CRASSH

The challenge of redress for gross human rights violations invariably arises in post-conflict societies that are in democratic transition. One of the initiatives that a government may consider in response to survivor demands, is the establishment of a massive reparations programme. So far, little in-depth research has been conducted, paying sufficient attention to the perspective of the needs and preferences of survivors themselves, regarding issues such as reparation, justice, reconciliation and truth in dealing with the aftermath of atrocities. This paper attempts to fill this gap by analyzing the Guatemalan National Reparations Programme (PNR), through the eyes of affected Mayan Q’eqchi’. The Q’eqchi’ form one of the Mayan groups that were most severely affected by the internal armed conflict. They make up the second largest Mayan group in the country. Although the majority of population is Maya indigenous, the dominant culture is that of the Western oriented Ladino. This raises another interesting issue, namely the actual and potential role of the cultural context in dealing with grave human rights violations. Pertinent questions in this regard include how reparation is understood in different cultural contexts; and the question how governmental reparations programmes take this into account. This paper contribute to an emerging academic debate on the potential role of ‘traditional justice’ and broader cultural contexts in politics of peace and reconciliation and in the transitional justice field. The results of extensive ethnographic field research, conducted between 2006 and 2009, reveal that the PNR is faced with the impossible task of repairing the irreparable. Moreover, as is apparent from the narratives, the PNR leads to further suffering and frustration rather than gratitude or satisfaction among intended beneficiaries. All of this demonstrates the need for a locally rooted and culturally sensitive PNR.