The international organisation UNPO was asked by Dr. Pieter Mulder in Brussels, Belgium, to consider sending a fact-finding mission to South Africa.

“With a fact finding mission the organisation could come establish on a first-hand basis human rights, corruption, farm murders, race relationships, the position of minorities and the general state of democracy in South Africa,” Mulder explained.

UNPO is at present considering the proposal. The organisation recently undertook such a fact-finding mission to Abkhazia and brought out a report on the problems which the area is experiencing.

Dr. Mulder made the proposal during the thirteenth meeting of the UNPO presidency in Brussels where he informed the attendees of the current situation in South Africa.

“Unlike as it was in the past, there was a great understanding for the problems in South Africa and I was received very sympathetically. Mr. Mandela is still an untouchable international icon with the often asked question why he is not doing something about his ‘namesake’ Malema!” according to Dr. Mulder.

“The ANC intention to appeal the court judgment of the Malema “Shoot the Boer” hate speech sends a negative message into the world about relations in South Africa. Although the message is an oversimplification of the ANC’s view and the situation in South Africa, it cannot be expected that the world has to grasp all the intricacies of ANC politics,” Dr. Mulder said.

During the meeting a report-back was also given about the situation in Abkhazia and Tibet and about the execution of certain Uyghurs in China.

“The lesson that one learns in an international gathering such as this is that if one wants reaction and help from the international community during a crisis, it is too late to try and influence them for the first time during the crisis. That is why the positive and negative events in South Africa have to be brought continually to the attention of the international community. Too many foreigners believe that South Africa is still in the ‘honeymoon period’ of shortly after 1994 with Mr. Mandela in charge and is therefore confused about the Malema comments,” according tot Dr. Mulder.

Positive events such as the development of South Africa’s infrastructure during the World Soccer Tournament as well as the positive attitudes which existed amongst the majority of South Africans but also the negative of farm murders was part of Dr. Mulder’s presentation.

UNPO is an international organisation which acts on behalf of minorities across the world. UNPO has at present 50 members which represent more than 200 million people across the world. (For more information about the organisation, go to www.unpo.org)