NARRATIVES

The Story of Linda and Peter Biehl: Private Loss and Public Forgiveness

Representing our daughter, Amy, we participated and gave testimony at the amnesty hearing for the four young men who murdered her. Recognizing the role of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 's healing process, we did not oppose the Amnesty Committee's decision to grant them their freedom. YJe believe, as did our daughter, in the importance of democratic elec- tions in South Africa. The amnesty hearings were hut one condition in making them a reality. V^e grieve our loss, yet forgiveness has freed us. We can honor our daughter, we can remain true to her convictions, and we can carry on her work. Our narrative describes and explains our experience, the media and others' response to our decisions, and the meaning this has had to us and the members of our family: Kim, 31; Molly, 27; and Zach, 20. by Prologue search each event for the ironies, Peter and Linda Biehl but the fax arrived from Cape e had expected the letter. Town on April 22nd: one day af- Peter and Linda Biehl, WErom the day Amy's kill- ter Linda's birthday and four the Amy Biehl Foundation. ers were sentenced to eighteen days before what might have years in prison for murder and been Amy's thirtieth. But irony public violence, we had known was quickly lost in the plain real- amnesty applications were ity of the words. Below is the let- probable. ter-fax from the Amnesty Com- Still, the timing of the let- mittee of South Africa's truth and ter was interesting. Perhaps we Reconciliation Commission.

Tel:(0Z1 ) 24 5161 Fa>:(021 > 23 32BO

AHIHiSTYCOHimiTTU o PO Box 3162 Dear Mr and Mrs P. Biehl o The Amnesty Committee of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission has received an application for amnesty from Mongesi Manquina in respect of the o murder of your daughter, Amy BiehL o The hearing will commence in the week of 19 May 1997 to 25 May 1997 in Cape Town. We are hereby informing of such dates to enable us to o accommodate you should you wish to attend the hearing. Kindly advise us urgently as to a date suitable to youselves within the aforementioned week to o facilitate the necessary arrangements. o You shall be formally notiñed once we have heard from you by retum facsimile. o We look forward to hearing from you. o With our kind wishes hereby extended. o Yours sincerely, o ROBIN BRINK EVIDENCE LEADER

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We knew Manquina's rected crimes was essential to ews of the hearing sched- application would be joined by the pro-apartheid regime before Nule spread quickly. So did the other three. That was a fore- it could open the ballot boxes to our indication to the Amnesty gone conclusion. But the others the certainty of Black majority Committee that we would not had until May 10,1997, in which rule. retain legal counsel or oppose to apply. That was the official Amy had said that Nel- amnesty, if granted. cut-off date for amnesty appli- son Mandela and his African Media representatives cations. National Congress (ANC) col- from South Africa and through- We were advised by John leagues had refused to accept a out the United States began tele- Allen of Archbishop Tutu's of- blanket amnesty provision and phoning us with their inevitable fice that the four applicants had compromised on case-by- inquiries. On a small scale, it would present themselves in a case amnesty, earned on the was reminiscent of the media single hearing. Given the imme- merits of the evidence present- blitz in the early hours and days diate proximity of the proposed ed, against a rigorous standard following Amy's death. May 19th hearing week, counsel for proof. Always, the questions: for the applicants could easily "... but, aren't you angry?" or appear and request a post- "... you mean you are pre- ponement to provide ade- pared to forgive your quate preparation time. We daughter's killers?" It re- could make a very long and minded Linda of the days in expensive trip for nothing. 1993 when producers from This seemed unreasonable the television tabloid news and unfair. "magazines" and popular Upon consideration of "talk" shows would tele- our request that the hearing phone her looking for an in- be re-scheduled to coincide dication that she might like with our planned visit to Cape to appear on camera and get Town in late June and July, the "mad." Linda was always so Amnesty Committee agreed to Given this background calm, rational, and unsensa- re-set the hearing for July 8-9, insight and Amy's passionate tional that the producers or 1997. We were thankful to be efforts to gain free and demo- "talent" people never called spared the expense and proba- cratic elections for all South Af- back. ble frustration of an early trip ricans, we could not ignore the Once again, we succeed- and were grateful for some ad- Amnesty Committee process. ed in boring the reporters with ditional time in which to pre- Our failure to appear and par- our peaceful resolve in our de- pare our statement for the hear- ticipate in the hearing could be cision not to oppose the amnes- ing. interpreted as displaying a lack ty applications from Amy's kill- There was no question of of respect for a healing process, ers. Generally, the reporters our participation in the hearing. honorably negotiated and now were not equipped with back- Amy had informed us four years publicly and unequivocally grounds which would enable earlier that the Truth and Rec- championed by President them to understand our posi- onciliation process was a key Mandella, Archbishop Tutu and tion. So they covered the story pre-negotiated condition upon other respected South Africans. and went on to the next one. which free elections for all South We knew we must partic- The Houston Chronicle, Africans could be granted by the ipate in the process and, believ- however, sent South African re- National Party—in power at the ing in it, that we could not op- porter Tony Freemantle, who time. More importantly, a pro- pose amnesty if it were granted had written an award-winning cedure for granting of amnesty on the merits. We were certain feature piece on truth commis- in forgiveness of politically di- Amy would concur. sions in 1996. Tony spent an

