Subcommittee on International Human Rights Committee on April 16th, 2013

[Wayne Marston, NDP, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

I was recently part of a parliamentary delegation that went to Burma. We were looking at ways we might be able to be of assistance to them as they try to move from military rule to democracy there. It sounds as though something of that nature might be helpful here. Would you think so?

[Sister Elsie Monge]

Yes. Do you mean in the judicial system or in general?

[Wayne Marston, NDP, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

This was on the parliamentary side of it, where the MPs were not very well informed and not very well supplied. They didn't even have offices in Burma, but it was to give them a sense, after over 50 years of military rule, of just how the democracy could function and be effective.

[Sister Elsie Monge]

Yes, I think it would help them to see that by implementing social directives that would guarantee food, health, education, work. That to me is where they should orient their policies, and the know-how for all this could be provided through Canadian assistance.

[Wayne Marston, NDP, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

Mr. Chair, how's my time?

[The Chair, Conservative, Scott Reid]

You have about two minutes and 30 seconds.

[Wayne Marston, NDP, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

I think one of the problems we will face there is the fact that the government is still in a position of power in a way that they can pretty well ignore whatever they choose to. Until that side of it is addressed, I suspect there won't be a lot of actual movement.

Regarding the truth and reconciliation side of the situation, there have been the two attempts—the official one and then the others that have gone on. How effective do you think those have been? Are they actually making a difference? You mentioned impunity very early on, and that's a major problem in every country that has had either dictatorial or military rule, but have you seen an effectiveness in the efforts so far?

[Sister Elsie Monge]

In the efforts to sanction these kinds?

[Wayne Marston, NDP, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

I mean in whatever manner they're trying to deal with them. I understand from your testimony that impunity is still rampant there.

[Sister Elsie Monge]

It is.

[Wayne Marston, NDP, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

If you have a truth and reconciliation group trying to function and trying to find a way to move forward, I suspect that in some instances the perpetrators would kind of be laughing at it, because they're still sitting there with impunity.

[Sister Elsie Monge]

That's the tragic part about it, because many of the ones who are in government now were part of the conspiracy or the coup, so it is very hard to think that they would change. That's why I think that if there were a new national constitutional assembly, maybe there would be some place for different voices.

[Wayne Marston, NDP, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

I guess the hard part of this is that for anybody who is guilty of previous crimes, facing the fact that their loss of power and their loss of impunity might put them at risk is putting another barrier in the way of progress.

[Sister Elsie Monge]

That's true. Yes, that's true, but on the other hand, how long can this go on without some minor change at least?

[Wayne Marston, NDP, Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON]

We have to be trying.

Thank you very much, Sister.

[Sister Elsie Monge]

Okay. We're banking on you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Scott Reid]

Ms. Grewal, please.

[Nina Grewal, Conservative, Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC]

Thank you, Chair, and thank you Sister Elsie for your time and your presentation. Certainly, all of us do appreciate your time. My colleague, Mr. Craig Scott, spoke before our committee previously about the benefits to hundreds of having the truth commission.

Could you please expand on the significant differences between the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report and the report produced by your organization?

[Sister Elsie Monge]

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission report centres on the human rights violation before the coup, not so much after the coup. The focus is different in that way. Also, the investigation is different, because the truth commission, to which I belonged, did extensive gathering of testimonies all around the most critical parts of the country. That's why our report is called the “Voice of the Victims”. It's centred on interviews trying to see the testimony of the victim. That would be one thing. So you have a very detailed account of the testimony. Of course, the focus is again that those responsible for these crimes against humanity, because they're systematic, should be brought to justice.

[Nina Grewal, Conservative, Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC]

Sister, going forward, what do you think are the most pressing concerns for Hondurans, and what specific reforms or policies should be prioritized?

[Sister Elsie Monge]

Part of the problem is the concentration of wealth in few hands, because the landowners have territories that they control or own, and they're also involved in all the other economic sectors in society, like airlines or businesses. It's sort of like a monopoly in some cases. I think a new structure is necessary in order for the majority of the people to have access to basic needs, such as health, education, land, and work. The emphasis has to be on the social programs to bring up the level of living for these people.

[Nina Grewal, Conservative, Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC]

Sister, the organization you worked with, the truth commission, believed that the official Truth and Reconciliation Commission was ineffective. Could you go into detail as to why you believed that your approach would have a higher chance of finding the truth?

[Sister Elsie Monge]

As I said before, we tried to emphasize the voice of the people, the voice of the victims themselves, so that not only the crimes but the conflicts would be understood and taken into consideration. How effective is that? It doesn't depend on the investigation. It depends on using the investigation in order to sanction the crime.

[Nina Grewal, Conservative, Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC]

Canada is the second largest investor in Honduras. What can Canada do to improve the human rights situation in Honduras while not stepping on internationally recognized boundaries or interfering?

Could you please say a little bit about that?

[Sister Elsie Monge]

What kind of investment does Canada have in Honduras? What are the main types?