The Secretary of the Arab Organization for Human Rights (AOHR) in Libya, Abdel Moneim Al-Hur affirmed that national reconciliation, as launched by the Libyan Presidential Council, “is a process and a means to reach peace, which is often false.”
In an interview with the Africatenews, Al-Hur added that “reconciliation can be initiated when those involved in the violations are held accountable. “
He explained that “it will also happen when the truth is sought transparently and without fear, when institutional reform begins, and when the need for reparations is recognized and implemented.”
“Reconciliation becomes possible to a large extent among the citizens of Libya, when there is an honest and detailed discussion of all the violations and perpetrators.
Although the process of national reconciliation has become widely popular, there is still some ambiguity in it,” he added.
Al-Hur questioned: “Is it possible to achieve reconciliation without retributive or compensatory justice? Is it possible without confronting those involved, and without paying attention to the needs of the victims? Is it possible without the rule of law? Reconciliation involves commitment and sacrifice. At its worst, it is nothing more than an excuse for the ineffectiveness caused by the bias of the strong against the weak and the disenfranchised.”
“When you only invite reconciliation to be forgotten or concealed, it becomes false. If national reconciliation is not accompanied by an acknowledgement of the past and acceptance of responsibility, it becomes shunned as mere embellishment,” he noted.
The AOHR Head confirmed: “In order for progress to be made on the path of reconciliation, great and central importance must be given not only to individuals, but to institutions as well. It is essential that institutional reform in the transitional period be at the heart of the democratic transition. Among the main problems that have prevented Libya’s transition from its terrible past to a shining democracy are the institutions that have undergone little change. Without fundamental reform of institutions, we will have no real opportunity to achieve growth, prosperity, and peace. Bridges of communication and commitment not only to criminal justice, but also to economic justice must be supported. To achieve this end, it is necessary to change institutions and cleanse them of symbols of corruption.”