May 1985

THE FREEDOM CHARTER

AND THE UNITED NATIONS

The South African “Freedom Charter" - whose thirtieth anniversary will be observed this year -
was adopted at the “Congress of the People” held in Kliptown, near Johannesburg, on June 26,
1955, perhaps the most representative multi-racial conference held in South Africa. The sponsors
of the Conference - the African National Congress of South Africa, the South African Indian
Congress, the South African Coloured People’s Organisation and the Congress of Democrats -
soon endorsed the Charter and accepted it as their policy document. In subsequent years, a
number of other organisations subscribed to the Charter.

The Charter became a powerful force in uniting the people of all racial origins in a common
struggle for the elimination of apartheid and the establishment of a non-racial democratic state.1

It has also had great influence in the United Nations and the international community in
promoting understanding and appreciation of the struggle. The objectives enunciated by the
United Nations in its declarations and resolutions on apartheid are in harmony with the Freedom
Charter.

Origin of the Freedom Charter

The origin of the Freedom Charter may be traced to the Campaign of Defiance against Unjust
Laws - a non-violent passive resistance campaign - launched by the African National Congress
and the South African Indian Congress on June 26, 1952. Over 8,000 people courted
imprisonment by defying segregationist laws and regulations. A number of whites joined the
campaign to show their solidarity with the oppressed majority.

The campaign was discontinued after the racist regime enacted draconian legislation against non-
violent protest, resorted to whipping of volunteers and instigated violent incidents. But it had a
tremendous effect in mobilising the people. The membership of ANC surged to over 100,000 and

1
The racist regime immediately recognised its significance. It arrested 156 leaders of the four organisations and
subjected them to a lengthy treason trial from 1956 to 1961. All the accused were acquitted as the regime was unable
to prove that they had engaged in a Communist conspiracy.

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its influence spread all over the country. The campaign also led to the consideration of apartheid
by the United Nations General Assembly at the request of Asian-African States and to the
development of organisations in Western countries in support of the struggle for freedom in
South Africa.

The ANC then faced the task of maintaining the momentum generated by the Defiance
Campaign and developing new forms of struggle.

At the annual conference of the Cape region of the ANC in August 1953, Professor Z.K.
Matthews suggested the convening of a Congress of the People to draw up a Freedom Charter.
He said:

“I wonder whether the time has not come for the African National Congress to consider
the question of convening a national convention, a congress of the people, representing
all the people of this country irrespective of race or colour, to draw up a Freedom Charter
for the democratic South Africa of the future”.

The proposal was sent to the national conference of ANC in December and was approved by it.
At the invitation of the ANC, the South African Indian Congress, the Coloured People’s
Organisation and the Congress of Democrats agreed to co-sponsor the Congress and joined a
Joint Action Committee set up for preparatory work.

At the request of Chief Albert Lutuli, President-General of ANC, Professor Matthews prepared a
memorandum on the proposed Congress in which he said:

“The main task of the Congress will be to draw up a ‘Freedom Charter' for all people and
groups in South Africa. From such a Congress ought to come a Declaration which will
inspire all the peoples of South Africa with fresh hope for the future, which will turn the
minds of the people away from the sterile and negative struggles of the past and the
present to a positive programme of freedom in our lifetime. Such a Charter properly
conceived as a mirror of the future South African society can galvanise the people of
South Africa into action and make them go over into the offensive against the reactionary
forces at work in this country, instead of being perpetually on the defensive, fighting
rearguard actions all the time."

While the proposal thus arose from the dynamics of the struggle in South Africa, perhaps
concern for mobilising support of world opinion also played some part.

Professor Matthews had been teaching at the Union Theological Seminary in New York during
the Defiance Campaign and had followed the discussion of apartheid in the United Nations
General Assembly. In December 1952, the Assembly set up a United Nations Commission on the
Racial Situation in the Union of South Africa (UNCORS) to study the situation and report. It
also adopted a resolution, submitted by Nordic countries, declaring that in a multiracial society
harmony and respect for human rights and freedoms are best assured when patterns of
legislation and practice were directed at ensuring equality before the law of all persons.

