Assembly approves creation of Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission |07 August 2018

The National Assembly has given its unanimous approval for the creation by the President of a Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission to promote national unity and reconciliation in the country.

It was Vice-President Vincent Meriton who presented the Bill for the National Assembly’s consideration and approval.

The Bill comes after the Truth, Reconciliation & National Unity Committee in the National Assembly in June presented a copy of its report to President Danny Faure and Vice-President Meriton and together with the report was the draft of the Bill for the proposed commission.

“The bill is an opportunity for us to close a controversial chapter of our history in order to move forward with renewed breath and without having to pull along the burden of the past. It is a historic moment and my wish is that we should handle the process with goodwill and maturity and show wisdom through lessons learnt from events and experience of the past,” VP Meriton said in his presentation to Assembly members.

“I recognise the importance and the need to deal with the events and weaknesses of the past in order to cross over to the next level in the evolution of our nation. Our country has lived with the results of our past and it is our history that has made us who we are and has brought us to this historical moment where we are now,” VP Meriton noted.

But he stressed that the proposed Bill will not change our history but it has the power to allow us to change certain consequences of events of the past to bring reconciliation instead of separation and national unity instead of division.

“I am not under the illusion that the Bill will fix everything or those who have been affected will easily forget what they went through,” he remarked.

He went on to state that the work of the commission being proposed will neither be easy nor simple, it will not erase the errors of the past but it will allow us to turn the pages and move to a new chapter. This is why national unity is as important as the events of the past. We need to move forward, we need a new start for the future but at the same time we need to recognise all the good things that have brought us to where we are today while admitting the errors and mistakes that have been committed.

VP Meriton commended the National Assembly’s truth and reconciliation committee for the work carried out in preparation to come up with the Bill and everyone who have taken part in the process.

“I am convinced that our people are ready to embrace this moment,” VP Meriton stated.

The first to intervene on the Bill was the leader of the opposition Wavel Ramkalawan. He noted that the important thing the commission will seek is closure to ensure that the truth prevails even though this will not heal all the wounds but at least people will feel free and liberated allowing them to look at things differently.

“The part of our history we are addressing brings a lot of suffering,” he stated, indicating a pile of five files representing 317 individuals who willingly came forward to tell their stories. 

Assembly members from both sides of the house who intervened welcomed the Bill and the commission it will establish.

“It will allow for the people of Seychelles to feel united. It will be a painful and emotional process,” Parti Lepep MNA Bazil Hoareau noted, breaking down while remembering the sad and painful events his family went through.

For his part Parti Lepep MNA Simon Gill highlighted the importance of the Bill noting that it is an historic moment that the Assembly is debating such a Bill and pointed out that members of the party he represents will give its total and unconditional support to the Bill.

“The content of the Bill will leave its mark on the people of Seychelles and it will be one of the greatest achievements of the National Assembly as it will allow for Seychelles to move to an important stage of its historical journey. Each country, each nation has to at one stage of its history face its past but how it does it depends on and how their political leaders showed their wisdom, commitment and political will to do so,” Mr Gill stressed.

Mr Gill went on to add that the new generation of Seychellois leadership both in the Assembly and outside wants to see a unified Seychelles and a unified and reconciled people.

“A majority of our people believe that to make more progress, to have more  stability, full participation of our people in the country’s development is to address the part of our history relating to events that took place after June 77,” Mr Gill said.

In the name of Parti Lepep and as the deputy secretary general of the party, Mr Gill expressed regret and stated that it is very unfortunate that there are some undesirable events that happen in our history.

“I say this with true sincerity, honesty and respect for all Seychellois citizens anywhere they maybe in the world who have been affected by certain acts and events of the past when we were in leadership,” Mr Gill stated.

Debate on the Bill was lengthy and many members had a story to tell of a family member, friend or neighbour who had been affected by painful events of post June 77 namely arrests, detention, confiscation of property, loss of jobs among others which forced many Seychellois into exile and breaking up families. Many members were emotional when they recounted those painful events.

In his right of reply, VP Meriton also expressed regret for the post June 77 series of events and asked for forgiveness.

“For all those people who suffered different forms of atrocities I too ask for forgiveness because these things should not have happened and no human being should have gone through such suffering. I ask for forgiveness because I feel what those families have gone through as I have sat with some of them and cried on hearing their stories,” he said.

He went on to add that the time has come for Seychelles to reconcile with its past and unite its people.

VP Meriton gave the government’s commitment to work and collaborate closely with all stakeholders to reconcile our people and bring unity in our country.

After voting unanimously on the merit and principles of the Bill, the Bills Committee, together with the attorney general, the leaders of both parties, reviewed a series of amendments proposed before moving into committee stage to continue the debate on the Bill.

At the end of the debate the Assembly unanimously approved the proposed amendments to the Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission Bill 2018 as amended.