CAPE TOWN November 11 1996 — Sapa

DP LAUDS TUTU'S DEFENCE OF TRC LEGISLATION

The African National Congress' apparent acceptance of legislation governing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was to be welcomed, the Democratic Party said on Monday, and applauded TRC chairman Archbishop Desmond Tutu's defence of the law.

"The task of interpreting the atrocities spawned by the old system, and the violent struggle which ensued, must be left to the commission," said Dene Smuts, DP spokeswoman on human rights, in a statement.

"South Africa as a whole will have increased confidence, after the archbishop's stand, that the final Truth Commission report will offer a real attempt at understanding what went wrong, and not the revisionist offical history many have feared."

The ANC's immediate aim of protecting its leaders, by sending only low-ranking party officials who acted outside of the party's policy to apply for amnesty, had failed, Smuts said.

The DP repeated calls to National Party and ANC leaders to set an example by applying for amnesty.


© South African Press Association, 1996
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