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entire day with us in our home. We kept telling ourselves Amy had prepared us for He understood our attitude and that we would prepare a writ- this. On the subject of black vi- the basis for it-although he con- ten statement for presentation at olence against White South Af- ceded that he might not be ca- the amnesty hearing. We want- ricans, Amy repeatedly admon- pable of it, himself. His front- ed to be certain of our word ished us to remember that the page piece for the Chronicle ran choice. Every word must be just frustrated and angry Black on Sunday, May 11th—one day right. youth "... are only doing what after the cut-off date for amnes- Former Ambassador, Princeton has been done to them by gen- ty applications to South Africa's Lyman, who had officially in- erations of white oppressors." Truth and Reconciliation Com- formed Linda of Amy's death Moreover, Amy's admo- mission. It was also Mother's from Pretoria in 1993, volun- nition that ".. .when Black South Day (irony again), but Linda teered to review and comment Africans die in the struggle, only didn't seem to notice. on our prepared statement be- numbers are reported—but Freemantle's piece was fore our departure. He never when white people die, they get informed and insightful. People had the opportunity to be of ser- complete obituaries with names, told us they found it helpful in vice. families, pets, and everything," understanding our position be- When we boarded our was ringing in our ears. cause it was placed in a well-re- flight on June 26, we had no Her dismay at this indig- searched context. This is testi- written statement. nity had been prophetic in the mony to the utility of good jour- case of her own death in South nalism. e knew our feelings— Africa's struggle. We knew how W what was in our hearts Amy would feel about the me- ur preparation for Cape and in our heads. dia blitz which had followed her O Town really centered In so many ways, we had death. After all, she had confid- around our desire to arrange a been prepared for this event. ed to friends that—in the event meaningful experience for the For years, we had taken our kids of her death—she wanted the Kendall family of St. Louis, who to Sunday school. For years, we same impersonal press treat- would be traveling with us for had taught Sunday school class- ment accorded her Black col- the first ten days of the trip. The es in Christian ethics. Standing leagues in the struggle. Kendalls have become very im- at the kitchen telephone, mo- So... prepared by our portant in the educational out- ments after learning of Amy's own personal background expe- reach activities of the Amy death, Linda recalls fielding a riences and by our daughter's Biehl Foundation in the United constant stream of telephone words in the years and days be- States and—on their first visit to calls and visitors thinking the fore her death, there were never South Africa—we wanted them words, "Father, forgive them, any questions about our posi- to experience vividly the joys for they know not what they tion. It was a time for humil- and sorrows of life in the town- do." ity—a time for forgiveness. ships and informal settlements, While we have never In the end, we knew the to see the contrast with Cape been serious readers of the Bi- words would come. So, armed Town's beaches and riches. We ble, few words could be more with Amy's words and a few re- wanted them to see what Amy appropriate in considering the lated materials, we departed for saw. Moreover, as friends, we circumstances of Amy's death. Cape Town. wanted them to see some of the Her friends tried to tell Amy's work we are doing in the West- killers that she was a "comrade" e were not expecting the ern Cape and to meet some of in their struggle. But try reason- Winternational media at- the people and organizations ing with an angry mob in the tention which greeted our arriv- who are contributing to the heat of battle. It was too late. al in Cape Town. There were building of the new South Afri- Amy's killers saw only a white television cameras and newspa- ca. person. per reporters present when we

