GOVERNMENT through the Ministry of National Unity, Reconciliation and Peace (MNURP), is getting additional inputs from communities nationwide to be included into a reparation Policy framework, to help victims and foster lasting peace.
The move is being funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Last week, officers from the Ministry and Prime minister’s Office with the engagement of a Human Rights Law expert, the president of Asia justice and rights Patrick Burgess, facilitated an initial consultation in Gizo, Western province.
The Government has already carried out consultations recently for the scoping of a reparation bill to deal with human rights violations.
However, they have to repeat the process after realizing the need for collective sourcing of data to establish a blueprint, which the ministry believed to be the reparation Policy framework.
Representatives from various communities in the province, both men and women, after participating through questioning and commenting made some firm remarks and recommendations, during the one day Reparation Policy Framework consultation.
This was possible, after they were being urged by the Director of Peace and Reconciliation, Reuben Lilo to speak their minds and hearts out.
The consultation received some revelations as some of the participants emotionally exposed how they’re being victimized by the Solomons 1998 – 2000 ethnic crisis and spill over effect of crisis in the neighbouring PNG’s autonomous province of Bougainville.
As alluded by Mr Burgess during his presentation prior to questioning and recommendation sessions, transitional justice is the prime mechanism in the policy to assist in developing effective and appropriate strategies with past violations.
It involves four pillars “Prosecution of those most responsible, Seeking the truth about what happened, Providing reparations to victims in order to repair the damage to their lives, and Reform of institutions and society in order to guarantee that the violations do not recur.”
“The four Pillars of the transitional justice should be implemented in a holistic manner as there is significant overlap, and a combination of all four is necessary for sustainable solutions,” the Draft Reparation policy stated.
However, the consultation discussed on most favourable form of amends for recovery, adding that different reparation program to be created for victims, not to include them with perpetrators.
Mr Burgess maintains that reparation is for civilians who are victims of human rights violations and not for perpetrators.
Some recommendations suggested by participants are;
- the 50 members of Parliaments must contribute to a minimum of one million dollars per year in reparation of victims,
- Reparation projects for communities, reparation scholarship, rehabilitation of Clinics and schools, and institutional reform,
- Call for setting up of provincial institution to directly deal with reparation of women and children in the communities.
“We have to know, that when the fabric of the society has been torn, it will take a long time to actually put it back exactly as it is.
“So we have to do our best.” Burgess said.
“The First question, should we do something for them, and why should we do something for them? And the second question, what should we do?
“I’m the expert on going from country to country to help to facilitate this process, but you’re the expert on Solomon Islands, on culture, relationship between people, history, tradition, religion,” Mr Burgess the told participants.
By MAENI COMFORT
In Gizo
