Restoring Justice without Witnesses

The Case of Challo  Traditional Judgment in Yem Special  Woreda in Southern Nation, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

The main objective of this article was to investigate the role of Challo traditional judgment in promoting and restoring justice.  Exploratory research design was employed due to the fact that the study was aimed to explore the role of Challo traditional judgment in enabling the individuals and communities’ to realize their quest for justice. Participant observation, document  review  and  interview  were  data  collection  tools  utilized  according  to  which discussions and conclusion made. Interview was conducted  with Awulongana, one of the elders of Challo-Tuna. In addition, it is due to my knowledge about and exposure with Challo  traditional  judgment  that  the  researcher  was  inspired  to  undertake this investigation. Challo traditional judgment is massively carried out during Hebo Holiday in September with the presence of Bogigna and it is also conducted in April. Based on the narratives and discussions made, the researcher inferred that Challo traditional judgment has  been  playing  a  pivotal  role  in  defending  and  restoring  justice.  Besides,  Challo traditional judgment has been serving as a last resort in restoring justice because victims who were unable to get justice through other alternatives finally receive what they deserve bringing their cases to the same institution. Hence, Challo traditional judgment is viewed as a beacon of hope for those people whose right to justice is undermined, violated and deprived. Consequently, Challo traditional judgment should be promoted, protected and preserved than undermined,  suppressed and replaced by any other alien forms of justice systems.