Truth, reconciliation

Last Friday, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabu­ka, speaking at the launch of the United Na­tions Social Cohesion project at the Grand Pacific Hotel, revealed Government was com­mitted to establishing the Truth and the Rec­onciliation Commission.

This will be an earnest attempt to heal the scars and hurt of the past.

Hopefully, the collaborative effort on part of Fiji Government and the United Nations’ agencies will help foster trust among com­munities and citizens.

The central focus will be to initiate trust and dialogue among the communities and institu­tions in Fiji.
This may be a big ask under the prevailing conditions.

However, the implementing partners -the United Nations Development Programme, UNWOMEN and the office of the Commission of Human Rights -will fund the project with the hope that it will achieve its aim of peace­building in Fiji, Pacific and the world.

The events of 1987, 2000 and 2006 have been traumatic years for the people of Fiji.

Fear and distrust still prevail when pension­ers are cheated by the Fiji National Provident Fund and the Government (FijiFirst) of the day who break the legally binding contracts and impose draconian decrees (Decree 51) to prevent the affected parties from seeking jus­tice in the courts of law!

And the United Nations and the human rights activists remain painfully quiet.

The Government, headed by Sitiveni Rabu­ka, seems to be committed to promote trust, reconciliation, accountability and ultimately peace and reconciliation by removing sourc­es, which trigger tensions.
Promoting dialogue and respect for human rights will be a step closer to “Peace Pillar” under the UN Pacific Sustainable Develop­ment Co-operation Framework 2023 to 2027.

National vision and commitment to include social cohesion, reconciliation, peacebuild­ing, inclusivity and above all the moral cour­age to face the reality.

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