Public Participation: South Africa The Negotiating Forum: South Africa The Negotiating Council

Notes that the Technical Committee on Violence has submitted its report on the conditions that should be created to eliminate violence in accordance with the 'Declaration of Intent on the Negotiating Process' adopted on 7 May 1993; Commends the Technical Committee for the comprehensive manner in which it has sought to address this question and the concrete proposals contained in its recommendations;

And hereby resolves that:

1. The National Peace Committee finalize proposed amendments to the Peace Accord as a matter of urgency so as to strengthen the Accord and increase its effectiveness;

2. The signatories to the Peace Accord meet as a matter of urgency to reaffirm their commitment to the Accord and to approve the proposed amendments to it;

3. Non-signatories sign the Peace Accord immediately;

4. Appropriate compulsory sanctions be developed by the Technical Committee on the Independent Election Commission for dealing with parties / administrations / organizations which transgress the Code of Conduct for Political Parties , but refuse to sign the Peace Accord;

5. Any parties organizing a public demonstration or any other form of mass action must comply with the guidelines set out in paragraph 2.6 of the Fourth Report of the Technical Committee on Violence;

6. The National Peace Committee submit proposed amendments to the Regulation of Gatherings Bill as a matter of urgency;

7. A series of phased confidence-building measures be adopted leading to the creation of impartial, legitimate and effective security forces. A distinction be drawn between statutory and non-statutory armies on the one hand and police forces on the other. The Technical Committee of the TEC and its Sub-Councils propose the precise mechanisms to be adopted;

8. Parties between whom conflicts exist, which have contributed to violence, in addition to participating in the MPNP [Multi-Party Negotiating Process], meet bilaterally to seek joint solutions to the conflicts between them;

9. An independent peacekeeping force with a multi-party composition be established and placed under the control of the Independent Electoral Commission or under multi-party executive control;

10. Every party to the MPNP commit itself without reservation to the holding of a free and fair election and to do everything possible to ensure that the electorate and the leaders and candidates of political parties are able to conduct their election campaigns and other political activities freely without being intimidated or obstructed and without fear of being killed;

11. The Technical Committee on Violence prepare detailed proposals on the desirability, financing, establishment and composition of a Peace / Youth Services Corps.

Top | Public Participation | Contents