Plowshares staff members believe that a central component of building sustainable peace following conflicts involving widespread crimes against humanity and gross violations of human rights is rooted in principles of restorative justice.  We experienced the power of restoration as opposed to retribution in post-Apartheid South Africa and bring this experience and commitment to our work as advisors to the Commission for Truth and Friendship between Indonesia and East Timor.

Restorative justice understands crime as an act against an individual or community (as opposed an act against the state) and therefore focuses on the needs of the victims of a conflict and on restoring relationships between the conflicting parties. More holistic than the traditional retributive justice approach, restorative justice includes a comprehensive approach to mental, spiritual, and physical healing and reparations.  While this approach does not exclude the possibility of retributive justice, which focuses on punishing those responsible for the violations, it seeks to move beyond cycles of revenge, which can destabilize communities and nations for decades.

Over the past two years, we have been working with the Commission as they adopt principles of restorative justice both in their day-to-day work as well as their final recommendations to the governments of both nations.  The Commission has conducted a series of hearings with victims and perpetrators in both Indonesia and East Timor that seek to reveal the truth of what happened building to and following the 1999 referendum on the independence of East Timor.  As the Commission is approaching its conclusion in February 2008, it is working to establish measures to assure non re-occurrence of such violations and create constructive recommendations that seek to build positive relationships between individuals, communities and nations as the basis for friendship and possible reconciliation.

As our work with the Commission has continued, we have come to know and deeply appreciate the members of the two delegations. Although the eight members from each country initially entered the process with significantly different worldviews, over the last two years they have gradually come to understand, respect, and care for one another. This ministry of restorative justice and peacebuilding has been demanding, but in a many ways has been the most energizing and rewarding since our intensive work in South Africa leading to and following the first “all race” elections in 1994. We continually give God thanks for the amazing gifts of transformation and reconciliation. 

 

For Additional Background on Plowshares work the the CTF, please visit Background on Plowshares and CTF