The Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission (FTRC) will appoint a neutral expert from abroad to serve as the chairperson, with members of the committee chosen for their lack of political affiliations. Sashi Kiran, chairperson of the FTRC steering committee, discussed this strategy when addressing concerns about impartiality in evaluating cases of public interest.
Currently, the steering committee is conducting public consultations throughout the nation to collect feedback that could contribute to the draft bill for parliamentary approval. Ms. Kiran emphasized that the plan includes appointing an independent chair from overseas as stipulated in the draft bill.
She affirmed that the commission would function autonomously, with all decisions made by the committee free from external influence. During a recent public consultation in Labasa, some attendees raised worries that selecting a local chairperson could create potential biases in handling specific cases. In response, suggestions were made to consider appointing a qualified individual, such as Transitional Justice expert Ruben Carranza, for the chair position.
Fiji Labour Party politician Surendra Lal and other participants underscored the importance of including highly qualified members in the commission. Ms. Kiran acknowledged these recommendations and stated that, alongside the chairperson, the four local committee members (commissioners) would also need to be politically neutral.
“This measure is intended to foster public trust in the fairness and transparency of the process,” she added. The appointment of the commission’s officials will receive endorsement from President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere.
As per the draft proposal, the commission is set to operate for an 18-month period, after which the President will determine any potential extensions. Support staff, including translators, counselors, and other personnel, will also be recruited. Ms. Kiran noted that these staff members would visit various regions across the country to facilitate reconciliation efforts and collect cases and opinions.
The commission’s focus will encompass issues of abuse and violence stemming from past incidents that have caused trauma among certain communities, specifically addressing the consequences of the 1987 and 2000 coups, during which significant harm was inflicted on the Indo-Fijian community, including property damage and violence.
Senior expert Ruben Carranza from the International Centre for Transitional Justice in New York City indicated that the commission’s goal is to resolve these issues and work towards preventing similar occurrences in the future.