Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
STATEMENT BY ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU, CHAIRPERSON OF THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION.
The Human Rights Violations Committee of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is issuing a public invitation to individuals and organisations to suggest issues which could be raised with political parties when they are recalled to the Commission.
Submissions made by parties last week are to be examined carefully by the Commission in the coming weeks. Once they have been thoroughly evaluated, the committee will consider recalling the parties to question their representatives further.
The Commission would value suggestions from members of the public on:
(1) Questions which could help the Commission in securing more information from the parties so that it can fulfil its mandate of establishing the truth about the past; and
(2) Issues which could be raised with the parties with a view to helping the healing of our country.
Detailed questioning of party representatives was deliberately held over until the Commission had an opportunity to study their submissions. When questioning takes place, it will be handled as an information-gathering exercise, not as a prosecution.
The public can send their contributions to the Chairperson, TRC, PO Box 3162, Cape Town 8000.
Inquiries: John Allen, 082-452-7859
28 August 1996