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entered the international pas- $20,000 satellite booking was, was close to us—understanding senger terminal at the airport. therefore, unceremoniously what we were experiencing and While loading our luggage into ended. encouraging us to rise to the oc- a van, a man approached to say, We found ourselves casion. simply, "... I am a resident of wondering why a major news In the months and years Cape Town and I want to thank network would go through so since Amy's death, we have re- you for what you are doing." much effort and expense to ask flected from time to time on the Within minutes of arriv- us why we would not oppose adage which suggests that "... a al in our hotel room, the tele- four amnesty applications in a child shall lead you," and we phone rang. It was a reporter for hearing room the following can only say that our daughter the London Times in the hotel lob- morning. has led us through some very by and requesting an inter- challenging times—growing view—on the spot, if we didn't n the morning of July 8, we into young adulthood and, now, mind. We hadn't begun to un- Owere met at the hotel by in a country half way around the pack our bags. our Amnesty Committee Brief- world. But— in the midst of the Everywhere we went in er, Paul Haupt. A very profes- lights, cameras, microphones, Cape Town, the reporters fol- sional young psychologist, Paul questions, jostling, and noise— lowed us. It was the pending was assigned to us to be certain we knew precisely where we Amnesty Committee hearing we understood the process, to were going and why we were that was fueling their engines. help us anticipate the graphic there. Amy had prepared us More than this, however, it was testimony which would be giv- well for this experience. Now... the fact that we were not oppos- en with respect to Amy's mur- if we could just hold up our end ing the amnesty applications der, and to ensure that we were of the equation. which was the "story." holding up under the pressure. The quiet of the judge's It was interesting to us Our calm seemed to sur- offices near the hearing room that our acceptance of South prise Haupt and—more than was welcome and we could see Africa's truth and reconciliation once—we teased him with offers the three judges and two law- process should be so curious— to serve as his Briefer. He ac- yers who comprised the Amnes- so "newsworthy." What should companied us as we walked the ty Committee wolfing down be so strange about this in a few blocks to the Amnesty Com- some tea and pastries during the country where reconciliation mittee's hearing room—sur- recess which preceded our hear- and forgiving is national policy, rounded, as we walked, by tele- ing. With a backlog of more rooted in centuries of southern vision camera and sound crews. than 5000 cases and an entire African tradition? The press of reporters on nation of hearing rooms to Befitting the almost- the sidewalk at 106 Adderty reach, these judges must have comic character of all of this Street was fierce as we passed precious little time in life's small media attention, during a roof- through lobby security and en- pleasures and many miles be- top interview on July 7 for live tered an elevator. We were fair- tween sleeps. broadcast to the U.S. for CBS ly certain the reporters and cam- The quiet freeze-frame television's morning news, Lin- era crews would pin us against was broken by a small and silent da's answer to the first question elevator walls and trample us. procession of eight figures who posed to us was suddenly inter- Through it all, we kept appeared suddenly in the corri- rupted when some unknown our focus and assured the press dor leading to the hearing room. technician introduced an that we would do our commu- In an instant, we shared a narrow Afrikaans cartoon show on-air nicating in the hearing room and hallway with four inconspicu- in our place. The producer's at a press conference when the ously armed security men... and shouting through our earphones hearing had concluded. During with four of Amy's killers. from New York did nothing to that elevator ride to the Amnes- They were in street restore our live hook-up. A ty Committee offices, I felt Amy clothes. No handcuffs. They

