17 December

On 17 December 1981, the UN general assembly proclaimed 1982 the International Year of Mobilisation for Sanctions against South Africa. Just two countries stood against the tide of international opinion.

The two countries were the US and the UK, when they cast votes against four resolutions condemning and calling for action against the apartheid regime. The US voted against all four resolutions, and the UK, under Margaret Thatcher, voted against two.

Resolution 36/172C, which condemned aggression by South Africa against Angola and other African states, was passed 136-1.

Resolution 36/172H, to organise an international conference of trade unions on sanctions against South Africa, was passed 129-2.

Resolution 36/172L, to encourage various international actions against South Africa, was passed 126-2.

Resoution 36/172N, in support of sanctions and other measures against South Africa, was passed 139-1.

'The ANC is a typical terrorist organisation . . . Anyone who thinks it is going to run the government in South Africa is living in cloud-cuckoo land' - Margaret Thatcher