Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry believes there’s a need to address the roots of division in the country to create a peaceful society.
While speaking at the Heavenly Culture World Peace Restoration of Light Summit in Suva on Saturday, Mr Chaudhry emphasised that the grievances of the coup era must be resolved to prevent them from simmering in society and potentially causing unrest in the future.
He said without establishing a truth and reconciliation mechanism, lasting peace in the country cannot be achieved.
“Violence, breakdown in law and order, and race-based discriminatory policies that accompany the coups created deep-rooted ethnic division and a loss of confidence in the post-coup government,” he said.
“We need to ensure that every individual, regardless of background, feels empowered to contribute to a peaceful society.
“This is something we have failed to achieve as a nation.
“Despite the massive setback caused by the coups, we have not set up machinery to deal with the root cause.
“We have not dealt with division in our society and the ethnic suspicion and distrust.”
He said while the Government was committed to the United Nations multinational projects in promoting the observance of peace, similar efforts must be made in the country.
“We haven’t spent any money on creating institutions or providing a framework to deal with the effect of the coup and how to get races together and dispel bogus that create the coup.
“This is why it is imperative that they set up a truth and reconciliation machinery to uncover the truth of what happened and why.
“Not as an exercise in witch hunting but to lay to rest the demon of the past, and I’m glad that this has now begun.
“We need to engage in an honest dialogue strengthening our democratic institution and ensuring that the voices of the marginalised are heard.”
Mr Chaudhry said Fiji’s strength lied in its diversity, but it must not be exploited for conflict.
“It has a lasting peace we need to enforce our sense of unity and belonging for all addressing social inequalities and promoting inclusivity across all communities.
“We need policies that are fair transparent and serve the common goal.
“This is the peace that Fiji needs, a peace grounded in justice respect and trust. There cannot be genuine peace without justice.”