The Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission (FTRC) plans to appoint a neutral overseas expert as its chairperson, with committee members chosen for their lack of political affiliation. Sashi Kiran, head of the FTRC steering committee, outlined this strategy as a means to ensure impartiality in handling public interest cases.
The steering committee is currently engaging in public consultations nationwide to collect feedback for the draft bill that will be presented to Parliament. Kiran noted that the neutral chairperson’s appointment is a key component of the draft bill, which advocates for the selection of an independent chair from abroad.
Kiran emphasized that the commission would function autonomously, making all decisions independently without external influences. Concerns were raised during a recent public consultation in Labasa regarding local appointments possibly introducing bias. Some participants advocated for an appointment of high caliber, such as Transitional Justice expert Ruben Carranza, for the chairperson position.
Fiji Labour Party member Surendra Lal and other participants stressed the importance of including highly qualified individuals in the commission. Kiran responded, confirming that alongside the chairperson, the four local commissioners will also be required to have no political ties to ensure public confidence in the commission’s fairness and transparency.
The commission’s office bearers will receive endorsement from President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere. As proposed in the draft, the commission is expected to operate for 18 months, with the option for the President to consider extensions thereafter. Additionally, specialized staff such as translators and counselors will be appointed to assist in reconciliation efforts across various centers in the country.
The commission aims to address historical issues of abuse and violence that have affected particular communities, including the Indo-Fijian community, particularly in relation to the coups of 1987 and 2000, which resulted in significant chaos and harm.
Senior expert Ruben Carranza from the International Centre for Transitional Justice in New York City noted that the commission’s objectives include resolving historical grievances and working towards preventing similar occurrences in the future.