The Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma Assistant General Secretary, Reverend Anil Reuben, has called for a collective focus on healing and forgiveness in response to the proposed Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Emphasizing the need to move forward together, he shared his own experiences as someone affected by the coups of 1987 and 2000.
Reverend Reuben highlighted the importance of expressing one’s truth before moving on from past pains. He noted the significant impact of the 2000 coup, which he believes altered the mindset of many iTaukei individuals. He expressed hope that the process of truth and reconciliation will provide comfort to those who are suffering.
While acknowledging his own hurt stemming from the actions of specific individuals, he emphasized that his feelings are not directed at his community, with whom he shares close bonds. He stressed the difficulty of forgiveness but insisted on the necessity of sharing experiences. “When someone speaks out, their pain is expressed. I still feel that much of the hurt remains hidden,” he stated.
Reverend Reuben, an Indo-Fijian, encouraged members of his community to also come forward and share their stories. He recounted personal anecdotes of fear and displacement faced by families in Baulevu, who would leave their homes at night for safety, bringing attention to the lasting hurt caused by such experiences. He remains hopeful that truth and reconciliation could lead to joy and transformative change in Fiji.
Public consultations regarding the establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission are scheduled to take place at the Civic Centre in Suva today starting at 9 a.m.