The Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission (FTRC) plans to appoint a neutral international expert as its chairperson, selecting committee members for their political neutrality. Sashi Kiran, who leads the FTRC steering committee, discussed this approach while addressing concerns about impartiality in handling public interest cases.
Currently, the steering committee is holding public consultations throughout the country to gather input that will be incorporated into a draft bill for parliamentary approval. Kiran mentioned that the proposal includes the appointment of an independent overseas chair.
Kiran assured that the commission would function autonomously, with decisions made internally and free from outside influence. During a recent public consultation in Labasa, attendees voiced worries that appointing a local chairperson could potentially introduce bias. Some participants suggested that an expert like Ruben Carranza, known for his work in Transitional Justice, would be an ideal candidate for the role.
Fiji Labour Party member Surendra Lal and others highlighted the importance of having highly qualified members in the commission. Kiran responded to these suggestions, stating that aside from the chairperson, all four local committee members must also be free from political ties to foster trust in the process of fairness and transparency.
The President of Fiji, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, will endorse the appointments of the commission’s officials. As outlined in the draft proposal, the commission is set to operate for 18 months, with the possibility of extensions determined by the President.
Additional support staff, including translators, counselors, and other personnel, will also be appointed. Kiran indicated that these staff members would travel to various locations across the country to facilitate reconciliation efforts and gather testimonies.
The commission aims to address issues of abuse and violence stemming from past events that have traumatized specific communities, particularly focusing on the impacts of the coups in 1987 and 2000, which resulted in considerable damage and suffering for the Indo-Fijian community.
Ruben Carranza, a senior expert from the International Centre for Transitional Justice based in New York City, emphasized that the commission’s objective is to resolve these historical grievances and work proactively to prevent recurrence in the future.