Truth and reconciliation commissions are established as fact finding reparation and reconciliation mechanism through which those who perpetrate injustice could accept their wrong doing and beg for forgiveness, and victims could receive reparations and acquire closure for the wrong done and thus close a chapter of anguish and temptation to seek revenge. This is the basis to further reconciliation.
The TRRC Act gave full mandate to the Commission to determine reparations. It has fulfilled its mandate by awarding what it deems fit. Hence the sum it awarded should have been paid without delay and a new bill to establish a reparation commission could have only been relevant if the victims themselves rejected the sums awarded and the state recognizes that they have no provision under the Act to appeal to higher courts or review of the awards given by the commission.
In that case in the interest of justice a reparation commission would have been justifiable to serve as a review mechanism to ensure that is done and seen to be done by the victims.
Since the commission made the awards and made it known to the victims, a number of them have been writing to Foroyaa to find out how to get the awards accorded to them. It is important to know how many of them have passed away or are in serious state of illness. Foroyaa is aware of the son of a victim who has been following the award of a deceased victim who is now on a life support system. The delay in providing the award has not given meaning to the process to many victims. What is therefore important is to speed up the payment before the victims suffer terminal illness or death.
That would amount to double injury and that could amount to justice delayed is justice denied. Any bureaucracy that could amount to any delay in the payment of reparation is not permissible.
