Not everyone would support the idea of reconciliation, says Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka while responding to growing concerns regarding Chapter 10 of the 2013 Constitution which protects coup perpetrators from prosecution.
With increasing calls for change, including a potential public referendum to amend this chapter, the Prime Minister acknowledged that not everyone would have the same view.
“We must accept that some will not settle for reconciliation and would demand retribution and restitution, much like Shylock’s ‘pound of flesh’ in The Merchant of Venice,” Mr Rabuka stated.
In an earlier interview, the Prime Minister drew parallels with recent investigations into a tragic mid-air collision in the United States.
He explained that while these findings could never bring back the victims, they served as a critical tool to prevent future tragedies.
He emphasised that the same principle applied to Fiji’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), where the process of reconciliation aims to pave the way for long-term healing despite differing views on how to achieve it.
“Ever since we arrived here on Saturday (February 1, 2025, US time), the mid-air collision investigations and findings have been in the news. While they will never be able to bring back any of the victims, it is hoped that the findings will be used to prevent future accidents near busy airports, like Reagan Airport in Washington — the same applies to Fiji’s TRC.”
Asked how he would respond to the legal implications on himself if the immunity clause were to be removed, Mr Rabuka said, “Let’s get into it first and not try to pre-conclude it before we start.”
