Human Rights Violation Hearings — Johannesburg — 1996-05-03

MAGGIE FRIEDMAN: Yes, and I think also this question about the sense of justice.  You know things have been given away on behalf of the victims and they aren't, if somebody applies for amnesty and they're given amnesty, then the victim is going to lose the right to a civil claim, so I think that amnesty has to be balanced with something for the victims, and I feel that very very strongly.

RUSSELL ALLY: And just lastly, can you just tell us what the impact of David's assassination has been on you personally if you could share that, if not -.

MAGGIE FRIEDMAN: I mean, obviously it was personally devastating, and I think that for anyone who loses a partner, someone with whom you have built up an expectation of the future, it's just like wiping out your future life, so I've had that to work my way through. I mean also it's plunged me into something that I haven't been very well equipped to deal with, into the publicity of it and I felt that I had a responsibility to David's memory, but also on behalf of everybody else who had this sort of thing happen to them and not to just let it be able to be swept away as another assassination, that I must, in what ever way I could, try and get to, try and expose this whole thing.

RUSSELL ALLY: Once again Maggie, thanks very much.

YASMINE SOOKA: Maggie you said that David was working on his doctorial thesis and on has heard that he was working on another report as well, could you tell us a little more about that please?

MAGGIE FRIEDMAN: His doctorial thesis was done years before on his work in Mozambique, otherwise he was actually doing anthropological work at Kosi Bay, that's the only work I know that he was doing there.  He was asking questions about things that were happening there and I know there was a lot of speculation that the reason he was killed was because he knew about Renamo connections that were happening through there and I think he did know quite a lot about what was going on in those parts, but he wasn't writing a report as far as I know.

DR BORAINE: I want to thank you particularly for your recommendations surrounding reparation. As you know we have no hard and fast policy, it emerges out of what people, victims, survivors tell us, so any information, any suggestions are very welcome and thank you, you've obviously done a lot of thinking and consulting with other victims and survivors...(end of tape 21).... and who made the decision.  You've also told us about the many many investigations that have been made and you know that the Commission will take this very seriously and persue this, the obfuscation, the lies, all that sort of thing makes it not impossible, but perhaps improbable.  Let's assume that that does happen, and let's assume that the only way that we are going to get to answer your two first points, why was he killed, who killed him, if that would emerge from an amnesty hearing on the basis of meeting all the requirements and in particular making full disclosure.  How would you feel about that as a sure guarantee, assuming if for a moment, that a person, and you've appealed for that would come forward, would apply for amnesty, and will tell the story that has eluded you and so many people for so long?  How do you feel about that possibility, you must have thought about that?

MAGGIE FRIEDMAN: I think if one person like that came forward I certainly would, I think that they would be deserving the amnesty if they made full disclosure on everything.

DR BORAINE: Just allow me one last point, I was very struck by many things you said, but one of things that struck me very forcibly, because I believe it to be true and it's echoed in what a lot of other people have said, and that is you can't have reconciliation without truth and therefore I suppose the Commission is aptly named and it seems to me that one must pursue every avenue in arriving at the truth, in the hope that there can be a measure of peace, at least knowing, because this seems to be almost obsessional for many people who have come to talk to us, that they really need to know before they can even talk about forgiveness and reconciliation, it seems to me this is what you're saying.  Thank you very much.

CHAIRPERSON: We are enormously grateful to you for coming forward.  We almost, I was saying to some people earlier out here, we were getting almost to sound like a cracked record with the needle stuck because we say thank you, thank you for exposing your pain publicly, it must be an ordeal, but also I would hope that you sense the support amongst those here, not the Commissioners, they've got to be even handed but I mean that people listening to your testimony are people who are supportive and people beyond the confines of this whole. I think we want to say we hope that there will be an assuaging of some of the ache in knowing that there is this support.  Perhaps more than just support, the admiration that you know many have held for David and beyond that people feeling there was over the supreme price paid towards assisting us to arrive at where we are now in this dispensation.  We want to assure you that we will do our utmost to follow up some of your suggestions because we do believe fervently that we should try to get to the bottom of things to know the truth so that the healing of our land can happen.
 We offer you our deepest sympathies and thank you for coming and we accept your offer of all of these documents, thanks.

MAGGIE FRIEDMAN: I was going to say if there's any way in which I can cooperate in or with the investigation that I would be more than happy to.

CHAIRPERSON: Thank you very very much.  I'm sure that we'll be taking you up on your offer. Thanks.