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appeared a bit uneasy and sur- they attacked Amy. The state- heart was read. The four appli- prised to encounter us. It was ments were carefully prepared to cants had denied participation my first time encountering meet the tests for amnesty: a po- in Amy's murder during their them. Linda had already expe- litical motive was established for Supreme Court trial. I am cer- rienced the Supreme Court trial the murder, a confession was tain that parents were hoping— and had watched three of them made to the act of murder, and an somehow—that words of con- carefully on several occasions. apology was offered to Amy's fession would not have to be I was within inches of parents cind fanrüly. spoken. Hearing the words my daughter's killers and— To hear these statements must have been very difficult. somehow—I was in control of read into the record by attor- I believe the experience my emotions. In retrospect, I neys—rather than by the appli- in the hearing room must have know Amy's hand was on my cants—established distance be- been more difficult for the ap- shoulder at that moment. Lin- plicants' parents than for us. We da has said that she doesn't feel felt liberated in our position and anger when she sees Amy's kill- free from guilt. We were confi- ers, only a sort of profound sad- dent that we were completely ness—a void. I know now what consistent with Amy's expecta- she means. She has described tions of us. the feeling exactly. Media representatives e had spent part of a day were permitted in the crowded Win our hotel room drafting hearing room for fifteen minutes our statement. It came natural- before we entered. The families ly and—in the end—it was real- of the four applicants were ly a matter of who would deliv- brought to us in a steady er which portions. It seemed stream—one after another. right that Linda, as Amy's moth- "We're parents too ..." we said er and the one most responsible to then\. We wanted the parents for her character development, to know that we could under- should present Amy to those in stand a bit of what they might Peter and Linda Biehl the hearing room, and I would be thinking and that if their sons articulate our support of the should be fortunate enough to truth and reconciliation process win amnesty, we expected them tween the applicants and us, and our rationale for not oppos- to be responsible parents and to even though they were seated ing anmesty. be accountable for the behavior barely ten feet away. of their sons. Accountability is For me, it created an al- Statement by Peter Biehl an important aspect of forgive- most abstract quality to the ness. Amnesty demands ac- statements. Although they were i^ I 'hank you Mr. Chairman, countability in order to establish quite graphic in their recounting X members of the Amnesty balance and equity in the equa- of the act, and although the Committee, for taking a few mo- tion. words tore at me inside, I felt ments to hear our statement. somehow removed and empty We come to South Africa he statements of the four of emotion. as Amy came, in a spirit of com- T amnesty applicants were By contrast, the state- mitted friendship, and, make no read into the record by their two ments were very real to the par- mistake about it, extending a attorneys—retained as counsel ents and families of the appli- hand of friendship in a society by the Pan African Congress cants. At least one parent left which has been systematically (PAC) on whose behalf the appli- the room when her son's confes- polarized for decades is hard cants claimed to be acting when sion to stabbing Amy in the work at times. But Amy was al-

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ways about friendship, about the most important vehicle was a focused student from the getting along, about the collec- toward reconciliation is open very beginning, alw^ays striving tive strength of caring individ- and honest dialogue." for straight A's. I'm going to uals and their ability to pull to- read a page from Amy's high gether to make a difference, Amy would have em- school journal so in her own even to transform corrupt na- braced your truth and reconcili- words you can get a glimpse of tion states. ation process. We are present her. This is Monday, October In her valedictory high this morning to honour it and to 3rd, 1983. She was 16. school graduation speech in offer our sincere friendship. We 1985, Amy quoted biologist are all here in a sense to consid- "I have had more Lewis Thomas on the impor- er and to value a committed hu- homework this year than I tance of collective thinking. man life which was taken with- have ever had before. In lots Thomas said: out opportunity for dialogue. of ways this has helped me When this process is concluded because I have been forced to "The drive to be useful is en- we must link arms and move get organized and really dig coded in our genes, but when forward together. in. But I have also been we gather in very large num- forced to stay up until 11:30 bers, as in the modern nation or 12:00 each night making state, we seem capable of lev- me very cranky during the els of folly and self-destruc- day. One thing that worries tion to be found nowhere else me is whether or not I will be in all of nature." able to keep this rigorous But he continues, schedule up and still keep "...if we keep at it and keep straight A's. Every night af- alive we are in for one sur- ter school I have some activi- prise after another. We can ty to attend be it diving, build structures for human band, flute or something else society never seen before, and starting in November I'll thoughts never thought be- be swimming every day. I fore, music never heard be- hate it when people say you fore." should cut down your sched- Who, then, is Amy Biehl? ule, you're too busy, because This was Amy at age 18. Amy was one of our four chil- I have already cut out sever- This was Amy on the day she dren. Her sisters are Kim, who al other activities. I'm kind died. She wanted South Afri- is now 31, Molly 27, and her of addicted to exercise and cans to join hands to sing music brother Zach, aged 20. We are get very bored if I am not never heard before, and she very proud of all of our children constantly busy. School is knew this would be a difficult and their accomplishments. But very important to me but be- journey. because Amy was killed in ing active and well-rounded On 21 June 1993, just two South Africa, because our lives are necessary for me to be months before she died, Amy have now become forever linked happy. I want to have a 4.0, wrote in a letter to the Cape Times to South Africa, we are here to but I also want to be an Editor: share a little of Amy with you. award-winning drum major, Amy was a bright, attrac- first chair flute, a State cham- "Racism in South Afri- tive child. She loved competi- pion diver, as far as I am con- ca has been a painful experi- tive sports such as swimming, cerned why can't I. I think I ence for Blacks and Whites diving, gymnastics, among oth- will be able to make it and reconciliation may be ers. She played the flute, the through this year. I am a very equally painful. However, guitar. She studied ballet. She hard worker at everything I

