IW Final Report Memorial is at Ion Debate Series

8/2/2019 IW Final Report Memorial is at Ion Debate Series

1/40

Debating in the Netherlands

with youth, experts and

policy-makers

Understanding The Role

Of Memory Initiatives In

Communities StrugglingWith Impunity

Perspectives

Series


2/40


3/40

Understanding The Role

Of Memory Initiatives In

Communities StrugglingWith Impunity

Debating in the Netherlands

with youth, experts and

policy-makers


4/40


5/40

CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 5

FOREWORD: THE IMPUNITY WATCH MEMORIALISATION PROJECT 7

PART 1: INTRODUCTION AND DILEMMAS

1. INTRODUCTION 9

Sttg Th Stag For Mmory Itatvs

Stuatg Mmory Itatvs Aftr Volc

2. DILEMMAS OF MEMORY 11

Objctvs

Stakholrs

Justc

Truth

3. A ROLE FOR CIVIL SOCIETY? 13

PART 2: UNDERSTANDING AND DEBATING THE ROLE OF MEMORY INITIATIVES

4. THE MULTIFACETED MEANING OF MEMORY 16

5. OBJECTIVES AND THE NECESSITY OF MEMORY INITIATIVES 18

6. INCLUSION AND DIVISION 23

7. FUTURE GENERATIONS 25

8. OWNERSHIP: ENGAGING WITH THE GRASSROOTS 26

9. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 28

APPENDIX I 31

APPENDIX II 33

APPENDIX III 35


6/40


7/40

Understanding the role of memory initiatives in communities struggling with impunity 7

Dealing with a past characterised by gross human rights abuses and systemac violaons of internaonal law

in an inclusive and comprehensive manner is crucial to breaking cycles of violence and combang impunity.

The role of memory iniaves as part of this dynamic is currently aracng greater aenon. Various

dilemmas facing these iniaves must nevertheless be overcome, which requires that certain key areas

fundamental to understanding the relaonship between memorialisaon and impunity are examined. These

include the mulfaceted meanings that can be aached to memory, certain proposed objecves of iniaves,

their potenal for inclusion and also division, the necessity of engaging future generaons in memory

processes, as well as ownership over such processes. Fundamental to this approach is recognion that me

is a crucial consideraon, with memory acknowledged as a process that evolves, during which its imposion

upon communies must be avoided. Whilst crical reecon should be encouraged including on potenally

arcial designaons of the past such as the perpetrator-vicm-bystander paradigm - this too must be sensive

to context. Outsiders may play a pivotal role, but must remain alert to the impact of their involvement and

possible unintended consequences. In the immediate aermath of gross human rights violaons, an awareness

of the dierences between hypothesised vicm iniaves and mul-ethnic/mul-memory iniaves may

well be a crucial starng point for considering each of the myriad of issues that memory iniaves and impunity

raise aer violence.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

5


8/40


9/40


Moumts a mmorals may lay a ky rol th combat of muty a ac-bulg wh thy

hl ost-coflct coutrs al hostly a farly wth thr ast. Yt most cass, mmorals aar

cotrovrsal a vsv, as ublc rmmbrac a rcogto of all atrocts a all vctms ts

to ru coutr to th trsts of rtrators a thos who suort or coo thr crms. Ev

wth artcular vctm grous, t ca oft b ffcult to rach cossus o a commo trrtato

of th ast.

Ths s why Imuty Watch, a rsarch-for-olcy orgasato that works wth local cvl socty

orgasatos to achv accoutablty for grav huma rghts abuss commtt urg ros of

coflct a/or mass rrsso, bga workg o mmoralsato 2009. Togthr wth th A

Frak Hous, a orgasato wth cosrabl rc of mmoralsato ost-coflct aras, w

lor stg work ths fl a assss commo s.

Our vstgatos a ast rcs ot to may stuatos whch mmory tatvs ar

srs, commucat lttl or ot at all wth othrs, a o ot form art of a mor tgral la.

Morovr, orgasatos workg o a tchcal lvl o th crato of mmory tatvs rarly

commucat wth thos avocatg at th oltcal lvl for th crato of such tatvs as a

mortat comot of th combat of muty. As a rsult, thr s lttl cocto btw th

tchcal a oltcal ascts of mmoralsato, v though thy oft fac smlar ursolvlmmas. Equally, w hav fou that th ottal to lar from rsarch, as wll as ractcal

rc ffrt arts of th worl, s ur-lot. Drawg togthr th rsults of work

couct ffrt fls a ffrt coutrs as a mas of mrovg ovrall urstag of th

ossblts avalabl wh t coms to moblsg mmoralsato as a muty-ructo mchasm

s thrfor crucal.

To hac urstag of th rol lay by moumts a mmorals ost-coflct socts, w

sg a rojct that raws o th s, rcs a lmmas assocat wth mmoralsato

a rag of vrs coutrs orr to rov wly alcabl guac as to how mmorals ca b

vlo a us. Ths Mmoralsato Projct has th followg ams:

To urstag of ky lmmas that rcur mmoralsato rocsss ost-

coflct coutrs, a lor th full ottal of mmory tatvs combatg

muty;

To coct tchcal a actvst mmory tatvs, a courag thm to suort o

aothr cratg atoal mmoralsato rocsss that ar mor ffctv combatg

muty;

To romot a chag of lssos lar a bst ractcs alg wth mmoralsato

lmmas amog tchcal a actvst cvl socty orgasatos from a slcto of ost-

coflct coutrs, wth th ut a volvmt of actvsts a rts wth rc

mmoralsato lswhr;

7

FOREWORD: THE IMPUNITY WATCH

MEMORIALISATION PROJECT


10/40

10 Understanding the role of memory initiatives in communities struggling with impunity8

1 Th rorts of ach bat ar avalabl o th Imuty Watch wbst at: www.mutywatch.org.

2 Th coutrs chos for th rsarch ar: Bosa-Hrzgova, Buru, Camboa, Guatmala, Srba a South Afrca. I ach

coutry a local rsarchr has b slct to urtak th rsarch, whch wll clu roucg a comrhsv mag of mmory

avs th coutry, cas stus of slct avs a thograhc rsarch volvg ky formats a stakholrs through sm-

structur trvws a focus grou scussos. I orr to sur comarav ascts across ach cott, th rsarchrs hav b gv

a gral Rsarch Framwork of ssus to stuy. Whlst moulg th Framwork to th sccs of thr coutry, th ovrall rsarch quso

to b arss s: Do Memory Iniaves have a role (posive or negave) in addressing cultures of silence that perpetuate impunity?

togthr a rag of rscvs cocrg th ky lmmas of mmoralsao a ts rol ost-

coct coutrs. Th rsults of ths bat srs ar systmas ths rort.

To comlmt, a may ways tst th rcommaos raw from ths bat srs, a comarav

rsarch rojct o mmoralsao s bg smultaously couct s coutrs bas arou

a commo framwork.2 Ths rsarch gags local cvl socty artrs to sur that acvst a

racor rscvs o th ssu of mmoralsao ar rct. At th cocluso of th rojct, a

traoal chag cofrc wll b orgas to volv th rojct s rsarchrs a cvl socty

artrs, a faturg traoal rts o th tocs ur cosrao. Th cofrc wll b a

forum for scussg th comarav aalyss of th cas stus a for rawg-out coclusos to form

olcy a grat raccal rcommaos cocrg mmoralsao.

For Imuty Watch, th ho s that ths tr-sclary aroach wll romot a brgg of kowlg

a comlmtarty of trvo stratgs amog tchcal a acvst orgasaos. Ulmatly, th

sr s to rov a wr rscv o th lks btw mmory avs a th rght to jusc,

th rght to truth, th rght to raraos a orts am at o-rcurrc short, thos factors

tw wth muty. Whthr mmoralsao ca b us as a cv muty-ruco stratgy

a th tt to whch ublc olcy ths rgar ca b sha ar of rmary cocr. Th rst cocrtst towars ths urstag s th sythss of th bat srs that follows ths Rort.

Th rst, a thr-rog bat srs orgas th Nthrlas, lor crucal ascts of th

mmoralsao aragm.1 Bgg wth a bat wth youth rrstavs th Nthrlas,

follow by a rt mg a culmag a m-cofrc, th bat srs sought to brg

I orr to ursu ths ams, varous acvs hav b urtak, wth som currtly urway aothrs la for 2011-2012.

To ublsh a ssmat a varty of rsourcs that rov ractcal rcommatos

for th laborato of mmory tatvs a flucg ublc olcy o mmoralsato,

clug ucato olcy;

To romot tratoal oltcal a facal suort for cvl socty orgasatos workg

o mmory tatvs.


11/40


INTRODUCTION AND DILEMMAS

Part 1

1. INTRODUCTION

Sttg Th Stag For Mmory Itatvs

Accorg to th Ofor Dctoary, to mmorals s to preserve the memory of; to be or supply a

memorial of; to commemorate. Socts hav gag ths stctv ractc of rmmbrac for

cturs. I alog wth vry sttlmt of ol o wll f objcts or ogat rmrs of

ol a tms ast. Mmory tatvs ar a ag-ol homo.

Whthr th form of sml gravstos, gra moumts or mmoral sts, mmory tatvs

ar cssarly trtw wth tragc vts, oft rflctg coflct. Th somwhat rtual sr to

mour, commmorat a hoour th a, as wll as th sr to rsrv th mmory of artcular

vts, aturally took sha as a artcular rsos to volc. Ivuals, commuts a

somtms whol socts hav sought solac ths tatvs.

Th rvalc of mmory tatvs has thrfor log rc th vlomt of tratoalhuma rghts orms at all lvls. At last at th stat lvl, urg th 19th ctury through to th

m-20th ctury, a so-call statue-mania was wtss whrby mmory was mbo by th

rcto of rmat, mosg moumts or status to atoal hros ltrally lac o stals.

