Two women whose family members were reportedly tortured during the 2006 coup are seeking insights into how the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) can aid in their healing from the trauma. Ruseieli Mua’s brother-in-law, Colonel Metuisela Mua, and Titilia Saurara’s late husband, Kitione Vuataki, are among those looking for answers from the TRC.
Colonel Mua, a former Fijian military intelligence officer and politician, had served as the director of the Fiji Intelligence Services in 1988. Mr. Vuataki, who passed away in 2020, was a notable Fijian lawyer based in Lautoka.
The women attended the commission’s hearing at the Sugar Cane Growers Council Hall in Lautoka, which centered on refining draft legislation for a commission designed to address historical injustices and promote national reconciliation.
“Was the violence needed?” queried Ms. Mua, expressing a deep-seated need for understanding and justice regarding her brother-in-law’s past. Meanwhile, Ms. Saurara, a prominent businesswoman and the first iTaukei woman president of the Nadi Bula Festival Association, posed the question, “How is the TRC going to heal the people of Fiji?” emphasizing the necessity for a process that addresses the trauma experienced by coup victims.
Another participant, Dr. Mukesh Bhagat, a medical practitioner from Lautoka, asked whether the truth and reconciliation initiative had the Army’s backing. Assistant Minister for Women, Children, and Social Services, Shashi Kiran, responded, “So far, we do have the support from the Army.”
The draft legislation being discussed includes provisions to safeguard the confidentiality of testimonies, ensuring that statements given to the TRC are not used in prosecutions. The commission is set to function independently, with its work anticipated to last for 18 months.