In search of remorse: confessions by perpetrators of past state violence
<p style="text-align:justify;"> IN THIS PAPER I FOCUS on the relationship between public confessions by perpetrators of past state authoritarian violence, and reconciliation. 1 This connection functions theo- retically: perpetrators of violence admit to what they did and apologize f...
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| Format: | Journal article |
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Brown University
2005
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| _version_ | 1797062624633946112 |
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| author | Payne, L |
| author_facet | Payne, L |
| author_sort | Payne, L |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | <p style="text-align:justify;"> IN THIS PAPER I FOCUS on the relationship between public confessions by perpetrators of past state authoritarian violence, and reconciliation. 1 This connection functions theo- retically: perpetrators of violence admit to what they did and apologize for it. In so doing, they advance the truth about the past and accountability for those crimes. This allows for both individual and societal reconciliation. Individuals can only begin the mourning and grieving process after they know the truth about what happened. Perpe- trators' confessions also confirm individual victims' accounts, previously discredited by authoritarian regime supporters as lies and ideological vendettas. On the societal level, when those who committed political violence admit to it, they make it nearly impossible for regime supporters to claim that the violence did not occur. By partici- pating in the transition process, confessions therefore provide perpetrators of violence with a role to play in building a new society. Some recent transitional justice mechanisms have embodied this relationship between confessions and reconciliation. The South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), for example, provided perpetrators of apartheid era violence with amnesty in exchange for their confession. Similarly, the recently created gacaca courts in Rwanda give perpetrators charged with genocide an opportunity to reduce their prison sentences in exchange for their confessions and community service. Interna- tional Criminal Tribunals, such as that organized in the former Yugoslavia, establish a similar relationship, as the testimony of perpetrators is recorded with an ultimate goal of justice and healing for the society. </p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-06T20:48:12Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:36a950a4-d77c-4ae2-b9d1-250d5ceade33 |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-06T20:48:12Z |
| publishDate | 2005 |
| publisher | Brown University |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:36a950a4-d77c-4ae2-b9d1-250d5ceade332022-03-26T13:39:17ZIn search of remorse: confessions by perpetrators of past state violenceJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:36a950a4-d77c-4ae2-b9d1-250d5ceade33Symplectic Elements at OxfordBrown University2005Payne, L <p style="text-align:justify;"> IN THIS PAPER I FOCUS on the relationship between public confessions by perpetrators of past state authoritarian violence, and reconciliation. 1 This connection functions theo- retically: perpetrators of violence admit to what they did and apologize for it. In so doing, they advance the truth about the past and accountability for those crimes. This allows for both individual and societal reconciliation. Individuals can only begin the mourning and grieving process after they know the truth about what happened. Perpe- trators' confessions also confirm individual victims' accounts, previously discredited by authoritarian regime supporters as lies and ideological vendettas. On the societal level, when those who committed political violence admit to it, they make it nearly impossible for regime supporters to claim that the violence did not occur. By partici- pating in the transition process, confessions therefore provide perpetrators of violence with a role to play in building a new society. Some recent transitional justice mechanisms have embodied this relationship between confessions and reconciliation. The South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), for example, provided perpetrators of apartheid era violence with amnesty in exchange for their confession. Similarly, the recently created gacaca courts in Rwanda give perpetrators charged with genocide an opportunity to reduce their prison sentences in exchange for their confessions and community service. Interna- tional Criminal Tribunals, such as that organized in the former Yugoslavia, establish a similar relationship, as the testimony of perpetrators is recorded with an ultimate goal of justice and healing for the society. </p> |
| spellingShingle | Payne, L In search of remorse: confessions by perpetrators of past state violence |
| title | In search of remorse: confessions by perpetrators of past state violence |
| title_full | In search of remorse: confessions by perpetrators of past state violence |
| title_fullStr | In search of remorse: confessions by perpetrators of past state violence |
| title_full_unstemmed | In search of remorse: confessions by perpetrators of past state violence |
| title_short | In search of remorse: confessions by perpetrators of past state violence |
| title_sort | in search of remorse confessions by perpetrators of past state violence |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT paynel insearchofremorseconfessionsbyperpetratorsofpaststateviolence |