Open Letter to the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation 11 November 2024

I am writing this as an open letter, in the interests of transparent and democratic processes within the activist community and Civil Society of South Africa.

I received an in invitation to participate in the WMD event in Johannesburg in November. I am quite concerned that the Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation is associated with this event, which is organised by the World Movement for Democracy, which in turn is supported by the National Endowment for Democracy. Both the above organisations are sponsored by US state interests and the NED , especially has a well documented unsavoury history in meddling in other countries’ democracies. Of note, Victoria Nuland has been appointed to
the NED Board of Directors.

The current activities of the WMD, support so called ‘activists’ in Cuba and other countries who oppose their democratically elected governments. This undermines the sovereignty of these countries, because the USA deem them to be threats and have applied cruel sanctions against.

In addition, the event in Johannesburg claims to be for world democracy, yet there is no mention of the genocide that is currently happening to the people of Palestine and the attacks on the people of Lebanon.

I have been an long standing activist against apartheid and who continues to be an active citizen and supports the cause of democracy and human rights for all South Africans as well as the cause of all oppressed peoples in the world. And as someone against racism zionism, settler occupation, and US- enabled war against civilians including children. I will not be associated or support in any way the NED or WMD.

I have been proud to have worked with the Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation in the past. I request that you review your participation in this event which I believe goes against the values of the Foundation as well as those of the democratic South Africa. This is borne out in statement by Dr Mamphela Ramphele and Niclas Kjellstrom-Matseke issued on 11th November 2024 , reiterate the Foundation’s statement of Patriarchs and Heads of Local Churches in Jerusalem, and call for action in line with the human values of Ubuntu.

I attach some references which speak to this issue:
Since 2020, more than 4000 scholarly studies of the
NED: https://scholar.google.com/scholar?as_ylo=2020&q=%22national+endowment+for+democracy%22&hl=en
&as_sdt=0,5
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John Pilger – War on democracy by the National Endowment for
Democracy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVn9soMbe8Q
Long: http://johnpilger.com/videos/the-war-on-democracy
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CIA Whistleblower Philip Agee Exposes National Endowment for Democracy (including deep roots dating to
1967): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yh0EbYXJsWY
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The Grayzone debates National Endowment for Democracy VP on group’s CIA ties
– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khv7dYG15Fs
https://popularresistance.org/the-grayzone-caused-biggest-pr-fiasco-in-history-for-us-government/
https://thegrayzone.com/2023/05/29/grayzone-national-endowment-democracy-vp-cia/
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Mnar Adley exposes the National Endowment for Democracy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QXDM195G4I
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Yours
Dr Natalya Dinat