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do, and as long as I know ter Crocker and the Negotia- Based on my under- what I want I can get it. Be- tions for Namibian Indepen- graduate research experience sides, getting a 90% on a dence: the role of the individ- and my work at NDI, I devel- Chemistry test makes staying ual in recent American For- oped a proposal to research up all night worth it". eign Policy." the participation of women in Upon high school grad- In May 1989, I subse- South Africa's transition for uation she went to Stanford Uni- quently received a Bowman which I received a 1992/93 versity. It was her dream to do Undergraduate scholarship to aFulbright Scholarship. that. At Stanford she evolved as continue my research in I am currently based in a serious student and she began Namibia from July to Septem- Cape Town affiliated with the to focus her academic ber 1989. My paper Community Law Centre at work on the Southern assessing the pre- the University of the Western Africa region. Her love election environ- Cape, directed by Advocate of as ment in Namibia Abdullah Omar. a symbol of what was was subsequently I am working with happening in South Af- used at Stanford in Bridget Mabandla, senior re- rica grew. its Modem African searcher at the Community After her 1989 History course. Law Centre. At the Commu- Stanford graduation In September nity Law Centre I have un- she made her first trip 1990, after a year dertaken the following pro- to Africa. I am going to of work for a Dem- jects: researching compara- read the Statement of Mandela J ocratic Congress- tive structures for women in Purpose she compiled man on Capitol decision-making, analyzing for her Ph.D. programrne to Hill, I began work at the the constitutional proposals bring her forward to August Washington-based National and technical committee re- 1993. And she wrote this the Democratic Institute for Inter- ports currently being debat- summer of 1993 shortly before national Affairs, NDI. NDI ed with regard to women and her murder. represents the Democratic gender; locating women with various political organiza- Statement of Purpose-Amy Biehl Party internationally and con- ducts political development tions and coalitions, and as- My purpose in applying programmes in emerging de- sessing the impact of women within these organizations for graduate study is to com- mocracies. With NDI, I with respect to evolving tran- plete a Ph.D. in Political Sci- worked in Namibia, South sitional structures. ence. Within the field I intend Africa, Burundi, Congo, Giy- I have written an occa- to focus on recent democratic ana, Surinam, and Zambia transitions in Southern Africa sional paper for the Commu- along with former President building on my previous re- nity Law Centre focusing on search and practical working Jimmy Carter. structure for women in polit- experience in this area. I wrote briefing papers ical decision-making, and a In September 1989 I re- on six African countries for chapter on women in the ceived a degree in Interna- Democratic Party chairman transition for an upcoming tional Relations emphasizing Ron Brown and coordinated a book to be published in the Third World development visit by the Prime Minister of United States. I have co-au- and Africa from Stanford Uni- Namibia to the 1992 Demo- thored articles published in versity. cratic National Convention. I the Weekly Mail, the Argus, I completed a depart- also wrote an article on NDI's Democracy in Action and mental Honours thesis on approach to democratization Femina. At the completion of American Foreign Policy in in Africa published in an in- my grant, I will present a pa- South Africa entitled, "Ches- ternational journal. per entitled Women in a

