A Cypriot Truth Commission is proposed to investigate the causes of disappearances in historical conflicts, aiming to uncover truth and prevent future atrocities. Legal changes, including immunity for self-incriminating testimonies, are crucial for enhancing the commission’s effectiveness in promoting reconciliation and healing.
What is the case for a Cypriot Truth Commission?
A Cypriot Truth Commission is proposed to address the incomplete work of the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) by investigating the causes and circumstances of disappearances in Cyprus’s historical conflicts. It aims to uncover the truth, offer reconciliation, and prevent future atrocities, inspired by successful models like the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Legal changes, including immunity for self-incriminating testimonies, are necessary to enhance the commission’s effectiveness.
The Need for a Comprehensive Truth Commission
The persistent quest for truth and reconciliation in Cyprus has recently taken a critical turn with the initiative of human rights advocate Achilleas Demetriades. His visit to London last week sheds light on the urgent need to transform the current Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) into a fully-fledged truth commission. This transformation would empower the commission to delve into the causes and circumstances surrounding the disappearance of thousands of individuals during the historical conflicts between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.
Demetriades, a figure deeply interwoven with the Cypriot quest for justice, has outlined a vision for a truth commission that goes beyond the remit of the CMP. The CMP’s work, primarily focused on locating missing individuals and their remains, falls short of addressing the critical aspects of how and why these tragic events unfolded. By amending its mandate, the commission would be granted the capacity to take evidence and investigate the complex narratives behind each disappearance.
Legal Obstacles and Guarantees of Immunity
The transformation of the CMP into a truth commission presents legal challenges. A significant hurdle is the provision of statutory immunity to those who may come forward with self-incriminating evidence. In 1981, both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities’ legal officers provided undertakings to not prosecute witnesses revealing such information to the CMP. However, for a truth commission to operate effectively within its expanded role, more robust legal assurances are necessary.
The fragility of this situation is evident, as it calls upon individuals, many now in their advanced years, to come forth with potentially incriminating information. The proposal by Demetriades suggests a law that would render this evidence inadmissible in legal proceedings, aiming to strike a balance between the need for truth and the complexities of legal accountability.
The Role of Truth Commissions in Healing and Reconciliation
The envisioned truth commission for Cyprus draws inspiration from the renowned South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission, established after apartheid. Chaired by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and supported by Nelson Mandela’s philosophy of forgiveness and ubuntu, the South African commission sought to uncover the truth without assigning blame, offering a framework for Cyprus to emulate.
Transitional justice, as practiced through truth commissions, plays a foundational role in mending the fabric of post-conflict societies. These commissions facilitate the grieving process for victims, allow for the public acknowledgment of violations, and pave the way for recommendations to prevent future atrocities.
International Influence and the Path Forward
The global landscape of truth commissions offers insights and guidance for Cyprus. Maria Holguin, the UN secretary-general’s personal envoy to Cyprus, brings relevant experience from her time as the Colombian foreign minister during the establishment of their truth commission. Her involvement and the international examples of successful truth commissions may catalyze the acceptance of a truth commission in Cyprus, fostering a crucial step toward communal healing and understanding.
Such international support and precedence reinforce the notion that uncovering the truth is imperative not just for legal or historical reasons, but as a foundation for genuine reconciliation. As the international community has witnessed in several instances, the success of truth commissions lies in their ability to facilitate an environment where truth leads to healing, and healing fosters a future free from the repetition of past conflicts.
What is the purpose of a Cypriot Truth Commission?
The purpose of a Cypriot Truth Commission is to investigate the causes and circumstances of disappearances in historical conflicts in Cyprus. It aims to uncover the truth, promote reconciliation, and prevent future atrocities by delving into the complex narratives behind each disappearance.
What legal changes are needed for the effectiveness of a Cypriot Truth Commission?
Legal changes, including providing statutory immunity for self-incriminating testimonies, are crucial for the effectiveness of a Cypriot Truth Commission. These legal guarantees would encourage individuals, who may have incriminating information, to come forward without fear of prosecution, allowing the commission to fulfill its role in uncovering the truth and promoting healing.
How do Truth Commissions contribute to healing and reconciliation?
Truth Commissions, like the proposed Cypriot Truth Commission and the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission, play a vital role in healing and reconciliation. By offering a space for victims to grieve, acknowledging past violations publicly, and making recommendations to prevent future atrocities, Truth Commissions help mend the fabric of post-conflict societies and pave the way for a peaceful future.
What is the international influence on the establishment of a Cypriot Truth Commission?
International examples of successful Truth Commissions, such as the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Colombian truth commission, provide guidance and support for the establishment of a Cypriot Truth Commission. The involvement of international figures, like the UN secretary-general’s personal envoy to Cyprus, may catalyze acceptance of the truth commission, showing that uncovering the truth is essential for genuine reconciliation and preventing future conflicts.