Thraftr, ths trato has gv way to memorial-mania, wth commmoratos a ky asct.3 As a

cosquc, whlst th fl of Trastoal Justc (hraftr TJ) has slowly gathr ac sc th

lat 1980s through th sttutoalsato of rsoss to al wth gross volatos of huma rghts

(GHRV), mmory tatvs wr alray a artcular mo of such rrss. Rgarlss of ths squtal

vlomt, [t]he importance of transitional justice is now firmly established following conflict. It is

now the rule rather than the exception to seek redress for populations that have experienced the most

abhorrent crimes.4

Th qusto bcoms o of how to rcocl ths vry sarat vlomts; sarat both tm

a ologcal groug. Whr th tratoal huma rghts framwork has bcom th laguag

of ac a vlomt, a wth t th affrmato of th cssty of TJ, th stc of mmory

tatvs has b somwhat margals. Crmal roscutos through atoal, tratoal

or hybr trbuals, truth commssos, a sttutoal rforms through vttg, lustrato a

moblsato rogramms hav bcom th cor aroachs to muty ructo, togthr som

3 Dr Js Mrhrch, Mmoralsao Cofrc, 30 Novmbr 2010.

4 R. TEITEL, Trasoal Jusc Galogy, (2003) 16, Harvard Human Rights Journal, 69-94. S also: R. TEITEL, Transional

Jusce, Ofor, Ofor Uvrsty Prss 2000.

9


12/40


stacs wth matral or symbolc raratos. As th framwork of combatg muty has a,

mmoralsato fforts hav slowly fou lac as art of ost-coflct a trastoal agas, buoy

by aalogous vlomts th fl of huma rghts. As much as ths rflcts th cororato of

ag-ol ractcs as scrb, t s also rflctv of th ralty that may socts a commuts

strugglg to al wth ast abuss a fac wth th rosct of living together again5 hav sought

cratv ways to arss muty, rhas oft as a racto to th comrhsbly tary grar

tatvs. Craftg mmory tatvs to cotrbut to combatg muty rmas ulor.

Whlst t may aar rmatur to offr lssos lar th troucto to such a rort, crta

ky cosratos url th scusso that follows, raw from th ractc of arssg muty

to at. Th for a rag of comlmtary aroachs has b strss as fuamtal lght

of th challgs that vual mchasms fac attmtg to wrstl a socty from volc a

gu t towars justc, truth, rcoclato, ac a th multl othr objctvs aggrgat

to muty ructo. Ths for a holstc rsctv has b url ot last th UN

Scrtary-Grals affrmato that thr ca b o one-size-fits-allaroach to TJ, wth integrated

attention to varous aroachs rqur. Of qual mortac ar th mrgg vocs argug for

gratr cosrato of cott a fforts grou grassroots urstags. Whlst such a

bottom-u aroach has yt to ga th uvrsal suort that t srvs, t s ctral to th aroach

of IW a assocat orgasatos.

Stuatg Mmory Itatvs Aftr Volc

Argumts favour of th crmal roscuto of rtrators of GHRV hav frqutly clu th

forcful oo that subjctg facts to jucal scruty s favourabl to th crato of a hstorcal

rcor of th ast a a mmory of volc. Whlst a assssmt of th flty of ths blf s byo

th sco of ths Rort, t suffcs to rgstr sctcsm to such suggstos. Equally, th rol of Truth

Commssos or Truth a Rcoclato Commssos achvg rosctv objctvs, artcularly

thos cocrg o-rcurrc of volc, has also b subjct to scruty, aga byo th

sco of ths Rort. Nothlss, wth ths cott of ucrtaty rgarg th objctvs a

ralstc mact of ost-coflct mchasms, th sac for altratv mchasms s crat.

As ot, mmory tatvs thr a urstag ar o such r-stg altratv. As

a vlog orm ur tratoal law - s for aml UN GA Rsoluto 60/147 (2005) aotg

th Va Bov/Bassou Prcls, clug th varous oblgatos to stablsh th truth, ursu

crmal accoutablty, rov raratos a guarat o-rtto - th suos bfts

of mmoralsato fforts ar bg crasgly assrt, whthr commmoratv, agogcal

or rvtv trms. Thr valu for symbolc justc, rcoclato a alogu, as wll as for fllg

th ottal gas crat by lgal strcturs, hav all b roffr. Agast ths backgrou, th

rlatosh btw ths tatvs a muty aftr volc s a crucal yamc that rqurs mor

susta amato. Stll, accorg to crta scholars, mmory tatvs ca affirm the humanity of

those who were killed and ascribe accountability for their deaths, thereby fighting a culture of impunity.6

I ths lght, a accorg to thos who hav vtur to th ur-arcat wlrss of

mmory tatvs aftr volc, grat ottal sts for ths tatvs to b us to address some

of the intangible aspects of conflict7 a cotrbut to TJ. Etso a sulmtato of th work

5 B. INGELAERE, Lvg Togthr Aga: Th Ectao of Trasoal Jusc Buru A Vw From Blow, (2009), Workg

Par / 2009.6, Istut of Dvlomt, Polcy a Maagmt, Uvrsty of Atwr.

6 L.M. MOORE, (R) covrg th Past, Rmmbrg Trauma: th Polcs of Commmorao at Sts of Atrocty , (2009) 20,Journal of Public and Internaonal Aairs.

7 E. NAIDU, Th Ts That B: Strgthg th lks btw mmoralsao a trasoal jusc (2006), Centre for the

Study of Violence and Reconciliaon (CSVR).


13/40


of trbuals a truth commssos hav b artcularly clam, 8 as hav thr urort bfts for

stmulatg alogu about th ast a actg as vssls for th romoto of huma rghts. Ev whr

lgal aroachs to accoutablty ar rorts aftr th rtrato of GHRV, th suggstos sts

that mmory tatvs ca act as a asthtc tso a rformatv ractc of tratoal

law a oltcs.9 Morovr, th yamc ottal for tatvs to tak varous forms suggsts that

thy hav th caacty to b us for ucatoal uross as wll as th mor tratoal objctvs of

mourg, rmmbrac a hoourg th ast.

Nvrthlss, cauto must rval. Th la from thr tratoal us for th rsrvato of mmory

a commmorato to a comot of a huma rghts or TJ framwork shoul ot b tak lghtly. As

a flglg comot of ost-coflct agas skg forwar-lookg objctvs, carful stuato

s cssary to sur both vablty a bft aftr volc. Th ossbl avrs ffcts of such

tatvs, artcularly wh strtch byo thr tratoal sco, thus rqur qual f ot gratr

cosrato. For just as th ottal bfts ca b hyothss, so too must attto b raw

to th trsc rsk that mmory tatvs ca b strumtals to cmt vso aftr th

rtrato of GHRV a maulat a way that far from movg commuts byo thr ast

sta surs that that ast bcoms th rvalg socal factor th rst. I such stuatos,

rstmt, a a hostlty, rhas as a rsult of oltcal maulato a mosato may

rma just blow th surfac, rucg th sac for rogrssg away from volc a thratg

ac a stablty through th crato of justfcatos for rvg.

Prlmary rsarch to mmoralsato by IW a th AFH has fou lttl vc of rsarch

to th rlatosh btw mmory tatvs a muty. I st of rsarch by Nora (1984),

Halbwachs (1980), Jl a Lagla (2002), Bckfor (2007) a Agular (2008), to am just a fw, as

wll as tatvs by th Itratoal Ctr for Trastoal Justc (ICTJ), clug a Fbruary 2011

rort o mmorals Ugaa, thr rmas a rlatv aucty of rsarch o mmory tatvs,

artcularly comarso wth othr mthos of muty ructo. Th mortac of ursug

mor rsarch s thus aart. Howvr, ato, IW a th AFH hav obsrv that orgasatos

workg o th tchcal lvl of th crato of tatvs rarly commucat wth thos avocatg for

thr crato as a comot of muty ructo. As a rsult, a sts to brg th ga btwth tchcal a oltcal ascts of mmoralsato.

2. DILEMMAS OF MEMORY

As a cosquc of th rlatv aucty of rsarch o th subjct, mmory tatvs rma rl

wth lmmas. Th followg rovs a ovrvw of som of th ky lmmas tf by IW a th

AFH, a laborat th bat srs.

Objctvs

As brfly trouc th forgog, th rcs objctvs of mmory tatvs rma ambguous

at both a coctual a ractcal lvl. Ulk th so-call tratoal mchasms of TJ, th ams of

whch hav b wly bat th ltratur, mmory tatvs rma gmatc owg art to

th arth of rsarch couct o th ssu, a art to thr tratoal us log bfor th avt

of TJ. Ths s by o mas to suggst that th ams of trbuals a truth commssos ar uvrsally

agr uo - th ursut of justc through ths mchasms s loa wth cotractos a

sut - rathr th suggsto s that th bat cocrg mmory tatvs has yt to fully matur.

8 J. BARSALOU a V. BAXTER, Th Urg to Rmmbr: Th Rol of Mmorals Socal Rcostruco a Trasoal Jusc(2007), Ut Stats Istut of Pac (USIP).

9 S.L. STEELE, Mmoralsao a th La of th Etral Srg: Prformav raccs of mmory o th Rwaa goc

(2006), Passags: law, asthcs, olcs, July 2006.

11


14/40


As a cosquc, t s rtt to qusto whthr such tatvs ca sous multl objctvs,

smultaously gfyg vctms of ast volc whlst also sakg to a socty as a whol th

ursut of rosctv ams. Of cours, th atur of ach vual tatv s aramout, wh

comarg statc vturs such as moumts to th mor yamc tatvs that cororat musc

a ac, for aml. Th qusto must b os as to whthr ths vry ffrt tatvs sk

th sam ultmat objctvs ur a umbrlla oto of mmory tatvs, or whthr objctvs

ar oly truly rlvat accorg to th scfc tatv at ha. Furthrmor, th rol of mmorytatvs as art of a holstc trastoal aga must also b bttr urstoo, assssg whr thy

may comlmt, or v cotract othr aroachs.

Stakholrs

Rlat to th lack of clarty cocrg thr objctvs, th rlatosh btw mmory tatvs

a th multl stakholrs socts aftr GHRV rmas ucrta. Accorg to th tratoal

aroach that mloys a trartt stcto of vctms, rtrators a bystars, lttl s

urstoo about th rstato a rrstato of ths grous at mmory tatvs. Qustos

abou: shoul vctms from all ss b mmorals? Is thr valu tryg to rflct th rol of

coloalsm fomtg th cott lag to coflct? Shoul rtrators b clu th rocss,

or b smly lft at th mrcy of crmal roscuto? A what rol shoul tratoal actors lay,

artcularly whr thr s suggsto of thr ow rsosblty?

