The Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission (FTRC) plans to appoint a neutral overseas expert as its chairperson, while committee members will be chosen for their apolitical nature. Sashi Kiran, the chairperson of the FTRC steering committee, discussed this strategy in response to questions about maintaining impartiality in cases of public concern.
Currently, the steering committee is holding public consultations nationwide to collect feedback that will inform the draft bill for parliamentary approval. Kiran explained that the proposal includes appointing an independent chair from abroad to ensure neutrality.
She assured that the commission would function independently, with all decisions made by the committee free from external influence. During a recent consultation in Labasa, participants voiced worries that appointing a local chair could introduce bias in handling specific cases. To mitigate these concerns, attendees suggested that someone of high competence, such as transitional justice expert Ruben Carranza, might be a suitable chairperson.
Fiji Labour Party politician Surendra Lal and other participants stressed the importance of having capable individuals on the commission. Kiran acknowledged these calls and emphasized that the four local committee members, referred to as commissioners, will also be required to have no political affiliations.
“This approach is aimed at ensuring public trust in the fairness and transparency of the process,” she stated. The appointment of the commission’s officials will be confirmed by President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere.
According to the draft proposal, the commission will function for 18 months, with the potential for extension at the discretion of President Ratu Wiliame. Additional staff, including translators, counselors, and support personnel, will also be appointed to assist with reconciliation efforts throughout the country and gather cases and feedback.
The commission aims to address issues of abuse and violence stemming from past events that have caused trauma to certain communities, particularly focusing on the impacts of the coups in 1987 and 2000, which inflicted considerable harm on the Indo-Fijian community through property damage and violence. Senior expert Ruben Carranza from the International Centre for Transitional Justice in New York City highlighted that the commission’s goal is to resolve these issues and work towards preventing similar occurrences in the future.