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CU Judge Steyn being interviewed.
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STEYN: "I cannot allow, neither can South Africa, nor any other participants in this Western proposal.... the exercise can't allow the internal situation to so deteriorate that the proposals themselves will ultimately become incapable of implementation within the territory, due to collapse of the society for which they're intended. Therefore, the time has now arrived for the reasons I've stated to reassess our priorities and I feel we have arrived at the state where the main priority now will be the retention within the territory of the situation in which one can meaningfully hold such an election and in which there will be meaningful participation in it. I have therefore some movement towards that process that now has to be made. Also, because there is in ever-increasing circles voices being raised that there should be no election.... that it's becoming impracticable for the reasons that I've stated. And, therefore, some steps should now be taken, not only to maintain the momentum and restore credibility, to maintain confidence in the future of the territory, to maintain the economy, but also to demonstrate, not only to the world, but also to these dissident voices, that there is going to be an election and that election will be held, and that as far as South Africa is capable of doing so, it will proceed with the implementation of the Western proposals, hopefully with the participation of the West, and SWAPO (South West Africa Peoples' Organisation), but that step, due to the reasons I have mentioned to you, will now have to be taken within a matter of days, at the most-weeks, and no longer within a period to be reckoned in months."



The London 'Financial Times' says "sources within the South African government are threatening once more to press ahead with the first moves in an election process in Namibia (South West Africa) if there is no immediate positive reasons from SWAPO to the western proposals for a settlement."




Initials EP/1815



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Background: In Namibia (South West Africa) Judge Mathinus Steyn, the South African-appointed Administrator General, has said that a decision on elections in the territory should be made quickly. He said the long delay in implementing the Western settlement proposals was eroding the economy and slowing internal political momentum.