Fally, a rhas fuamtally, ca mmory tatvs mostrat th multl tts that

mafst urg coflct, ablg vctm to b vw also as rtrator, rtrator to rcv

mathy - v symathy - as vctm, a bystars to rflct o thr oft comlctous rol th

commsso of GHRV? Gv th trmly vsv atur of ths ssus, gratr amato s

of whthr mmory tatvs ca culcat a cultur of slf-rflcto, or whthr such objctvs ar

smly utoa. Morovr, og so t woul sm cssary to sur lgtmacy th ys of thos

havg a stak, whch rflcts th cssty of bottom-u aroachs that ar ot mos from th

outs, but rathr vlo a way that affors grassroots actors a ctral rol. Nvrthlss, th

trsc rsk of bas or arrow vsos of th ast maatg from th grassroots must ot b forgott.Equally howvr, o must b alv to th farss of ctg crtcal slf-rflcto from thos who

hav rctly lost lov os.

Justc

All too oft, justc s smly syoymous wth crmal roscutos. Takg a broar urstag

of th trm, fforts shoul b mout to ursta th rol of mmory tatvs alogs crmal

justc as art of a mor comrhsv justc aga. Howvr, as th troubl rlatosh btw

roscutos a truth commssos varous cotts mostrats - for aml Srra Lo, South

Afrca a East Tmor - thr ar agrs that mchasms ca cotrv to urm ach othr. Th

rvlato of facts or truths o ara may crat avrs ffcts aothr, thus mmory tatvs

must b alv to such agrs.

A rlat cocr suffr by ach aroach to alg wth th ast s how mmory tatvs ca

balac ackowlgmt of thcally-bas crms, rsct cultural aroachs to hoourg vctms,

whlst smultaously rachg all sctos of socty. Ev th basc assumto that urls such

qustog, .. whthr ths s srabl, s o to sgfcat sut. Th ossblty for

alatg grous wth a socty s also a ovrrg cocr.

Th qusto of aso of mmory tatvs from thr tratoal rmmbrac a

commmoratv roots towars a rtrbutv aga may also crat ffcults. Ths artcular la

both cocto a objctvs rqurs cosrabl amato gv th vt ffrcs

btw thr rsctv bass.


15/40


Truth

Dlmmas cocrg th culcato of truth about th ast mostrat th trcocto btw

ach a all of th lmmas alray tf, a thus th ralty that ths ssus ar sarabl

from o aothr ay cosrato of mmory tatvs. Nothlss, for th sak of smlcty

crta ssus wll b hghlght hr.

Truth tslf rmas a vsv coct oft sarabl from th mafstatos of rsoal

trrtato a bas. Bgg wth ts suos ak form - basc facts - truth mrgs aftr

mag s assg to thos allg facts; a rocss whch aturally crats lac for cotractos.

It s largly ths ffrt trrtatos that ar th fouato for most crmal trals. Thrfor,

how ca mmory tatvs rcocl ths lmmas? Ca comtg vrsos of th ast, rhas

v rrst ffrt tatvs, b ovrcom? A what ca b o to allvat th a,

tso a msformato that may rsult from cotrovrsal a cotst mmorals? Oc aga t

s cssary to rcogs th mlct bas trouc through such qustos, that s, shouldtatvs

attmt to rcocl ths lmmas, or ar thy coucv to rch bat about th ast? Prhas th

valu of tatvs may l a ablty to mak vsbl thos ssus that may hav b surss.

3. A ROLE FOR CIVIL SOCIETY?

St agast th abov backgrou, t s clar that mmory avs thr varous forms ca b cotrovrsal

a vsv. As a cosquc, th rol of ths avs th lvry of jusc, combag muty a

hlg socs com to trms wth th volt ast s far from assur.

I ths rgar, cvl socty orgasatos (CSOs) may lay a votal rol. Sstv a cosr

gagmt wth th ssus at ha a th stakholrs th rocss coul ottally hl to

coutr thos that woul stablsh vsv vrsos of th ast, wth CSOs - whr arorat - actg

as watchogs. Of cours, th rsks volv wth such gagmt, clug for CSOs thmslvs

to bcom actors th rocss, shoul b a coscous a cotually arcat cosrato.Nothlss, th ottal for grassroots cvl socty th stablshmt a cotuac of mmory

tatvs coul b trmly sgfcat, sofar as CSOs ca rflct th s, cocrs a grvacs

rss at th grassroots, a at th grassroots rc of muty as mafst aly lf

aftr volc.

13


16/40


17/40


As ot, th followg aalyss forms a sythss of th scusso a rcal coclusos from

th bat srs hl th Nthrlas. Whlst ackowlgg - by mas of rtrato - that

urstag th rlatosh btw mmory tatvs a muty aftr GHRV s a rlatvly w

homo a as a rsult cotas may ssus that must b rcocl, th ho s that by brgg

togthr ths ssus a cotrbuto ca b ma to assst th vlomt of futur tatvs for th

bft of commuts alg wth muty. Imortac must also b attach to th uty of stats to

al rsosbly a clusvly wth mmory as a asct of muty. For ths raso, crta ky aras

hav b mhass that ar cosr to b th fuamtal ascts whr commuts struggl

thr tracto wth mmory tatvs a whr cvl socty shoul b suort a stats

actos scruts.

Th rcommatos rst hrur rrst crta tagbl fruts of th Nthrlas bat

srs, wth comlmtary mrcal rsarch urway s coutrs that hav suffr GHRV

thr rct ast. Th uros of ths comaratv rsarch s to ursta th yamcs of mmory

a muty ractc, wth artcular focus o th rol of mmory tatvs, whthr ostv or

gatv. At th cocluso of th ovrall rojct o Mmoralsato, th comaratv rsarch aalysstogthr wth th rort of th bat srs wll b us to grat olcy rcommatos for cvl

socty orgasatos as art of IWs rsarch-for-olcy ratoal.

Havg m th rsarch urtak alogs th bat srs, th aalyss sks to cosr

th rol of mmory tatvs th cott of culturs of slc that rtuat muty. Whthr

as a rsult of lack of ackowlgmt or rcogto of suffrg (clug suffrg of th Othr),

comtg vrsos of th ast, a absc of or suffct ucato about th ast, or maulato

by crta grous aftr GHRV, culturs of slc ca tak may forms that ach cotrbut to muty.

Accorg to th oratoalsato of th coct by th s rsarchrs urtakg th comaratv

rsarch, ths ca b mafst thr ovrrg aras that rqur focus: () rols/stakholrs

(usually coformg to th tratoal rtrator-vctm-bystar stcto); () truth-tllg; a ()

futur gratos. Whr ossbl ths focus aras ar hghlght th aalyss.

O fal ot rqurs attto. Th aalyss a rcommatos that follow ar o way t

as a blurt or habook for doing mmory tatvs. Ista, th aalyss sks to stmulat furthr

crtcal thkg a gagmt wth th ssus that ar hghlght, as wll as to stmulat furthr

rsarch to th rlatosh btw ths tatvs a muty aftr GHRV. Hghlghtg som of

th challgs facg CSOs gagg wth ths ssus at th grassroots s furthrmor t to

rov sght to whr ths orgasatos ca b suort.

UNDERSTANDING AND DEBATING

THE ROLE OF MEMORY INITIATIVES

Part 2


18/40

18 Understanding the role of memory initiatives in communities struggling with impunity

4. THE MULTIFACETED MEANING OF MEMORY

Sixty-five years after the end of WWII, questions still remain about the relationship between the people

of Nazi Germany and Hitler. In particular, what socio-political conditions facilitated his rise to power and

upon which he was able to base his mass following? The answers to these questions are not fully part of

the collective memory.

(Dr Simone Erpel, Memorialisation Conference)

Collective memory is a social construct. Only twenty-four persons were prosecuted at Nuremberg, yet the

trials have come to be perceived as having ended Nazi impunity.

(Prof Stephan Parmentier, Expert Meeting)

Thr ca b o o mag of mmory. At last as far as combatg muty, ts assocat culturs

of slc a commuts r aart by GHRV ar cocr. Mmory s yamc, vr-chagg,

a s affct by th rogrsso of tm, rocsss of rflcto, w scovrs, volvg rsoal

rctos a a myra of othr flucs. Mmory s ot lmt to th sarch for truth by way of

th basc facts, but volvs rsoal rjucs a ssblts, a th rcoclato of thos facts

a rjucs wth ctatos, assumtos, ho a sar. It s th rcollcto of facts a th

trrtato of thos facts; t s fg a lac for such rcollcto th rst; t s smultaously

both rmmbrac of th ast a shag th futur. I ths lght, w ca stat wth as much crtaty

as th fl wll allow that commo mmory os ot st.10 Equally howvr, mmory s both

vual a collctv. Th challg for mmory tatvs f thy ar to hav a ostv mact o

rucg muty aftr GHRV s to thus gotat ths ralts.

Abst th rsourcs a ablty to al wth ach vual mmory aftr GHRV, mmory tatvs ar

aturally cocr wth th collctv mmory. (Gv th flblty of mmory as suggst abov,

ths may vrthlss also rouc ffcts o th mmory of vuals.) Just as commo mmory

aars a mossblty, collctv mmory s th rsult of gotato a s a socal costruct. A

lastg aml of such costructo s th Nurmbrg trals: st oly roscutg twty-four

rsos, th trals hav bcom art of th collctv mmory a coscc coscousss that Nazmuty was . Equally, th story of A Frak s ow o of th uvrsal rfrc ots a

mmors of th s mllo Euroa Jws murr urg th Holocaust. Such amls rval th

owr of mmory, but rhas mor mortatly th owr of ts symbolc rrstato through

rocsss of gotato. Mmory tatvs ca b hook to our subcoscous a coscous

urstag of vts orr to rouc collctv, ostv outcoms.

Just as th aformto amls rrst maulato a costructo of a mmory that has

bcom vw as ostv (ct rhas by No-Naz grous), th sam rocsss of maulato

ca rouc vry f frt ffcts o th collctv mmory of th ast. A slow ralsato has

vlo ovr rct yars that th costructo of th so-call collctv mmory Rwaa has

srv oly to rforc th rhtorc a ology of a authortara rgm skg to justfy ts

osto bas o a arratv of vctmhoo a a rrstato of th ast that solly mhasss th

haltg of a Goc. At th sam tm, ths mos collctv mmory has l to a almost comlt

crmalsato of th Hutu thcty bas o a trrtato of mass artcato. I ths way, th

arorato of mmory, a rhas mor mortatly th mas through whch to mos t o a

oulato, mostrats th rsks volv gotatg a costructg mmors of ast GHRV.

