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01/06/95
VOLKSTAAT/ COMMUNITY
SELF-DETERMINATION
The right of nations and peoples to political
self-determination is a relatively recent development in the history of
humankind.
Since the end of the first World War and the advent of the league
of Nations and later the United Nations, this right is almost
universally
recognised and enshrined in the constitutions of most states and international
political organisations.
The realities of the post Cold War world from
Croatia to Eritrea is such that identifiable peoples are exercising their right
to political
self- determination in a geographic area. This often does not
occur peacefully. The reason for this, however, is not the unreasonable
demands
of the peoples attempting to exercise their right to self rule, but those
peoples who in an imperialistic fashion attempt
to deny this right to others
such as the Serbs in Croatia.
We, in South Africa must not make the same
mistake. If an identifiable ethnic group such as the Afrikaners or Zulus should
elect
to exercise their right to self-determination, serious attempts must be
made to accommodate such peoples in our sub-continent.
If such groups want to
govern themselves in an own territory, sacrifices will inevitably have to be
made by South Africans who are
not part of these groups (loss of territory , a
certain disruption in the geographic continuity of South Africa). This, however,
will be an acceptable price to pay for peace, stability and co-operation in the
Southern African region.
Thus, if the majority of an ethnic group should
decide in a free and fair referendum/election to opt for self-rule, negotiations
should
commence about the actual geographic territory for such an ethnic group
to live in. Cognizance will have to be taken of various
factors viz. the rights
of other peoples who reside in such an area, economic
considerations.
What is crucial is that any new South African
Constitution should have enshrined within it the right of identifiable peoples
to self-determination
in a geographic territory. Anything less than this could
direct South Africa’s future onto the dangerous course of ethnic
polarisation and conflict that is taking place in so many parts of the
world.
MARTIN SCHÖNTEICH
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