Hypocrisy by US in vote at UN

THE EDITOR: For the benefit of a gentleman who wrote recently condemning Nelson Mandela’s criticism of the US declaration of war against Iraq, wherein, he chastised Mandela for being ungrateful, because of what he termed “the US efforts to thwart apartheid in South Africa which led to Mandela’s release from prison.” Nothing could be further from the truth.

For his information, here is a list of resolutions which were vetoed by the US with respect to resolutions which the UN sought to pass over the years with respect to South Africa’s racist policies: 1979 A call for an end to all military and nuclear collaboration with the apartheid South Africa. 1979 A call to strengthen the arms embargo against South Africa. 1979 Offer of assistance to all the oppressed people of South Africa and their liberation movement. 1981 Condemn South Africa for attacks on neighbouring states, condemn apartheid and attempts to strengthen sanctions (seven resolutions). 1981 Condemn an attempted coup by South Africa on the Seychelles.

1982 Condemn apartheid and call for the cessation of economic aid to South Africa (four resolutions). 1984 International action to eliminate apartheid. 1986 Impose economic and military sanctions against South Africa. Incidentally, the following may be of interest to him. During the eighties, the UN was concerned with Saddam Hussein’s use of chemical weapons. On March 21, 1986, almost exactly 17 years ago, the Security Council President, speaking on behalf of the Security Council, stated that the Council members were profoundly concerned by the unanimous conclusion of the specialists that chemical weapons on many occasions were being used by Iraqi forces against Iranian troops....(and) the members of the Council strongly condemn this continued use of chemical weapons in clear violation of the Geneva Protocol of 1925 which prohibits the use in war of chemical weapons (S/17911 and Add 1, March 21, 1986. The United States voted against the issuance of this statement. What hypocrisy!

D JOHNSON
Cascade