Tutu joins Tintin in Tibet independence call
-02/06/06
“Freedom is unstoppable!” procla
Tutu joins Tintin in Tibet independence call
-02/06/06
“Freedom is unstoppable!” proclaimed Nobel Peace Prize laureate and ex-Archbishop of Cape Town Desmond Tutu, as he received an award from the Dalai Lama ñ along with Belgian comic-strip hero Tintin.
The unlikely coalition took shape at a ceremony in Brussels with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader. The awards event to mark contributions to freedom in Tibet took place under tight security at a nineteenth century concert hall.
The Dalai Lama, a long-term friend of Tutu, presented a Tibetan butter lamp to the Herge Foundation representing Tintin. The book ëTintin in Tibetí (which tells the story of the heroís friendship with a Chinese boy whose plane crashes in the Himalayas) was published in the same year that the Dalai Lama fled the kingdom.
He also presented a lamp and silk scarf to the archbishop, who has also recently championed the cause of democracy in Burma and criticized President Mugabeís repressive policies in Zimbabwe ñ to the consternation of some of his former allies in the African National Congress.
But Tutu remains firm on the indivisibility of freedom and social justice, and says he will not withhold criticism from those who have struggled for liberation only to turn to despotic tactics in power.
The Dalai Lama is still campaigning against China’s military occupation of Tibet. And in his speech, the archbishop paid tribute to his friend.
“I give great thanks to God that he has created a Dalai Lama,” he declared. “Do you really think, as some have argued, that God will be saying: ‘You know, that guy, the Dalai Lama, he’s not bad. What a pity he’s not a Christian’?”
Described by the BBC as ëthe preacher with the timing of a stand-up comicí, the South African archbishop continued: “I don’t think that is the case – because, you see, God is not a Christian.”
The Dalai Lama said Archbishop Tutuís ìimpish mischievousnessî that ìI have to try and make him behave properly, like a holy man!”
He also explained that Tibetan Buddhism was a heritage “not just for Tibetans: it can do good for billions of people in our modern world”.
“The Tibetan state is located between two of the world’s great powers, India and China. Good relations between these powers are crucial for world peace. Tibet has an important role to play,” he declared.
In line with his view that Christians and Buddhists should unite in commitment to non-violence, the Dalai Lama also urged his supporters not to regard the Chinese as their enemies.
Meanwhile, Archbishop Tutu drew an explicit parallel between the anti-apartheid movement and the campaign for Tibetan autonomy from China.
He said: “We used to say to the apartheid government: you may have the guns, you may have all this power, but you have already lost. Come: join the winning side. His Holiness and the Tibetan people are on the winning side.”
Archbishop Tutu dedicated his award to fellow Nobel peace laureate, the Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest from the military government.
“Can you beat it?” Archbishop Tutu asked incredulously. “The military junta are armed to the teeth and they are scared of a little woman. They run away from Rangoon and hide somewhere in the forest, because she is good, and they are scared.”
He concluded by looking forward to the day when he and the Dalai Lama would be able to attend Aung San Suu Kyi inauguration as Burma’s president ñ a post to which she has already been elected, but denied by the military junta.
[Also on Ekklesia: Tutu calls on Anglicans to accept gay bishop; Tutu says churches were braver under apartheid; BBC to screen truth and reconciliation meetings in Northern Ireland; Tutu and Havel endorse UN action on Burma; Archbishop says Bin Laden is part of God’s family; Churches back international peace day; Bethlehem launches own passport – backed by Tutu; Tutu tells Blair and Brown they’ve been ‘mean’; Tutu vilified by Mugabe henchmen for pro-justice stance; Black archbishop says Tutu shows us what respect means; Archbishop Tutu TV show to say Christianity is still a ëbig idea; Tutu says more apartheid crimes should have gone to court; Tutu compares UK government actions to apartheid regime; Tutu visits death row inmate; Tutu signals hope as NGOs warn on G8 deal; Tutu says its time for another African pope]
Tutu joins Tintin in Tibet independence call
-02/06/06
“Freedom is unstoppable!” proclaimed Nobel Peace Prize laureate and ex-Archbishop of Cape Town Desmond Tutu, as he received an award from the Dalai Lama ñ along with Belgian comic-strip hero Tintin.
