Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has expressed his commitment to participating in the reconciliation process for the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF), led by RFMF Commander Major-General Ro Jone Kalouniwai.
In a media briefing, Rabuka revealed that the RFMF plans to summon him, in his role as a former RFMF Commander, along with former leaders such as Brigadier-General Retired Ratu Epeli Nailatikau and former Chief of Staff Lt-Colonel Jim Sanday, to provide their accounts of past events.
He noted that the Cabinet has endorsed the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to create a legal framework for addressing reconciliation, separate from the RFMF’s initiatives.
Earlier, Ro Jone mentioned that the RFMF aims to complete its internal reconciliation efforts before participating in the broader national reconciliation process. He stressed the importance of building public trust and confidence in the RFMF as it aims for complete reconciliation.
Ro Jone articulated the necessity of starting with internal processes, allowing soldiers the opportunity to share their experiences before engaging in a national reconciliation forum. He emphasized the importance of preparing them to discuss their stories concerning the events from 1987 to 2000 and 2006.
The principal objective of the TRC is to foster healing, reconciliation, forgiveness, and trust, thereby enhancing social cohesion and unity across the nation. The Prime Minister underscored that the TRC aims to assist individuals who have suffered violations in finding healing and closure through genuine reconciliation with those responsible.