Thamilchelvan meets Archbishop Desmond Tutu in South Africa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 April 2005, 07:40 GMT]
LTTE Political Head Mr. S.P.Thamilchelvan and his delegation met Tuesday Human rights activist, Nobel laureate and Retired Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa in Cape Town. The LTTE Political Head, who briefed the Nobel laureate on the current state of the CFA and post-tsunami humanitarian situation of the NorthEast, said that international engagement is significant for the proposed Joint Mechanism to become a reality. Desmond Tutu, who appreciated the LTTE for its commitment to the Norwegian facilitated Ceasefire Agreement (CFA), expressed his desire to visit NorthEast and see the plight of Tamil people, LTTE sources said.


Photo: LTTE Peace Secretariat

"Recalling from experience in the South African context, the Archbishop said that holding on to the cease fire to such a long time as three years clearly demonstrates that the LTTE cares for the people and wished that the parties should endeavor to reach a political settlement early," a news release by the LTTE Peace Secretariat said.

"If time and health permits, I will visit your people to see for myself their plight", the Peace Secretariat quoted Tutu as saying.

Desmond Tutu was a leading activist in the campaign against apartheid.

Tutu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his contributions to racial justice and the pursuit of racial harmony.

As chairman of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Tutu oversaw two years of testimony from people who committed atrocities during apartheid

A Peace Centre bearing the name of the Nobel laureate, Desomond Tutu Peace Centre, is being established in Cape Town. The centre aims to promote peace and offer training in peace making, conflict resoultion, reconsciliation and economic development.