Truth and Reconciliation process will not be easy – Kiran

The Truth and Reconciliation process will not be easy, as different stakeholders will express their trauma and conflicts.

Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, Sashi Kiran highlighted this during the Truth and Reconciliation consultation at the Bali Towers.

Kiran says the consultation intends to heal, provide closure and answers from the past in the hope that future generations do not repeat the same mistakes.

She says some of the key issues raised in the consultation varied in areas of legal definitions within the draft and the need for fair definition to ensure justice and accountability.

Meanwhile, Assistant Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Sakiusa Tubuna says the main aim of the commission is to promote healing, reconciliation, forgiveness and trust to foster social cohesion and unity in the country.

Tubuna says the gist of the formulation of the TRC is to help those who have been violated to find healing and closure through full and genuine reconciliation with perpetrators.

Questions were raised on the credibility of building trust and ensuring transparency, especially for those processes aimed at healing historical wounds and the commission’s independence from the government.

Public consultations with the legal fraternity and political parties continue this week, and there are plans to organise a national consultation extending to the Western and Northern Divisions.