Tutu feted despite ANC rift on Dalai Lama

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa celebrated his 80th birthday despite his feud with the government over its refusal to issue a visa to the Dalai Lama.

The Dalai Lama was to have participated in birthday festivities and given a number of public talks, but he was denied a visa by the African National Conference-led government Tuesday.

The dispute threatened to overshadow public celebrations for Tutu, who was critical of the ANC's failure to grant the visa to his friend and fellow Nobel Peace Prize winner, allegedly under pressure from China, The Guardian reported Thursday.

Earlier this week Tutu said the ANC was worse than the white minority regime. He said he would one day pray for its collapse.

The controversy was embraced Thursday during the launch of an authorized biography of Tutu at St. George's Cathedral, once a bastion of resistance to apartheid.

The guest speaker, Irish singer and activist Bono of U2, joked: "I'm here, ladies and gentlemen, because I'm obviously not radical enough to need a visa. It used to be rock stars, not religious leaders, that caused controversy."

Referring to Tutu, Bono said: "But there's only one rock star in this room, sitting right in front of me. [At] 80 years old you are more punk rock than anyone I know -- with sex appeal."

Tutu, still a fierce critic of South Africa's failings, said he would have been "nothing" without the backing of family, friends and activists.

"Please believe it when someone says to you, 'I would never have been anywhere near what I am without you,'" Tutu said. "When you stand out in a crowd, it is because you are being carried on the shoulders of others."

The Dalai Lama still was expected to participate with Tutu in a peace conference Saturday at a Cape Town university by a video-conference link from Dharmsala, India, Tutu's peace center said Thursday.

The Dalai Lama will take part in a moderated discussion with Tutu on "Peace and Compassion as Catalysts for Change," the center said.

An empty chair on the stage will symbolize the Dalai Lama's "enforced absence," it said.