The unlikely coalition took shape at a ceremony in Brussels with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader. The awards event to mark contributions to freedom in Tibet took place under tight security at a nineteenth century concert hall.
The Dalai Lama, a long-term friend of Tutu, presented a Tibetan butter lamp to the Herge Foundation representing Tintin. The book ëTintin in Tibetí (which tells the story of the heroís friendship with a Chinese boy whose plane crashes in the Himalayas) was published in the same year that the Dalai Lama fled the kingdom.
He also presented a lamp and silk scarf to the archbishop, who has also recently championed the cause of democracy in Burma and criticized President Mugabeís repressive policies in Zimbabwe ñ to the consternation of some of his former allies in the African National Congress.
But Tutu remains firm on the indivisibility of freedom and social justice, and says he will not withhold criticism from those who have struggled for liberation only to turn to despotic tactics in power.
The Dalai Lama is still campaigning against China’s military occupation of Tibet. And in his speech, the archbishop paid tribute to his friend.
“I give great thanks to God that he has created a Dalai Lama,” he declared. “Do you really think, as some have argued, that God will be saying: ‘You know, that guy, the Dalai Lama, he’s not bad. What a pity he’s not a Christian’?”
Described by the BBC as ëthe preacher with the timing of a stand-up comicí, the South African archbishop continued: “I don’t think that is the case – because, you see, God is not a Christian.”
The Dalai Lama said Archbishop Tutuís ìimpish mischievousnessî that ìI have to try and make him behave properly, like a holy man!”
He also explained that Tibetan Buddhism was a heritage “not just for Tibetans: it can do good for billions of people in our modern world”.
“The Tibetan state is located between two of the world’s great powers, India and China. Good relations between these powers are crucial for world peace. Tibet has an important role to play,” he declared.
In line with his view that Christians and Buddhists should unite in commitment to non-violence, the Dalai Lama also urged his supporters not to regard the Chinese as their enemies.
Meanwhile, Archbishop Tutu drew an explicit parallel between the anti-apartheid movement and the campaign for Tibetan autonomy from China.
He said: “We used to say to the apartheid government: you may have the guns, you may have all this power, but you have already lost. Come: join the winning side. His Holiness and the Tibetan people are on the winning side.”
Archbishop Tutu dedicated his award to fellow Nobel peace laureate, the Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is under house arrest from the military government.
“Can you beat it?” Archbishop Tutu asked incredulously. “The military junta are armed to the teeth and they are scared of a little woman. They run away from Rangoon and hide somewhere in the forest, because she is good, and they are scared.”
He concluded by looking forward to the day when he and the Dalai Lama would be able to attend Aung San Suu Kyi inauguration as Burma’s president ñ a post to which she has already been elected, but denied by the military junta.
[Also on Ekklesia: Tutu calls on Anglicans to accept gay bishop; Tutu says churches were braver under apartheid; BBC to screen truth and reconciliation meetings in Northern Ireland; Tutu and Havel endorse UN action on Burma; Archbishop says Bin Laden is part of God’s family; Churches back international peace day; Bethlehem launches own passport – backed by Tutu; Tutu tells Blair and Brown they’ve been ‘mean’; Tutu vilified by Mugabe henchmen for pro-justice stance; Black archbishop says Tutu shows us what respect means; Archbishop Tutu TV show to say Christianity is still a ëbig idea; Tutu says more apartheid crimes should have gone to court; Tutu compares UK government actions to apartheid regime; Tutu visits death row inmate; Tutu signals hope as NGOs warn on G8 deal; Tutu says its time for another African pope]