Written and read by Sunila Galappatti, the essay explores the politics of listening to the narratives of those who have suffered, lost loved ones and experienced trauma in conflicts and tumultuous events in past and present Sri Lanka and the issues that arise in asking such individuals to recount their stories of trauma and loss.
By Sulakshana de Mel
The article looks at Peru’s recent history of violence and explores some of the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (CVR), with a focus on the City of Ayacucho which was the epicenter of operations for the insurgent group Sendero Luminoso. The article reiterates that while seeking the truth, reparations both at collective as well as individual levels and restoring and recognising multiple narratives of memory continue to play a central role in the national reconciliation dialogue in Peru, the deeper seated socio-economic divisions that exist along racial lines too need to be urgently addressed, if a true and sustainable reconciliation is to be found.
