A Step in the Right Direction

I've said this several times - that a fundamental reconciliation has to occur between the different groups that were (directly and indirectly) affected by the war, and that this starts by accepting that the war is not just part of the past we can shut the door on. I'm glad to see that a conference on this has actually taken place, as pointed out by the Daily Star, which "looks at ways to come to terms with the past".

The article starts by asking:

Fifteen years after the end of Civil War, has Lebanon come to terms with the crimes of the past? Have a general amnesty and policy of "turning the page on the war" proved the most effective strategies in building a new democracy and ensuring long-term peace?

Those involved in the conference, which was organized by the International Center for Transititional Justice discussed "justice and prosecution, truth finding processes, reparation programs for victims, institutional reforms, reconciliation and peace building and, finally, memory and memorialization."

They point out that the governmental dealings with Israeli collaborators had a "political character, which neglected the victims' suffering". The recent banner of "national reconciliation" that the leading politicians waved at the crowds was actually appeasement. Starting from now, how can we work towards achieving a more lasting and more effective form of reconciliation?

posted by Lazarus, 7:05 AM