THE Truth and Reconciliation Commission has begun the process of inviting Voreqe Bainimarama and George Speight as “key witnesses” of past political upheavals.
The commission stressed the former prime minister and Mr Speight would not be labelled “perpetrators” in accordance with the Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act.
Commissioner Sekove Naqiolevu said the Act doesn’t consider anyone a perpetrator but as a key witness or survivor of political upheavals.
“Yeah, so we are in conversation,” Mr Naqiolevu said.
“So, the key witness, our Act is very clear that there are no perpetrators.
“They can choose in goodwill to come before the commission and speak their truth and tell the nation of their involvement and why they did what they did or what that looked like.
“But again, that’s an invitation. And so it really depends on their goodwill and where they are on their journey to engage with us. But we certainly made the invitation to them and we’re in that process.”
Mr Naqiolevu clarified the terminology in the Act “because it’s restorative justice, those who front the commission are survivors and key witnesses”.
“But we are in conversations with many others who may have perpetrated harm and to bring them forward.
“We cannot summon, so it’s an invitation.
“And, I think it’s also important to recognise that some reconciliation is already taking place.”
