MEDIA RELEASE

SUBJECT       :           ANC GOVERNMENT MUST ISSUE VISA TO DALAI LAMA

ISSUED BY     :           Dr. Corné Mulder

CAPACITY      :           FF Plus spokesperson: International Relations

DATE              :           23 September 2011

The ANC’s international view on human rights and self-determination is becoming increasingly ambiguous, dishonest and confusing. As far as Palestine goes, the ANC has given its support to the Palestinian application to be granted membership of the UN as an independent state, as according to the ANC, Palestine is entitled to self-determination. When it however deals with Tibet’s claim to self-determination, the ANC is not even prepared to issue the Dalai Lama with a visa to enter the country. The only explanation for this is that the ANC does not like Israel but is great friends with China.

“The ANC should however keep in mind that the Dalai Lama has just returned from Brazil following an extended visit to that country. Just like South Africa, Brazil is also part of the Brics group and did not at all give heed to China’s attitude toward the Dalai Lama. South Africa will therefore not be able to use the excuse that the visit of the Dalai Lama will result in economic restriction from China, as China did not place any economic restrictions on its other economic partner in Brics, i.e. Brazil,” Dr. Corné Mulder, the chief spokesperson on International Relations for the Freedom Front Plus says.

“President Zuma blasted the UN yesterday because NATO used military power to assist the National Transitional Council in Libya to get rid of Gaddafi. The ANC does however not see any problem with the fact that China had invaded Tibet in 1959 with military power to “free the people of Tibet from the oppression of the Dalai Lama”, Dr. Mulder added.

The ANC, for fifty years fought its struggle against apartheid under the banner of human rights. They mustered huge international support with it. The price which the ANC is going to pay, should they refuse to issue a visa to the Dalai Lama is huge. The damage to the South African government’s “human rights image” cannot be counted in rand and cent alone. By taking such a decision, South Africa will lose the international perception that following 1994 the country is “unique” and different to the rest of the African countries. The government will lose the moral high ground, which up to now has determined South Africa’s status in many international forums.

From an Afrikaner point of view, it would once again reveal the ANC as an organisation which says one thing and does another. It is necessary that the world gets to know the ANC as it really is. Should the ANC refuse to issue the Dalai Lama with a visa, it would once again display its double standards to the international community.