Keeping on Schedule in Namibia

United Nations Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar is moving vigorously to preserve the independence agreement for Namibia with a trip to the territory, followed by a visit to South Africa. His intervention comes at a critical time.

An American monitoring mission had confirmed earlier United Nations reports that South Africa-sponsored counterinsurgency units in Namibia are creating an atmosphere of intimidation that could jeopardize the independence election scheduled there in November. Now he has confirmed the problem himself.

Under terms of the plan to bring Namibia to independence, South Africa agreed to withdraw all paramilitary forces. But members of the counterinsurgency units, called Koevoet, were merely integrated into the Namibian police force and are carrying out clandestine operations threatening the families of politically active persons, according to Martti Ahtisaari, who is special representative of the secretary general in Namibia.

Louis A. Pienaar, administrator general of Namibia for South Africa, has promised a prompt response to the complaints, but he has demanded that charges be made in a degree of detail that may not be possible. In remote areas of the north, it is virtually impossible for U.N. observers to catch the marauders red-handed and identify them. A more forthcoming response from South Africa would be the prompt withdrawal of all former counterinsurgency personnel from the police units.

Confidence in the U.N. operation can be developed only by thorough and even-handed implementation of the agreement. The fairness and objectivity of the operation can be further demonstrated by a full probe of charges that the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO) also has been conducting a campaign of intimidation, including charges of brutal imprisonment of dissidents within the ranks of the guerrilla organization. SWAPO has been granted special status by the United Nations because of its leadership in the struggle for independence. Now, however, it must prove its popularity at the polls.

Ahtisaari warned South Africa in a letter just last month that “the continuance of the situation described in this letter raises grave doubt in my mind as to whether ‘conditions are established which will allow free and fair elections and an impartial electoral process’ as required . . . . “

Secretary General Perez de Cuellar is now acting as he should to get the plan back on track. His visit to South Africa also serves to remind the world of the heavy burden that rests with Pretoria to avoid any further action that would undermine the U.N. Namibia plan.