Laisa Digitaki speaks from her hiding place

Below is a statement release on behalf of Laisa Digitaki and sent to Intelligentsiya:

7th February, 2007

One of Fiji’s pro-democracy citizens, Ms Laisa Digitaki, says concerns
raised by the Human Rights Watch head office in New York, in their
detailed letter to Interim Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and
President Ratu Josefa Iloilo, must be taken seriously by this military
regime.

“They (Human Rights Watch) have the muscle and public relations
machinery to lobby the UN, European Union, USA, Australia, New Zealand
and other foreign governments to withdraw all forms of economic support
and the like to Fiji, based on their Fiji human rights abuses findings
report,” said Digitaki.

She said this interim military government can not operate in isolation
and can only steer Fiji forward with the assistance of the
International Community and by adhering to the recommendations put
forth by the Human Rights Watch.

“To be able to win back the confidence of the International Community,
we must first of all satisfy ourselves and them with simple things like
honoring our citizens’ right to a respectable and dignified life,
instead of treating those who peacefully oppose this regime like
animals as we are experiencing right now,” she said.

She said all efforts must be made by this military regime to prevent
all forms of arbitrary detention and physical abuse as continuing human
rights violations can very well become the main cause of this interim
military regime’s demise, if they are not careful.

Digitaki, whose whereabouts here in Fiji still remain unknown since
February 23rd, 2007, has admitted that she contacted the Human Rights
Watch head office on December 28th, 2006 seeking their assistance and
intervention following her detention and abuse on Christmas Eve with
four other activists by the Fiji military.

“I lost faith in our Military, Police, Judiciary and the Fiji Human
Rights Commission office after its Director, Shaista Shameem, showed
glaring signs of dislike against pro-democracy citizens like me. That
prompted me to contact the head office of the Human Rights Watch in New
York and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva,” Digitaki
admitted.

She said that President Iloilo and interim Prime Minister Bainimarama
must not be misled into believing that they are immune from any legal
action into allegations of serious human rights abuses perpetrated by
their military regime.

“The Human Rights Watch was behind the successful conviction of former
Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet in London for the human rights crimes
he committed against his own people.”

“So President Iloilo and interim Prime Minister Bainimarama should
remember that the “Pinochet precedent” has been set whereby dictators
like them who commit human rights crimes and then try to block their
own prosecution at their homeland with a blanket immunity decree can
still be tried anywhere else in the world,” Digitaki added.

Ms Digitaki is an independent pro-democracy citizen of Fiji Islands
supported by her own personal financial contribution for the promotion
of democracy, rule of law and respect for human rights in Fiji.

This statement was prepared for and on behalf of Ms Laisa Digitaki
based on her instructions. For further verification, you may contact
her by email only on laisad@jaefiji.com