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CHURCH OF ENGLAND CLERIC CRITICISES DESMOND TUTU FOR HIS “MISTAKEN” COMMENTS ON SRI LANKABy Walter JayawardhanaA well-respected Church of England priest and a British citizen told
Archbishop Desmond Tutu in a hard hitting letter that it was matter
for utmost regret that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) described
as the “the most evil terrorist organization in the world”
was possible to secure the Archbishop’s apparent support to denigrate
Sri Lanka. Rev. Tony de Alwis of the Church of England Diocese of Southwell and
Nottingham replying about Tutu’s alleged campaign against the re-election
of Sri Lanka to the UN Human Rights Council of the UN told the Archbishop
that his action has become “a matter of the utmost regret that
such an organization has found it possible to secure Your Grace’s
apparent support in its unrelenting propaganda campaign to denigrate
Sri Lanka on the international stage.” Rev. De Alwis, an avowed campaigner against terrorism all over the
world said that it had been a significant coup for the terrorists to
be enabled to proclaim support for their demented cause from someone
of the Archbishop’s undoubted stature and moral authority in the
world. So, he wondered in his letter whether Archbishop Tutu received information
from independent sources or his sole source is the “very active
cabal of supporters of this criminal organization, the LTTE, in South
Africa. He said the unbalanced and unfair nature of his purported comments
point to the latter. “If that is the case,” Rev. Alwis said,
“then I wonder whether Your Grace would be open to learning the
truth about Sri Lanka’s terrorist problem from less biased sources.” The following is the full text of his letter: “I am a priest in
the Church of England Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham, and a British
Citizen of Sri Lankan origin. For many years, I have also been a fervent
admirer of Your Grace personally, and of your fearless efforts to establish
peace and justice in the public life of South Africa - efforts which
have brought you world-wide renown, respect and honour. For these reasons,
I was deeply distressed to read comments which you are purported to
have made regarding the re-election which Sri Lanka is seeking to the
UN Human Rights Council. “I understand that your comments were initially reported in the
UK Guardian newspaper of 15th May (which I have not seen). However,
I have seen them as posted in full on the following internet website
the same day: www.tamilnet.com.im^publish/2008/05/ArchbishopDesmondTutuxlOO.jpg It has, of course, been a significant coup for these terrorists to
have been enabled to proclaim support for their demented and criminal
cause from someone of your undoubted stature and moral authority in
the world. I wonder, therefore, whether your comments about the human
rights situation in Sri Lanka stem from advice you have received from
any independent sources or whether your sole source is the very active
cabal of supporters of this criminal organisation, the LTTE, in South
Africa? I fear that the surprisingly unbalanced and unfair nature of
your purported comments point to the latter possibility. If that is
the case, then I wonder whether Your Grace would be open to learning
the truth about Sri Lanka's terrorist problem from less biased sources? “Whilst I wait to hear from you in that regard, may I also say
this: Your Grace has chaired South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation
Commission which seeks to heal the wounds inflicted on your noble land
by the apartheid regime. I am sure that you adopted the title 'Truth
and Reconciliation' advisedly, for you have implicitly recognised that
there can never be effective reconciliation without due regard for the
truth about a given situation. If looked at impartially, you will find
that something of an identical nature is currently taking place in Sri
Lanka Against Herculean odds, Sri Lanka is imploring the world - and
eminent persons such as yourself - to look beyond the propaganda to
which you have been relentlessly subjected and to acknowledge the two-pronged
approach she has borrowed from you. “On the one hand, she is asking for an openness from the world
to the truth about the nature of the problem with which she is grappling.
On the other hand, she is engaged in implementing the structural and
organisational changes, which are necessary to create a society reconciled
in truth. If I may say so, such a demanding and honestly motivated undertaking
deserves Your Grace's understanding and your blessings rather than your
mistaken condemnation With your noted thirst for the justice and fair
play, I know that Your Grace will not be averse to reconsidering your
purported comments. I look forward to hearing from you.” |
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