Dalai Lama and Nelson Mandela back in ‘96

This picture of a clearly delighted Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama was shot back in 1996 when South Africa still had a human rights backbone.

Remember how the year before Mandela had led the expuslion of Nigeria from the Commonwealth over the assassination of activist Ken Sara-Wiwa? I was there, at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in New Zealand when it went down. Mandela did not mince his words and he did not brook any of that diplomatic compromise double-speak that is so popular these days. He laid down a principled human rights position and fought until it prevailed at the summit.

He met with the Dalai Lama in the same spirit. It was a no-brainer. Here was a man whose people were suffering and needed the help of the democratic nations of the world. Full stop.

Here’s what the Dalai Lama said of his visit to South Africa:
“Everywhere I go I find the same friendliness and hospitality, and a thirst for knowledge about Tibet. It became clear to me that there is a fascination with my land among many people all around the world.”

Fast forward to 2009. Zimbabwe, far from being isolated, has been indulged and its dictatorship given precious lifeblood by the new compromised and unprincipled South Africa where its all about what the highest bidder - usually China - is prepared to pay.

Shame on us.

UPDATE: Dalai Lama application next week - Johannesburg - An urgent court application by the leader of the Inkatha Freedom Party, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, to force the minister of home affairs to grant the Dalai Lama a visa, has been set down for Tuesday.