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Democratic South Africa: African citizens and I would of Mosaic and we can think of from Transition to Transfor- read you just briefly from one no more beautiful evidence of mation. which had to do with Amy as a Amy's continuing legacy in catalyst in terms of the violence your beautiful country. I could go on but this at the time. Additionally, Amy's was basically what she was do- This is from an Eric van friend and colleague, Rhoda ing, and what she intended to do Vyver of George, South Africa: Kadalie, has now assumed the was to pursue a Ph.D. in Politi- post, an important post in the cal Science, to teach and study "Dear Mr and Mrs Biehl Human Rights Commission. about politics and particularly Sometimes during one's Amy would be very proud of African politics. lifetime something happens that and very proud of Rhoda's Who is Amy to South Africa which is so unbelievably ter- and the Commission's continu- and what is her legacy here? rible and so very, very sad ing work to preserve human Linda and I were struck that one is left without words rights. by photos which appeared im- to convey the deep sympathy I will read to you briefly mediately after Amy's death in felt for family and loved from a letter we received from. the Los Angeles Times and other ones. Your daughter's death Minister Dullah Omar dated on newspapers around the world has left millions of my coun- the 25th of August 1993: which showed Amy as a free- try-people feeling this way. dom fighter, and in subsequent- I am, however, com- "Everyone who knew ly reading President Mandela's pletely convinced that Au- Amy will bear witness that autobiography, A Long Walk to gust 25th 1993 will always be she worked untiringly in the Freedom, and determining how remembered as the day on gender research project to President Mandela and his col- which South Africa came to ensure that the issue of wom- leagues value the role of free- realise that we are leaning en's rights w^as prioritized on dom fighting. We were struck into an abyss of total self-de- the agenda for a political set- when on June 1st, 1996, in Los struction. Then Amy died tlement in South Africa. She Angeles, California, at a dinner and an entire nation took a was thus also highly regard- to honour Chinese dissidents step back. I hope and know ed by all her colleagues and and freedom fighters from Tian- that this will comfort you and peers, both in Cape Town and amen Square, Amy was present- please believe that what I am indeed everywhere in the ed the Spirit of Tianamen Square saying is true." country for her diligence and Award, posthumously, for her commitment to the issue of reputation and track record as a Amy's legacy is also as women's rights. freedom fighter in many coun- an advocate of human rights, an We want to say to you tries on the continent of Africa. empowerer of women and chil- that your beloved Amy be- We think in view of the dren. Our beautiful women of came one of us in her spirit- importance of freedom fighting Mosaic who are seated here to- ed commitment to justice and in our world, this is a precious day and yesterday are tangible reconciliation in South Afri- legacy of Amy for us. We think evidence of Amy's legacy in ca. Amy's passing is not just Amy's legacy in South Africa, South Africa. These women of a loss to the Community Law additionally, is as a catalyst and courage work round the clock Centre, or University com- perhaps her death represented a every day in the townships and munity, it is a loss for all com- turning point in things in this informal settlements empower- mitted democrats in this country with specific regard to ing and counseling women and country. the violence which was occur- children and enabling them to Despite the fact that ring at the time. assume roles in the prevention Amy was often very busy, she We received literally of violence in their communi- managed to prepare a brief- hundreds of letters fronn South ties. Linda and I are very proud ing paper or two for me. This

