The Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission (FTRC) plans to appoint an impartial overseas expert as its chairperson, while committee members will be chosen based on their non-political backgrounds. Sashi Kiran, who leads the FTRC steering committee, elaborated on this strategy when discussing the importance of neutrality in adjudicating cases of public interest.
The steering committee is presently engaging in public consultations nationwide to gather feedback that may be integrated into a draft bill for parliamentary approval. Kiran stated that the proposed draft bill includes the necessity for an independent chairperson from abroad, emphasizing that the commission will operate autonomously, unaffected by external influences.
During a recent public consultation in Labasa, attendees voiced concerns that appointing a local chair could result in biased rulings on specific cases. To mitigate this, some participants recommended an individual of high caliber, such as Transitional Justice expert Ruben Carranza, to lead the commission.
Fiji Labour Party politician Surendra Lal and other participants underscored the importance of including highly qualified members within the commission. Kiran acknowledged these suggestions, affirming that along with the chairperson, the four local committee members must also have no political affiliations to foster public trust in the process’s fairness and transparency.
The appointment of the commission’s officials will receive endorsement from President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere. The draft proposal outlines that the commission will function for 18 months, after which the President will determine whether to extend its operation.
Additionally, specialized staff, including translators, counselors, and support personnel, will be recruited. Kiran noted that these team members would travel to various locations across the country to facilitate reconciliation efforts and collect cases and opinions.
The commission’s work will involve addressing issues of abuse and violence stemming from past incidents that have caused trauma in affected communities. This includes examining the ramifications of the coups in 1987 and 2000, which resulted in significant losses and violence toward the Indo-Fijian community. Ruben Carranza, a senior expert from the International Centre for Transitional Justice in New York City, highlighted that the commission seeks to resolve these historical grievances and prevent the occurrence of similar events in the future.