Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has expressed his commitment to participating in the reconciliation process for the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF), led by Major-General Ro Jone Kalouniwai, the RFMF Commander.
In a recent media interaction, Rabuka indicated that the RFMF plans to call upon him, as a former RFMF Commander, along with former Commander Brigadier-General Retired Ratu Epeli Nailatikau and former Chief of Staff Lt-Colonel Jim Sanday, to account for their experiences.
Rabuka noted that the Cabinet has endorsed the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to develop a legal framework for the Commission, which operates independently of the RFMF’s undertakings.
Earlier, Major-General Ro Jone mentioned the RFMF’s intention to complete its internal reconciliation process before engaging in the broader national reconciliation efforts, emphasizing the RFMF’s role within the Coalition Government’s reconciliation initiative.
He stated, “We need to build that image of trust and confidence for the public to be able to understand that the RFMF has completely reconciled.” Ro Jone further explained that the RFMF intends to begin its internal process to allow soldiers to share their experiences at the national level later on. This step is crucial for preparing the personnel for potential involvement in a national reconciliation panel, especially in understanding the challenges of narrating their experiences from the periods of 1987, 2000, and 2006.
The primary objective of the commission is to foster healing, reconciliation, forgiveness, and trust, ultimately promoting social cohesion and unity within the nation. The Prime Minister emphasized that the essence of the TRC’s establishment is to assist victims in finding healing and closure through sincere reconciliation with their offenders.