Abstract

ARNOSO, Maitane; BOBOWIK, Magdalena  and  BERISTAIN, Carlos. The Commission of Truth and Justice in Paraguay: emotional experience in commemoration rituals and the perceived efficacy of the commission. Rev. psicol. polít. [online]. 2015, vol.15, n.32, pp. 137-155. ISSN 1519-549X.

The Commission for Truth and Justice (CVJ) issued in 2008 the report titled "Anive Haguä Oiko /So that it does not happen again" that documented serious violations of human rights perpetrated during the 35 years of Stroessner's dictatorship. As an exercise of transitional justice, the commission becomes an opportunity to energize a social debate about the past. This study reflects the emotional impact and the levels of social sharing associated with the commission in a sample of victims of repression (54.9 %) and nonvictims (45.1 %), with different levels of participation in commemoration activities. The results indicate that for victims the participation in rituals of commemoration increases the level of social sharing and makes salient emotions of those who are mobilized. The perception of effectiveness in the CVJ as a measure of transitional justice is related to this emotional arousal and social sharing and varies depending on the level of participation in collective rituals of the population. Whereas for nonvictims participation in rituals of commemoration increases the perceived effectiveness of the commission through social sharing and emotions of guilt and shame, among victims participating in commemorations reinforces perceived effectiveness of the commission through social sharing and expressing emotions of guilt, anger, and fear.

Keywords : Paraguay; Dictatorship; Transitional Justice; Emotions; Social Sharing.

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