Former ANC deputy secretary general and future South African ambassador to Cuba, Thenjiwe Mtintso, returned to the 2003 Ard Fheis after a gap of five years. Those of us who had heard her strirring and challenging contribution to the 1998 Ard Fheis on the Good Friday Agreement awaited her address with eager anticipation, and she didn't let us down. Thenjiwe's speech was also broadcast live on RTE, as she spoke directly before Gerry Adams' presidential address. The following is what she had to say:
"Comrade chairperson, leadership of Sinn Féin at all levels, members of the diplomatic corps, international guests and dear comrades, I bring you revolutionary greetings from the entire membership and leadership of the African National Congress, especially from our President, Comrade Thabo Mbeki.
More than 12,000 kilometres away, at the tip of Africa, in South Africa, that membership and leadership of the ANC is awaiting the outcomes of this Ard Fheis with keen interest. I am particularly happy to be representing them here today at this historic conference, five years after my first attendance of a conference here. I think I deserve to be a member by now.
The presence of the ANC at this Ard Fheis, just like the presence of Sinn Féin at our ANC conference in December 2002, is but a personification of the longstanding and strong revolutionary ties between the ANC and Sinn Féin. It is also the embodiment of solidarity, support and internationalism between the democratic people of South Africa and the democratic people of Ireland.
The ANC pledges its unflinching support and commitment to a free, united democratic, non-sexist and peaceful Ireland.
We would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the entire leadership of Sinn Féin, under the able presidency of Comrade Gerry Adams, for their dedication and selflessness and wisdom in leading this patriotic struggle for freedom.
The ANC five years ago fully backed the Good Friday Agreement. We continue to do so today. But five years ago, at the 1998 Ard Fheis, we said that it is not going to be an easy walk to freedom. We said negotiations are very difficult.
One of the things that we outlined was that you were likely to meet resistance to change. We were learning from our own experience in South Africa because the National Party and its apologists in South Africa when we were negotiating put all the obstacles in front of our path. They did this through grandstanding, stalling, reneging on agreements and putting up all sorts of obstacles, both to the negotiations as well as to the implementation of the agreements.
The main reason was that they benefited from the status quo. They did not want change. They feared change. I do not know if that is not true of what we are witnessing in Ireland today.
All sorts of provocations were used, including, amongst others, so-called black on black violence, use of the security forces and police, use of provocateurs. The main aim was to divert us from the main agenda of the implementation of the agreements. I am not so sure if it is not true for Ireland today.
The National Party had a habit of dismantling or walking away from the transitional institutions and agreements. Their favourite was instant withdrawal or running away from the negotiations. This may sound familiar.
The ANC and its allies had to pull the Nats, literally by the scruff of the neck, kicking and screaming, back to the negotiating tables. I think it may well be that Sinn Féin has to do that today.
There is not going to be any messiah or any liberator that will lead Ireland to democracy except yourselves. You are masters and mistresses of your own destiny.
There are still many challenges that are facing Sinn Féin today, and the ANC, ten years into its freedom, is still grappling with some of these challenges. Amongst these are being in power but not having economic power, using the state which you have not yet dismantled while at the same time trying to dismantle that very state or to restructure that very state. Of course, one of the major challenges is operating in an environment of hostility. It is not easy. It is not an easy way to freedom.
History will not absolve us if we do not succeed. We owe it to our people. The Good Friday Agreement is the only path to victory. The alternative is too ghastly to contemplate.
This is taking place during a war in Iraq, during a genocide in Iraq. We must say that all democratic and peaceful loving people in the world have got to condemn that war with all our determination.
Iraq has not declared any war on anybody. It may well be that President Saddam Hussein is a dictator, but the people of Iraq have not asked any one of us, any country, to come in and kill themselves and destroy their property and destroy their own cities so they can then enjoy democracy. They are not likely to enjoy democracy in their own graves.
Comrade chairperson, the ANC wishes this Ard Fheis constructive and fruitful deliberations and resolutions. The people expect you to lead them to a better life. You cannot fail.
Freedom is inevitable. It is in sight and it is up to you to grab it. I thank you."
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