IFP: ANC'S CONVENIENT AMNESIA OVER DALAI LAMA
The press has reported on a statement issued by the ANC Parliamentary Caucus styling the court application on the Dalai Lama's visa as "astonishing silliness".
The court application was launched on Monday jointly by COPE President, Mr Mosiuoa Lekota, and IFP President, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi. The core of the ANC's argument is that we should have raised the issue in Parliament, rather than through the court system.
Obviously the ANC bears no memory of the past and pays no attention to what happens in Parliament.
In reaction to the first refusal of a visa to the Dalai Lama, the entire Opposition came to Parliament wearing white Tibetan scarves and raised a barrage of issues, motions and Members' statements, which were met with absolute silence and lack of comment from anyone in the ANC benches, including Members of the Executive.
On that occasion, Parliament displayed its complete incapability of dealing with sensitive issues. The ANC went so far as to stop the publication of the motion of condemnation, in favour of Tibet, which our member, Dr MGR Oriani-Ambrosini, read in Parliament.