Artists in Yangon today commemorated the International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims.
Observed every 24th March, the United Nations states the day is held to honour the memory of victims of gross and systematic human rights violations and promote the importance of the right to truth and justice and to pay tribute to those who have devoted their lives to, and lost their lives in, the struggle to promote and protect human rights for all.
The UN General Assembly, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the day on the on 21 December 2010, the anniversary of the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero of El Salvador in 1980.
In a sermon given on 23 March, Romero ordered the army to stop killing people: “In the name of God, and in the name of this suffering people whose cries rise to heaven more loudly each day, I beg you, I implore you, I order you, in the name of God, stop the repression!”
The following day, a shot killed Romero as he said Mass. A UN report later found that Major Roberto D’Aubuisson, had ordered Romero’s death.
The right to the truth applies to serious violations of human rights but is more commonly applied regarding enforced disappearances. It is linked to the right to a remedy, including the right to an effective investigation, verification of facts, and public disclosure of the truth; and the right to reparation- to be compensated, given restitution or experience other forms of redress for the harms experienced.
A representative of artists participating in the commemoration told Mizzima the right to truth is important as Myanmar looks to a new future, free from military rule.
“Revealing the truth is the most important step in seeking justice because the truth provides recognition to the victims, it reveals the perpetrators and responsible institutions, and supports in writing the right history or the evidence of what really happened. This will also provide the important role in preventing the repetition in the future.”
“There will be no genuine peace without justice, and no justice without the truth- the truth of all people in Myanmar must be heard including women, people from ethnic nationalities, people of all religions and the poor.” they said.
