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During a visit to Mthonjaneni on Sunday, IFP President Prince Mangosuthu
Buthelezi MP berated Government for bowing to pressure from China in its
unethical and unconstitutional approach to the Dalai Lama.

"They are barring a Nobel Peace Laureate from entering our country. Imagine
a democratic country did this to Madiba or to Inkosi Luthuli? We would be
outraged," said Prince Buthelezi.

However this is but one in a litany of examples of the ruling party
compromising what is good, right and lawful to please its alliance partners,
its funders and those to whom it owes political favours.

"We saw Government's policy of GEAR fall by the wayside when COSATU rejected
it, and the NDP may well face the same fate," said Prince Buthelezi. "In the
case of the Dalai Lama, the SACP made its mandate clear that Government must
never allow this man with his 'perverted political agenda' into our
country."

Prince Buthelezi was referring to a statement issued by the SACP last week
claiming that the Dalai Lama sought secession for Tibet. It refused to be
part of 'an agenda aimed at undermining the sovereignty and national unity
of China', because, during the liberation struggle, China 'refused to
recognise the apartheid agenda to balkanise our country'.

"This viewpoint is riddled with contradictions and ignorance," said Prince
Buthelezi. "They fail to appreciate that by telling our Government to bow to
China on this issue they are in fact supporting an agenda that undermines
the sovereignty and national unity of South Africa."

"Tibet is not seeking secession," he said. "During the World
Parliamentarians' Convention on Tibet, in Rome in 2009, the Dalai Lama made
it clear that his Government-in-exile is no longer seeking the independence
of Tibet, but merely a form of regionalized local autonomy."

More recently, Kalon Dicki Chhoyang, Cabinet Member in the Central Tibetan
Administration, visited South Africa and explained the Tibetan struggle in
these words, "Fundamentally, it is about a people's fight for its right to
exist with its own distinct cultural identity and language within the
provisions of the Chinese constitution.  This includes the right to practice
their religion openly and without hindrance from the State as permitted in
all free countries.  We are not seeking to secede from China."

"China may have refused to recognise apartheid's agenda of balkanisation,
but as Chief Minister of KwaZulu I entirely derailed that agenda by refusing
to accept nominal independence for KwaZulu. So shouldn't the SACP be urging
Government to listen to Mangosuthu Buthelezi? Their politics is often poorly
thought-out, yet it influences Government's agenda profoundly. This is a big
problem," said Prince Buthelezi, "Government needs to show greater
leadership."

Issued by IFP Media Parliament