Mar 23, 2009

Afrikaner: Freedom Front Plus Reaction to Dalai Lama Refusal


Freedom Front Plus have expressed their shock at South Africa's refusal to allow the Dalai Lama into the country.
 
Below is a statement issued by Dr. Frik van Heerden, the Freedom Front Plus Chairperson of Foreign Relations Committee
 
The Freedom Front Plus has with shock taken note of the ANC government's true attitude toward human rights. According to Dr. Frik van Heerden, the chairperson of the Freedom Front Plus' foreign relations committee, the refusal by South Africa's department of Foreign Affairs to allow the Dalai Lama entry into the country, is a crying shame, especially given the fact that the ANC prides itself on its attitude toward human rights.

The Freedom Front Plus is at present a co-member of Tibet of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) and sees it as its moral duty to assist Tibet and the Dalai Lama in this matter.

The Dalai Lama certainly more than anybody else in the world embodies the concept of human rights and specifically that of self-determination and human dignity, both rights which are regarded highly by the Freedom Front Plus. Dr. van Heerden furthermore mentions that it is extremely ironic that the refusal comes in the same week that Human Rights are celebrated in South Africa. "It is now clear that the ANC is not serious to truly respect the rights as contained in the Constitution. This action explains why the ANC has regularly to be taken to court in order to have human rights respected, such as, amongst others, the constitutional court to allow citizens living overseas to vote."

The Freedom Front Plus views this action of the Department of Foreign Affairs in a serious light and will submit complaints in this regard to the United Nations, UNPO and the South African Human Rights Commission.