The Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) is preparing to seek forgiveness from the Indo-Fijian community for its role in the events of 1987, with a specific focus on approaches that are meaningful to families who were affected.
Minister for Defence Pio Tikoduadua revealed this in Parliament yesterday while delivering a ministerial statement. He said the RFMF was not only considering the act of seeking forgiveness but was also carefully examining the most respectful and appropriate way to do so.
“The institution is also examining what form a request for forgiveness might take,” Tikoduadua said. “It recognises that such a step cannot be merely symbolic. It must be grounded in clear understanding, careful preparation, and genuine engagement with the people who receive it.”
He explained that the process may include community-level dialogues, written acknowledgements, or more structured cultural practices—approaches designed to honour families’ experiences and mirror the intent of traditional reconciliation processes, appropriately adapted for Indo-Fijian communities.
“Our concern is to ensure that any approach is guided by accuracy, dignity, and a realistic understanding of what communities consider genuine,” he said.
Tikoduadua noted that the work is still in its early stages, with the RFMF continuing to consolidate its understanding of what occurred in 1987. “The RFMF is collecting information, forming a clearer picture of events, and identifying ways it can reach out to the Indo-Fijian community in a manner proportionate to the scale of harm experienced.”
He said the institution’s long-term objective is to support national healing by acknowledging the impact of the past on families across generations.
“The aim is to establish a path that honestly recognises past actions and offers families an opportunity to receive acknowledgement in a way that strengthens long-term national cohesion.”
Tikoduadua emphasised that the RFMF does not want to undertake actions that are empty or performative.
“The objective is clarity,” he said. “The RFMF does not seek symbolic gestures without substance. It seeks an approach that allows the institution to present itself honestly, acknowledge the effects of its past actions, and ask for forgiveness in a way that is meaningful for families who lived through that period.”
