IT is never easy for a family who has suffered in silence to come forward in front of strangers and tell the public their story, says Sashi Kiran.
Those words from the former steering committee chairperson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) came after a family scheduled to testify before the commission last week did not appear.
Ms Kiran said the absence reflected the deep pain and hesitation that many Fijians still carry and the courage it would take to share their experiences of trauma, displacement, and division from the country’s past.
“From what I understand, there’s a family who did say they would come, but they didn’t,” Ms Kiran explained.
“So the TRC is working family by family, or with people who are prepared in advance.”
Despite the setback, Ms Kiran commended the commission’s progress in beginning its public work, describing it as a crucial step in Fiji’s national healing journey.
“I’m grateful that the TRC has stepped forward and has started the work. It will not be an easy journey.
“Fiji has seen multiple traumatic events over the past four decades or more, and people need the confidence that they can feel safe speaking in these spaces.”
Ms Kiran said the process would depend on building trust and assurance among those willing to speak out, especially in the early stages.
“People will have to see that those first ones who come forward and speak are safe and protected.
“Once that happens, others will follow. It will roll.”
She said that healing the nation’s collective wounds required patience, empathy, and a shared commitment to move forward together.
“I think the TRC is a great framework and a space where people can finally let go of their pain and trauma, so we can collectively build the Fiji we want.”
While the process may be slow and emotionally challenging, Ms Kiran said the commission’s work represented a powerful opportunity for Fiji to acknowledge its past and shape a more inclusive future.
