Timor-Leste diplomat appointed chair of Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission

A Timor-Leste national with decades of experience in post-conflict reconciliation and justice has been appointed to chair Fiji’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Joaquim Da Fonseca was sworn in as Chairperson of the Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission (FTRC) by President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu at State House this morning.

Mr Fonseca, a distinguished diplomat and senior adviser, brings more than 20 years of experience in reconciliation, peacebuilding, transitional justice and human rights across post-conflict and transitional settings.

He will serve alongside four local commissioners — former High Court judge Sekove Naqiolevu, gender specialist and leadership coach Ana Laqeretabua, human rights adviser and communications specialist Rachna Nath, and retired Fiji Airways pilot Captain Rajendra Dass — as the Commission enters a critical phase of its mandate.

In accepting the appointment, Mr Fonseca said he would undertake the role with humility.

“Reconciliation is not a destination but a journey that requires the courage of the entire nation,” he said.

“I am honoured to accept this responsibility and to walk this path with the people of Fiji.”

Mr Fonseca played a central role in Timor-Leste’s reconciliation and justice processes since 1999, contributing from early truth and reconciliation initiatives under the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) to the development of national mechanisms that continue to guide the country’s healing and unity.

“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,” he said.

“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.”

His professional background is rooted in the Timorese independence struggle, national truth-seeking processes and post-conflict peacebuilding, complemented by senior diplomatic roles as Ambassador to the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and the United Nations in Geneva.

Throughout his career, Mr Fonseca has worked across government, civil society and multilateral institutions to advance justice, reconciliation and social cohesion.

Under the Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act 2024, the Commission consists of five commissioners appointed by the President, three of whom must be citizens of Fiji. The Chairperson is appointed by the President from among the commissioners.