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is how I got to know Amy, at night in the townships. Amy cess. We recognize that if this always willing to help. I will was so full of the rhythm of life. process had not been a pre-ne- therefore personally miss her She danced better than many Af- gotiated condition, your demo- a great deal." ricans and was greatly envied cratic free elections could not for her ability to imbibe so much possibly have occurred. There- Finally, Amy's legacy to of the culture, traditions and fore, and believing as Amy did South Africa is as a friend. I will history of our people. in the absolute importance of read just quickly from a letter those democratic elections oc- we received dated August 27, curring, we unabashedly 1993, from Randy Erentzen at support the process which the Centre for Development 1994 we recognize to be unprec- Studies. edented in contemporary "When Amy left my human history. office on Wednesday she said At the same time, we say to me, "Hey, if I don't see to you that it's your process, you, thanks for everything." 'J' •Ci».5«f not ours. We cannot, there- The next time I saw her I fore, oppose amnesty if it is was removing her jewelry granted on the merits. In the from her dead body. I truest sense it is for the com- shuddered for a moment as munity of South Africa to for- I put the blood-stained give its own and this has its bangles and rings into my basis in traditions of ubuntu pocket and I thanked her and other principles of human silently for being my dignity. Amnesty is clearly not friend. for Linda and Peter Biehl to I write to thank grant. you and the rest of your You face a challenging family for giving Amy to and extraordinarily difficult de- us. I want you to know cision. How do you value a that she was a most sen- committed life? What value do sitive and wonderful you place on Amy and her lega- human being. cy in South Africa? How do you When I first en- exercise responsibility to the couraged her to come community in granting forgive- to South Africa to ness in the granting of amnes- study and when I i ty? How are we preparing pris- wrote the recommen- ,- oners, such as these young men dations for Amy to ' before us, to re-enter the com- receive the Fulbright munity as a benefit to the com- Scholarship, and South Africa's first bailot. munity, acknowledging that the when I introduced her to my col- vast majority of South Africa's Amy's death has brought home leagues at the University, I knew prisoners are under 30 years of once again the potential beauty I was doing so for somebody I age? Acknowledging as we do of this country to which she really believed in. that there's massive unemploy- eventually gave her life." Together we traveled ment in the marginalized com- through South Africa helping to Now, in closing, a few munity; acknowledging that the prepare our people for the coun- comments. We have the high- recidivism rate is roughly 95%. try's first ever democratic elec- est respect for your Truth and So how do we, as friends, link tions. She danced with us late Reconciliation Commission pro- arms and do something? There

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are clear needs for prisoner re- Amnesty had been an- CA" interview. That day, our habilitation in our country as nounced. It was 10:00 AM in voice mail collected 34 messag- well as here. There are clear Cape Town and Amy's four kill- es—most of them from media needs for literacy training and ers were walking from their representatives and producers. education, and there are clear prisons into the embraces of That night, Linda and I walked needs for the development of family and friends. While we the streets of New York and targeted job skill training. We, were still on the telephone, our found a small, friendly French as the Amy Biehl Foundation, fax whirred to life and the Am- restaurant we remembered. are willing to do our part as cat- nesty Committee's official pro- We were tired, but we alysts for social progress. All nouncement began to appear. were at peace with ourselves. anyone need do is ask. When we hung up the We slept soundly—if briefly— telephone, we were suddenly that night. Are you, the community of South Africa, prepared to do your part? In her 21 June 1993 letter to the Cape Times editor, Amy quoted the closing lines of a poem, "Victoria West," written by one of your local poets. We would close our statement with these incredible words:

"They told their story to the children. They taught their vows to the children, that we shall never do to them what they did to us." Thank you for listening."

D D D After the trial with the young mens' parents.

When we finished our presentation, Linda and I knew missing Amy very much. By any people have ex- we had done the right thing. 1:30 AM, telephone calls were M pressed disbelief and We had remembered Amy and coming in from South Africa's "amazement" at our support her dreams for South Africa. media. At 7:30 that evening, we for the truth and reconciliation We had spoken for her, in her closed our door behind the last process and at our forgiving at- absence, and we could hold American television crew. At titude. our heads up and move on some part in that long and fre- To us, forgiveness is with life. netic day, we telephoned our opening the door to a full and children to inform and prepare productive life. We can honor them. Amy, can be true to her convic- Epilogue The next morning, a tions, and can carry on with her CNN live telephone interview at work and with ours. Forgiving he call came at 1:00 in the 6:25—and within an hour, on a is liberating. By contrast, it Tmorning. Tuesday, July 28, flight from Palm Springs to New seems to us that hatred con- 1998. We had been home from York for Thursday morning's sumes tremendous energy— Cape Town only one day. "GOOD MORNING AMERI- negative energy—and robs peo-

