Truth and Reconciliation Commission Processes: Learning from the Solomon Islands [Hardcover]

After war, does truth telling lead to more peaceful attitudes between former enemies? This book is the first to study the over-time effect of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) process on peoples attitudes towards peace. Focusing on the Solomon Islands TRC process, one of the least known or studied TRC processes in the world, and using surveys, focus groups and in depth interviews, the book reveals some critical issues for peacebuilding. For example, while support of the TRC was consistently quite strong over the two years of the study, there was a sharp decline in trust in the process as well as a significant increase in distrust and suspicion towards ex-combatants over the two-year period. The book shows that the ex-combatants did not feel safe to tell the truth in the TRC and had therefore decided beforehand what to say in the hearings. A systematic telling of untruths thereby took place, severely undermining relationships and peacebuilding in the country. The book weaves the findings from the Solomon Islands with experiences of other post-conflict truth telling process around the world, and suggests practical guidelines for future TRC processes after war.Karen Broun?us is Associate Professor in the Department of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University, Sweden.

This study of a geographically small case  the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific  on a truth and reconciliation commission after serious atrocities gives a number of insights, of value to the leaders in the society concerned, as well as to researchers and practitioners elsewhere in the world. By asking questions from research on other commissions, Dr. Broun?us is able to draw general conclusions on matters such as truth telling, open testimonies, and gender differences. Thus it is a highly valuable addition to the international literature on post-conflict reconciliation and strategies for peacebuilding and quality peace. Peter Wallensteen, Senior Professor of Peace and Conflicl£V