Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, October 3, 1994 TAG: 9410040019
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA LENGTH: Medium
Don't be fooled by the musings of the diminutive, dynamic Nobel Peace Prize winner. Instead of easing gracefully from the high-charged life of a world-famous activist, the 63-year-old continues to struggle against anything he perceives as wrong or unjust.
He keeps watch on South Africa's first black-led government, and he is campaigning to relieve the debt burden of the world's poor countries. He plans to take up the debt issue during a two-week visit to the United States that begins Wednesday to promote his book ``The Rainbow People of God.''
President Nelson Mandela already is in the United States, to address the U.N. General Assembly today and try to drum up foreign investment.
Tutu, South Africa's first black Anglican archbishop, has a remarkable ability to create a fuss and get the world's attention.
He has strived to carve out an independent posture since South Africa's first all-race election in April. He recently criticized Mandela's government for approving high salaries for top officials and lawmakers; longtime ally Mandela responded angrily.
It was Tutu who spent his first years as archbishop raising international opposition to apartheid while Mandela and others were in jail. The same determination fills his vow to prick the conscience of Mandela's government.
And he has new targets.
``Since apartheid has ended now we should look for another global moral issue ... for me this is the foreign debt that so many so-called Third World countries are having to bear,'' Tutu said in an interview with The Associated Press.
He wants to persuade wealthy countries to cancel the trillions of dollars owed by poor nations if they implement democracy and respect human rights.
by CNB