The Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission (FTRC) plans to appoint a neutral international expert as chairperson, with committee members chosen for their non-political backgrounds. Sashi Kiran, the chairperson of the FTRC steering committee, discussed this strategy when questioned about maintaining neutrality in public interest cases.
The steering committee is currently engaging in public consultations nationwide to gather insights for a draft bill that requires parliamentary approval. Kiran stated that the commission’s draft bill specifies an independent overseas chairperson.
She emphasized that the commission would function autonomously, with decisions made solely by the committee, free from external influences. During a recent public consultation in Labasa, several participants voiced concerns that appointing a local chairperson might introduce bias in case handling.
To alleviate these worries, attendees proposed selecting someone of significant expertise, such as Transitional Justice specialist Ruben Carranza, as the chairperson. Fiji Labour Party member Surendra Lal and others stressed the importance of including highly qualified individuals in the commission.
Kiran acknowledged these proposals, noting that, alongside the chairperson, the four local committee members must also be politically neutral. She indicated that this measure aims to foster trust in the process’s fairness and transparency.
The commission’s office bearers will receive endorsement from President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere. The draft plan outlines that the commission will operate for 18 months, with the President having the authority to decide on any extensions. Additional personnel, including translators, counselors, and support staff, will be appointed to facilitate the reconciliation process and gather opinions across various locations.
Kiran mentioned that these staff members would work in different centers to promote reconciliation and collect cases and viewpoints. The commission intends to address issues of abuse and violence stemming from historical events that have caused trauma in certain communities, specifically the impacts of the 1987 and 2000 coups, during which the Indo-Fijian community faced significant losses, violence, and mistreatment.
Ruben Carranza, a senior expert from the International Centre for Transitional Justice in New York City, highlighted that the commission’s objective is to resolve these issues and help prevent similar occurrences in the future.