What s clar s that rcos of th ast a of th truth la to th vlomt of mmory. As a

rsult thr ca vr b o sgl truth, whch s why th racc of th stat Rwaa s ot oly

short-sght but also rass caus for cocr trms of th futur outbrak of volc. Comar th

Nthrlas for aml whr a luralty of rscvs a mmors st at ts mor tha thr

10 Prof Stha Parmr, Ert Mg, 15 Stmbr 2010.

16


19/40


thousa mmorals of WWII. Furthrmor, th suggsblty of mmory mas that th stors that t

rrsts ca chag ovr m as hstory s ass from o grao to th t. I th sam mar,

as vuals rct o thr ast, juscaos for volc may mrg uc by th sarch for truth

a by rsoal srs to assuag gult or avo rsosblty. Ths rocss has srabl urchas ot oly

for thos rtrators of GHRV, but also thos who stoo by whlst GHRV wr bg comm. Equally,

th sam rocss may la vuals ot to rct o thr rsosblty or acts of rtratorsh,

sta favourg th moral hgh grou of vcmhoo. Oc such juscaos a lack of crcalrco tr th collcv mmory, muty mrgs. Ths roblmac s a rco of mmory as a

costruct. As th rocsss, structurs a rsoal volvmts GHRV ar am, facts a hstory

bcom stort: mmory s crat.

St agast ths brf cott - whch alo coul form th subjct of a substatal qury - th challg

facg mmory tatvs s autg. Nothlss, crta ovrrg ascts csstat rflcto

wh arssg th multfact mag of mmory.

As suggst, mmor y tatvs must gotat a ralm of TJ that s cotually volvg a

whch oft may trasform at a ra ac. Mmory s a flu a yamc costruct, a o

whch os ot rma statc, or haust of mag a bat. Currt attmts Grmay

to ursta a lor outstag qustos co crg th rlatosh btw th ol

of Naz Grmay a Htlr v aftr sty-fv yars a a hug boy of rsarch a bat

o th most wll-kow Goc, llustrat ths yamc. I orr to assst commuts aftr

GHRV, mmory tatvs coul ralstcally b c t to attmt to rf lct th yamsm

of mmory, allowg for socal bat o vrsos of th truth to tak form. I facltatg or

stmulatg ths bat, tatvs coul rov a fo rum for o a host alogu, as wll as

rsoal troscto, whch coul assst th costructo of collctv mmory uo whch

furthr bat a alogu ca tak lac. Just as Grmay, th rocss may tak may yars,

artcularly as vuals attach thr ow mag to mmor y.

By cotrast, a as wll b scuss shortly, rcogto s also of th agr of mosg such

lofty als oto commuts. It s ot yt thoroughly urstoo to what tt so-call vctmtatvs a thr tators woul b o to such strumtal objctvs, or whthr thy

cssarly must b mos. Oc aga th roots of mmory tatvs com to th for. Ths mor

tmat, rhas o-s tatvs may qut lgtmatly rorts a sgl vrso of th ast as

art of th rocss of comg to trms wth volc a commmorato. Dvalug th mortac

of ths woul b a rsky stratgy. Whr th facltato of th rsso a gotato of mmory s

vrthlss ky s thos coutrs whr bat s thr stfl, o-stt or oltcs.

I th rocss of gotato a yamcs of mmory, t may b of qual mortac to raw attto

to that whch s notrmmbr. Just as wth a lack of crtcal slf-rflcto o os vual ast, th

socal costructo of a collctv mmory las to arratvs a truths bg clu. Th to-ow

arratv Rwaa as rflct th coutrys may stat-sosor tatvs s a mostrabl cas

ot. Ths rocss s rvalg a rqurs furthr lorato. For as th rocss of satsato 11 of

mmory may crat a gotat - a ostv - collctv mmory, t may qually h a thrfor

cultvat furthr tsos a strust. Eamg what s clu may thus mostrat th ky aras

of sut wth a oulato, cosqutly llustratg thos aras whr mmory tatvs a

masurs of TJ ca b most ffctv. Mmory tatvs shoul b alv to ths aragm of satsato

so as to thr clu ky mmors of th ast or crat th cotos for futur coflct or GHRV.

I such a rocss, ay hyscal, tagbl chags vsbl ovr a ro of tm at mmory tatvs

thmslvs ca b formatv. Tm tslf may also havly fluc satsato, wth th ottal for

th rvlato of atoal truths rhas crasg wth th assag of tm.

11 Dr Malath Alws, Mmoralsao Cofrc, 30 Novmbr 2010.


20/40

20 Understanding the role of memory initiatives in communities struggling with impunity

Wh cosrg mmory tatvs a TJ framwork thr s also a fuamtal to qusto

ay ottal assumto that such tatvs ar always srabl. Whlst crmal rocgs, as

mto, hav bcom th facto modus operandiof TJ a ost-coflct rcostructo ths

vlomt has mrg bas o such a assumto. I th absc of furthr rsarch to

th ffcts of tratoal crmal justc, ths assumto wll rma utst. Smlarly, th

cotractos a tfalls assocat wth v th vry mag of mmory as trouc hr tstfy

to ths stmt of cauto, as os th vry fact that th gralsablty of lssos from acrosscotts rmas largly ulor. Th lattr stat of affars aga rflcts th gral aucty of

rsarch to th ffcts of TJ. For mmory tatvs ths rqurs that outsrs aroach th ssu

wth cauto. For as th abov aalyss has mostrat, mmory a th tatvs that sk to

mboy t hav th ottal to grat sgfcat cotrovrss. I ths way thy may also br th

sam oltcal vsos a harm as so-call rtrbutv mchasms, st thr (clam) ostsbl

rstoratv a rosctv valu. Evc suggstg rstmt amog th local oulato

Sowto of th Mala Hous tatv - stablsh to rsrv th hstory a lgacy of th

Mala famly - owg to th flu of toursm mostrats that cotrovrsy ca b grat v

uct lacs.

5. OBJECTIVES AND THE NECESSITY OF MEMORY INITIATIVES

...the objectives to be pursued through memorialisation require greater scrutiny, not only to establish

the role of memorialisation in post-conflict settings, but moreover its potential contribution positive or

negative. When undertaking such an inquiry, the target audiences should also be given centre stage.

(Memorialisation Conference Report)

Internaonal tribunals can only ever convict the p of the iceberg of perpetrators, causing frustraon for some

vicms. They are based on Anglo-Saxon legal pracce, thus are not concerned with nding the truth but with

winning cases. Memory on the other hand is dynamic, meaning it is open-ended and can never be closed.

(Herman von Hebel, Expert Meeting)

A rcal outcom of th bat srs th Nthrlas was to acctuat crta lmts rlvat

to scussos of th objctvs of mmory tatvs. A multtu of qustos wr ras throughout

th srs scfcally rct towars ths ssu, whch form th subsqut scusso. Wth a

tagbl thrst for aswrs at th fal bat artcular, th ho s that furthr mrcal work wll

b urtak wth rgar to th scfc objctvs to whch mmory tatvs shoul asr. Ths

rsarch coul raly focus o th ssus ras hr. For IW, th comaratv rsarch rojct to

accomay th bat srs wll bg to tak u ths challg.

Ncssty

I bgg such aalyss t s cssary to rtrat a ky lsso lart from rvous amts to al

wth th ast: th mortac of a holsc aroach. By mlcao, th lac of mmory avs a

othr altrav mchasms for arssg muty ar GHRV shoul b cosr as cssarly art

of ay TJ aga, arcularly whr thy sak to cocrs ar volc that trbuals, truth commssos

or othr mchasms caot, a morovr sc thr stc may hav log rc ths mor

formal stuos. Th roblm of cours sll rmas that wthout fully arcag th objcvs of

mmory avs t s cult to ascrb valu to thm as art of such agas. Oc aga howvr, t

must b stat that cofuso a bat ovr th objcvs that crmal roscuos ( arcular) sk

has ot rvt thm from bcomg th formost mchasm ost-coct a trasoal agas.

Rgarlss of such gas urstag, th rsc of muty ts may forms aftr GHRV

mostrats th ottal for mmory tatvs. As suggst th rvous chatr, oc

justfcatos for ovrtly crmal acts rmat to a collctv mmory, muty rsults. Movgo st furthr, th ottal for mmory tatvs ca b frr usg crta amls as

llustratos; stuatos to whch th hyothss valu of mmory tatvs ca b attrbut. Th

18


21/40


owlayg of Sovt crms through th rmoval from hstory books of th labour cams of th Gulag

Archlago12 ot oly rrsts a lct attmt to tamr wth a mmory tatv (hstory

books), but furthrmor mostrats th cssty of formg futur gratos about such crms

orr to sur that thy ar ot comltly forgott. Movg Wst, a forwar svral cas,

th smal sch lvr 1985 by formr Prst of th Fral Rublc of Grmay, Rchar

vo Wzsckr to commmorat th fortth avrsary of th of WWII ca b ct. Arssg

th for host rflcto a gagmt wth th ast, vo Wzsckr cauto:

Th hrt to avo fg w myths about th ast as tm rogrsss s clar.

Fally, th Sash aml ca b ras. Dst ts outwar aarac as a stabl mocracy,

ralts Sa bl ths faa. Havg ot b through ay sgfcat rocss of TJ th aftrmath

of ts cvl war a th subsqut Fraco rgm, much vso a bur truths rma Sa. Th

rsc of moumts to Fraco, comlt hstory books, mass gravs, amsts, slc amog

orary ol ot wshg to raw attto to thr ossbl rol a to som tt forty yars of

ETA attacks all mostrat a cultur of slc a muty rsultg from a falur to hostly al

wth a troubl hstory.13 Hr, mmory tatvs hav b arorat by oltcal vsos.

Objctvs

Togthr wth th brf assssmt of th ottal cssty of mmory tatvs, rlvat sght to

th qusto ofobjectives s offr hr wth artcular mhass o aras of mortac ras urgth bat srs. Oc aga, th tto s o way to sk to rouc a blurt of objctvs

(somthg whch v aftr susta bat woul b a task fraught wth ffcults), but rathr to

stmulat furthr scusso. Sc th bat surroug mmory tatvs s yt to fully matur, th

mortac of such scusso caot b ovrstat. Crta of th lmmas ras arlr ar crucal to

ths scusso: qustos of multl a ultmat objctvs; yamsm; a th rlatosh wth othr

mchasms, artcular trbuals. Ths ca b alt wth tur.

