Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
CAPE TOWN - The promulgation of an official amnesty application form has opened the way for people seeking amnesty to approach the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, chairperson of the commission, and Dr Alex Boraine, vice-chairperson, said today (Sunday) the form would be printed and distributed as quickly as possible so that it could be made widely available.
The full text of their statement follows:
STATEMENT BY ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU, CHAIRPERSON, AND DR ALEX BORAINE, VICE-CHAIRPERSON.
An application form for persons wishing to apply to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for amnesty has been promulgated by the Government.
The promulgation of regulations including the form opens the way for people to apply for amnesty "in respect of any act, omission or offence on the grounds that it is an act associated with a political objective..." (Section 18(1) of the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act.)
The Committee on Amnesty of the TRC has asked for the form to be printed and distributed to magisterial offices and to organisations such as human rights groups and religious bodies. This will be done as quickly as possible so that the form can be made widely available.
The form asks applicants to supply full details of the organisations or institutions with which they served. It also asks for the dates, places and particulars of actions in respect of which they are applying for amnesty.
Applicants are also asked to state whether anyone was injured, killed or suffered as a result of the action, for details of what political objective was sought, and for the justification for regarding an act, omission or offence as one with a political objective.
It asks further whether an applicant benefitted financially as a result of the action, and whether it was approved, ordered by, or carried out on behalf of an organisation or institution. It also seeks the names and addresses of those who gave orders or approvals.
The law governing the Commission's operations requires applications to be made by December 14 this year.
Applications will be dealt with by the TRC's Committee on Amnesty, comprising Judge Hassen Mall of the Natal Supreme Court (chair), Judge Andrew Wilson, Judge Bernard Ngoepe, Ms Sisi Khampepe, a Johannesburg attorney, and Advocate Chris de Jager of Pretoria.
The Committee is bound by the law to give priority to applications from persons in custody. It has asked that the approximately 1,200 prisoners who have already applied for indemnity under previous legislation should be informed that they now need to apply for amnesty on the newly-promulgated form.
The law provides for the Committee to hold hearings, unless it is satisfied that the act, omission or offence to which an application relates does not constitute a gross violation of human rights. In such a case, it can decide on an application without a hearing.
11/02/96 Inquiries: John Allen, media liaison, 082- 452-7859