FACING the past is never easy, but Lautoka lawyer Azeem Sahu Khan says sharing his story with the Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission (FTRC) has helped him begin to heal.
“I believe in speaking truth to power because, upon my admission to the Bar, I solemnly swore to uphold constitutionalism and the rule of law,” Mr Sahu Khan said during a hearing in Lautoka.
“What I endured in 2013 and the years that followed taught me that there is indeed a price to be paid for telling the truth,” he said.
“Yet I also came to understand that the price of silence is far greater.”
Mr Sahu Khan described the FTRC process as careful and trauma-informed, providing confidential support and a safe environment to share difficult memories.
“The hearing itself was raw for me.
“It brought up difficult memories, but the trauma-informed approach made it manageable.
“The Commissioners were attentive and focused on understanding,” he said.
Reconciliation, he stressed, is collective, while forgiveness is personal.
“I have forgiven the perpetrator of my trauma.
“This has enabled me to recover mentally and emotionally, even though the memory of it lingers. Reconciliation creates the conditions where forgiveness is possible.”
Mr Sahu Khan recommends the process to other survivors who feel ready.
“It offers a structured, confidential way to have your experience acknowledged, which can aid personal recovery and broader reconciliation,” he said.
