Dr. Kofi Nsia-Pepra, assistant professor of political science, is author of an article published in The Air and Space Power Journal (ASPJ), professional journal of the US Air Force, Vol 4, No. 4, 4th Quarter, 2013
Titled “Truth and Justice- Appropriate Mechanism
of Accountability for War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity in Africa,”
the article examines the debate
and the dilemma of choice between truth commissions and tribunals. It evaluates
the success of cases of
both truth commissions and
tribunals focusing on transitional justice goals of impartiality,
accountability, reconciliation and deterrence and finds that neither truth commission nor trial
was on its own adequate to hold violators
of human rights accountable. Nsia-Pepra recommends a hybrid model of truth
commissions and tribunal as appropriate mechanism of accountability for war
crimes and crimes against humanity in Africa. He says “an adequate model must
consider that the operation of prosecution in tandem with truth commissions
would satisfy both supporters of truth and trial leading to healing and
reconciliation. Both truth and justice are not alternatives but integral parts
of a holistic approach to reconciliation and peace. Together, both tribunal and
truth commissions create a new paradigm for a society in transition from
ravaged horrible past to peace to address systematic abuses of human
rights. A true and lasting peace should comprise a mix of the truth,
forgiveness and justice to bridge the gap between the tribunal and truth
commissions.”
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