Learn from Mandela

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Monday December 16th, 2013

 By LAZARUS BIRA

LEADERS of Papua New Guinea must follow the footsteps of the world icon, the late Nelson Mandela who struggled for unity and peace between Europeans and the Black people in South Africa.

“If PNG wants to become a better country to live then we must uphold unity, the principles Mandela stood for,” former governor of Eastern Highlands Aita Ivarato said.

“PNG longing for gender equality, women in business and create equal opportunities for everyone in the diverse nation must learn from Mandela.

“He fought against the apartheid policy that separated the whites from the blacks.

“The apartheid policy, established in 1948 by the minority white rulers, ordered the separation of black and white races which resulted in black men having unequal opportunities in their own land.

“We can learn a lot from what Mandela has done, that is, to bring about unity in his country.”

Mandela fought and negotiated with government for unity in the South Africa but was imprisoned for not being loyal to the government of the day.

His actions to bring unity in South Africa caused world leaders to demand the release of Mandela and policy of apartheid be abolished.

He was very unique, lived for others and never took revenge on the whites when he became the president.

“If someone asks me, who is your hero? I will say Nelson Mandela is my hero”, Ivarato said.

“I had the privilege to meet Mandela  in New York when I was one of the PNG delegates representing the prime minister Sir Julius Chan to attend the fifth anniversary of the United Nations in 1995, a year after he was elected the President of South Africa,” Ivarato said.

“Our delegation was made up of the member for  Kavieng Ben Micah, ambassador to UN representing PNG at the time, Utula Samana, and me.”