CM/Res.767 (XXXIV)
RESOLUTION ON THE ABDUCTION AND DETENTION OF VICTOR MATLOU OF A.N.C. BY SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE
The Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity meeting in its Thirty- fourth Ordinary Session, in Addis Ababa, from 6 to 15 February 1980,
Having heard a statement made by the Foreign Minister of the Government of Lesotho on the abduction, at gun point, of Victor Matlou by the racist South African Police on 12th December 1979, whilst he was on his way to Lesotho by Lesotho Airways flight QL 351,
Having noted that Lesotho Airways flight QL 351 was forced to land at the J.B.M. Hertzog Airport in Bloemfontein due to bad weather conditions at the Maseru Airport, the place to which Victor Matlou was destined,
Noting that Lesotho as a landlocked state totally surrounded by the racist Republic of South Africa has a right to establish direct air communication links with the rest of the world,
Bearing in mind that Lesotho has just established a new airline service at great sacrifice to reach the rest of the world and reduce its chronic dependence on South African Airways services,
Noting that interference with any Lesotho Airways flights and their passengers by the racist South African regime is prejudicial to the orderly development of Lesotho Airways,
Affirming that Lesotho is entitled as of right to seek protection by the international community for the safe conduct of her Airways services in and out of Lesotho,
Gravely concerned that the racist South African regime by its illegal action is violating not only the sovereignty of an OAU Member State of Lesotho but is also committing an act of piracy to the detriment of internationally accepted norms of communications and the rules and regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organization:
CONDEMNS South Africa for its acts of piracy against Lesotho Airways and its passengers;
DEMANDS the unconditional and immediate release of Victor Matlou who as an international passenger, landed in South Africa in an emergency landing of Lesotho Airways flight QL 351;
WARNS racist South Africa against any such interference with air services in and out of Lesotho;
COMMENDS Lesotho which in spite of its geographically disadvantaged position has steadfastly resisted pressures from South Africa with regard to South African refugees residing in Lesotho;
REQUESTS the Secretary-General of the OAU to urge the UN Secretary- General and the International Civil Aviation Organization to intervene with the racist Government of South Africa with the view to securing the immediate and unconditional release of Victor Matlou.