Minister for National Unity, Reconciliation and Peace, Sam Iduri revealed this when asked by Leader of Opposition Manasseh Sogavare.
Iduri said the consultation is for government to further pursue its policy intention to introduce a Forgiveness Bill. The Bill aims to give amnesty to perpetrators appearing before the Truth and Reconciliation Committee if the state sees fit.
Iduri said currently consultation with churches and other stakeholders is very slow because of limited technical capacity. The ministry has 15 staff manning the office.
Iduri said this has slowed down their work to formulate a detailed policy proposal for Cabinet’s deliberation. Despite this delay, careful strategic discussions on the policy intention are continuing with important stakeholders, including many individuals who were affected during the ethnic tensions.|
He said the enactment of Truth and Reconciliation Committee Act in September 2008 and recent establishment of the commission in April this year will have some bearing on the proposed policy intentions.
“Hence, it is envisaged that the outcome of the TRC process will also provide useful and very relevant information towards further development of the policy proposal,” he said. “In view of the need to make careful analysis of this complex and sensitive policy intensions, and the changing contextual issues, my ministry needs more time to prepare the policy proposal for Cabinet consideration.”
Sogavare has urged the government to support the ministry financially to implement its program.
