text: bearguedthatanumberofpolitical prisoners havebeenreleased since 2February 1990,theirnumberinactualfactconstitutes atinyfraction ofthe political prisoners incarcerated inapartheid gaols. Indeed, thereexists awide disparity inthefigures forpolitical prisoners givenbytheregime andthose givenbyobservers suchashuman-rights activists andhuman-rights sources. The factthattherehavebeendiscussions between theANCandtheapartheid regime on theissueofpolitical prisoners andthefactthatunderthetermsofboththe .LRMI7 AlSPC/44/PV.26 44-45 (Mr.Mafolet AN~) ,L .,.Groote Schuur andPretoria agreements atimetable hasbeenprovided fortherelease ofpolitical prisoners shouldnotbeviewedasanindication thatPretoria hasin deedandinfactcomplied withthatrequirement. Thetruthofthematteristhat inspiteoftheagreedtimetable political prisoners intheir thol~sands arestill ingoalsinSouthAfrica. Furthermore, itshouldalsobepointed outthatthe continued existence ofsuchlegislation astheInternal Security Act,whichhas beendesigned tocircumscribe political activity, hasmadeitpossible forthe Government todetainevengreater numbers ofpeopleacrossthecountry, including theleaders oftheAfrican National Congress. Wearetherefore sayingthatwhile political prisoners havebeenreleased thenumberreleased doesnotinfact constitute thekindofnumbers that.theUnitedNations Declaratitn hadinmindwhen itreferred topolitical prisoners, because theDeclaration isveryclearonthat issueanditsaysthatallpolitical prisoners mustbereleased.LeaseJB/13.. A/SPC/44/PV.26 46 (Mr.Mafole, ANC) Tosaythereisatimetable thatisinplace-onethatmayrangefromany in lat .11 ng le when atperiod -doesnotinitself meanthatthepolitical prisoners havebeenreleased. Therefore, wetakeverystrongexception toanybody wanting tosuggest thatbecause ofthoseagreements theapartheid regimewouldhavecomplied withtherequirements oftheDeclaration onthatscore. Furthermore, thefactthatthestateofemergency remains inforceinNatal andthatsomeemergency m~asures areapplicable intheTransvaal areahasgiventhe regimeanexcusetodetainevenmorepeople. Inotherwords, whatweare experiencing hereisasituation inwhichtheregimeissaying ontheonehandthat intermsoftheagreement itisreleasing politi. \1prisoners butatthesametime, intheinterest ofmaintaining lawandorder, andbecause oftheapplications of theprovisions ofthestateofemergency inNatalandelsewhere, itisduty-bound tocontinue toincarcerate morepolitical prisoners ormoredetainees. Inourview,thisistypical oftheSouthAfrican regime, wh~~hisasusual givingwithone:landandtaking awaywiththeother.Itshouldtherefore notin anywaydeludeinternational publicopinion intothinking thattherehasbeenany significant movement inthatdirection. Wearethussayingthatwhilethere appears onthesurface t:obealiberalization oftheregime, inreality thereare stillthousands ofpatriots languishing inapartheid dun~eons precisely because theyhavedaredtoopposeapactheid. Leaving asidethequestion ofpolitical prisoners, paragraph 6(b)ofthe UnitedNations Declaration requires thePretoria regimetoliftthebanonall proscribed andrestricted organizations andpersons. Again,whileitistruethat on2February 1990DeKlerkissued astatement beforeParliament inSouthAfricain whichheannounced theunbanning ofthepolitical organizations, thetruthofthe matteristhatitisinfactwellnighimpossible forthosepolitical organizations tofunction incontemporary SouthAfrica. LJB/13 A/SPC/44/PV.26 47 (Mr.Mafole, ANC) Thatisprecisely because theSouthAfrican regimehasrefused toensuresafe conduct forthosemembers ofpolitical organizations whoareinexileto parti~;.pate inthepolitical process inSouthAfrica. Again, weneedtobevery careful hereinusingtheagreements thathavebeenreached asanexcusetosay thattheSouthAfrican regimehasinfactdelivered thegoods. Asofnow,the political organizations, although technically d~clared legal,haveinactualfact founditimpossible toparticipate intheprocess. Paragraphs 6(c)and6(d)oftheDeclaration address theissueoftheneedin SouthAfricatocreate apolitical climate l~atisfreeofviolence. Thetruthof thematterinpresent-day SouthAfricaisthatweareengulfed inaspiralof violence whichtheapologists ofapartheid havecharacterized variously as black-on-black violence, sometimes asinter-tribal friction, andatothertimesas
analysis: The text appears to be a political statement or speech, discussing the release of political prisoners in South Africa and the government's compliance with international declarations. The language used is formal and critical, suggesting that the speaker is addressing a political or diplomatic audience. The text does not mention economic, environmental, or scientific issues, but rather focuses on human rights and political freedoms.