:: Dhivehi Observer :: Peoples Press ::

Need for a reconciliation plan

OPINION by "alias" - Wednesday, June 23, 2004

I would like to propose to the opposition political parties to include within their "immediate post-Gayyoom plans" a framework for a reconciliation program.

THE PROBLEM NOW

GDP (Gayyoom's Dictatorial Party) government has employed the majority of educated and capable Maldivians into its work force. Many of these people are in powerful positions of decision making. Some of them are even included in the political decision making on matters of education, economy, health, tourism etc.

It is clear that not all of them are in the inner circle of the GDP. However because of their connections within the government they are used by the GDP to make party political decisions.

It is not entirely true that all of them are corrupt. Many of them are good men and women, made to work in a system that promotes corruption and mismanagement.

Few of these people are involved in activities that harms the Maldivian interests. These activities maybe related to the Maldivian public funds and their mismanagement and misuse. They may be activities related to drugs and substance abuse. They may even be activities related to prison abuse and social disharmony.

People have identified these people to have done damage to the Maldivian collective interests.

SOLUTIONS?

We have seen many countries setting up reconciliation commissions to re-create harmony and brotherhood within communities.

South Africa in the post-apartheid era has been doing reconciliation work. Former Yugoslavia and others are also in a similar process.

These processes have helped many people to come to terms with the sufferings and personal damage caused by specific groups of people.

In Maldives there are people who have been made to suffer because of the GDP. Some have been made to suffer and sustain personal and financial loss by specific individuals within the GDP or loosely affiliated with GDP. Some of them may want to forget that those things happened and move along, but many others would want to let people know that these things happened and bring the people to justice and made accountable for the wrong doings.

In some cases it has been found by the experiences of the Reconciliation Commissions that punishment is not the best option. This is especially so when problems have occurred in a more generalised manner. In such cases social trials holding them socially accountable infront of the public (showing the public that the individual is responsible and declaring that) without handing out sentences as in criminal trials have been carried out. The offenders had been required to publicly ask for forgiveness from the people who were made to suffer and a from of reconciliation worked out between them.

This form of reconciliation would not work for overt criminal offences, but it may well be the best alternative when a large majority of the public are being tried for offences.

PROPOSAL

Set up a reconciliation commission to look into the minor (not overtly criminal) wrong doings by specific people or groups of people in an effort to reconcile and move on.

It is all too common to find in human history that the fallen regime takes all the blame while the victors forgive the offences committed by their own people.