AFTER VIOLENCE: 3R, RECONSTRUCTION, RECONCILIATION ...

enemies into court, they did not miss any chance to "bring them to
justice," unless they could make a shady and secret deal with
them. This was done against the Germans and Japanese after the
Second world war, against East Germans after the Cold War, and
against "terrorists" all the time. There is little or no talk of
Model II, in any form. Had the losers won, they would probably
not have made use of Model II either.
Nor was the Reconciliation model originally envisaged in
South Africa. It seems to have emerged as a compromise between
the original ANC position--adjudication, treating political crimes
like private crimes--and the regime position---amnesty for all
political crimes. Given the limited capacity of the South African
courts adjudication would last far into next century, and be
counter-productive to reconciliation. A flat amnesty would bury
the truth and give no healing to victims. Amnesty in return for
truth; and forgiveness in return for apology/restitution, the
apology from the perpetrators and the restitution mainly from the
State. When it works.
And it is far beyond the present author's competence, and
also much too early, to asses to what extent it works. The TRC
tribunals, with the cooperation of the media (on TV from 6-7 pm
every Sunday), have roughly speaking these functions:
- to give the victims a full hearing so they can communicate and
share their suffering with the whole society;
- to investigate what really happened, using traditional methods
with special investigative teams, witnesses etc.;
- expose the violators with full names etc., if the case has been
proved by traditional court standards;
- announcing amnesty on the condition of full confession;
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