Sister Teresia Tinanisolo gave her account of the 1987 coup led by Sitiveni Rabuka as she appeared before the Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission today.
She recalled a day she came from Savusavu to Suva and driving to Nausori on one particular day.
“I saw the military with their guns marching towards Nabua to their camp. That day, I wrote the Fiji Times that (Sitiveni) Rabuka should keep their military parade in Queen Elizabeth (barrack),” she said.
“I was told by my brother, next day that on to the radio in Fijian, Rabuka said that sister that wrote in the Fiji Times today should stay in her convent and pray.”
“I stayed in the convent and I prayed, but I spoke the truth.”
“0So there was the beginning of many letters yet to be written in the experience that I experienced, particularly in the life of our boarding schools.”
“We couldn’t go out on Sunday.”
The Commission is documenting such personal accounts to promote truth, healing, and reconciliation in Fiji.
