Palestine has lost a champion of the struggle against Israeli apartheid with the death today of South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, aged 90.
Tutu is known internationally as a leader of the struggle against while minority rule in South Africa and won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work reconciling South Africans after the end of its brutal apartheid regime.
He was the moral conscience of the country and sometimes highly critical of South Africa’s ANC-led government saying that some in the ANC leadership had stopped the apartheid gravy train “just long enough to jump on”.
Relationship with New Zealand
Archbishop Tutu was a warm friend of New Zealand and many New Zealanders across our political divides will feel a deep sadness at his passing.
In the early 1980s when Tutu faced court action from the South African authorities, a delegation of church leaders from New Zealand, led by former Anglican Archbishop of Aotearoa New Zealand, the late Sir Paul Reeves, went to South Africa in an act of international solidarity. This was deeply appreciated by Tutu.
During the protests against the 1981 Springbok tour one of the three Auckland protests squads was called Tutu Squad in his honour.
Later he came to New Zealand and at one point gave evidence as an expert witness on apartheid during a trial arising from 1981 tour protests. Such was his charisma, his mana and the deep respect he commanded everywhere that when he was called to the witness stand by Hone Harawira the entire courtroom stood.
In this case all the activists on trial were acquitted after the jury deliberated.
Support for Palestinians
Tutu was outspoken against injustices all around the world and in particular he condemned the racist policies faced by Palestinians from the Israeli regime. He frequently described Israel’s treatment of Palestinians as “worse” than that suffered by black South Africans.
He said international solidarity with Palestinians such as through BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) is critical to ending injustices like apartheid.
“I have witnessed the racially segregated roads and housing in the Holy Land that reminded me so much of the conditions we experienced in South Africa under apartheid,” said Tutu.
“We could not have achieved our democracy without the help of people around the world, who through… non-violent means, such as boycotts and disinvestment, encouraged their governments and other corporate actors to reverse decades-long support for the apartheid regime”
In relation to Israeli policies towards Palestinians Tutu said the world should “Call it apartheid and boycott!”
In honouring Tutu’s legacy, freedom-loving people around the world should follow his advice and spurn Israel till everyone living in historic Palestine has equal rights.
Aotearoa New Zealand, the Palestinian struggle and the world have lost a dear friend and a great humanitarian.
A great loss of a gentle man with great mana. I was privileged to meet this man when he came to Aotearoa in the eighties.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu wrote an exclusive article for Haaretz in 2014, in which he called for a global boycott of Israel and urged Israelis and Palestinians to look beyond their leaders for a sustainable solution:
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/desmond-tutu-to-haaretz-this-is-my-plea-to-the-people-of-israel-1.10494007
Well said John. If someone else, apart from Mandela who had a similar position, had said what Tutu said on Palestine Zionists would call them anti-Semitic.
There is a very good obituary in stuff Tuesday Dec.28/21 to him, the Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu. A forceful character as I see him, very clear-eyed, holding his force in check for positive ends, to express it in words and control of violence. Also he could analyse and explain his own behaviour even if he felt he was doing God’s or Jesus’ work. That’s both humble and strong, forthright.
In 1981 we rebelled here against the rugby tour, seemingly innocuous, but a sufficient number of people to break the class complacency here. In 1984 we had Treasury overturning ideas that Roger Douglas had for assisting the country to advance carrying poor people upwards, so a move to free those at the low income and education level of society. Coincidentally, in South Africa a liberation movement was building in 1984 for that purpose. Did that tour protest help facilitate action in South Africa for freedom, but also galvanise the wealthy here and those looking to invest and syphon to take control and maintain market opportunities?
gagarin He was more than just a decent bloke, he was outstanding, and didn’t waste much time criticising others because they didn’t follow the copybook, he wrote the book anew. He saw clear-eyed that if he was a young man he probably wouldn’t follow the advice being given by one older; that was transcendent of him and shows what a big encompassing intellect he had. Please don’t let us start making jibes at each other while we should be learning from his ways.
Thank-you John Minto for acknowledging the passing of this truly great man in this forum. In the death of Desmond Tutu we have lost a significant influencer for peace, always respectful, cheerful, and hopeful although battling overwhelming odds.
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