By Renato Palmi
As a South African, I was proud to learn that South Africa’s Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu had been awarded the International Campaign for Tibet’s “Light of Truth” Award. Then I began to think more critically about the award, and with all due respect to his status as a humanitarian, about Tutu’s advocacy for a free Tibet.
Yes, the Archbishop has been a long-time supporter of Tibet and a close friend of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Also, he has used his international status to speak out about the human rights violations taking place inside Tibet – but so have many other people.
Has the Archbishop stood with the Tibetan flag or a “Free Tibet” banner in through sun, rain or snow, in front of any Chinese embassy or consulate? Has he had to suffer police brutality and arrest for peacefully protesting against China’s atrocious human rights and religious policies in Tibet? Has Tutu led any freedom marches for Tibet? There are hundreds of ordinary citizens around the world who have risked and endured more for Tibet than has the Archbishop – where are their “Light of Truth” Awards?
Tutu has not used his privileged position to question why his own country has remained so quiet about China’s violations inside Tibet. In 1999, when South Africa’s President Mbeki refused to meet with His Holiness the Dalai Lama during the latter’s cultural visit to South Africa, Tutu stated that he was “disappointed.” Indeed – as were all of us! As a prominent faith-leader, Tutu has not encouraged religious bodies in South Africa to show solidarity in speaking out for religious freedom in Tibet, nor has he engaged with South African Tibet support groups whether by lending his support or public encouragement.
In 2003, I wrote directly to Archbishop Tutu, asking if he would consider providing any assistance or facilitation with negotiations between the Tibet Government-in-exile and the government of the People’s Republic of China, using South Africa as a country of some neutrality for the venue of such talks. Rightly so, His Grace replied that such a request would have to be
initiated by the exiled government from its seat in Dharamsala, northern India. Yet back in 1999, the Dalai Lama indicated that Tutu could help promote talks between the two governments when he said, “They [Tutu and Mandela] can make a contribution of course, no doubt I personally would appreciate [that].”
There have been many opportunities for Archbishop Tutu – and other esteemed public figures, most notably the Dalai Lama’s fellow-Nobel Peace Laureates – to do more for the people of Tibet than stand at a podium and mention a few passing words of support. It will take much more than such mild utterances to mobilise for PRC officialdom’s behaviour change. As His Holiness the Dalai Lama has said in iterative pleas for global awareness of Tibet’s plight: “Change only takes place through action.”
Renato Palmi founded the Tibet Society of South Africa in 1995, and writes in his private capacity as an independent analyst and activist for a free Tibet. He can be reached at yakshack@iafrica.com
