Parliament has approved the establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which aims to facilitate truth-telling for both victims and perpetrators. Deputy Prime Minister Professor Biman Prasad made this announcement during the launch of former Parliamentarian Harish Sharma’s memoir in Suva on Thursday.
Professor Prasad emphasized that the TRC would examine the upheavals that have occurred in the nation and assist in providing closure to the darker periods in Fiji’s history. He acknowledged that Sharma’s memoirs would cover events from 1987 and later.
He stated, “Much has and is being done. And much can and will be done. The road ahead will not be easy. The difference is the past was fraught with danger. Now the future of freedom, hope, and glory beckons.”
Additionally, Professor Prasad highlighted that the Coalition Government is committed to avoiding the governance issues that plagued Fiji in recent years. He noted that the government has liberated Fiji from media restrictions, suppression of free speech, and workers’ rights.
He remarked, “The freedom has allowed people to vocally criticize and accuse the Coalition Government of various things. Most of it is malicious, defamatory, and at times quite humorous. But this doesn’t mean that the Government will impose restrictions on freedoms.”
Professor Prasad added that the Coalition is the only post-election government that has sustained beyond a year after an electoral transition in the 54-year history of Fiji’s independence.