Multiple and Ultimate ObjectivesOwg to th ag-ol ractc of mmoralsato, rhas th mmat objctvs that ar brought to

m wh th ssu of mmory tatvs s ras s that of gfyg vctms a of commmoratos,

ato to th rlat objctv of combatg rvsosm. Whlst such objctvs ar ostsbly

arorat a sm to sak to th valu of ths tatvs, th multl mags of mmory as

alray scuss, artcular th loa cocts of vctm, rtrator a bystar, ras

mmat roblms wth such smgly hoourabl objctvs. Attmtg to forwar altratvs

- rhas thos am at socal bat - orr to combat ths cocrs ar qually roblmatc

howvr, sc thy may logcally owlay such commmoratv s. Th lmma ras arlr s

thus th ovrrg challg: how to rcocl th smultaous cssty of gfyg vctms whlst

also sakg to a socty as a whol th ursut of rosctv ams.

Our young people are not responsible for what happened over forty years ago. But they are

responsible for the historical consequences. We in the older generation owe to young people

not the fulfilment of dreams but honesty. We must help younger people to understand why it is

vital to keep memories alive. We want to help them to accept historical truth soberly, not one-

sidedly, without taking refuge in utopian doctrines, but also without moral arrogance. From our

own history we learn what man is capable of. For that reason we must not imagine that we are

quite different and have become better. There is no ultimately achievable moral perfection.

12 Dr Nacy Alr, Ert Mg, 15 Stmbr 2010

13 Dr Aja Mhr, Ert Mg, 15 Stmbr 2010.


22/40


Th mattr s furthr comlcat by rc of mmory tatvs ractc, sc vc ca b

forwar mostratg a vrtabl rag of ostv objctvs maatg from vual tatvs.

Usg th Sash aml oc mor, rct fforts to ram strts, ackowlg crms o both

ss as wll as orgas commmoratos aar to hav ha a ostv mact o th rvalg

cultur of slc. Furthrmor, tatvs Grmay ar urway to gv sac to urstag

Naz rtrators, whch aar to hav ha ostv outcoms for rjctg th sml mosato of

rtrators favour of comrhg thr actos. Th truth that ths rvals about mass volca GHRV s oft ovrlook ost-coflct, but fs a mortat lac cocrg objctvs of

o-rcurrc. Whthr th suos objctv of a moral jugmt of rtrators fts wth ths

ca howvr b cotst. Equally, thr ar may amls of succssful tatvs that rrst

th mmory of o grou of vctms, but th ottal cotrast wth thos tatvs that romot th

suffrg of all vctms s mortat to cosr. What must b kt m s that jugg succss a

ostv outcoms s havly t uo th obsrvr, scally cocrg ssus as motv as

coflct a GHRV. Furthrmor, a ostv outcom o cott may la to tso aothr.

At ths stag t s cssary to offr a rlmary cocluso. That s, that th root of th roblm facg

objctvs s th attmt to try to atly bo th multifaceted meaning of memoryto masurabl

objctvs, so as to gaug succss across th boar. Ths volvs tryg to grals a myra of

tatvs to a smlf mol of succss: a blurt. Ths rsks rroucg ast malractc,

sc whlst t may ot b asy for may acamcs a mor mortatly racttors to acct, ths

vry ovr-smlfcato ca qut raly b stat as urmg th ottal ostv mact of

tratoal crmal justc. Put smly, rooucg w-ragg objctvs that smultaously

look to jug th ast a gu th futur may crat saotmt, a th absc of cocrt

vc, somwhat glgtly assurs oulatos that crmal justc wll hav a strumtal

mact. For mmory tatvs th hrt rsks ar th sam. For whlst t may b tmtg to assg

multl wll-tto objctvs, a hyothss cotrast btw victim initiatives that voc th

story of o grou of vctms a multi-ethnic or multi-memorytatvs that gv voc to all vctms14 -

or at th vry last th mlct cosratos makg such stctos - may ot b asly ovrcom.

Thus, as outsrs amg to assst oulaos brakg a cultur of muty (of whch slc sa ctral comot) t s cssary to roc wth cauo. What must b kt m s that volc

s usually lay out ts most vastag form at th grassroots lvl a orary commus.

Ths csstats that ths commus ar volv th rocss of trvo, orr for th

av to hav urchas whr ts objcvs ar most , wthout romacsg thr volvmt.

Morovr, as art of ths rocss, th tmtao to ovrbur avs wth a rag of ostsbly

mortat objcvs shoul b rsst; a mor ralsc aroach wll avo saotmt. Crucally,

bfor amg ay assstac t aars fuamtal to ursta how th ast cous to act

th futur th arcular cott so that avs ca b sg to truly brg about osv cts

combag muty, but also to avo atagosg mmbrs of th oulao a rtuag muty.

Fally, rhas th ulmat cauo wth whch outsrs ca roc s to avo th tmtao to always

sk to trv. Th coutlss mmory avs that hav b stablsh by oulaos ar GHRV

shoul b gv rorty rsarch f th sr s to truly ursta th objcvs of mmory avs.

Whlst oos of th rul of law, rcogsg th surg of all, gvg sac to rtrators, a so forth

may aar hoourabl objcvs, thy may qually b a arot to th gty of crta actors ar

GHRV. Or thy may ot. Th ky ot s to avo mosg valus uo commus that may ot b ray

to rcv thm. Ev goo tos may racc b avrttly thoctrc or atralsc. Th

lk to mchasms of TJ s also rlvat, sc th absc of (for aml) roscuos, th tt

to whch commus ca b ct to mbrac th arrav a mmory of thos whom thy m

to b rsosbl for GHRV s ot for outsrs to trm. It s thrfor mortat to rcogs th

otal for rt objcvs both accorg to th cott a accorg to th authors of a av.

Ivuals a th commus to whch thy blog may rst m to rct o thr surg a

14 Do va Brg, Mmoralsao Cofrc, 30 Novmbr 2010.


23/40


to vlo a urstag about th ast to form thr vual a collcv mmors, bfor

mor roscv a clusv mmors ca b vlo, clug thos of grous wth whom thy may

ot mmatly fy.

DynamismHavg scuss at som lgth th roblms facg gralsaos of th objcvs of mmory avs,

ao ca othlss b bry gv to vc org a sght to th otal cotrbuothat mmory avs may mak, rlvat to objcvs. Hr th ssu of yamsm s mortat.

As mto wh scussg th mag of mmory, yamsm at mmory tatvs may tak

may forms. Th aml of th luralty of rsctvs a mmors ca aga b mostrat

by rfrc to th umbr of WWII mmorals th Nthrlas alo. Such luralty allows for

broa cotrbutos to form a collctv mmory about th ast. Itatvs urway Grmay

to am th rol of th rtrator th Naz-ra may rov a smlar cotrbuto. Hr, by

avog th sml rstato of rtrators as hrtly vl wthout furthr aalyss, tatvs

sk to challg rctos by troucg ascts of what Haah Art trm, th Banality of

Evil. Ths aroach also avos uhlful abstract otos. Th challg fac s to balac th stct

for mosato agast th rsks of aarg symathtc to th rtrato of GHRV. Fg

ths arorat balac comprehension of ast acts bas o wr soctal cotos, ca hav

ottally far-rachg mact o th o-rcurrc of atrocts. I Grmay, ths has volv th

rstato of both th ormalty of coctrato cam guars (thr banality) as wll as objcts that

ar outwarly ocuous.15 Th yamsm of ths tatvs s thr ablty to challg rctos,

sortat th obsrvr a blur rvously mmovabl bouars.16

Dg o thr sg, mmory tatvs may allow yt furthr yamsm. Wh accoma

by or thmslvs stmulatg furthr rsarch, tatvs may oc aga rch mmory of th ast

wth w trrtatos a formato. I tur, ths may a to thr ffctvss furthrg

objctvs rlat to brakg culturs of slc a fostrg alogu bas o form hstorcal

urstags. Ev thos vturs that may aar statc - moumts, tc. - ca b fus wth

yamsm wh accoma by rsarch. Morovr, yamsm may go byo mrly rsarch toclu th rformac of wr, rhas ractcal fuctos at or alogs mmory tatvs.

Of cours, lorato of th cotrbuto of tatvs that ar a of thmslvs yamc - for

aml rformac arts - s of qual mortac. Elorg th fuso of tratoal mmory

tatvs wth yamc lmts, as wll as th mrgg rol of yamc tatvs wll cotrbut to

urstag muty aftr GHRV.

Relationship with other mechanisms: TribunalsCovtoal wsom hols that crmal roscutos aftr th rtrato of GHRV assst th

avoac of th moral cl that othrws rsults from muty. Crmal roscutos of cours

also targt th smlst mafstato of muty through lvrg rtrbutv justc for ast

crms. Yt ths lattr rsct thy ar also o to crtcsm wh sttutoals as th formost

aroach to combatg muty a to TJ a artcular cott. Sc by thr vry atur thy wll

oly vr covct th tip of the iceberg,17 frustrato may mout. Furthrmor, thr ar cosrabl

oubts about th ablty of crmal trals to rouc hstorcal rcors, form art by th sha

of rocgs as bg rct towars th wg of cass a art by th asrato to clos th

books o a artcular cas. Cotractos thus abou. For as has alray b mostrat, mmory

shoul ally ot b bas o vctors ology a must b fus wth th yamsm a o-

ss that may b byo th strcturs of crmal roscutos.

15 Dr Smo Erl, Mmoralsao Cofrc, 30 Novmbr 2010.

16 Ib.

17 Hrma vo Hbl, Ert Mg, 15 Stmbr 2010.


24/40


I o rsct, ths stat of affars coul o th oor for Outrach actvts, whch hav gagmt

wth grassroots oulatos as thr cor rcl. Currt ractc ths oma s howvr

grossly urvlo, st th bst fforts of thos assg ts mammoth, urfu task.

Nvrthlss, th sam way whch crmal roscutos ca b us as a mas of gagmt

through Outrach, so too coul roscutos b us to stmulat mmory tatvs - thr lmtatos

otwthstag. It woul aar that f al sstvly thr ar mutual aras for forcmt,

whrby mmory tatvs coul grow out of crmal rocgs - thr rctly or as a mas torch ottally lmt arratvs. Morovr, mmory tatvs may stmulat th roscuto

of thos who rtrat GHRV (vokg smlar cosratos as cocr th bat rlatosh

btw trbuals a truth commssos). A trstg ara for furthr rsarch ths rgar s th

qusto of th tt to whch mmory tatvs ca fll ay gas lft by crmal justc.

