The Reconciliation and Unity Commission is a proposed government body to be set up if the Reconciliation, Tolerance, and Unity Bill, which was introduced into the Fijian Parliament on 4 May 2005 is passed. The legislation proposes to empower the Commission to grant amnesty to perpetrators of the Fiji coup of 2000, and compensation to victims of it from 19 May 2000 through 15 March 2001. The Fijian President will retain a veto over the granting of amnesty.
The Commission is to be appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister, in consultation with the Leader of the Opposition. Its purported objectives are to promote reconciliation in a spirit of tolerance and unity.
Attorney-General Qoriniasi Bale announced on 5 July that the bill is likely to be tabled in Parliament in September, but on 10 August, Manasa Tugia, the Chairman of Parliament's Justice, Law and Order Committee, announced that the date would be brought forward to mid-August.
On 17 August the House of Representatives voted to approve a request from Tugia to extend the time for the committee to hear submissions on the bill. Tugia said the extension was necessary because Hindi translations of the bill had not yet been legally vetted and distributed, and because the views of important stakeholders had not yet been received. Tugia said submissions received so far revealed diametrically opposed views on how to overcome Fiji's "coup culture." The differences appeared to be over means, not ends. "While both sides of the argument clearly want to see a better Fiji freed from the 'coup culture', the two sides have different views on how best this can be achieved," Tugia said.
On 18 August, Tugia said that the parliamentary committee needed more money to continue with public consultations on the bill, and said that an application had been lodged with the Ministry of Finance.
Commonwealth of Nations Secretary-General Don McKinnon revealed on 8 September 2005 that Prime Minister Qarase had assured him that significant changes would be made to the bill.
Section 5 of the Fijian translation of the bill states that in addition to the Commission, a 22-member Reconciliation Council is to be set up. 20 members will be chosen by the government, with one member to represent other races; an additional member will represent Fiji's churches. Its task will be to encourage people of all races to live harmoniously together, and to explore ways to promote forgiveness and unity.
Persons interfering with the Commission face a possible fine of five thousand dollars, or up to two years' imprisonment.
Read more about Reconciliation And Unity Commission: Controversial Legislation, Warnings To Media, Foreigners, Rumoured Presidential Opposition, Compromise Mooted, Changes Recommended By The Parliamentary Committee, Police Warnings, Parliamentary Vote Delayed, Support For The Bill, Opposition To The Bill, Calls For Moderation, 2006 Military Coup, Disinterested Positions, See Also
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