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In its first annual report of October 3, 1953, the Commission recommended to the General
Assembly:

"The United Nations might suggest ways and means in which the Union might draw up a
new policy: for example, a round table conference of members of different ethnic groups
of the Union, which would, in an effort toward conciliation, make proposals to the
Government to facilitate the peaceful development of the racial situation in the Union of
South Africa. The United Nations might offer its help to that conference by sending a
number of United Nations representatives, so that all parties might be sure that the
Principles of the Charter would guide the debates."

In a joint memorandum to UNCORS in 1954, the African National Congress of South Africa and
the South African Indian Congress referred to this recommendation and said:

“In view of the intransigence of the Union Government it is almost impossible to expect
such a recommendation receiving a favourable response from Dr. Malan's Government in
the foreseeable future.

"However, the African National Congress has taken initiative in the matter and together
with the South African Indian Congress, the South African Congress of Democrats and
the South African Coloured People's Organisation is proposing to convene a Congress of
the People by not later than June 1955.

“For the first time in the history of South Africa all racial groups are co-operating to
bring about an assembly elected directly by the people throughout the country to frame a
Freedom Charter embodying the demands and aspirations of all sections of the South
African population.”2

The Commission noted this initiative with satisfaction.3 It devoted a section of its report to the
General Assembly in 1955i to the Congress of the People, and reproduced the full text of the
“Freedom Charter” unanimously adopted by the Congress.

Two months before the Congress of the People, in April 1955, the Asian-African Conference
was held in Bandung, Indonesia, and was attended by all independent States in the two
continents. The conveners excluded the Union of South Africa from the list of invitees. A
delegation from South Africa, composed of Moses Kotane of ANC and Molvi Cachalia of the
South African Indian Congress, attended the Conference as observers and met with many of the
Heads of State or Government of Asia and Africa.

2
Second report of the United Nations Commission on the Racial Situation in the Union of South
Africa (A/2719), paragraph 203.

3
Ibid., paragraph 371.

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The Declaration of the Conference condemned apartheid and all manifestations of racial
discrimination. It said:

“2. The Asian-African Conference deplored the policies and practices of racial
segregation and discrimination which form the basis of government and human relations
in large regions of Africa and in other parts of the world. Such conduct is not only a gross
violation of human rights, but also a denial of the fundamental values of civilisation and
the dignity of man.

“The Conference extended its warm sympathy and support for the courageous stand taken
by the victims of racial discrimination, especially by the peoples of African and Indian
and Pakistani origin in South Africa; applauded all those who sustain their cause;
reaffirmed the determination of Asian-African peoples to eradicate every trace of
racialism that might exist in their own countries; and pledged to use its full moral
influence to guard against the danger of falling victims to the same evil in their struggle
to eradicate it.”

This Declaration and the consultations could not but have some influence on the Congress of the
People.

The Freedom Charter, it may be said, was addressed not only to the people of South Africa but to
the world.

Freedom Charter and the Declarations of the United Nations

The Freedom Charter is in harmony with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
proclaimed by the United Nations on December 10, 1948. The Pretoria regime abstained in the
vote on the Universal Declaration, but it was endorsed by the ANC and became the policy of
several South African organisations committed to freedom and equality.

Many declarations and resolutions of the United Nations reflect the essence of the Freedom
Charter - namely, that South Africa belongs to all the people who live in it and that the people
should enjoy equal rights and opportunities, including the right to vote, and be elected to
legislative bodies, in a democratic State without distinction of colour, race, sex or creed.

The following are illustrative:

“Recognises the legitimacy of the struggle of the South African people for the elimination
of apartheid and for the establishment of a democratic society in which all the people of
South Africa as a whole, irrespective of race, colour, or creed, will enjoy equal and full
political and other rights and participate freely in the determination of their destiny.”

- Resolution 473 (1980), adopted unanimously by the Security Council on

June 13, 1980

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 "Reaffirming that all the people of South Africa, irrespective of race, colour or creed,
should be enabled to exercise their right of self-determination,

Convinced that the establishment of a non-racial society in South Africa, based on the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, would be a significant contribution to
international peace, security and co-operation,

Adopts the following Declaration:

DECLARATION ON SOUTH AFRICA

1. All States shall recognise the legitimacy of the struggle of the South African people
for the elimination of apartheid and the establishment of a non-racial society
guaranteeing the enjoyment of equal rights by all the people of South Africa,
irrespective of race, colour or creed…"

- Resolution 34/93-0 entitled “Declaration on South Africa” adopted unanimously

by the General Assembly on December 12, 1979

United Nations Publicity for the Freedom Charter

The United Nations has, moreover, taken steps to make Freedom Charter widely known around the world.

