wfn.org | TCN: Christian scholars promote restorative justice during forum

["Lydia Ma" <enews@pctpress.org>]

>      Taiwan Church News

>2990 Edition

>June 15~21, 2009

Christian scholars promote restorative justice during forum

>Reported by Chiou Kuo-rong

>Written by Lydia Ma

Professor Chen Wen-shan from Yu-Shan Theological College and  Seminary

became interested in restorative justice while researching about  banning capital

punishment. She organized a forum on Christianity and restorative  justice at Taipei

>East Gate Presbyterian Church on June 13th.

According to Chen, we cannot rely on judicial reform for  restorative justice. This kind

of justice must originate from social movements, as modeled in  South Africa when

people rose up and spoke against apartheid. Churches ultimately  play an important

>role in such movements as well.

In light of recent conflicts between the government agencies and  human rights

activists, as well as clashes between ethnic groups, restorative  human justice in

Taiwan is becoming increasingly important with each passing day,  said Chen.

According to Yu-Shan Seminary President Chen Nan-jou, killings  motivated by

ethnic hatred in South Africa during apartheid were dealt through  the creation of an

investigation unit and countless rounds of consultations and  negotiations. As

Bishop Desmond Tutu discovered, simultaneously conducting  consultations and

negotiations was necessary in transforming South African society.  The most

challenging aspect of these efforts was gaining support and  confidence from both

oppressors and victims as the truth was slowly revealed.

According to scholars, governments in South Africa and Germany  have set up

memorials to commemorate dark periods in their respective history  and taken

steps to reconcile with victims. In contrast, the Ma  administration is not only

uninterested in restorative justice, it has also refused to create  a national museum

to remember the victims of the February 28 Incident, prompting  many to wonder

when truth and justice will prevail in this dark chapter of  Taiwanese history.

>********************

Taiwan Church News is published weekly in Taiwan's local  languages.

You may translate and re-use the articles only if you acknowledge  the source as "Taiwan Church News" and list the names of the reporter  and writer. Contact us before reprinting any of our articles.

You may direct comments and questions to: enews@pctpress.org

Visit our website for more news at: http://enews.pctpress.org/  (English) http://www.pctpress.org (Chinese)

>********************

> 
>