SOUTH AFRICA AS THIRD PARTY (99 Jun 23)
According to "The Island" of 23rd June, Anton Balasingham who is now in London is to visit South Africa in order to engage South Africa as the mediator or facilitator if and when the government starts negotiations with the LTTE. It is said that Balasingham will leave for South Africa after he undergoes medical treatment for his kidney trouble.
Mr. Mandela though retired had earlier expressed his willingness to act as the facilitator and Balasingham is expected to meet him as well as the new president Mr. Mbeki. Apparently there are two influential South Africans of Indian origin, one a minister and the other a deputy minister who are trying to promote South Africa as the facilitator.
LTTE has misled the South Africans to believe that the Sri Lanka is similar to the former South Africa and that there is discrimination against the Tamils. It is time that the government as well as the others exploded this myth and come out with the facts. The Tamils like the whites in former South Africa are trying to prevent the Sinhala majority and their language, culture and history being given their rightful place. A massive campaign has to be launched to make the facts available to the people of South Africa.