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In Toronto, for example, organizers of a non- various artifacts including life stories, Novels,
state memorialising project, invited members of Documentaries, short stories, poetic works etc.
Diasporas to submit artefacts which represent
Further in current scenario of the world,
their personal narratives, past or contemporary
the internet plays a major role as a mode of
experiences and micro-truths. The result was an
communication where social media has taken
exhibition that allowed for an interaction among
the lead in it. The easiness of the access and the
Diasporas and sharing and responses of one
easiness of sharing own thoughts have made it
another’s truths and stories. One survivor of the
more popular among the people in the world
massacre in Rwanda, for example, submitted a
which intern we can use it as a better tool as an
booklet for a charitable organisation she founded
element of art to fulfill the aims of transitional
in Canada to help Rwandan orphans.
justice mechanisms of in various countries
3. Conclusion through arts.
As the above examples show, depending on the However, it is very much important to
history of conflict and the culture, every country mention that, “Encouraging of human rights is
has used and using the arts differently. an art, not a science. Because there is no one
method that will work for every situation.” In
The sufferers in Afghanistan went back
reality, transitional justice mechanism does not
to their old ways of storytelling and theater, but
have a “one size fits all approach.”
with a modern touch of producing films. Women
in Chile started to make the “clothes of resistance” As the mechanisms have limits, so do
and made their Arpillera movement. In Guatemala, the arts. As the case in Libya shows, sometimes
using Christian symbols, Daniel Hernandez-Salazar the arts can get out of hand, as the Libyans were
formed the “street angels,” demonstrating that the mocking Gaddafi. Another limit is some victims
angels have come with a message and that the do not wish to have the arts, such as paintings or
message is for living victims to come out and speak. sculptures, on every block or every street corner.
Further the Libyans are turning to show massive And a third limit relates to the unavoidable
posters of Colonel Gaddafi. In Peru, Grupo Cultural “tick”. Someone could make money off of the
Yuyachkani has its actors dress up as ghosts arts, as if the arts were more of a commercial
searching for the truth of justice. Viewing dance as business rather than what they are intended to
an important form of unity and peace, Rwandans be, which means to bring justice to sufferers and
host dance competitions as a way for the current the victims in creative ways.
generation to never forget their traditions and
Despite these limits, arts are closer to the
origins.
victims than the law through its courts and truth
At last using of common items, South commissions, which follow strict procedures.
Africans remember the dreadful death of Natal More specifically, because the arts not only tell
Umkhonto whenever they see blue shopping bags. individual stories but also the stories of others
Irrespective of the different ways these countries as a group, they blend the differences that exist
use these arts, the arts often capture society’s among conflicting parties, religions, classes,
shared traditions and sentiments better than and generations. Further, the arts open up the
politics or violence. victims’ thoughts, refresh their memories, and
produce new forms of just about anything,
Even though in Sri Lanka, arts are being
from using ghosts in plays to weaving histories
used to resolve various problems, but as process
in cloths to making sculptures out of animal
of transitional justice is new to Sri Lanka, using
material. So the arts indeed create “a time and
of arts for the same is also a new trend too. But at
a space, to remember, to grieve, to pardon, to
present there are so many artistic events taking
reconcile, and to pave a path to a new future.”
place as a part of transitional justice in Sri Lanka
such as street dramas, Film festivals and cultural
exchange programmes between institutions,
SHDR Karunarathne, MSc(IM),
between schools of north and south, exhibitions,
BSc(DS),DipD&WA, PWO
and recently the ministry of irrigation and water
Lieutenant Commander (ND)
resources and disaster management has started
A/SSO (Naval Reserch Wing)
a programme called “Memories and the literature
on battlefield for national reconciliation”. It collects