Tutu, Suu Kyi Praise Unknown Activists

As heads of state from all around world gather at the UN General Assembly in New York today, two of the world’s most famous activists held a talk a few blocks away in mid-town Manhattan to discuss their own struggles against authoritarian regimes.

Desmond Tutu, South Africa’s charismatic anti-Apartheid activists and Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese opposition politician who spent more than 15 years under house arrest, were at the Clinton Global Initiative today to share experiences but also pay homage to unnamed political dissidents and human right defenders whose stories often go untold. 

Aung San Suu Kyi says international exposure and her fame have protected her from violent reprisals, but she remains concerned over the fate her supporter supporters who continue their fight for “dignity and democracy,”

“It takes tremendous courage from unknown soldiers to defend our cause,” she told the New York audience via teleconference from Myanmar. 

“When you stand out in a crowd, it is only because you are carried on the shoulders of others” added Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who of late has been focusing his advocacy work on combatting child marriages. 

The 79 year old Archbishop says he has been reaching out to traditional and religious leaders in affected communities to create dialogue and understanding on the issue. 

Aung San Suu Kyi and Bishop Tutu also discussed their role as spokespersons for their causes, agreeing that one of the most important contributions they can make is to cultivate the international community awareness and continue to support movements for democracy in a climate of freedom from fear.

South African Ambassador: NATO Making Things Worse In Libya

NATO’s military campaign in Libya has worsened the plight of the civilian population and has yet to provide a longterm solution to the crisis, says South Africa’s Ambassador to the United Nations.

In a Security Council briefing earlier today, Ambassador Baso Sangqu argued that NATO has done little to stabilize the current situation in Libya and that the mission had in fact led to an increase in civilian casualties.

“This meeting takes place exactly one hundred days after the start of the NATO aerial bombardment in Libya. Despite this military action, there has not been a solution to the Libyan crisis, and the situation has in fact deteriorated with more loss of civilian lives and massive destruction of infrastructure.”

Sangqu says the NATO mission has gone well beyond the mandate of the Security Council Resolution 1973, which called for the implementation of a no fly zone and allowed for air strikes against Gaddafi forces.

“When South Africa voted in favor of Resolution 1973, our intention was to ensure the protection of civilians as well as unhindered access to humanitarian aid to those who desperately need it.” said Sanggu, “a political, rather than a military, solution is the only way in which peace can be achieved in Libya.”

South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma last week accused NATO of using Resolution 1973 to encourage regime change at the expense of civilian protection. “We have spoken out against the misuse of the good intentions in Resolution 1973,” he said. “We strongly believe that the resolution is being abused for regime change, political assassinations and foreign military occupation.”

In a meeting yesterday in Pretoria, African Union officials reiterated their concern over the continued the NATO-led airstrikes, and once again called on Gaddafi and rebel forces to implement an immediate ceasefire. 

AU officials released a statement arguing only a political solution could “sustainably settle the current conflict.”

Earlier today, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Gaddafi, his son Saif al-Islam, and a top military intelligence official.

It is unclear what effect the warrants will have on attempts at negotiating a political solution to the conflict. The ICC decision was welcomed by top NATO officials, and seems to indicate the organization continues to be determined to remove Gaddafi from power.