions without trial of leaders and activists of mass organizations inside the country as well as the closure of several schools and universities,

Commending the massive united resistance of the oppressed people of South Africa, including the strike by hundreds of thousands of black students, to the imposition of the so-called "new constitution",

Commending also the Asian and coloured communities in South Africa for their large-scale boycott of the recent "elections" which constituted a clear rejection of the so-called "new constitution",

Reaffirming the legitimacy of the struggle of the oppressed people of South Africa for the full exercise of the right to self-determination and the establishment of a non-racial democratic society in an unfragmented South Africa,

Convinced that racist South Africa's defiance of world public opinion and the imposition of the rejected so-called "new constitution" will inevitably lead to further escalation of the explosive situation and will have far-reaching consequences for southern Africa and the world,

1. Reiterates its condemnation of the South African régime's apartheid policy and its continued defiance of relevant resolutions of the United Nations and the régime's designs to further entrench apartheid, a system characterized as a crime against humanity;

2. Further condemns the continued massacres of the oppressed people, as well as the arbitrary arrest and detention of leaders and activists of mass organizations;

3. Demands the immediate cessation of the massacres and the prompt and unconditional release of all political prisoners and detainees;

4. Reaffirms that only the total eradication of apartheid and the establishment of a non-racial democratic society based on the majority rule, through the full and free exercise of adult suffrage by all the people in a united and unfragmented South Africa, can lead to a just, equitable and lasting solution of the situation in South Africa;

5. Urges all Governments and organizations to take appropriate action, in co-operation with the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity and in accordance with the present resolution, to assist the oppressed people of South Africa in their legitimate struggle for the full exercise of the right to self-determination;

6. Demands the immediate eradication of apartheid as the necessary step toward the full exercise of the right to self-determination in an unfragmented South Africa, and to this end demands:

(a) The dismantling of the bantustan structures as well as the cessation of uprooting, relocation and denationalization of the indigenous African people;

(b) The abrogation of the bans and restrictions on political organizations, parties, individuals and news media opposed to apartheid;

(c) The unimpeded return of all the exiles;

7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Security Council on the implementation of the present resolution;

8. Decides to remain seized of the matter.

Adopted at the 2560th meeting by 14 votes to none, with 1 abstention (United States of America).