By Akol Madut Ngong
The graduation of Unified Forces all over the country will create a conducive environment.
This was revealed by the First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar Teny who is the head of Governance Cluster.
Dr. Riek was speaking on Tuesday during the launch of the National Consultative Process with the aim of drafting the legislation for the establishment of the Commission for truth, Reconciliation and Healing.
“It is an important moment in our country in the quest for justice and reconciliation, this milestone event should have been done three months ago, within three months of the establishment of the RTGoNU not only for this Commission but also for the Hybrid Court of South Sudan and the Compensation and Reparation Authority” he said.
“This three transitional justice mechanisms are interconnected, they are expected independently to promote the common objectives of facilitating truth, and reconciliation and healing, administer access to justice, compensation and reparation, respectively in South Sudan,” Dr.Riek explained.
“The Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing is recognized as a critical part of peace building process as it will make people to address the legacy of conflict, promote peace, National reconciliation and healing, it’s expected to inquire into all aspects of human rights violation and abuses, breaches of the rule of law and excessive abuse of power committed against all persons by the states and non-state actors of the region or alliance,” he stated.
“This commission is expected to recommend processes for full enjoyment by victims of the right to remedy including by suggesting measures for reparation and compensation, its work will fit into the other two mechanisms: the Hybrid Court of South Sudan and Court of the African Union popularly known as Obassanjo Report on Human Rights Abuse in South Sudan, the several UN Reports will also fit into the work of this commission but the most important is the views of our people that this committee was formed” he said.
“I am hoping that the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs with its team will process drafting of the other legislation for justice to prevail in our country,” Dr.Riek explained.
“The agreement we signed recently will help the work of this commission such as unification of forces, graduation of forces all over the country,” he stressed.