The text of the Freedom Charter was reproduced in the third report of UNCORS to the General
Assembly in 1955. It was published as a document of the Security Council, at the request of the
delegation of Benin in October 1977 as document S/12425.

The United Nations Special Committee against Apartheid - and, at its request, the Centre against
Apartheid - have repeatedly taken action to publicise the Charter.

On June 26, 1969, the Special Committee requested the Secretariat to take the necessary steps to
make the Freedom Charter more widely known around the world. The Unit on Apartheid then
published the text of the Freedom Charter and other relevant information in its “Notes and
Documents” series. The issue was reprinted in June 1970 to meet the demand in connection with
the Observance of the fifteenth anniversary of the Charter.

At the suggestion of the Special Committee, the World Peace Council published the Freedom
Charter in many languages with introductions by successive chairmen of the Special Committee.
The Solidarity Committee of the German Democratic Republic produced a poster based on the
Freedom Charter in co-operation with the Centre against Apartheid. A number of other
organisations published the Charter with the encouragement of the Special Committee.

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The Centre against Apartheid itself published the Charter in a brochure in June 1979 for
distribution in connection with the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Charter, and the brochure has
been reprinted to meet continuing demand.

ANNEX I

EXTRACT FROM THE THIRD REPORT OF THE UNITED NATIONS

COMMISSION ON THE RACIAL SITUATION IN THE UNION OF
SOUTH AFRICA, 1955

(Official Records of the General Assembly, Tenth

Session, Supplement No. 14, A/2953)

X. Activities of the African National Congress (“Congress of the People”, 25 and 26 June
1955)

291. In its 1954 report, the Commission mentioned that the African National Congress,
together with the South African Indian Congress, the Congress of Democrats and the Coloured
People's Organisation, had taken the initiative in convening a "Congress of the People” (A/2719,
para 203). This Congress was to meet not later than June 1955. For the first time in the history of
South Africa, all racial groups were to co-operate to bring about an assembly directly elected by
the people throughout the country, with the object of framing a “Freedom Charter”, embodying
the demands and aspirations of all sections of the South African population.

292. The preparation of this Congress was the principal object of the 42nd Annual Conference
of the African National Congress4 held at Durban from 16 to 19 December 1954, and attended by
about 500 people. It was decided, inter alia:

“The Congress of the People will not be just another meeting or another Conference. It
will be a mass assembly of delegates elected by the people of all races in every town,
village, farm, factory, mine and kraal. It will be the biggest single gathering of
spokesmen ever known in this country. The representatives of the people who come to
the Congress will consider the detailed demands of the people which have been sent in
for incorporation in the Freedom Charter, and will embody them into a declaration. This
Freedom Charter will be the South African Peoples’ Declaration of Human Rights, which
every civilised South African will work to uphold and carry into practice.”

Although the date and place of the meeting of this Congress were left open for the time being,
the Conference took various decisions concerning its organisation, such as: the establishment of
a corps of “Freedom Volunteers,” who would be at the disposal of the campaign organisers to
carry out any work which might be required of them, no matter where; the formation of Peoples’
4
Report of the African National Congress to the 42nd Annual Conference. See document
A/AC.70/5.

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Congress committees at the provincial level, with sub-committees for the towns, suburbs,
factories and streets; the manner of electing representatives, on the basis of one vote for every
person over 18 years of age, without distinction of race, colour or sex; and the collection of funds
to defray the delegates’ travelling expenses.

