Africa-Press – Seychelles. The Linyon Demokratik Seselwa and United Seychelles reports on the Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission report have been made public and are currently making the rounds on social media, just over a week after adoption and approval by the National Assembly.
The reports of both parties were approved by the National Assembly, and subsequently presented to the executive on Friday August 11, following a week of debates. Former vice chairperson of the Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission (TRNUC) Michael Green and former commissioner Marie-Therese Purvis appeared before the assembly on August 1 to set the ball rolling, updating the members regarding the most important recommendations, including the establishment of a successor body. Through their reports, Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS) and United Seychelles (US) have expressed their views, which is mostly reflective of the positions expressed by respective members during the debates.
Among the various recommendations of the commission are for a successor body be established by the executive, to complete the commission’s unfinished tasks, including the transcription and translation of some 389 sessions.
The US party has stated in its report that it has no objections regarding the successor body, but urges that “safeguards must be put into place so that the successor body does not act outside its mandate,” noting that the role and functions of the body are unclear. The body “must implement the recommendations of the TRNUC commission, and its scope should be limited to what the TRNUC report sets out” the minority report states.
Pertaining to reparations, the commission proposed that it should be guided by the Reparations policy, included in Volume V of its report. Apologies to victims, as well as monetary compensation are among the most prominent, of a spectrum of reparations recommended by the commission.
While both parties accept that victims should receive an apology and compensation, the two parties differ on how this should be implemented.
As per the majority report, “the LDS government side did not dispute the responsibility of the state but argued that those responsible for the injustice which had been caused have a primary responsibility in both apology and compensation”. It is felt that perpetrators named in the report should also issue the apology and that “those who had benefited, such as heirs and successors of the perpetrators, should also be included in making the reparations.”
LDS members made it known that they are in support of the establishment of a Victims Trust Fund, to be funded by “voluntary contributions and mandatory deposits from seizure of assets from sale of property acquired by the party in power” to be made. They also included in the report their view that “taxpayers of today and innocent persons in general could not be expected to pay”.
While the majority report proposes that US should be the ones to tender an apology, the minority report states that this should be the responsibility of the current State, as this will serve “as a catalyst to healing and reconciliation”.
Regarding the commission’s recommendation that perpetrators are investigated and prosecuted, subject to the grants of amnesty bearing criminal liability, and that they be dismissed from public service and offices, the LDS report made known their views that this “should not be fully adhered to by the executive.” It is imperative that there is a balance for as not to jeopardise the goals of unity and reconciliation, the majority report states.
In addition, the commission recommended that adequate records be made public and that the public is made to understand the works of the commission. As mentioned by LDS members during the debates and included in their report is for a memorial for the victims, such as a monument in a prominent location.
Meanwhile, US has expressed that the manner in which the memory of victims of the coup d’Etat should be preserved should be decided by the National Assembly, subject to strict guidelines and frameworks to ensure that such is done with the permission of victims and their family.
The US party in its report supports the implementation of recommendations as set out in the report, and stated that “the recommendations cannot be altered, and it is irrelevant whether the government agrees with them or not.” It however, also makes clear the fact that it has “many reservations regarding the process of TRNUC.”
Both parties are expecting that their voices will be considered in the implementation of the commission’s recommendations.
The TRNUC was established in 2018 under the administration of former President Danny Faure, following a motion in the National Assembly. Its mandate was to hear complaints of alleged human rights violations stemming from the June 5, 1977 coup d’Etat, to gather evidence, and to make determinations and recommendations.
The commission commenced operations in August 2019, with the swearing in of the first five commissioners. Its mandate came to an end on March 31, 2023, after two amendments to the TRNUC Act 2018 made provisions for it to lengthen its mandate.
The TRNUC Act provided for a copy of the final report to be submitted first and foremost to the executive branch of government, as well as the legislative arm.
The report consists of six volumes, and 47 recommendations.
During three-and-a-half years, the commission registered 371 case reports and completed 124 reports. Each report is from 10 to 120 pages. There were 272 hearings in which saw the appearance of 1,164 witnesses/suspects. A third of the cases were about land issues.
Source: nation
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