Is a South African type of Truth and Reconciliation Commission the answer here?

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.doj.gov.za/trc/trc_frameset.htm

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT


No. 1111.

26 July 1995


NO. 34 OF 1995: PROMOTION OF NATIONAL UNITY AND RECONCILIATION ACT, 1995.


It is hereby notified that the President has assented to the following Act

which is hereby published for general information:-


ACT


To provide for the investigation and the establishment of as complete a picture

as possible of the nature, causes and extent of gross violations of human rights

committed during the period from 1 March 1960 to the cut-off date contemplated

in the Constitution, within or outside the Republic, emanating from the

conflicts of the past, and the fate or whereabouts of the victims of such

violations; the granting of amnesty to persons who make full disclosure of all

the relevant facts relating to acts associated with a political objective

committed in the course of the conflicts of the past during the said period;

affording victims an opportunity to relate the violations they suffered; the

taking of measures aimed at the granting of reparation to, and the

rehabilitation and the restoration of the human and civil dignity of, victims

of violations of human rights; reporting to the Nation about such violations

and victims; the making of recommendations aimed at the prevention of the

commission of gross violations of human rights; and for the said purposes to

provide for the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a

Committee on Human Rights Violations, a Committee on Amnesty and a Committee on

Reparation and Rehabilitation; and to confer certain powers on, assign certain

functions to and impose certain duties upon that Commission and those

Committees; and to provide for matters connected therewith.


SINCE the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1993 (Act No. 200 of

1993), provides a historic bridge between the past of a deeply divided society

characterized by strife, conflict, untold suffering and injustice, and a future

founded on the recognition of human rights, democracy and peaceful co-existence

for all South Africans, irrespective of colour, race, class, belief or sex;


AND SINCE it is deemed necessary to establish the truth in relation to past

events as well as the motives for and circumstances in which gross violations

of human fights have occurred, and to make the findings known in order to

prevent a repetition of such acts in future;


AND SINCE the Constitution states that the pursuit of national unity, the

well-being of all South African citizens and peace require reconciliation

between the people of South Africa and the reconstruction of society;


AND SINCE the Constitution states that there is a need for understanding but

not for vengeance, a need for reparation but not for retaliation, a need for

ubuntu but not for victimization;


AND SINCE the Constitution states that in order to advance such reconciliation

and reconstruction amnesty shall be granted in respect of acts, omissions and

offences associated with political objectives committed in the course of the

conflicts of the past;

[Iggo]

1. It's an answer, I suppose.

But war crimes are war crimes.

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. The Dems in Congress are too damned cowardly to even consider such a measure

They couldn't be bothered to impeach, not even after clear evidence of malfeasance and likely treason was brought to light. What makes you think they will do squat "now that he is out of office and can't do anything more"?

[mike_c]

3. not the BEST answer, certainly....

The Bush administration was filled with war criminals. The South African model was designed to purge the national psyche without damaging internal order. I don't think we're in a parallel situation. There is little risk of RW revolution if we prosecute the criminals from Bush's admin and without a compelling reason to do otherwise, failing to prosecute makes a mockery of our principles and our laws.

[Deep13]

4. The best answer is to enforce the law.

Otherwise they are not laws.