Mandela statute unveiled

LONDON – Nelson Mandela saluted the heroes of South Africa’s struggle against apartheid yesterday at the unveiling of his statue at a ceremony in London recognising him as one of the greatest leaders of the age.

Mandela, 89, said the statue – which joins those of Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill in London’s Parliament Square – was a symbol for all those who resisted oppression. “Though this statue is of one man, it should in actual fact symbolise all those who have resisted oppression, especially in my country,” Mandela said at the ceremony attended by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.”The history of the struggle in South Africa is rich with the stories of heroes and heroines, some of them leaders, some of them followers.All of them deserve to be remembered.”Mandela appeared frail as he made his way to the platform, leaning on the arm of his wife, Graca Machel, but spoke clearly as he invited the crowd to celebrate his 90th birthday next year at a concert in London’s Hyde Park in support of his efforts to combat HIV-AIDS.The concert will support his foundation, which is called ‘46664’ – the number he wore in prison.Brown called the statue ‘a beacon of hope’.”It sends around the world the most powerful of messages – that no injustice can last forever, that suffering in the cause of freedom will never be in vain, that no matter how long the night of oppression, the morning of liberty will break through, and there is nothing that we the peoples of the world, working together, cannot achieve.”London Mayor Ken Livingstone, anti-apartheid campaigners and community leaders also attended the ceremony outside Britain’s Parliament, close to Westminster Abbey, along with a gospel choir and 40 dancers in carnival costume.The 2,75-metre bronze statue was an honour that the young Mandela dared to dream of.In his autobiography, Mandela said that during a visit to London in 1972 with his law partner and fellow anti-apartheid leader, the late Oliver Tambo, they had walked together through Parliament Square, admiring the majestic buildings around its location.Nampa-AP”Though this statue is of one man, it should in actual fact symbolise all those who have resisted oppression, especially in my country,” Mandela said at the ceremony attended by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.”The history of the struggle in South Africa is rich with the stories of heroes and heroines, some of them leaders, some of them followers.All of them deserve to be remembered.”Mandela appeared frail as he made his way to the platform, leaning on the arm of his wife, Graca Machel, but spoke clearly as he invited the crowd to celebrate his 90th birthday next year at a concert in London’s Hyde Park in support of his efforts to combat HIV-AIDS.The concert will support his foundation, which is called ‘46664’ – the number he wore in prison.Brown called the statue ‘a beacon of hope’.”It sends around the world the most powerful of messages – that no injustice can last forever, that suffering in the cause of freedom will never be in vain, that no matter how long the night of oppression, the morning of liberty will break through, and there is nothing that we the peoples of the world, working together, cannot achieve.”London Mayor Ken Livingstone, anti-apartheid campaigners and community leaders also attended the ceremony outside Britain’s Parliament, close to Westminster Abbey, along with a gospel choir and 40 dancers in carnival costume.The 2,75-metre bronze statue was an honour that the young Mandela dared to dream of.In his autobiography, Mandela said that during a visit to London in 1972 with his law partner and fellow anti-apartheid leader, the late Oliver Tambo, they had walked together through Parliament Square, admiring the majestic buildings around its location.Nampa-AP