4 Oct 2004

Fiji Labour party calls for establishment of Truth Commission

2:16 pm on 4 October 2004

The Fiji Labour party says this week of national reconciliation ceremonies over the 2000 coup is a sham and a Truth Commission needs to be established.

The party's vice-president, Krishna Datt, says the government's apology for the events is insufficient.

And, he says there's been no real effort by the government to compensate the many ordinary people in the country who lost their homes and incomes as a result of the upheaval.

Mr Datt says a Truth Commission should be set up.

"Let people who were affected or people who conducted the coup, come to the place and say exactly who all were involved, who were the people funding the coup, who were behind the scenes. These people are still wandering around. They are the ones who owe the nation an apology."

Mr Datt says the party is also concerned that the reconciliation could be used as mitigation in the appeal by the vice-president, Ratu Jope Seniloli.

This has been rejected by the government's information minister who says they remain committed to the process of law.