A Truth And Reconcilliation Commission for China, is it the way forward?

We have been hearing for years about  Human Rights Issues in China now. It’s reached a critical point and something must be done. It has been said, when something reaches the extreme it turns around. 

On March 13 The U.S. Department of State unveiled its yearly report on human rights and deemed the Chinese Communist Party responsible for the worst violator of human rights in the world.

The CCP has brainwashed its citizens to discriminate against Uyghurs, Falun Gong, and The Christian Church.

It has committed crimes of massive proportions, ie. forced organ harvesting torture and brainwashing on those who are calling for freedom of belief.

It was stated during the presentation of the report, that the violations of human rights in Xi Jinping’s China can be compared to those in Nazi Germany and Stalinist’s Soviet Union.

Is there a way out?

The restorative justice work of the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission, shown here circa

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) started 1996 in South Africa after the horrifying persecution of people of color reached its peak and the country was sanctioned.

The torture of thousands of people of conscience and the imprisonment of Nelson Mandela a (black leader) was the final straw.

Apartheid, the Afrikaans name was given by white-ruled South Africa’s Nationalist Party in 1948 to the country’s harsh, institutionalized system of racial segregation, came to an end in the early 1990s in a series of steps that led to the formation of a democratic government in 1994.

After 27 years in prison, in 1993, Nelson Mandela became President of South Africa.

President Nelson Mandela

In order to deal with the countless atrocities, the former government used to brainwash its people, the TRC which was a court-like body was founded.

The Commission was to bear witness to, record, and in some cases grant amnesty to the perpetrators of crimes relating to human rights violations, as well as offering reparation and rehabilitation to the victims.

Anybody who felt they had been a victim of violence could come forward and be heard at the TRC proceedings. Perpetrators of violence could also give testimony and request amnesty from prosecution.

The hearings made international news and many sessions were broadcast on national television.

The TRC was a crucial component of the transition to full and free democracy in South Africa and, despite some flaws, it is generally regarded as very successful.

The creation and mandate of the TRC was set up in terms of the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act, No 34 of 1995, and was based in Cape Town.

The mandate of the commission was to bear witness to, record and in some cases grant amnesty to the perpetrators of crimes relating to human rights violations, reparation, and rehabilitation.

The TRC has a number of high profile members: Archbishop Desmond Tutu (chairperson), Dr Alex Boraine (Deputy Chairperson), Mary Burton, Advocate Chris de Jager, Bongani Finca, Sisi Khampepe, Richard Lyster, Wynand Malan, Reverend Khoza Mgojo, Hlengiwe Mkhize, Dumisa Ntsebeza (head of the Investigative Unit), Wendy Orr, Advocate Denzil Potgieter, Mapule Ramashala, Dr Faizel Randera, Yasmin Sooka and Glenda Wildschut.

Committees

The work of the TRC was accomplished through three committees: Human Rights Violations (HRV) Committee investigated human rights abuses that took place between 1960 and 1994.

Reparation and Rehabilitation (R&R) Committee was charged with restoring victims’ dignity and formulating proposals to assist with rehabilitation.

Amnesty Committee (AC) considered applications for amnesty that were requested in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

In theory, the commission was empowered to grant amnesty to those charged with atrocities during Apartheid as long as two conditions were met: the crimes were politically motivated and the entire and whole truth was told by the person seeking amnesty.

No one was exempt from being charged. As well as ordinary citizens, members of the police could be charged and, most notably, members of the African National Congress (ANC), the ruling party at the time of the trial, could also be charged.

The commission brought forth many witnesses giving testimony about the secret and immoral acts committed by the Apartheid Government, the liberation forces including the ANC, and other forces for violence that many say would not have come out into the open otherwise.

On October 28, 1998, the Commission presented its report, which condemned both sides for committing atrocities.

Its high time that these crimes against humanity be eliminated so China and the free world can move forward.

Would China take the cue?  It could very well be is the way forward to rid itself of a horrible scourge.

he free world is waiting for China to take her rightful place on the worlds stage.

and the precious Chinese people are anxiously waiting for a free China!