FRIDAY, 3.00PM
THE Truth and Reconciliation says it cannot accede to National Party demands that its chairman archbishop Desmond Tutu apologise for certain comments and that deputy chairman Alex Boraine resign, and has called on the NP to iron out its difficulties with the commission through negotiation.
After discussing a Nat threat to take the TRC to court at a full meeting of the commission yesterday, the TRC called for an urgent meeting with NP officials to duscuss the row. Said Tutu: “The view of the full commission is that the demads cannot be acceded to, and the NP’s lawyers were informed of this.”
In response, the NP said it had no option but to proceed with court action. In a letter to the TRC, the NP’s lawyers said: “Inasmuch as the commission has taken a firm decisiuon to reject outright our client’s demands … your proposal to discuss the matter holds no prospect of resolution to the dispute.
Meanwhile, Tutu leaves for the United States next week for two months, during which he will receive further treatment for his prostate cancer.