In the words of an article which appeared in Indian Opinion, over the signature of Jordan K.
Ngubane:

“The Conference was unique also in the way in which it was essentially a young people’s
conference. They grasped the actualities of the situation with a keenness and
understanding which the greyheads did not have only twenty years ago. But what was
most inspiring here was that at every stage the young people made it plain, in their
speeches, their conduct and their decisions, that they were consciously creating for them-
selves a world after their own design. He is an idiot and a fool who still says that African
Youth is not aware of its responsibilities.”5

293. The “Congress of the People” took place on 25 and 26 June at Kliptown, near
Johannesburg.

Various messages were read, including a telegram from Mr. U.N. Dhebar, President of the Indian
National Congress, worded as follows:

“It is indeed a great pleasure for us to know that the African National Congress, South
African Indian Congress, South African Congress of Democrats and the South African
Coloured Peoples’ Organisation are jointly convening a great assembly of elected
representatives of the people of South Africa for the purpose of drawing up a Freedom
Charter on 25 and 26 June.

“This united front on the part of the oppressed is really praiseworthy and we are sure this
will bring your peaceful struggle for elementary human rights to a successful end very
soon.

“You are aware that the people and the Government of India are firmly opposed to the
discriminatory policy followed by the South African Government. We believe strongly
that this type of thing cannot continue for long in this modern democratic world, and your
endeavour is bound to meet with success.

“May God give you patience and mental strength which are most vital things for carrying
on a non-violent struggle.

“We extend to you our moral support and wish you all success.”

Mr. Chou En-lai, Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of China, had sent a telegram with the
following text:

5
Indian Opinion, December 24, 1954, "The African Viewpoint."

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 “On behalf of the Chinese people, I warmly greet the meeting of the Congress of the
People and wish that the Congress will achieve new success in uniting the people of
different origins and all sections in South Africa to oppose racial discrimination and to
win freedom and democratic rights.

“The Asian-African conference has solemnly condemned colonialism and racial

discrimination. The Chinese people, together with the peoples of other Asian and African
countries and the people of the whole world, will continue to support the just struggle
waged by the people of South Africa.”6

294. The following are the most striking passages in the description of the Congress by
Manilal Gandhi in the newspaper of which he is the editor:

“Its grand success was beyond all expectations. It would not be amiss to say that never in
recent history of South Africa is such a representative meeting of the oppressed people
known to have been held. And it was held under the most difficult circumstances
imaginable. For what did the Government not do to prevent it? ...

“There were 2,888 delegates from throughout the Union of South Africa present at the
meeting despite the fact that about two hundred were prevented by the authorities at
Beaufort West in the Cape Province and at Standerton in the Transvaal Province from
proceeding to the meeting, under the pretext of not being in possession of permits
required under the Immigration Law or passes under the Native Pass Laws ...

“Besides these delegates there had assembled at this meeting over three thousand of the
public.

“The police, both European and African, and a squad of men from the Special Branch
were present at the meeting from the beginning to the end. Notwithstanding that
provocative act, it must be said to the credit of the public that they were not sullen and
angry but were happy and gay during the whole session. The weather too had been
exceptionally kind ...

“After the preliminary work had been done the draft Freedom Charter was taken clause
by clause and speeches were made on it.

“There was justifiable emotion in the speeches made. It was a demonstration of the
physical, mental and spiritual torture suffered by a vast majority of the people in this so-
called democratic country ...

“Things went on very smoothly until after lunch which was served to all the delegates
between 2 and 3 p.m. during which period the whole crowd was entertained with songs
and music.

6
Both the above telegrams were published in Indian Opinion, July 8, 1955.

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 “Then, half an hour after the afternoon session commenced, between 3.30 and 4 p.m., all
of a sudden it was announced from the platform that armed police were coming towards
the platform and that the people should remain calm ...

“Then while the delegates on the platform were being searched the police stood by below
with sten guns just ready for orders to shoot. They had a wild look on their faces. Some
jeered at the delegates and while the delegates were shouting ‘Africa’ with their thumbs
up some of the police were responding with their thumbs down ...

“Once again it was to the credit of the organisers and to the vast assembly that they
refused to be intimidated and kept their heads and proceeded with the remaining work ...

“The whole draft Freedom Charter was then passed with acclamation and with the
singing of the African National anthem, ‘Nkosi Sikelele’ with the representatives of the
Government being present on the platform as though to bear witness to it. It was all an act
of God ...

“And then the searching of the three thousand delegates began ...

“Every delegate was searched and his name and address was taken and all the papers
connected with the proceedings of the meeting were taken away.

“Every European was, in addition, photographed. Searching went on till a little after 8
p.m.

