South Sudan to reap fruits of peace after CTRH, says Dutch envoy
The ambassador of the Netherlands to South Sudan, Jelte Van Wieren, has urged the leaders to work on transitional justice as a step to reconcile and find lasting peace for the people of South Sudan in the future.
He said working on transitional justice is an essential step for the people emerging from violence to be able to establish shared common values, that would allow for reconciliation and subsequent healing.
“Failure to address or try to oppose these topics actually means ignoring our human essences, for then we will not allow ourselves to accept and deal with the heart from the past and therefore, we will not be able to move on,” said Wieren, on behalf of the Diplomatic Community.
He was speaking during the launch of the public consultations on the establishment of the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing (CTRH) in Juba on Tuesday.
South Sudan’s national consultation mechanism will lead to the drafting of the mandate for the commission.
“We call for the process which will be undertaken with integrated and in accordance with the well-thought-out manner already joined up with the technical committee,” he stated.
“We would like to emphasise the importance of true public participation and genuine engagement with all stakeholders, practically the victims of past abuses in designing a commission that is well suited, relevant and tailored to the South Sudan context,” he added.
The objectives of the public consultations on the establishment of the CTRH are to ensure post-conflict justice and healing in order to carry on national reconciliation by encouraging people to tell the truth about the past.
“I would like to stress the point that the need for reconciliation and healing does not equate to the dismissal of great injustices. The commission will be there to reconcile and heal, not to condone injustices or provide a past for those who have committed crimes against their own people. If that happened, it would undermine the very purpose of the whole excises of forgiveness and will, but first truth must have to be taught, “he warned.
He said the victims need to be heard and justice needs to be served by punishing those who committed atrocities.
“Despite the current escalating insecurity in some regions, as well as political and other challenges,” he said, “I would like to advocate for consultations that can get people to participate and speak freely to ensure the inclusiveness of people and locations.”
He warned the agreement’s signatories not to underestimate the difficulties that the public consultations on the establishment of the CTRH would bring.
“It will not be easy, speaking truth to power, speaking about pain and heartache, seeking reconciliation and healing, all of those are difficult steps. However, I believe if we do this together like we have tried to do over the last years throughout the highs and lows, many small steps can come together with a big lead forward for reconciliation and healing for the people of South Sudan,” he concluded.
