Joaquim Da Fonseca has been sworn in as the Chairperson of the Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission by the President of Fiji, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, at the State House this morning.
The Commission says that as they advance into a pivotal phase of its mandate, Fonseca assumes the role alongside the four local Commissioners including former High Court Judge Sekove Naqiolevu, gender specialist and leadership coach Ana Laqeretabua, human rights advisor and communications specialist Rachna Nath and retired Fiji Airways pilot Captain Rajendra Dass.
They say a national of Timor-Leste, Fonseca is a distinguished diplomat and senior adviser with more than two decades of experience in reconciliation, peacebuilding, transitional justice, and human rights across post-conflict and transitional settings.
In accepting the appointment, Fonseca stated that he would undertake the role with humility.
He says reconciliation is not a destination but a journey that requires the courage of the entire
nation.
Fonseca says he is honoured to accept this responsibility and to walk this path with the people
of Fiji.
Fonseca has been at the forefront of Timor-Leste’s reconciliation and justice processes since 1999, contributing from the early truth and reconciliation initiatives under the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) through to the development of national mechanisms that continue to guide the country’s healing and unity.
He says the core lesson from Timor-Leste is that while a commission cannot always resolve every grievance or address every wrong due to legal or political constraints, the integrity of the process is paramount.
Fonseca says the recognition and validation of the survivors and witnesses experiences is, in itself, a form of justice. It is my hope that these lessons will support Fiji as it navigates its own path toward truth, healing, and national unity.
The Commission says his professional experience is grounded in the Timorese independence struggle,
national truth-seeking processes, and post-conflict peacebuilding, and is complemented by senior diplomatic leadership as Ambassador to the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United Nations in Geneva. Throughout his career, he has consistently bridged across government, civil society, and multilateral institutions to advance justice, reconciliation, and social cohesion.
They say fluent in English, Portuguese, Tetum, and Bahasa Indonesia, Fonseca brings strategic vision, diplomatic leadership, and a proven record in transitional justice aligned with the Commission’s mandate.
Section 5 of the Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act 2024, subsection (2) and
(3) states, that The Commission consists of 5 Commissioners appointed by the President, 3 of
whom must be citizens of Fiji and that the Chairperson is appointed by the President from among the Commissioners.
