Independent Conservative Union of Seychelles (ICUS) |27 February 2016

Icus creates truth, reconciliation and peace commission

Independent Conservative Union of Seychelles (Icus) held an extraordinary general caucus on Saturday February 20, 2016 at Victoria House conference room to effect the necessary changes to its executive committee, inter alia.

In accordance with Icus’ Articles of Association a resolution to dissolve the existing executive committee was passed unanimously and the existing executive committee was dissolved. Following balloting a new executive committee was appointed.

The new committee passed a number of resolutions and one of the resolutions is to create a Truth, Reconciliation and Peace Commission because Icus believes that out of all the current political parties in Seychelles it is in a better position to create such a commission. The new commission is called Seychelles Truth, Reconciliation and Peace Commission (STRPC).  In Icus’ view, Parti Lepep cannot create such a commission because they are the alleged perpetrators, Linyon Sanzman appears to be in opposite poles has not done so and Popular Democratic Party (PDM) has not made its position clear. Icus also believes that we cannot let matters just drift and drift with no resolution in sight while at the same time our nation is divided and there is plenty of hate and unhappiness in our midst. The last two rounds of Presidential elections have brought about even more division in our society and something must be done to put away this anger, to put our past squarely into history and to create peace and harmony in our small nation. Seychelles is not the only country in the world with a lurid history but nonetheless a resolution must now be achieved for the sake of our next generation.

Appointing the chair of the commission

Following discussions with many people at all levels of our society during the election campaigns in December 2015; Icus has launched this non-partisan commission and now Icus backs away. Icus has appointed Barry Laine, who is a well known and respected member of our society, to chair this commission and to prepare the grounds for a number of senior and also well-respected members of our society, who have been approached, to join this commission. 

Mr Laine has carried out a great deal of research, which will be shown at the press conference, into how other countries have handled their reconciliation process and the executive committee of Icus believes he is the right person and he has the right qualifications to chair this commission.

Composition of the commission

The commission will consist of the chairman, two leaders from our main religious groups, one judge and one woman. The commission will be a body corporate, an association or non-governmental organisation (NGO) and will also have support staff who will include a secretary, treasurer and researcher, inter alia. Funding will come from a government grant and from donations and fund raising.

Aims and objectives of the commission

To create a platform for anyone who has been affected by the coup d’état to come forward and seek a resolution and achieve closure. It will look at a period from 1977 to 2015. The commission will listen and record events which occurred and recommend a path towards resolution. If requested the commission will arrange for the victim and the perpetrator to meet and achieve closure. Anonymity will be provided at all times but the media will be kept informed. The commission will not release any names or addresses or any details of the matters discussed during its activities except where all parties agree certain information if released will benefit the harmony of our society. The main aim of the commission is to bring about closure and to restore peace and harmony in our society.

Modus operandi of the commission

This press release contains initial guidelines and when the full team is onboard a final Articles of Association will form the legal framework of the commission. No member of the commission will be allowed to operate individually and all matters will be dealt with within the commission. Referrals will of course be made but these will come from the commission and all hearings will be held in private. The commission will have no power to prosecute and it does not want any either and the commission’s work will be exempted from disclosure. For security purposes all documents relating to the work of the commission will be stored in the vault of a bank and two keys, held by two individual members of the commission, will be required to open the box.

Restorative and not retributive process

The commission’s work will be restorative and not retributive. This commission is not being set up to punish anyone but to seek the truth if possible so that the victims and the perpetrators alike can achieve closure. Throughout history and time again and again where any reconciliation process has tried to be retributive the process has faltered. The commission will make recommendations for certain corrective actions to be undertaken especially where properties have been involved. Where loss of loved ones have been experienced the commission will provide a path to closure. The emphasis of the commission will be on reparation of relationship, rehabilitation of the aggrieved and restoration of dignity and pride.

One must be mindful that the alleged atrocities allegedly committed by the government agents at the time and the burden of proof in relation to guilt may prove difficult to establish. Our situation is different from other countries which have gone through this process. Icus believes this is a Seychellois matter for Seychellois to resolve and not for the International Court in The Hague. Time has changed and we must now reconcile the past and move Seychelles forward for the benefit of the new generation. Their progress is adversely affected by past events which have not been reconciled.

Duration of the commission

The commission will meet every two weeks and will last for a year and this can be extended to two years if required.

International impact

Sir James Mancham is being requested by a number of countries and statesmen from around the world to make Seychelles a Centre for Peace. This is wonderful and it can be done, however we would argue that this cannot be achieved while we have not resolved our own peace. It is not that we wish to resolve our own peace because of this proposition we want to do so because the time is right and it is something that has been talked about for several years now but no action. Icus is a new and progressive political party with an executive committee made up of mostly young people who want this matter resolved.

Timeline

The commission should be ready to start its work in one month’s time.

Contributed by Icus