wfn.org | SOUTH AFRICA: ARCHBISHOP TUTU MAKES FINAL CALL FOR AMNESTY

[a.whitefield@quest.org.uk]

Title:SOUTH AFRICA: ARCHBISHOP TUTU MAKES FINAL CALL FOR AMNESTY
May 13, 1997
ANGLICAN COMMUNION NEWS SERVICE
Canon Jim Rosenthal, Director of Communications
Anglican Communion Office
London, England

ACNS  [97.5.2.4]

SOUTH AFRICA: ARCHBISHOP TUTU MAKES FINAL CALL FOR AMNESTY

(ENI) Archbishop Desmond Tutu has made a final call to South Africans
who were involved in political criminal acts during the apartheid era to
apply for amnesty before the cut-off date, on Saturday, 10 May.

Archbishop Tutu, former Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town,  is chairman
of the state-appointed Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) which
since May last year has been hearing evidence of gross human rights
violations during the apartheid years.

The TRC includes a committee which, under certain conditions, may grant
amnesty. The deadline for amnesty applications is 10 May. After this
date, those who have committed acts, omissions or offences connected
with political aims and who have not applied for amnesty may face
prosecution or civil action in the courts.

"This is a cry from the heart," Archbishop Tutu said in an appeal
released by the TRC. "I appeal to all of you, right across the political
spectrum, please take this golden opportunity to apply for amnesty on
the most generous terms possible."

He continued: "This is an opportunity to put the past behind you; to
help in the process of your own healing and the healing of this
beautiful land.Please come."

Archbishop Tutu appealed especially to several categories of people to
come forward, including members of the security forces, particularly
those involved in cross-border operations into neighbouring states; he
also appealed to township activists who opposed apartheid with violence
and toleaders of political parties.

Before the TRC was instituted, there were fears in some quarters that it
could degenerate into a form of the Nuremberg Trials or a witch-hunt
against lackeys of the former apartheid regime.

However, the exercise has proven to be primarily one of healing,
especially through the cathartic process of victims telling their
stories of torture and heartbreak, and of forgiveness.   Seldom have
victims of the former regime's security forces called for retribution
and revenge.

In the foreword to a book on theological and psychological reflections
on truth and reconciliation just published, Archbishop Tutu said
religion was central to the process of healing needed by victims and
survivors of the apartheid system.

For people of faith, honesty and mercy, confession and forgiveness,
justice and peace were the key to truth and reconciliation. "Those of us
who stand within the Christian tradition have, perhaps, a special
responsibility in this regard because this nation has through the years
employed Christian theological resources to promote apartheid,"
Archbishop Tutu stated.