Th hyothss valu of mmory tatvs alogs crmal roscutos s oc aga thr

ottally broar sco a yamsm. Itatvs may focus mor succssfully o th collctv

mmory of th ast through th ys of a artcular grou or socty, whlst crmal rocgs ar

mor at at vwg through th ls of sgl rtrators. Argta rhas rrsts a cas

ot of ach of ths suggstos. Aftr th aoto of amsty laws 1989, rgy shft from

th ma for crmal roscutos to rsrvg mmory through flm, rotsts a th fforts of

yougr gratos to k mmory of th ast alv. As a rsult larg art of ths fforts, amsty

laws wr ovrtur 2005, wth crmal roscutos bgg soo aftr. Furthrmor, as a

cosquc of ths shft, w hstorcal trrtatos wr trouc, trasformg for aml

crms f as stat trrorsm to goc.18 Shfts oltcal orrs cssarly crat sac for

w sghts, whch cosqutly rouc w trrtatos of muty that ca ctat th futur

roscuto of cass. Th rol of mmory tatvs stmulatg ths vlomts s clar.

Thr ar of cours lmtatos. As alray mostrat, mmory tatvs may b o lss

cotrovrsal tha crmal roscutos; much lk roscutos thy too ca ottally hr

objctvs such as rcoclato. Furthr, th rlatosh btw th mchasms s crtaly mor

coml tha th brf aalyss hr suggsts, wth th vry atur of roscutos bg bas uo

forsc truth, as comar to th socal truths at mmory tatvs. Furthr rsarch woul formths rlatosh, though crta latt caacts aar to st whrby ths mchasms coul work

togthr - th mutually-rforcg stmul suggst abov rrstg a obvous aml - but th

cotours of ths rlatosh rqur mag. If thr s lac for oral hstors urg crmal

roscutos, th ths shoul b lor. Th suggsto has b ras that urg th vstgato

has of a cas bfor tral, th gathrg of vc a trvwg of wtsss coul offr grat

avatag for th collcto of oral hstors for bulg hstorcal rcors ato to th forsc

vc rqur at tral.19 Subjct of cours to th amstrato of justc, rghts of th accus to a

far tral a th fuamtal rul of law, ths ossblty must b cosr.

18 Prof To Robb, Ert Mg, 15 Stmbr 2010.

19 Dr Dk Hous, Ert Mg, 15 Stmbr 2010.


25/40


6. INCLUSION AND DIVISION

...[memory initiatives] can be very ugly processes.

(Dr Malathi de Alwis, Memorialisation Conference)

...in the Balkans, Serb victims have the lowest status in the hierarchy of victims that has emerged...

Bosniaks and Kosovo Albanians have attained the highest status...the danger is when these hierarchiesare reproduced within victim organisations, with everyone clamouring for the highest status...

(Participant, Memorialisation Conference)

I th troucto to ths Rort cauto was ras that th ossbl avrs ffcts of mmory

tatvs rqur qual f ot gratr attto. Th cmtg of vsos, oltcal maulato a

mosato ar just som of th trsc rsks, wth artcular ffcults cocrg th tt to

whch tatvs ca a v shoul courag crtcal slf-rflcto. Truth tslf s a hrtly

vsv coct.

Furthr amls of th lcat rojct of mmory ar GHRV hav also b lor th forgog

chatrs. Through all of th rhtorc, th mssag s clar: thr s a l btw bcal mmory

avs a very ugly processes.

Ev ar bag ths ssus wth youg stakholrs, rts a olcy-makrs, ovrcomg ths

l rmas somwhat llusv. Th roblm as has alray b arss s th vry atur of mmory

as bg wholly trtw wth vsos of th ast. Morovr, th trlay of ths yamc s scc

to ach arcular cott, surg that th task of mmory avs s a formabl o. Hr, th

amt wll ot b to raw bst racc-styl coclusos, but rathr to hghlght mmory avs ras

urg th bat srs wth accomayg aalyss rct towars ots of focus that ar ssal to

urstag th trlay btw ths avs, muty a culturs of slc.

A av rawg arcular cotrovrsy was ras urg th rst bat th srs. Th Plaasmoorde

moumt South Afrca to commmorat Wht farmrs who hav b vcm of farm aacks sc thfall of Aarth mostrats salt thc olarsao. To th vcms a thr famls, th av

rrsts vcmsao for olcal s - v wth th stats comlcty - a to som sgs a

amt Goc occurrg th wr socty. Th moumt has thus bcom symbolc of orts to

rsrv thAfrikanera Boercultur South Afrca. To th vcms, thr vcmsao gos uoc by

th traoal commuty gv th hstory of Aarth. By cotrast, to may othr South Afrcas a

may wth th traoal commuty, th av s rgar as symbolsg a racst morty. Two

fuamtally oos truths a cosqutly mmors of ths vts thus st a stat of rtual

tso, v st of th rhtorc of rcoclao ou by th TRC. For th grou that clams

owrsh of ths av howvr, th mmoral rrsts theirtrrtao a mmory.

Aoal amls ca b ct. A smlar yamc s vt surroug th Valley of the Fallen Sa,

sc st ts costruco to commmorat all vcms of th cvl war, Fracos bural at th st a

rsoal cso to costruct th av, clug th us of olcal rsors ts costruco (of

whom svral urg th har labour), ca b cosr to rtuat Sas surss vsos.

Ev a moumt to th Surams a-coloal wrtr a rsstac ghtr, Ato Kom th

Nthrlas caus cotrovrsy wh uvl. Th co of Kom, bar-chst a rsg from sto

s crcs as rtuag th mag of slavry a th racst oo of Kom as a rmv cratur. Such

amls rval th for ssvty to rt trrtaos, scally wh amg to stablsh

avs for th bt of all grous, socty as a whol or to covy a mssag to socty.


26/40


Ths amls ar mafstaos of th hyothss rcs objcvs that ar trch btw

may vicm iniaves o th o ha a mul-ethnic or mul-memoryiniaves o th othr.20 For may (ot

all) vicm iniaves th to s solly to rrst th oso a mmory of ts grou, rgarlss of th

vsos that may rsult. By cotrast, mul-ethnic avs amt to b clusv, a shoul thrfor b mor

ssv to both th sg a mssag rst, whch rqurs that outsrs ar alv to olcal arravs.

Th sam shoul of cours aly wh gagg wth vicm iniaves but th vry atur of ths avs as

rrsg th mmory of crta stakholrs may mlctly crat vso. I, tso may rsult vfrom bst tos. At th Srbrca mmoral Bosa, th sr of th avs Drctor for oss a

rco about th ast, through allowg th much-malg DUTCHBAT solrs to ay thr rscts, was mt

wth strog rsstac from th owrs of th av: th mothrs a wows of thos murr. 21 Fally, as

th cas of th Balkas also mostrats, whr a hrarchy of vcms s crat - lacg crta grous abov

othrs - mul-ethnic iniaves may thmslvs cotrbut to stort trrtaos of th ast.

Thr ar of cours may succssful amls of avs to vcms - th Plan de Sanchez chal mmoral

Baja Vraaz, Guatmala ct as just o. Ths strkg aml of vcm ackowlgmt ha ts

lgmacy corm by a rulg by th Itr-Amrca Court of Huma Rghts that acts of Genocide ha b

comm as art of a stat olcy th Court strssg th gravty of ths acts st lackg jursco

ur ts foug Covo to rul o th quso of Goc. Hr, th socal a olcal cott

arou th av has bcom mortat. Ths yamc othlss may hav gav cosqucs,

mostrag th otal for vso whr soco-coomc coos coct to th ast cou to

uc th rst. Th Monument of Halabja Martyrs Iraq s mostrav. Frst augurat 2003

to hoour vcms of Saam Husss oso gas camag 1988, just thr yars latr th moumt was

rus. A rotst o th avrsary of th gas aacks to comla about th rvalg srat coo

of th tow 18 yars ar th aacks (wth th govrmt blam for og ll to mrov th stuao,

st havg bult a mrssv w moumt) vtually rsult th moumt bg st o r a

a 17-yar-ol boy bg shot a. For may, th moumt ow symbolss th srao of th rst,

rathr tha a mmoral to th ast. Ths vv aml llustrats that mmory avs caot b tak

solao, or ca thy alo gu a commuty away from ts ast.

Th sgcac of ths fact, v for yougr graos who wr ot always rct wtsss to th ast, shoulot b ursmat. Guatmala ca oc aga b hghlght. Durg th bat wth youth rrstavs,

th aml of th Eternal Flame to mark th coutrys ac accors was ct as a aml of a av wth

ll mag. Sc th ac accors ot sur chag th rvalg socal coos, or jusc for

th crms comm for th Guatmala ol, th rrstav (whos mothr was a vcm of abuco

a tortur a who ow lvs th Nthrlas) coul s ll ls tha a hollow mssag. 22 Such rco

mostrats that mmory avs caot b vorc from wr olcal ssus, arcularly thos gav

os, or ca th augurao of a av a of tslf b ough, arcularly whr t s trrt as

a mty gstur. Hr, th mact of such symbolc forms of rarao wll ot b ough th absc of

tagbl chag. I ths rsct, th csos cocrg th rtrao of Goc by stat arm forcs a

aramltary Guatmala ot oly mact uo th collcv mmory of th ast, but srv also to furthr

cmt th lgmacy of may vicm iniaves. Th rulg by th Itraoal Court of Jusc g that

Goc was comm Srbrca - ao to subsqut csos at th Itraoal Crmal Trbual

for th formr Yugoslava - ha a aalogous ct Bosa. What ca b s s that such jucal trmaos

also act as guarators of th mmory at ths avs, smultaously rvg olcal maulao.

A cauoary ot shoul howvr b aach hr. I Rwaa, jucal lgmacy cocrg Goc

trmaos has b maulat by th Govrmt to rforc ts ow alcao of mmory.

I may stuaos t ca b hyothss that balac a aquat formao coul assst combag

olarsao. Ths coul b furthr guarat by clusvss as to th volvmt of local commus,

arcularly across ast ls of vso. Howvr, oc aga th ssu otally bcoms o of th

rc btw vicm or mul-ethnic/mul-memory iniaves.

