Madagascar bishop says impunity can help reconciliation
AFP
VATICAN CITY- A Madagascar bishop on Monday came out in favour of granting impunity in some conflicts gripping African countries to encourage reconciliation.
"Political problems need political solutions and sometimes these political solutions do not necessarily follow the notion of lawfulness because if peace is to be made one has to give up something," said Antananarivo Bishop Odon Razanakolona.
"But if we really want to talk about peace with the people, let's make peace with these officials, so that they slowly also acknowledge their wrongs," he added.
Ghana's Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson earlier said the Roman Catholic Church fully supported the International Court of Justice in The Hague, the United Nations' principal judicial organ.
The bishops' meeting comes amid a lingering political crisis in Madagascar.
The UN General Assembly last month refused to let its leader Andry Rajoelina address the world body.
Rajoelina seized power in March with the army's backing, toppling president Marc Ravalomanana after weeks of violent street protests.
The Southern African Development Community and the African Union have both suspended Madagascar until constitutional order is restored
Efforts backed by the SADC to establish a transitional government in Madagascar foundered after Rajoelina's unilaterally named an interim authority despite an agreement hammered out in August with former presidents to do so.
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