NRC not court of law to judge people

A member of the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC), Bishop Charles Palmer-Buckle, has stressed that the Commission is only out to record the truth about past human right violations, reconcile the people and heal the wounds of the nation.

He emphasised that national reconciliation was a "national duty imposed on all, especially Christians, so it is not a matter of whether the setting up of the Commission is right or wrong."

Bishop Palmer-Buckle who is also the Catholic Bishop of Koforidua, was briefing parishioners of the Koforidua St George's Cathedral on the work of the Commission on Sunday.

He reiterated that the Commission, which had so far heard between 150 and 200 complaints, was a forum to offer relief for victims of human rights abuses spanning from March 6, 1957, to January 7, 1993, after they had unfolded their pains.

Bishop Palmer-Buckle made it clear that the Commission was not necessarily out to offer financial compensation to victims for lost property or abuses "but to prevail upon them to be prepared to forgive their trespassers who must also be prepared to apologise to them."

He, however, hinted that after the exercise, the Commission may recommend for the nation to decide whatever form of compensation and rehabilitation.

Bishop Palmer-Buckle who asked the people to pray for the Commissioners to discharge their duties, pledged their determination to work to help promote national peace and stability, but cautioned, that "as to whether the climate of atrocities would never recur, it is God alone who can decide."

In answer to a question, he said even though the Commission had the power to subpoena a person mentioned by a victim, it would rather, as far as possible, allow such persons to voluntarily come forward to clear their names.

On the Indemnity Clauses of the 1992 Constitution in view of some revelations before the Commission, Bishop Palmer-Buckle stated that since they were entrenched provisions and the statements before the Commission could not be used to prosecute suspected persecutors, "it would be up to the nation to decide, through a referendum, whether the Clauses are compatible with a democratic constitution as we have it now."

Bishop Palmer-Buckle stated that it was not only the security services who required image redemption, "but all sections of the community including teachers, drivers, doctors, nurses, business community and artisans".