The Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission (FTRC) is set to appoint a neutral overseas expert as its chairperson and will select committee members based on their apolitical background. Sashi Kiran, chairperson of the FTRC steering committee, discussed this strategy in response to inquiries about maintaining neutrality in cases of public interest.
The steering committee is currently organizing public consultations nationwide to gather feedback that may be incorporated into the draft bill for parliamentary approval. Kiran stated that the neutral appointment is a key aspect of the draft bill, which suggests an independent chair from abroad.
She emphasized that the commission will function independently, with all decisions made solely by the committee, free from external influence. During a public consultation in Labasa, attendees raised concerns that appointing a local chairperson could result in bias regarding certain cases. In response, some participants recommended appointing a qualified individual like Transitional Justice expert Ruben Carranza.
Fiji Labour Party member Surendra Lal and other participants stressed the importance of having highly qualified individuals on the commission. Kiran recognized these suggestions and noted that, in addition to the chairperson, the four local committee members must also have no political ties to promote trust in the process of fairness and transparency.
The President of Fiji, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, will endorse the appointments of the commission’s officials. The draft proposal indicates that the commission will operate for a period of 18 months, after which the President will determine if extensions are needed.
Additionally, special staff members, including translators, counselors, and support personnel, will be appointed to assist in reconciliation efforts and gather cases and opinions throughout the country. Kiran mentioned that these staff members would engage with various communities to conduct reconciliation initiatives addressing issues of abuse and violence stemming from past events that have affected certain populations.
The commission will specifically tackle the repercussions of the 1987 and 2000 coups, during which the Indo-Fijian community experienced considerable property damage, violence, and abuse. Senior expert Ruben Carranza from the New York City-based International Centre for Transitional Justice noted that the commission seeks to address these issues while working to prevent similar occurrences in the future.