Tutu, ANC in war of words

of the fiasco over the Dalai Lama’s visa, saying it didn’t represent him.
However, the ANC has called on Tutu to calm down and that the Archbishop was “saying things that he knows deep down are untrue”.
Tutu was speaking at a press conference in Milnerton after the Dalai Lama called off his trip on Tuesday morning when the government had still not granted him a visa.

He was due to arrive in South Africa today.
“Hey, Mr Zuma, you and your government don’t represent me. You represent your own interests,” Tutu said.
“Our government is worse than the apartheid government because at least we expected it from the apartheid government.”
He added that this government was expected to be sensitive to the sentiments of the constitution.

This came as Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe said the government would have given the Dalai Lama a visa to visit South Africa if he had not cancelled his visit.
The Dalai Lama had been invited to attend Tutu’s 80th birthday celebrations, deliver the inaugural Desmond Tutu International Peace Lecture, give lectures at Wits and Stellenbosch universities, and accept the Mahatma Gandhi peace prize in Durban.
The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader had previously been denied entry by the Jacob Zuma-headed government in 2009 at the behest of China, which rules over Tibet. Previously he had visited South Africa three times under Nelson Mandela’s and Thabo Mbeki’s presidencies.

Tutu, shouting and pointing his finger, said he was shocked at how the government had treated his friend and fellow Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
“They were quite determined, whether they say so or not, not to do anything to upset the Chinese.
“I have to say that I can’t believe this. I really can’t believe it. It is quite unbelievable the discourteousness to the Dalai Lama. Anywhere in the world you have problems finding a venue to contain the people who want to see him.”

Tutu said that when the Dalai Lama was denied a visa in 2009, Minister of International Relations and Co-operation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said there had been a “miscommunication”.
“Either she was being very economical with the truth or she didn’t know her work. This is someone who was supposed to come this week.”
Tutu said that during apartheid it was usual to find out only at the last minute whether you were able to travel. “The trouble is that the ANC on the whole reckons that the freedom we enjoy is due to them. Everyone else is just a sideline.”

Tutu said he had once listened to Zuma’s State of the Nation address and been surprised he had not mention religious leaders. “There was a time when the people leading the Struggle were religious leaders.
“I sat in the audience and listened to this president paying tribute to all the people who had helped to bring about democracy. This president didn’t thank a single religious leader.” Tutu said religious leaders had encouraged up to 30 000 people at a time to march against, and bring an end to, apartheid. “Let the ANC know; they cannot airbrush us out.”

Tutu warned the ANC that Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak and Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi, both toppled from their top jobs, had previously held a large majority.
“Watch out. I am warning you. Watch out. Please watch out.”
Tutu said after South Africa was helped by the international community to end apartheid, it was believed the country would do anything it could to help the oppressed around the world.

“Tibet is being oppressed. Our government, representing me, says it will not support Tibetans who are being oppressed viciously by the Chinese. Hey, Mr Zuma, you and your government don’t represent me. You represent your own interests.
“I am warning you out of love. I am warning you like I warned the Nationalists. I am warning you that one day we will start praying for the defeat of the ANC government.

“You are disgraceful.
“I am warning you. We will pray as we prayed for the downfall of the apartheid government. You have got a huge majority; that’s nothing.
“Watch out ANC government; watch out,” Tutu concluded.

Later ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu said it was “very unfortunate that (Tutu) before even hearing government’s side decided to attack the government and the ANC”.
“In his anger he decided to be economical with the truth.”

Mthembu said it was incorrect to equate the ANC government to the “repressive and divisive” apartheid regime – which had never cared for the majority of the people of South Africa, Africans in particular.
“They are not the same and to say ANC has gone worse . . . The bishop knows it well deep down his heart, mind and soul that that’s a total untruth.”

Mthembu added: “As a result of the ANC reputation, record on human rights, democratic principles and South Africa’s progressive Constitution, South Africa is today recognised by international organisations, such as the United Nations and the African Union as a critical role player in international peace and as a protector of human rights. – Pretoria News, Sapa.