CHAIRPERSON
The reasons for yesterday's premature adjournment was that we needed a particular type of interpreter.  This hearing was adjourned till nine o'clock this morning.  It is now ten to ten.  I speak on behalf of the panel.  We are not very happy about that.  Since this meeting was scheduled to begin last Monday on the 23rd November 1998 there has been niggling problems with having to get people to testify, nonetheless important and the preparations for these hearings.  We get the impression that there are certain people who wish to take the control of this process away from the institution of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and run these hearings at their convenience.  I am not going to allow that.  Let me make it clear right now that we do not think we are the beneficiaries of any favours by sitting here and listening to these applications and making decisions on the evidence that we hear.  We are completing our work for which we were appointed.
	I wish to point out also that from the records that we have been given it seems that most of the applicants in this hearing are free people.  While their rights to amnesty are important, in my view and I speak for myself, compared to other people's rights people still find themselves in prison, their rights are not that important.  This Committee has I understand until the middle of next year to complete all the hearings.  If we carry on as we are doing now we are not going to get to the end by the middle of next year and I dare say that there may be people who are still in prison who may find themselves not being able to exercise their rights in obtaining amnesty and the reason for that would be niggling issues such as those that I have mentioned.  I am not going to tolerate any delays any more from now on.  I trust that my views are taken in the spirit that they are intended and it is to be hoped also that there won't be any further delays in these hearings.  Thank you.