Fiji’s checkered past — marred by four military coups — will now be relooked at rather than swept under the carpet as Parliament passed the Truth and Reconciliation Bill this week.
The document formally outlines the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), an apolitical body that would report directly to the President. The Bill also states the commission will consist of five commissioners appointed by the President, three of whom must be citizens of Fiji.
Section 17 (4) of the Bill also states that the State must take reasonable measures within its available resources to implement the recommendations provided in the final TRC report.
This week, Members of Parliament such as Sashi Kiran, Sachida Nand, Penioni Ravunawa, Alvick Maharaj, Aseri Radrodro, Faiyaz Koya, Alipate Tuicolo, Parveen Bala, Mosese Bulitavu, Pio Tikoduadua, Jone Usamate and Professor Biman Prasad all contributed towards the heated debate.
Group of 16 Opposition members vehemently opposed the Bill, citing the resurfacing of old memories best left forgotten, and the reopening of old wounds of survivors.
On the other side, those on the Government threw their support behind the Bill and defended the initiative amid allegations of politicisation.
The Bill was eventually passed, with 33 in favour and 15 against, after a raucous three-hour debate on Wednesday night.
Healing the hurt
Spearheading the reconciliation initiatives is Assistant Women’s Minister Sashi Kiran, who told Parliament that “hurt people hurt people” and society’s tolerance for the intolerable increased because crimes committed during each political upheaval were justified.
“Emotions used in these political events have tried to divide our people on ethnic lines and dehumanised each other,” she said.
“Sadly, many political leaders have thrived on narratives of division, fear and hate for their own political expediency. But the past has happened. We cannot deny our past; we can only learn from it, heal from it, and create a new Fiji based on healing and better understanding of each other’s fears, dreams and hopes.
“This process needs courage and political will. Our Prime Minister and our Coalition Government has the political will, and hearing from our consultations indicate that for the first time, the whole nation is ready to embrace this process.”
She said once the commission was established, it would be mandated to serve as a guide for all Fijians in identifying and moving toward overcoming the causes and consequences of the political violence, social divisions and economic inequalities that have divided the country since 1987.
Ms Kiran said the commission chair would be sourced from the global human rights community to ensure trust and transparency in the process.
“Forgiveness can contribute to creating a foundation for dialogue. It can help release bitterness and anger and facilitate the re-humanisation of the other.
“This is key to the reconciliation process, which cannot happen without eradicating the dehumanisation factor that has resulted in the stereotyping that we see.”
Similar sentiments were echoed by Education Minister and Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) leader Aseri Radrodro, who said the Bill was essential for Fiji’s future.
“Confronting our past is not about revisiting our wounds, but about acknowledging the pain, the sufferings, and learning from it for it never to happen again,” he told Parliament.
“To the people of Fiji, I encourage you to participate in the public consultations. Share your views, share your stories and your hopes for our nation’s future. This is your chance to shape a legacy of peace, justice and unity for generations to come.”
The survivor’s plight
Several Opposition MPs raised concerns about the trauma such a process will cause victims.
Opposition Leader Inia Seruiratu also cautioned Government of the mammoth task it has now; to identify those who had a hand in destabilising the country through these coups.
MP Sachida Nand — who also identified himself as a victim of the coups — said by establishing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in its current form, the doorway to re-traumatise victims was being opened.
“The victims will have to relieve those ugly and dreadful days; we will be breaking down and re-victimising the victims again.”
Another MP, Alvick Maharaj, said the committee that put the Bill together failed to conduct public consultations across all parts of the country, including two areas where Fijians of Indian descent were terribly victimised and subjected to alleged sexual assault and rape.
“The Bill will open (a) lot of wounds that have either healed or is in the process of healing or are hidden for ages,” he said.
“We have heard the lies in this August house when we were informed, as I have suggested earlier, that consultation was taken all throughout the nation. This was a blatant lie. One segment or group of our society have been totally neglected or rather ignored in this particular Bill, and they are females, our mothers, our sisters, our daughters, our granddaughters, our daughters-in-law.
“There is no mention of sexual assault. What we have forgotten is how our ladies were raped in places like Muaniweni and Dreketi. The families, they had sleepless nights because they were worried about their security.”
Mr Maharaj said the domino effect occurred during and post coup as well.
“Many of these families for months had to hide a female member in a farm, in a cassava patch, as soon as it was 6pm, and these people were never compensated.
“And because of victimisation, because of humiliation, they didn’t even report these matters to the police. And this is well known.”
During Mr Maharaj’s contribution, a Point of Order was raised and Ms Kiran clarified that they had spoken to the people in those areas without necessarily having public consultations.
A political gimmick?
Opposition MP Praveen Bala said the Bill was not about reconciliation, rather, it was politically motivated and “not a path to unity”.
“It is about the political agendas,” he said.
“The current chair has acted with self-proclaimed powers over all our people making statements about healing and issuing apologies without any authority. There was no formal or informal discussion between the Government and Opposition.
“We should have engaged in a sincere process of dialogue given our special circumstances as a multi-racial country.”
In response, Deputy Prime Minister Professor Biman Prasad said the TRC would be an independent commission, free of political influence.
“How can it be politicised?” he asked.
He said while Government was bringing the Bill to Parliament, it was not saying that every law was going to be perfect.
“But this Government and Prime Minister had the courage and vision to bring it in this House and they (Opposition) are saying ‘we want to support this, but we don’t like some of the provisions’.
“That is a political ploy on all of those on the other side, who are on the opposing side, because they know the people of this country want reconciliation. This is a step in the right direction.
“The important thing in this reconciliation process is leadership. We can disagree with little provisions but what is required in this is leaderships. It is about averting disaster, not creating conditions in which it thrives.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, who moved the motion, urged people to present their views freely.
“We expect media and those who act as keyboard warriors through social media to act responsibly,” he said.
Mr Rabuka said there were many consultations conducted with CSOs, faith-based organisations, media etcetera and the TRC would not be a toothless commission.
