South Africa’s human rights activist Albie Sachs says dialogue and the constitution are crucial to bringing harmony to a divided society. The former campaigner against apartheid was speaking Saturday during an interview with RTI.
Sachs is in Taipei at the invitation of the Tang Prize Foundation. He is also the winner of the first Tang Prize in rule of law.
A justice on the Constitutional Court of South Africa from 1994 to 2009, Sachs said unity and diversity go hand in hand.
“I think dialogue, looking to each other’s eyes, speaking honestly, openly and frankly is extremely important," said Sachs. "I think the constitution plays a huge role. The constitution must be based on respect for human dignity and on acknowledging a diversity of background, culture, political views, interests and tastes."
Sachs was put in jail in 1963 for calling for freedom and equality under white rule. He lost one arm and his sight in one eye in a bombing incident in 1988 in Mozambique. But instead of seeking revenge as suggested by others, he called for soft vengeance.
“Avenge me? We can cut off an arm and blind one eye," said Sachs. "Is that the country we are fighting for? I said to myself: If we get democracy, if we get freedom, and if we get the rule of law, that will be my soft vengeance."