THE Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) will not pursue compensation or legal accountability as part of its mandate.
According to commission chair Dr Marcus Brand, while comparing Fiji’s approach to truth and reconciliation processes in other countries, Fiji’s unique historical and social context shapes the commission’s focus.
“Many other countries have had similar truth and reconciliation commissions in the past, and we will be looking at those models,” Mr Brand said.
“We are already in touch with many experts who have worked on those.”
However, he noted that while other TRCs have included compensation or legal consequences as part of their efforts, Fiji’s commission is structured differently.
“For example, in your case, in Fiji, the focus is much more strongly on survivors, on healing, on a forward-looking effort in building social cohesion.”
By contrast, other truth and reconciliation commissions or transitional justice processes around the world have incorporated financial compensation or legal accountability as key components, which is not within the scope of Fiji’s TRC.
Dr Brand also pointed out that issues of national identity and historical legacies are common in many post-colonial societies.
He warned that differing narratives about a country’s history can be exploited by political leaders seeking to instrumentalise divisions for political gain.
“This is something that happens the world over.
“And I have to say that we live in a time when around the world there are many trends in many countries that are going in a different direction.”
Despite these global challenges, he commended Fiji’s efforts to critically examine its past, saying the goal is not to judge or assign blame but to create a shared understanding for a more unified future.
