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A30 world news
Dialuna 27 December 2021
Desmond Tutu, South Africa’s moral conscience, dies at 90

(AP) — Desmond Tutu,
South Africa’s Nobel
Peace Prize-winning icon,
an uncompromising foe of
apartheid and a modern-
day activist for racial jus-
tice and LGBT rights, died
Sunday at 90. South Afri-
cans, world leaders and
people around the globe
mourned the death of the
man viewed as the coun-
try’s moral conscience.

Tutu worked passionately,
tirelessly and non-violently to
tear down apartheid — South
Africa’s brutal, decades-long Former U.S. President With the end of apartheid
regime of oppression against Barack Obama hailed Tutu as and South Africa’s first dem-
its Black majority that only “a moral compass for me and ocratic elections in 1994,
ended in 1994. so many others. A universal Tutu celebrated the country’s
spirit, Archbishop Tutu was multi-racial society, calling it
The buoyant, blunt-spoken grounded in the struggle for a “rainbow nation,” a phrase Early in 2016, Tutu defended
clergyman used his pulpit as liberation and justice in his that captured the heady opti- the reconciliation policy that Tutu often conducted funeral
the first Black bishop of Jo- own country, but also con- mism of the moment. ended white minority rule services after the massacres
hannesburg and later as the cerned with injustice ev- amid increasing frustrations that marked the negotiat-
Anglican Archbishop of Cape erywhere. He never lost his In 1990, after 27 years in pris- among some Black South Af- ing period of 1990-1994. He
Town, as well as frequent impish sense of humor and on, Mandela spent his first ricans who felt they had not railed against black-on-black
public demonstrations, to willingness to find humanity night of freedom at Tutu’s seen the expected economic political violence, asking
galvanize public opinion in his adversaries.” residence in Cape Town. Lat- opportunities since apartheid crowds, “Why are we doing
against racial inequity, both at er, Mandela called Tutu “the ended. Tutu had chaired the this to ourselves?” In one
home and globally. Tutu’s life was “entirely dedi- people’s archbishop.” Truth and Reconciliation powerful moment, Tutu de-
cated to serving his brothers Commission that investi- fused the rage of thousands of
Nicknamed “the Arch,” the and sisters for the greater Tutu also campaigned inter- gated atrocities under apart- mourners in a township soc-
diminutive Tutu became a common good. He was a true nationally for human rights, heid and granted amnesty to cer stadium after the Boipa-
towering figure in his na- humanitarian” said the Dalai especially LGBTQ rights and some perpetrators, but some tong massacre of 42 people
tion’s history, comparable to Lama, Tibet’s exiled spiritual same-sex marriage. people believed that more in 1992, leading the crowd in
fellow Nobel laureate Nel- leader and Tutu’s friend. former white officials should chants proclaiming their love
son Mandela, a prisoner dur- Tutu said he was “as passion- have been prosecuted. of God and themselves.
ing white rule who became A seven-day mourning pe- ate about this campaign as
South Africa’s first Black riod is planned in Cape Town I ever was about apartheid. Desmond Mpilo Tutu was As head of the truth com-
president. Tutu and Man- before Tutu’s burial, includ- For me, it is at the same lev- born Oct. 7, 1931, in Klerks- mission, Tutu and his panel
dela shared a commitment to ing a two-day lying in state, el.” He was one of the most dorp, west of Johannesburg, listened to harrowing testi-
building a better, more equal an ecumenical service and an prominent religious leaders and became a teacher before mony about torture, killings
South Africa. Anglican requiem mass at St. to advocate LGBTQ rights entering St. Peter’s Theologi- and other atrocities during
George’s Cathedral in Cape — a stance that put him at cal College in Rosetenville apartheid. At some hearings,
Then President Nelson Town. The southern city’s odds with many in South Af- in 1958. He was ordained in Tutu wept openly.
Mandela greeted Tutu to cel- landmark Table Mountain rica and across the continent 1961 and six years later be-
ebrate the end of Tutu’s ten- will be lit up in purple, the as well as within the Anglican came chaplain at the Univer- The commission’s 1998 re-
ure as leader of the Anglican color of the robes Tutu wore church. sity of Fort Hare. port lay most of the blame
Church in South Africa in as archbishop. on the forces of apartheid,
June 1996.(AP Photo/Guy South Africa, Tutu said, was He then moved to the tiny but also found the African
Tillim, File) Throughout the 1980s — a “rainbow” nation of prom- southern African kingdom National Congress guilty
Upon becoming president when South Africa was ise for racial reconciliation of Lesotho and to Britain, of human rights violations.
in 1994, Mandela appointed gripped by anti-apartheid and equality, even though he returning home in 1975. He The ANC sued to block the
Tutu to be chairman of the violence and a state of emer- grew disillusioned with the became bishop of Lesotho, document’s release, earning
country’s Truth and Recon- gency gave police and the African National Congress, chairman of the South Af- a rebuke from Tutu. “I didn’t
ciliation Commission, which military sweeping powers the anti-apartheid movement rican Council of Churches struggle in order to remove
uncovered the abuses of — Tutu was one of the most that became the ruling party and, in 1985, the first Black one set of those who thought
apartheid. prominent Black leaders able after the 1994 election. His Anglican bishop of Johan- they were tin gods to replace
to speak out against abuses. outspoken remarks long after nesburg. In 1986, Tutu was them with others who are
Tutu’s death on Sunday “is apartheid sometimes angered named the first Black arch- tempted to think they are,”
another chapter of bereave- A lively wit lightened Tutu’s partisans who accused him of bishop of Cape Town. He Tutu said.
ment in our nation’s farewell hard-hitting messages and being biased or out of touch. ordained women priests and
to a generation of outstand- warmed otherwise grim pro- promoted gay priests. In July 2015, Tutu renewed
ing South Africans who have tests, funerals and marches. Tutu was particularly in- his 1955 wedding vows with
bequeathed us a liberated Plucky and tenacious, he was censed by the South African Tutu was arrested in 1980 for wife Leah, surrounded by
South Africa,” South African a formidable force with a government’s refusal to grant joining a protest and later had their four children.
President Cyril Ramaphosa canny talent for quoting apt a visa to the Dalai Lama, pre- his passport confiscated for
said. scriptures to harness support venting the Tibetan spiritual the first time. He got it back Tutu is survived by his wife
for change. leader from attending Tutu’s for trips to the United States of 66 years and their children.
Tutu died peacefully at the 80th birthday as well as a and Europe, where he spoke
Oasis Frail Care Center in The Nobel Peace Prize in planned gathering of Nobel with the U.N. secretary- Asked once how he wanted
Cape Town, the Archbishop 1984 highlighted his stature laureates in Cape Town. The general, the pope and other to be remembered, he told
Desmond Tutu Trust said. as one of the world’s most government rejected Tutu’s church leaders. The Associated Press: “He
He had been hospitalized effective champions for hu- accusations that it was bow- loved. He laughed. He cried.
several times since 2015 after man rights, a responsibility ing to pressure from China, a Tutu called for international He was forgiven. He forgave.
being diagnosed with pros- he took seriously for the rest major trading partner. sanctions against South Afri- Greatly privileged.”
tate cancer in 1997. of his life. ca and talks to end apartheid.