Source: (2003) London/New York: Amnesty International/Human Rights Watch. February. AI Index: AFR 53/001/2003.
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch are concerned that the recommendations of the TRC are not being seriously and fully implemented: in particular, that reparations have not been paid to victims of past human rights violations; that prosecutions have not been mounted against individuals about whom there is credible evidence of involvement in gross abuses; that there is discussion of legislation providing for a further amnesty; and that as a consequence of a court case the publication of the final two volumes of the TRC’s report was delayed by almost one year after their completion, contributing to a further delay in the implementation of reparations. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International are urging the government to take immediate steps to reverse these disturbing developments, particularly in the wake of the resolution on 29 January 2003 of a court case which had been obstructing the publication of the TRC’s final report. On 14 February 2003, President Thabo Mbeki will be addressing the opening of the South African parliament: he should include in his speech commitments to carry out the TRC’s recommendations and complete publication of its report…
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch urge the South African government both to take urgent steps to pay the reparations recommended by the TRC (or to publish an alternative framework for payment of adequate reparations), and to ensure that the other recommendations are implemented, in particular the prosecution of individuals identified by the TRC as being responsible for gross human rights violations. We also call on President Thabo Mbeki to make a public commitment that his government will not make nor implement any further agreements on amnesties for apartheid-era crimes. With the settlement of the case brought by the IFP, the final two volumes of the TRC’s report should be published without delay.
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