The Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission (FTRC) is set to appoint an impartial overseas expert as its chairperson, with committee members being selected for their apolitical backgrounds. Sashi Kiran, who leads the FTRC steering committee, discussed this method in response to inquiries about maintaining neutrality in handling public interest cases.
The steering committee is presently engaged in public consultations nationwide to collect feedback that will contribute to the draft bill for parliamentary approval. “This neutral appointment is part of the draft bill, which suggests having an independent chair from abroad,” Kiran noted.
Kiran emphasized that the commission would function autonomously, with all decisions being made internally, free from external influence. During a recent public consultation in Labasa, some attendees voiced concerns that appointing a local chair could introduce bias in managing specific cases.
To alleviate these worries, participants proposed that someone of the expertise level of Transitional Justice specialist Ruben Carranza be considered for the chair position. Fiji Labour Party politician Surendra Lal and other participants also stressed the importance of the commission being composed of highly qualified members.
Kiran acknowledged these suggestions, stating that alongside the chairperson, the four local committee members (commissioners) must also be politically unaffiliated. “This measure will be enforced to ensure public confidence in the fairness and transparency of the process,” she added.
The appointment of the commission’s office bearers will require the endorsement of President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere. The draft proposal outlines that the commission will function for 18 months, after which the President will make decisions regarding any possible extensions.
Special personnel, including translators, counselors, and support staff, will also be appointed. Kiran indicated that these staff members would travel to various locations around the country to facilitate reconciliation initiatives and collect cases and opinions.
The commission aims to address issues of abuse and violence linked to past incidents that have caused trauma to certain groups within the population. This includes examining the repercussions of the coups in 1987 and 2000, during which the Indo-Fijian community experienced significant property destruction, violence, and abuse.
Ruben Carranza, a senior expert from the New York City-based International Centre for Transitional Justice, stated that the commission’s goal is to resolve these issues and work towards ensuring such events do not recur in the future.