20 Do va Brg, Mmoralsao Cofrc, 30 Novmbr 2010.

21 Ib.

22 Javr, Youth Rrstav (Guatmala a th Nthrlas), Futur Graos Dbat, 22 Arl 2010.


27/40


7. FUTURE GENERATIONS

...young people in Cambodia are largely unaware of the past, with the survivor generation also failing to

communicate exactly what occurred...[thus] the starting point is silence in Cambodian society...

(Kristina Chhim, Memorialisation Conference)

Monuments. Whats in it for me?(Future Generations Debate)

No-rcurrc s commoly ct as o of th rcal juscaos for mmory avs. By ts vry

atur ths objcv saks to futur a yougr graos (hrar smly, futur graos). Th

suggso s that ths graos ar ssal to combag muty a brakg culturs of slc.

Svral amls hav alray b ct whch by mlcato ot to th mortac of futur

gratos, as wll as o-rcurrc. Whthr th tamrg of mmory of Sovt crms or th

(utl-rctly) absc of rfrc to th Khmr Roug hstory books, th mortac attach by a

formr Grma Prst to kg mmory of th ast alv amog youg ol, th owr of youth

tatvs Argta, or th sghtful rflctos o th ast by a Guatmala youth, th rol of ths

gratos aars ffcult to y. I ths ss, ths amls attst to th frc that futur

gratos ar ot mr assv rcts of hstory a mmory, but rathr ar actv artcats

th rocss of ts trrtato a cotstato.

Ths of cours has ffrt mlcatos g o th ag of thos futur gratos. At th lowr

s of th sctrum, gagmt through mmory tatvs may hl to vlo crtcal thkg

a stl mocratc valus. By comarso, th aformto amls mostrat that futur

gratos thmslvs ca b mortat to shag mmory, thr mobls by or moblsg mmory

tatvs. Th owr a caablts of futur gratos shoul b harss ost-coflct sttgs

a wth aroachs to combatg muty, artcularly cocrg brakg culturs of slc. At

th tm of wrtg, futur gratos wr layg a ctral rol th r-wrtg of hstory a th

ltral targ ow of th mmory tatvs rrstg rgms across th Arab Worl. Th owr ofyouth has also b wtss a gatv ss by cotrast, whrby moumts of WWII wr us

to ct yougr gratos to artcat th Balkas coflcts. Ths ar just som of th may

rlvat amls.

Whlst gagg futur gratos may b rlatvly aomatc som stuatos, othrs t may b

mor ffcult. Ths s ot t to sarag futur gratos, but rathr s a atural cosquc

of th fact that ths gratos may ot hav b rct wtsss to th acts to whch mmory

tatvs rfr, may hav b too youg to fully comrh th acts, or may hav ffculty u

to thr rcs wth ay attmts to rcall th ast. Ths ffcts ar aturally ffrt for

gratos (for aml) Euroa coutrs rflctg o WWII, as comar to thos gratos

for whom th GHRV of th ast ar vry much art of th rst socal fabrc. A rag of th

scusso hr shoul thus k ths ackowlgmt m.

Nothlss, at th outst of th bat srs, ths challg of gagg futur gratos was

aart. A youth rrstatv bor th formr Dutch coloy a slav ost of Curaao rss

that a lack of rsoal rlato to th vts mat that WWII moumts ha o mag to hm.

By cotrast, aothr youth rrstatv wth o rsoal rlato to th vts fou that h

coul tfy wth a statu markg rotsts by Amstram ockworkrs agast th ortato of

Jwsh rsts, art bcaus of ts clar mssag. By th sam rasog, h fou th mag

of a moumt rct by th Jwsh commuty as a sg of grattu to th ol of Amstram

who hl Jws to va rscuto ffcult to ursta, sc th Nthrlas lost 75% of ts

Jwsh oulato. Varous yamcs ar at work hr, but o mortat frc to b raw s that

ucato alogs mmory tatvs, scally thos that ar mor statc, s mortat. Iculcatgrflcto a alogu wll assst cratg urstag about thos tagbl ascts of GHRV


28/40


a thr mortac for th futur, artcularly whr a absc of rsoal cocto may lav

tatvs abst of mag. Ths s qually alcabl to othr gratos socts. What shoul

o way b rvt howvr s halthy scusso of th ast whr arorat as stmulat by

mmory tatvs, for ths s at th vry hart of th crato of collctv mmors a cssary for

urstag that ast.

Th othr yamc to b raw from abov rhas rlats to a ss of owrsh. Ths s artcularlyat for thos gratos ot rcg GHRV frst ha. For orr for mmory tatvs to

ay way cotrbut to combatg muty a culturs of slc, a cocto must b stablsh to

th ol. O ossbl aroach to tak woul aga volv ucatoal rogramms, wth amls

alray ct of th cosqucs of clug balac hstors from school currcula. Morovr, th

mortac of asthtcs shoul ot b urstmat for futur gratos. Just as ucato ca

stmulat rflcto, so too ca vsual rsso rovok smlar gagmt. Oc aga th vws of

youth rrstatvs ar llumatg. I ato to ts clar mssag, th rrstatv la

that th brav aarac of th ockworkr statu l to hs rsoal tfcato, whlst Curaao

th vsual a motv mact of tatvs rrstg th slav ursg was mortat. Fally, v

awar of cotrovrsy surroug th statu of Ato Kom, th youth rrstatv fou th

tatv to b asthtcally gagg. Such sght shoul b h.

I orr to ot rtuat muty a culturs of slc, futur graos ar fuamtal to th

rocss of TJ gral, a mmory avs arcular. Thy must b clu a accor a ctral

rol ay av alg wth th ast a b os to th mull vrsos of hstory, trrtaos

a vts of th ast a luralsc a balac fasho. That bg sa, oc aga th ssu ofvicm

a mul-ethnic/mul-memory avs coms to th for. I th lar, ctuag th mortac of ths

volvmt s rlavly straghorwar, whras th formr ths s lkly mor cult. I ths stuaos

th challg s to mthos to gag futur graos ways that o ot o th ssal

mssag a mortac ofvicm iniaves to thr owrs a to socs gral.

8. OWNERSHIP: ENGAGING WITH THE GRASSROOTS...the best way of doing truth-telling is where people live: in the local communities...

(Dion van den Berg, Memorialisation Conference)

...critical reflection is needed from outsiders to appreciate unintended consequences....

(Dr Jens Meierhenrich, Memorialisation Conference)

Thr s a mrgg ralsato that th rmt of TJ must bttr rflct th artcularts of

ach cott a b fus wth grassroots urstags. Ths bottom-u aroach s mortat

to culcatg a ss of owrsh. I th combatg of muty a culturs of slc, a th

framwork of huma rghts, ths ralsato must b gv a mor ctral rol. I, whlst mmory

tatvs must cssarly b s as flucg socal a oltcal chags, thy must also b rct

towars ostv chag at th grassroots.

Oc aga, racc s mostrav. Takg as a aml th currt clmat of a sct to-ow

arrav Rwaa whr a hug chuk of th oulao s cvly alat, vc suggsts

that at th grassroots ths stat-sosor avs vrthlss hav ll mact. I, whlst th

otal for such vsv rhtorc from th to-ow to gavly uc mmory a ology

Rwaa shoul ot b forgo, for orary ol skg to goat a com to trms wth thr

ast a th aths of thr rlavs, formal avs hav smgly much gratr sgcac. Th

mortac of ths mssag shoul b h. For coclug ths Rort Arl 2011 - th bgg of

th svtth commmorao ro of th Goc - cotracos abou. Th arrav romot

by th currt Rwaa rgm focuss clusvly o GHRV comm agast th Tuts oulao,cvly crmalss th Hutu thcty, but also clus from th mos collcv mmory thos


29/40


23 Th Rwaa Patroc Frot (RPF) a ts mltary wg, th Rwaa Patroc Army (RPA) wr l by th currt Prst

of Rwaa, Paul Kagam. Dst bg crt for ug a to th Goc, mor qusos ar bg ask about th RPFs rol

bfor, urg a ar th vts of 1994. I 2010, a UN ror t fou vc to suggst that th RPF ha comm massv humarghts volaos a volaos of traoal law Zar (DRC). Th rort v suggst that goc may hav b comm,

though th al rort was sgcatly watr-ow ar rotsts from Rwaa.

24 Dr Js Mrhrch, Mmoralsao Cofrc, 30 Novmbr 2010.

Hutus who ot arcat or acvly rfus to jo th kllgs, as wll as thos volaos comm

by th RPF23 th cours of halg th Goc a thrar agast cvla rfugs Zar (ow

th DRC). It rmas to b s what th log-trm cts of ths arrav wll b - st of growg

scott both s Rwaa a at a traoal lvl - but th short-trm th cotracos ca

b s th thm of th ths yars commmorao ro: Commemorang the Genocide against the

Tutsi: Upholding the Truth, Preserving our Dignity.

I ths rsct, th frc s that may cotts thr may currtly b somthg of a corrlato

btw th sz of a tatv, a cosqutly th lvl of tratoal fafar t rcvs, a th

tralsato of that tatv at th grassroots. Th suggsto s that formal tatvs of mmory

ar mor rlvat to orary ol. Ths rlatosh may furthrmor traslat to rocsss of

truth-tllg, whrby local commuts bcom th most sutabl a ffctv aras for truth-

tllg. Ths rocss shoul b bttr urstoo a frr to, sc wh o rsctfully a

clusvly ths may wll rov a strog bas for combatg muty by allowg a host amato

of stakholrs a ast GHRV, whch tur ca bft futur gratos. Mor cocrt ffort s

to ursta ths rocss a to truly gag wth local commuts th rocss of truth-

tllg a culcatg owrsh of a collctv mmory. Ths rmas a challg, but th frst st

s to lor ths stg formal tatvs orr to ursta th rol that thy lay for local

commuts alg wth mmors of th ast. Furthrmor, what s uclar s th tt to whch such

local yamcs ca la to rofou mact o a soctys cultur of muty, or whthr tal rogrss

must b bult uo largr tatvs.

