AU Panel Welcomes Naming of Commission

(PANA)--The African Union’s panel of eminent personalities, which has been spearheading the reconciliation efforts in Kenya, Friday welcomed the appointment of a truth, Justice and reconciliation commission (TJRC) to lead peace efforts in the country.

The panel, led by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, congratulated Kenya’s coalition government on the appointment of the members of the TJRC. ‘The panel hopes that the early operationalisation of the TJRC will help promote peace, justice, national unity, healing and reconciliation among the people of Kenya,’ the panel said in a statement released on Friday.

Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki named the TJRC, led by Bethwel Kiplagat, a long standing diplomat and a former mediator to the Somali peace process. ‘The panel believes that for the commission to achieve its objectives, it will require the sustained engagement and full cooperation of a broad cross-section of Kenyan society, including civil society, political and religious leaders, the private sector and the media,’ it said.

Kenyans have been debating the possibility of substituting the formation of a national tribunal to try the offenders of post-election violence with the formation of the Truth Commission to spearhead the reconciliation process. Addressing media owners in Nairobi Thursday, Kenya’s justice minister Mutula Kilonzo warned that Kenya will not offer amnesty for crimes against humanity in exchange for reconciliation and national healing.

The Annan Panel, whose other members include former Tanzanian president Benjamin Mkapa and former Mozambican first lady Graca Machel, also said the international community must support Kenya’s own efforts a t national healing. ‘We trust that the six Kenyan members who were selected through a consultative process and the three international members who were nominated by the panel will work assiduously to accomplish the commission’s onerous responsibilities,’ the panel said.

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