History unfolded live at the Vodafone Arena at Laucala Bay in Suva when the Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma and descendants of the Girmitya exchanged apologies and forgiveness in a solemn church service marking the fourth day of the inaugural Girmit Day celebrations.
An emotional Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, fought back tears as he sought forgiveness for the hurt and pain inflicted on Fijians of Indian origin during the colonial era and the political upheavals of 1987 and 2000.
“I am not making this confession as Prime Minister of Fiji, as I do not hold the government accountable for my actions of 1987. I do not claim to be making this confession on behalf of the vanua of Navatu, I am not Tui Navatu and I am just a member of the Yavusa Navatu of Cakaudrove. But I make this confession on behalf of all those that took part with me in the military coup of May 14, 1987,” Mr Rabuka said.
“We confess our wrongdoings, we confess that we have hurt so many of our people in Fiji, particularly those of our Indo-Fijian communities at that time and among them were sons and daughters of those that were indentured as labourer from India between 1879 and 1960.”
He said they had every right to be angry about what was done to them.
“I stand here to confess and ask for your forgiveness. I have made our confession to some who were affected by our deeds in 1987. To those I did not reach, I hope coming through for us here, please forgive us.
“As you forgive, you release us and you are released. You are released from hatred and from your anger and we begin to feel the peace of God coming to our beings and our lives.”
In an emotional response, former prime minister and Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry said it was a great day for the nation and worth celebrating and that it would go down well in history and everyone must build on it.
“I am deeply honoured by this gesture. Prime Minister Rabuka, I also accept your apology. In your personal capacity you apologised,” he said.
“I accept the apologies of the Turaga na Vunivalu na Tui Kaba, Marama Roko Tui Dreketi and the Tui Cakau. Thank you very much for your magnanimity.
“I think the spirt is there now, that we can all work together, may God bless Fiji.”
(* Additional reporting by PAULIASI MATEBOTO)
