After Father Michael Lapsley was exiled by the South African Government in 1976, he joined the African National Congress (ANC) and became one of their chaplains. Whilst living in Zimbabwe he discovered he was on the South African Government hit list. In April 1990 he received a letter bomb in the post. As a result of the attack he lost both hands, one eye and had his eardrums shattered. [The Forgiveness Project]
Speaking recently in Edmonton he shared the following news:
When I gave evidence to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 1995, I asked the Commission to find out who sent me a letter bomb in April of 1990, the chain of command, and why.
Yesterday I learnt who did it, and who commanded the structure. I also learnt that the man who made and sent the bomb died a gruesome death as a mercenary at the hands of Al Qaeda in Iraq.
As I have been digesting this information, I cannot help wondering what had happened in his life before becoming an assassin.
As I told the congregation of homeless people here in Edmonton this morning, I had always wanted to know but it had never consumed me as it would have prevented me from founding the Institute for Healing of Memories which today has partners in 26 countries.
It is true that those of us who are white who joined the struggle were hated.
May God have mercy on Him.
Visit the takenote.ca HOME page for a colourful display of hundreds of other blogs which may interest or inspire you
Thank you for this, Ken. I often think of the former members of Colombia’s paramilitary death squads. Many demobilised, but others seem to have become mercenaries in other conflicts especially in the Middle East and northeast Africa. On the other side, some of the former FARC guerrillas could not abide civilian life after the peace agreement and joined other armed groups.
At the same time, I was privileged to witness many good efforts (often backed by churches or parts of churches) to assist former fighters in their re-entry into civilian life. Blessed are the peace-makers…
LikeLike