20 REFLECTIONS: FALL 1998 PRIVATE LOSS AND PUBLIC FORGIVENESS NARRATIVES

pie of their productivity. Ha- cal agendas. Violence and fear sential for families and commu- tred, in the end, is a totally self- are never hallmarks of a demo- nities to support these individ- ish behavior. cratic way of life. uals upon their release. In the The real burden in for- We are keenly aware, as cases of the four amnesty ap- giveness falls to those who are we work with people of disad- plicants in Amy's murder, we forgiven and to those who are vantaged communities, of the hope they will receive the sup- closest to them. Our state- need for change in the lives of port necessary to live produc- ment—released to the press on South Africa's marginalized tive lives in a non-violent at- the morning amnesty was an- people. We have experienced mosphere. In fact, we hope the nounced—speaks to this point, our own small struggles in try- spirits of Amy and of those among others. ing to complete projects in part- like her will be a force in their nership with many community new lives. Statement by groups. Obstacles abound. Again, we encourage all Linda andPeter Biehl: Community requests are made, stakeholders to accelerate partnerships are formed, but im- their pace toward cooperation; Í ' A my was drawn to South plementation is slow. Regard- to be instruments of change in JLIL Africa as a student and less of the roadblocks or the the marginalized communi- she admired the vision of Nel- minefields, we shall continue, ties; to advance holistic ap- son Mandela of a 'Rainbow Na- within our limits, to work in proaches to violence reduction tion'. It is this vision of forgive- partnership with people who and prevention. ness and reconciliation that we are wonderfully inspired to help We thank those part- have honored. themselves. We are working on ners who have helped and As Amy's parents, we violence prevention projects supported us thus far, and we have worked with and learned throughout the Cape Flats and pledge to work hard with the about many South Africans. We hope to encourage and motivate South African people to con- have shared South Africa's pain. other people to do the same tinue the all-important nation- We must never forget people thing. We have enjoyed many building process. We will do who lost their lives in the strug- positive experiences with great all we can to help fulfill the gle. We must honor them in dis- partners and highly recommend vision of your free, rainbow covering new approaches—non- this type of service to South Af- nation—a vision which Amy violent partnerships—to create rica. shared with you. the South Africa with Nelson It is important to stress We have been asked re- Mandela that Amy and those that every life is significant. peatedly whether the amnesty who perished dreamed of—a Amy's life and death received process has brought us "clo- new, multi-racial, democratic much publicity. As Amy's par- sure." We reply that we have nation. ents, we have experienced great never sought closure and have We are concerned, there- pain—but we are not alone. no desire to close the book on fore, about the violence which Working through the pain has Amy. still exists and which surely will not been easy, but we have The Chilean playwright/ escalate as the 1999 elections ap- learned so much about South poet/human rights activist, Ar- proach. Amy was one of many Africa's pain while on our per- iel Dorfman, responded pro- killed in the violent political cli- sonal journey. foundly to our question on clo- mate preceding the 1994 elec- The amnesty process has sure in Cape Town in July, 1997: tions. Unfortunately, we are see- been a unique experience for in- ing today similar power strug- dividuals and for South Africa I think closure hap- gles occurring throughout com- as a nation. Decisions made are pens when you have the munities and the country. Vio- not to be taken lightly. If amnes- body. When the person lence remains the order of the ty is granted to individuals who who hurt that, body asks for day in promoting certain politi- have been imprisoned, it is es- forgiveness, repents for

REFLECTIONS: FALL 1998 21 PRIVATE LOSS AND PUBLIC FORGIVENESS NARRATIVES

having done that and says and make that person part Truth and Reconciliation- they will not do it again. of their home and part of Committee is being asked to That is a form of closure. I their lives. deal with all those things— think... I think... closure On the other hand, I it is being asked to do more happens that because those feel we should not lie about than it can possibly do. It bodies disappeared or were closure—we should not see cannot offer closure. Each hurt because of all the dam- closure for its own sake or person will find his own age done, the results rather seek closure as the solution form of closure. Closure is than being held are a step to all problems. Because I satisfactory—it's a haven— towards paradise. In the do believe there are pains but closure also means to sense that though every we should not pretend do close, and close is the oppo- death is terrible, a death in not exist. I'm sorry to put site of life. Life opens. So, vain is much more terrible this as bluntly as I am do- at times we have to live than a death that led to a ing, but even all the closure with those wounds and community resolving its in the world cannot return those openings and there is problems. I would say clo- Amy Biehl. I mourn for it, I no alternative because we sure particularly happens grieve for it. I do think we cannot save the basic mys- when every person in that have to deal with the ambi- tery of life. And that life is community is able to take guity of existence. It is dif- entangled with death in a that person home with them ficult to deal with. The tremendous way.

To which we reply.

John Morrell

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