ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the general promises and pitfalls of such tradition-based initiatives, using experiences from Rwanda, Uganda and East Timor as examples. In addition, especially in contexts where divided family members and neighbours must go on living side by side, the emphasis in many local justice traditions on rebuilding community relations creates a special potential to address underlying conflict dynamics and to foster long-term peacebuilding. Finally, local justice has the potential to be more affordable to those financially supporting it, and perhaps more politically feasible due to lower perceived intrusion on sovereignty from national governmental officials. In this chapter, the author briefly describes the use of tradition-based justice practices in Rwanda, East Timor and Uganda. As the example in Rwanda illustrates, there is no guarantee that just because a process is promoted as being local it will satisfy the varied concerns that animate the various appeals for local justice.