“The ideals set out in the Charter of Freedom cannot be taken exception to by anybody. It
is not possible to reach the highest ideal all at once. We can reach it by stages during
which it may be necessary to come to some honourable compromise with a Government
that is reasonable. There can be no compromise where reason is completely absent and
unreasonableness, stark injustice and tyranny are the order of the day."

ANNEX II

STATEMENT BY H. E. MR. ABDULRAHIM ABBY FARAH (SOMALIA),

CHAIRMAN OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE AGAINST APARTHEID, AT THE
MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE ON JUNE 26, 1969

Today, 26 June, is traditionally observed by the African National Congress of South Africa and
its associate organisations, as well as by many other bodies, including anti-apartheid movements
and various international organisations, as “South Africa Freedom Day.”

26 June was so designated because it was on 26 June 1950 that the first national stay-at-home
strike was organised as a mark of protest against the Suppression of Communism Act and other

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undemocratic and unjust legislation. It was, again, on 26 June 1952, that the historic Campaign
of Defiance of Unjust Laws was launched. But above all, 26 June was chosen as “South Africa
Freedom Day" as it commemorates the historic adoption, on 26 June 1955, of the Freedom
Charter by the Congress of the People of South Africa, a multi-racial conference of the
opponents of apartheid and racial discrimination.

The Freedom Charter, describing the democratic and humanist aspirations of the oppressed
people of South Africa, is a historic document which is in full harmony with the purposes and
principles of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and relevant
resolutions of United Nations organs. It sets out the democratic changes required to enable all the
people of South Africa to live in brotherhood, enjoying equal rights and opportunities without
distinction of colour, race, sex or belief.

Its preamble reads:

“WE, THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH AFRICA, DECLARE FOR ALL OUR COUNTRY
AND THE WORLD TO KNOW:

- that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white, and that no
government can justly claim authority unless it is based on the will of all the people;

- that our people have been robbed of their birthright to land, liberty and peace by a
form of government founded on injustice and inequality;

- that our country will never be prosperous or free until all our people live in
brotherhood, enjoying equal rights and opportunities;

- that only a democratic state, based on the will of all the people, can secure to all
their birthrights without distinction of colour, race, sex or belief;

And therefore, we the people of South Africa, black and white together - equals,
countrymen and brothers - adopt this Freedom Charter. And we pledge ourselves to strive
together, sparing neither strength nor courage, until the democratic changes set out here
have been won.”

These are the objectives of the struggle of the South African people - a struggle which the United
Nations General Assembly has recognised as legitimate and as deserving international support.

26 June, South Africa Freedom Day, should be a day for rededication to the cause of freedom, to
the legitimate struggle of the South African people.

It should be a day to pause and pay our respect to all those who have lost their lives in the course
of the struggle and those who have been imprisoned, interned or subjected to other restrictions
for having opposed the policies of apartheid.

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This is a day to renew our demand for the release of people like Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu,
Govan Mbeki, Ahmed Kathrada, Dennis Goldberg and Raymond Mhlaba, who have been
serving sentences of life imprisonment because they stood up for the principles of the Freedom
Charter, the principles of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
and for the release of others like Abram Fischer who are in jail because of their opposition to
apartheid and because of their courageous support of the struggle for freedom.

In a statement issued on the occasion of the South Africa Freedom Day, the African National
Congress has called upon the international community to stand up to the demands of the South
African revolution and to give moral, political and material aid to the liberation movement. The
United Nations has already recognised the legitimacy of these demands. They are enshrined in
the Freedom Charter which, I repeat, is in full accord with the purposes and principles of the
United Nations.

I feel that the Freedom Charter should be more widely known to the world public opinion. I
would suggest that the Unit on Apartheid be requested to take the necessary steps to this end.

ANNEX III

STATEMENT BY H.E. MR. EDWIN OGEBE OGBU, CHAIRMAN OF

THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE AGAINST APARTHEID, AT THE MEETING
OF THE COMMITTEE ON JUNE 24, 1974

… I must draw the attention of the Special Committee to the fact that today, 26 June, is annually
observed by the African National Congress of South Africa and allied organisations as South
Africa Freedom Day.

Many of the campaigns of the liberation movement have been launched on this day - beginning
with the nation-wide protests against apartheid laws on June 26, 1950. The historic Campaign of
Defiance against Unjust Laws in which 8,000 people went to jail was inaugurated on June 26,
1952, and it was that campaign which led to the consideration of apartheid by the United Nations
General Assembly.