Nothlss, outs volvmt shoul ot b scourag out of ha. Wth gratr arcato of

th yamcs at lay at th grassroots of a artcular cott, outsrs ca bg to gag wth local

commuts orr to ursta whr tratoal fforts ca cotrbut most ffctvly. I

ths rocss owrsh s aga ky, mag that commuts must b affor th ctral rol th

crato a matac of tatvs. Such volvmt must b mortat to fulfllg ot oly th

hyothss objctvs of commmorato a gty, but also th rocss of host rflcto o th

ast. Wth cras owrsh wll also ottally ars cras cocto to futur gratos, as

scuss abov. Th bft of stac for outsrs wll also allow for a objctv amato of throot causs of GHRV, whch ca b f to mmory tatvs. Ths fuso of a objctv vw of th

ast wth subjctv ralts may wll rov a strog bas for arssg culturs of slc a may

furthrmor assst v commuts urstag th ralts that fac, a ar facg, th

Othr. Howvr, such caot b achv whr th outs gagmt s ot utral.

I attmtg to assst commuts aftr volc rflcto by outsrs s fuamtal. A crtcal

amato of fforts s cssary orr to both arcat th ossblty of ut

cosqucs24 a to avo romotg oltcal agas. Orgasatos Rwaa coul wll lar from

ths warg. Sc just as outs gagmt ca hav a ottally ostv mact o th collctv

mmory a for crta objctvs that mmory tatvs may wll b abl to achv, th rsk a

ossblty of gatv cosqucs s vry ral. Th agr of bcomg comlct th romoto of

oltcal agas, bas arratvs a th trsts of o grou of stakholrs, a cosqutly

fullg a cultur of slc that brs muty, s omrst for outsrs. Ths mas that

sstvty must b balac by th matac of crtcal stac. Smly bcaus gagmt shoul

b sstv to stakholr a artcular grassroots trsts, ths os ot automatcally rr

thos trsts lgtmat a bfcal for that cott a th combatg of muty. Ths shoul

rma at th forfrot of gagmt, whthr wth victim initiatives or multi-ethnic/multi-memory

initiatives. Just as tcs shoul ot b mos from th to-ow, bottom-u trsts caot

always rval, artcularly wh thos trsts may gatvly affct trastos from volc.


30/40


9. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Th bats, rort a aalyss rval svral mortat coclusos cocrg mmory tatvs.

Whlst furthr rsarch s to ursta th rlatosh btw mmory tatvs a

muty, th followg aras must b bult uo, as rct th bat srs.

Mmory s both a yamc a vsv rocss. Th caacty of mmory tatvs to cotrbut toboth rtrosctv a rosctv objctvs aftr th rtrato of GHRV ca b a ottally

sgfcat fluc o culturs of slc a muty. Equally, th rocss may qut ossbly o

ol wous a rvgorat coflct. Thus, whlst rflcto o th ast s mortat, tmg s crucal.

Mmory must b gv rcogto as a rocss that volvs, wth suffct tm a sac for such

voluto. Commuts affct by GHRV must b affor tm to com to trms wth thr ast whlst

gotatg th aftr-ffcts of volc that rval thr commuts. Ths commuts must b

accor a ctral rol lmtg th bouars of whr mmory tatvs ca b utls a

what thy ca achv, artcularly utl furthr rsarch stablshs a bttr urstag of th

cotrbuto - ostv or gatv - of mmory tatvs ractc. Ths volvs allowg objctvs

to b artculat at th grassroots, ot mos from outs, a ot mos accorg to o-sz-

fts-all blurts. Itfyg cross-cuttg lmmas btw cotts s ot th sam as attmtg to

grals aroachs.

Aftr th las of suffct tm, commuts may b courag to rflct crtcally o th ast, whch

clus th rol of formr ms or thos who commtt GHRV. Hr, whlst comrhso s ot

quvalt to symathy, mosato s uhlful th log-trm as t omts cosrato of wr

cotrbutg factors. I ths ss, th currt rtrator-vctm-bystar aragm s oft artfcal

a hrs host gagmt wth th ast a collctv mmors. Outsrs ca courag

such rflcto, but must rma alrt to th mact of thr volvmt a ossbl ut

cosqucs. Matag a crtcal stac wll hl to avo th rsks of oltcsato a romotg

oltcal agas.

Th multl mag of facts, truth a mmory v wth collctv mmory s a challgaftr volc, but qually th vry thg that ca lbrat commuts from th scourg of muty

a culturs of slc aftr GHRV. I th mmat aftrmath of GHRV howvr, a awarss of th

ffrcs btw hyothss victim initiatives a multi-ethnic/multi-memory initiatives may wll

b a crucal startg ot.

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS

Rsct th htrogty of mmory tatvs. Rsct must b gv to th ottal

vso btw tatvs that am to am a ursta th ast a lctly

utral mar, skg objctvs clug trrc, hstorcal arratvs, a th

romoto of tr- a tra-commuty urstag, wth a lct y to brakgculturs of slc, a thos tatvs that - at last th mmat yars aftr GHRV -

sk to romot urly th trsts of vual grous or commuts, whch may frst

b commmorato, comg to trms wth volc, urstag th ast a alg wth

rvalg ralts.

Mmory tatvs hav a rol as art of a holstc TJ aga, alogs othr mchasms.

Mor rsarch s a comrhsv a susta mar orr to ursta th

rol of mmory tatvs aftr volc.


31/40


Takg h of th abov Gral Rcommatos, mmory tatvs ar a rocss. Whr

t s sr, tm must b allow for commuts to al wth th ast bfor strumtal

objctvs ar attmt. Th motv subjct of GHRV may ma that mmors ar too raw

th mmat aftrmath of volatos to cotmlat broar objctvs.

Assstg th rocss of TJ a mmory tatvs must b urtak a bottom-u

mar, sc ths mchasms shoul ot b mos from th outs. Gratr

cosrato of cott s fuamtal to truly combatg culturs of slc a muty.

Ths volvs actv gagmt wth th grassroots to ursta th s a ralts as

rss by orary ol.

Sstvty to cott a cosultg wth affct commuts must b o a way

that rscts a crtcal stac. Thos gagg wth th ssu of mmory must b alv to

ut rsks of romotg oltcal agas.

As th rc of mchasms of TJ s bgg to mostrat, thr ar mlct

rsks of romotg a attmtg multl a strumtal objctvs. Egagmt wth

th grassroots shoul assst fg th objctvs that mmory tatvs ca ursu.

Promotg multl objctvs, scally th absc of cocrt, mrcal vc, may

oly la to saotmt a furthr scott.

Th way whch ast volc a GHRV cotu to affct th rst must b urstoo

bfor ay trvto or assstac s attmt. Ths clus ot oly th mafstato

soco-coomc cotos, but also urstag that mmory tslf may st as th

fuamtal vso btw grous, or th fg factor of a grous tty as comar

to th Othr.

Th yamc atur of mmory a mmory tatvs shoul b harss. Ths sartcularly rlvat for gagg wth yougr gratos a for romotg ucato

about th full tt of th ast.

RECOMMENDATIONS TO OUTSIDERS

29


32/40


33/40


Appendix I

ORGANISATIONAL PARTNERS

Impunity Watch (IW) s a Nthrlas-bas, tratoal o-roft orgasato fou to ucovr

a arss th obstacls that obstruct may Trastoal Justc mchasms brgg truth, justc,

raratos a guarats of o-rtto to vctms; a roblm that oft rflcts a falur to takto accout local kowlg a cocrs thr sg. IWs aroach s to assst cvl socty - local

rts, actvsts a vctms - to hav a strogr ut olcy-makg ths shr, so that thr

grassroots kowlg, cotacts a sght ca hl crat olcs that truly rso to th rag of

s, cocrs a grvacs, a tackl muty at ts roots.

Th Anne Frank House (AFH) sras awarss of th lf story a ary of A Frak by matag

as a mmoral st th hous whch th Frak famly h a acquatg th global ublc wth hr

story a varty of ways. Th AFH ams to sr rflcto o, a scusso of, th agrs of at-

Smtsm, racsm, a scrmato, a, rlat to ths, to grat bat o th mortac of

from, qual rghts ur th law a mocracy.

31


34/40


35/40


Appendix II

DEFINITIONS

Impunity: the impossibility de jure or de facto of bringing the perpetrators of serious crimes and gross

violations of human rights under international law to account whether in criminal, civil, administrativeor disciplinary proceedings since they are not subject to any inquiry that might lead to their being

accused, arrested, tried and, if found guilty, sentenced to appropriate penalties, and to making

reparations to their victims.

Masurs sg to rvt rcurrc of such volatos, whl ot amoutg to accoutablty as

such, ar a crucal atoal comot of a aquat stat rsos. IW blvs muty to b a

cosquc of tfabl obstacls s ky aras: ormatv framwork, sttutoal rsourcs

a caacty, c a wllgss, oltcal wll, fluc of trch trsts a soctal

factors wth coutrs.

Accorg to IW, rsosblty clus a crmal law mso (vual rsosblty a stat

oblgatos to stablsh jurscto ovr vuals a ovr crms) a a huma rghts law mso

(stat oblgatos to rov ffctv rms to vctms). Howvr, IW ss muty ot as a roblm

cof urly to lgal systms or to th amstrato of justc but as a symtom of waksss all

thr brachs of stat a so clus ths wth th sco of ts fto. Byo stat sttutos,

IW blvs that muty ts to th flucs of o-stat actors a soctal factors, whch ca

b crucal to th succss or falur of trastoal justc tatvs.

Memory Initiatives: any activity promoted by entrepreneurs of memory which aims to enhance the

understanding of a past characterised by conflic t, including the operation of museums and exhibits, the

erection and maintenance of memorials and monuments, the creation and observance of remembrance

days, musical and theatre workshops and performances on relevant topics, the creation of associations of

victims, their relatives, their communities and those who sympathise with and support them, the runningof educational, awareness-raising and remembrance programmes, and the gathering of information and

campaigning in relation to all of these approaches.

Etrrurs of mmory ar urstoo to clu thos vuals, grous a sttutos whch

am to hac th urstag of a coflctv ast, clug musums, assocatos of vctms,

thr rlatvs, thr commuts a thos who symaths wth a suort thm, such as huma a

morty rghts orgasatos, cvl socty orgasatos alg wth ucato a mmory, rlgous

grous, schools a uvrsts.

33


36/40


37/40


38/40


39/40


40/40

Impunity Watch

Covr mag: Frak Rutr.Imags of th saar a to

a wall Guatmala Cty, Guatmala.

Abst a traoal mmoral,

th sml mags ast to

ogog muty a srv as

famly-l avs to rmmbr

thr lov os.

Ths ublcao has b

ma ossbl by

IW Final Report Memorial is at Ion Debate Series

Documents

Transcript of IW Final Report Memorial is at Ion Debate Series