KPI: Intent of govt leader crucial for reconciliation
Play
Lost in the midst of a political catfight last week was King Prajadhipok's Institute's (KPI) review on how 10 countries managed to foster national reconciliation.
A team led by KPI’s researcher Methas Anuwat-udom reviewed 120 books from these countries. Ideas they distilled included the need for leaders who commit wrong to sincerely and publicly apologise, to find out the truth behind clashes and deaths, and the avoidance of having conditions for reconciliation imposed by one party.
Methas, who spoke last week at the Parliament-organised forum on national reconciliation, traces the root causes of conflict in many of the countries he studied to that of societies having no space for political dissent – and facing suppression through means viewed as illegitimate and unjust.
“[It happens] when one party doesn’t have the space to express or make demands. When political space shuts down, space for violence emerges,” said Methas.
Methas says it is up to each individual society to decide whether to unveil the whole truth behind deaths and clashes or not, saying some opt for full disclosure while others choose to omit names of offenders.
He stresses the need for comprehensive compensation and a healing process that goes beyond monetary compensation. In South Korea, for example, national monuments were built in Gwangju province in honour of those who fought against the military dictatorship and died in the 1980s. The military top brass has also denounced the coup d’etat as an option for the republic. Korean presidents are expected to travel every year to Gwangju to lead a ceremony to honour those who fought dictatorship.
Methas says remembrance can play an important part in preventing similar conflict in the future.
On the issue of amnesty and absolution, Methas said amnesty is usually granted to all parties in a conflict.
In South Africa, all conflicting parties were invited to envision and chart a common future. Those moving towards post-apartheid South Africa or from other countries needed to answer the question: “How can they co-exist in society?”
The intent of the government’s leader is important, says Methas. “[Government leaders] must clearly express sincere and serious [intent] and make it concrete. Have a vision of the future and not just images of damage done in the past.”