The Congress of the People, with nearly 3,000 representatives of the African, Indian and
Coloured people - as well as white opponents of apartheid - was held on 26 June 1955 and
adopted the “Freedom Charter” which represents the aspirations and demands of all the people of
South Africa, except the racists.

That historic document declared that “South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white”
and that “no government can justly claim authority unless it is based on the will of all the
people.”

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On this day, the South African people pledge that they will fight for the freedoms enunciated in
that Charter until they have won their liberty. They have observed the Freedom Day, even under
the conditions of illegality in the past decade, at great risk.

The Freedom Day is, for us, an occasion to pledge our solidarity with the people of South Africa
until they have secured their inalienable right to freedom.

It is significant that the South Africa Freedom Day coincides with the anniversary of the signing
of the United Nations Charter. This coincidence shows the faith of the freedom fighters of South
Africa in the principles of the United Nations. It reminds the United Nations of its obligation to
assist the people of South Africa to secure their freedom from racist oppressors.

I am sure that I am expressing the sentiments of all the members of this Committee in declaring
that the Special Committee renews its pledge to discharge its duty, to the best of its ability, in
support of the struggle of the South African people until they win their liberty and join the
community of nations, and the community of independent African States, as a State of all the
people who live in that country.

ANNEX IV

INTRODUCTION BY H.E. MR. EDWIN OGEBE OGBU, CHAIRMAN

OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE AGAINST APARTHEID, TO THE
PUBLICATION OF THE FREEDOM CHARTER BY THE WORLD
PEACE COUNCIL IN 1975

The Freedom Charter, adopted by the Congress of the People in South Africa on 26 June 1955 -
South Africa Freedom Day and the anniversary of the founding of the United Nations - is a
document which reflects the noble objectives of the heroic struggle of the people of South Africa
for freedom, human dignity and international co-operation.

This struggle has been an inspiration far beyond the borders of South Africa and has made a
great contribution to mankind’s efforts towards freedom, international co-operation and peace.

All governments and peoples who value human solidarity have a sacred duty to lend all
necessary support to the South African people in their just struggle - so that South Africa may
play its rightful role in the community of nations.

ANNEX V

MESSAGE BY H.E. MR. B. AKPORODE CLARK, CHAIRMAN OF THE SPECIAL

COMMITTEE AGAINST APARTHEID, TO THE ANC, ON THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY
OF FREEDOM CHARTER, JUNE 26, 1980

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I have great pleasure in sending you my greetings, on behalf of the United Nations Special
Committee against Apartheid, on the occasion of the South Africa Freedom Day which coincides
this year with the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Freedom Charter.

The Freedom Charter, I may recall, was adopted by the Congress of the People in 1955, seven
years after the apartheid regime came to power in South Africa and enacted a series of draconian
measures to institutionalise racist domination and to suppress by force the legitimate aspirations
of the black people in violation of the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights.

It is to its great credit that when the apartheid regime was provoking bitterness and hatred along
racial lines and particularly against the black majority of the population of the Republic, the
African National Congress of South Africa convened a conference to adopt a Charter for the
rights of all the people of South Africa, irrespective of race, colour or creed. It thereby proved
that the struggle of the African people is indeed for the liberation of all the people of South
Africa from racist tyranny and for the establishment of a genuinely democratic State.

The Freedom Charter assisted world public opinion to understand and admire the righteous
struggle of the oppressed people of South Africa. In the hard and difficult struggle against a
ruthless regime backed by greedy and powerful forces from abroad, the Charter has enabled the
liberation struggle to increasingly obtain the solidarity and support of the great majority of
humanity.

I note with great appreciation that in spite of the increasing savagery of the racist regime, the
African National Congress and its allied organisations have continued to uphold the principles of
the Freedom Charter.

Today, as the South African people enter the final and decisive stage of their struggle for
emancipation, it is only right that their legitimate aspirations should be made clear to the entire
world.

In its determination to fulfil those aspirations - in peace if possible and by armed resistance if
necessary - the national liberation movement deserves the unequivocal support of all men and
women of conscience.

I wish you success.

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