Speeches
in the Signing of Agreements
Signing Ceremony of Cooperation Agreements with CNDH,
CEAS
and National Evangelic Council
Gratitude Speech by CVR President
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s work is underpinned
by a set of fundamental convictions, premises and principles
without which our work would not reach its objectives or would
not obtain the signification it should. One of these convictions
is that the search for truth we have been entrusted with is
fundamentally a collective task, a common building work in
which ready minds and generous spirits shall converge with
the indispensable morality reserve and civil commitment to
strengthen democracy, peace and justice in Peru.
The agreements we sign today with the Human Rights National
Coordination Entity, the Social Action Episcopal Commission
and the National Evangelic Council fully confirm this conviction:
the truth is to be sought through a joint effort and there
are people and institutions in the country decided and ready
to make this effort.
The Commission I am honored to share is aware that its aims
would not be obtained by isolated work and that it will need
organizations and persons that have made good progress in the
past towards clarifying the truth regarding the bitter violent
years we have suffered. I must remind you that since this work
group was created we have received spontaneous selfless expressions
and cooperation will from those organizations which did not
hesitate to offer their help so this demanding task of examining
the national conscience could be carried out.
In this occasion I will not synthesize the work carried out
by the Human Rights National Coordination Entity, the Social
Action Episcopal Conference and the National Evangelic Council
to defend those who suffered indescribable abuse during the
violence years. The country is well aware of their actions
and their fruits, which these organizations are now generously
making available for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Indeed, through these agreements we create a cooperation regime
to permit the Commission to take advantage of results already
harvested through hard work. Besides, we must stop to say that
these fruits -gathered and systematized information, designed
and proven work methods, relationships nationwide, trust gained
among affected population- were achieved in years in which
working for human rights was a dangerous issue. Indeed, it
was a violence atmosphere with risk of retaliation from those
who cultivated irrational violence. The organizations that
are now becoming formally linked with the Commission developed
their exemplary work of obeying a vocation and a conviction
that also inspire us: making truth, the rule of law and respect
for human rights prevail over the will of those who seek shelter
under the rudimentary argument of brute force.
The collaboration we formalize through these agreements is
invaluable for the Truth Commission members. We do no t refer
only to the importance of having the results in terms of certain
and ordered information. We also refer to the importance of
being able to access a kind of work, a knowledge of how to
better proceed in this issue with institutions whose professionalism
and intellectual honesty are indubitable.
I have highlighted the great signification the agreements have
because they inaugurate a cooperation relationship for the
future. These words would be however incomplete if I did not
mention also that the agreements we sign are also a way in
which the entire national society acknowledges, through the
Truth Commission, the constant work developed for several years
by these organizations to defend human rights. Their devoted
and, as I have said, often risky work is a proof that our country
has real possibilities towards the construction of a fair order,
a society made up by responsible citizens sensitive towards
their equals’ suffering.
Finally, these agreements also reflect one more feature of
this truth restoration endeavor that joins us: the joint commitment
of institutions as the Social Action Episcopal Commission and
the National Evangelic Council speak to us of ecumenically
seeking truth and reconciliation and reinforce our conviction
I mentioned when I started this speech, that is, the certainty
that our task is to convoke a plurality of hands and spirits
and the security that we will access truth through an open
and generous dialogue and that by doing so we will be able
to heal the wounds of our society.
Salomón Lerner Febres
President
Truth and Reconciliation Commission
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