Tuesday 23 December 2008

Guatemala: Reparations

This article about Guatemala reminded me of discussions I had with people in Peru regarding the possibility of reparations from the State for atrocities committed during the conflict. I mentioned that some Argentine human rights activists tend to see financial reparations as a form of blackmail, paid in return for silence (e.g. not continuing with legal proceedings), and therefore as something to be rejected out of hand. The Fundacion Madres de Plaza de Mayo is one example of this point of view. The Peruvians with whom I had this discussion did not see this at all; if the people are desperately in need, they said, why shouldn't the government do something to make good for all the suffering it caused?

In Guatemala, a steep, rutted road to peace
(AP)

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