DATE=10/29/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-240880
TITLE=SAF / TRUTH REPORT (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: SOUTH AFRICA'S "TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION" COMMISSION --
WHICH PROBED HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES OF THE COUNTRY'S APARTHEID PAST
-- HAS ISSUED ITS FINAL REPORT. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA
IN JOHANNESBURG REPORTS THE FOCUS IS ON ABUSES COMMITTED BY SOUTH
AFRICA'S FORMER WHITE RULERS, BUT THE DOCUMENT ALSO HOLDS THE
RULING AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS ACCOUNTABLE FOR OFFENSES.
TEXT: THE REPORT DETAILING OFTEN SHOCKING REVELATIONS ABOUT
APARTHEID-ERA MURDERS, KIDNAPPINGS AND TORTURE WAS FORMALLY
HANDED OVER TO PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA AT CEREMONIES IN PRETORIA
BY PANEL CHAIRMAN, ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU.
ARCHBISHOP TUTU URGED ALL SOUTH AFRICANS TO SET ASIDE THEIR
DIFFERENCES AND TO ACCEPT THE REPORT AS AN INDISPENSABLE WAY TO
NATIONAL HEALING.
/// TUTU ACTUALITY ///
WE WILL HAVE LOOKED THE BEAST IN THE EYE. WE WILL HAVE
COME TO TERMS WITH OUR HORRENDOUS PAST, AND IT WILL NO
LONGER KEEP US HOSTAGE. WE WILL CAST OFF ITS SHACKLES.
AND HOLDING HANDS TOGETHER, BLACK AND WHITE, WE WILL
STRIDE TOGETHER INTO THE FUTURE -- A GLORIOUS FUTURE GOD
HOLDS OUT BEFORE US, WE WHO ARE THE RAINBOW PEOPLE OF
GOD, AND LOOKING AT OUR PAST WE WILL COMMIT OURSELVES:
NEVER AGAIN.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
THE FIVE-VOLUME, 35-HUNDRED PAGE STUDY FOCUSES ON ABUSES
COMMITTED BY SOUTH AFRICA'S FORMER WHITE RULERS. BUT ITS RELEASE
WAS MARRED BY CONTROVERSY OVER SECTIONS THAT HELD THE NOW-RULING
AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS RESPONSIBLE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS OFFENSES
IN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST APARTHEID, INCLUDING KILLINGS AND
ASSAULTS.
IN RECEIVING THE DOCUMENT, PRESIDENT MANDELA REFERRED TO THE
CONTROVERSY.
/// MANDELA ACTUALITY ///
MANY OF US WILL HAVE RESERVATIONS ABOUT ASPECTS OF WHAT
IS CONTAINED IN THESE FIVE VOLUMES.
/// OPT /// ALL ARE FREE TO COMMENT ON IT AND INDEED
WE INVITE YOU TO DO SO. AND FOR THOSE WHO FEEL UNJUSTLY
DAMAGED, THERE ARE REMEDIES. /// END OPT ///
IT WILL SEEM ARTIFICIAL TO SOME TO PLACE THOSE FIGHTING
A JUST WAR ALONGSIDE THOSE WHOM THEY OPPOSED.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
STILL, ECHOING ARCHBISHOP TUTU, MR. MANDELA SAID THERE COULD BE
NO DISAGREEMENT ABOUT WHAT HE CALLED THE CLARION CALL: NEVER
AGAIN.
THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS LAUNCHED A LAST MINUTE LEGAL BID TO
BLOCK THE RELEASE OF THE REPORT, CLAIMING IT HAD NOT HAD
SUFFICIENT TIME TO RESPOND TO THE CHARGES MADE AGAINST IT. BUT A
JUDGE IN CAPE TOWN REJECTED THE A-N-C'S MOTION, CLEARING THE WAY
FOR THE DOCUMENT'S RELEASE. (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/JWH/KL
29-Oct-98 8:00 AM EST (1300 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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