Tutu’s officials initially applied for a visa for him in June but, by 4 October, the Douth Afrcian government had still not supplied one. The Dalai Lama was, therefore, forced to concede that he would not be able to make the Archbishop’s birthday bash on the Friday following. On 5 October 2011, Tutu said this at a press conference:
"I have to say I can't believe it, I really can't believe it. Wake me up and tell me this is actually happening here. It's quite unbelievable. The discourtesy they have shown to the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama!The Guardian also quoted Ela Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi’s granddaughter, thus:
The Dalai Lama, anywhere in the world, they have problems finding a venue that can contain the people who want him. He goes to New York and Central Park is overflowing. The discourtesy is mindblowing... Many, many people are appalled in many parts of the world, especially people who supported us during the struggle…
WE ARE SIDING WITH ONE OF THE MOST VICIOUS OPPRESSORS and we are scared to say no. All the people involved in the struggle must be turning in their graves...
OUR GOVERNMENT IS WORSE THAN THE APARTHEID GOVERNMENT because at least you would expect it with the apartheid government… Let the ANC know they have a large majority. Well, Mubarak had a large majority, Gaddafi had a large majority...
OUR GOVERNMENT, REPRESENTING ME, SAYS IT WILL NOT SUPPORT TIBETANS BEING VICIOUSLY OPPRESSED BY CHINA. Hey, Mr. Zuma, you and your government don’t represent me... YOU REPRESENT YOUR OWN INTERESTS... I am warning you, like I warned the Nationalists, that ONE DAY WE WILL START PRAYING FOR THE DEFEAT OF THE ANC GOVERNMENT. You are disgraceful. Watch out! Watch out!"
"I'm very disappointed. We were looking forward to him coming… I really feel the whole situation has been handled so badly. It's discourteous for a person of his stature to be told to wait for so long. For a person of peace to be treated like this is wrong…
EVERYBODY THINKS THIS IS BECAUSE OF PRESSURE FROM CHINA. It's very sad another country is allowed to dictate terms to our government. IT'S GOING BACK TO APARTHEID TIMES. I AM ASHAMED OF MY OWN COUNTRY."
No comments:
Post a Comment