Bula ragone! The responses from Fiji Human Rights Commission director Dr Shaista Shameem and the interim Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaium today in regards to the resignation of the FHRC from the ICC in addition to the issue being passed off as a non-issue BEGS our response.
It was a failed attempt at damage control by Dr Shameem but the implications for this country are huge. Sadly it is the people of this country who will suffer. Where else can people living under a junta turn to if this body has been denounced at the global level as having no credibility or independence?
Perhaps they can continue the farce of business-as-usual but the reality is that no one will utilize their services despite the over-time being put into giving an “it’s all good” impression. It appears Dr Shameem is only too willing to voice concerns on human rights when it gives her the chance to make snide jabs at the countries that are standing firm on human rights standards, as illustrated in a story on Fijilive.
What are our options? Do we really care if a body is constitutionally-mandated yet discredited or will we be better off with another body that can well and truly uphold human rights?
In addition to threatening legal action against the USA, she has now burned Fiji’s bridges at the international level by blatantly stating that the UN is biased. This classic deflection tactic of hers takes precedence over what our own foreign affairs ministry is trying to achieve in terms of restoring Fiji’s reputation both regionally and internationally. A tread-mill journey going nowhere and which we do not envy.
Let’s be clear. Voluntary membership by human rights bodies is not that simple. All human rights entities have to consistently and rigorously jump hoops to confirm their credibility and impartiality and all entities are subject to this treatment. If you can convince the ICC that you are really for the people, you will be welcomed as part of the global human rights family. And that really is the power of internationally networked human rights institutions—that they can mobilize the global strength of like-minded human rights bodies and the UN when human rights violations are not getting the proper attention of the State.
Pitifully, Mr Saiyed-Khaiyum has shown the lack of his backbone in all this. The revocation of his visa will be just the tip of the iceberg saddled with the death of his career as an officer of the court.
Well ragone, as I like to say, this cookie is crumbling! Moce mada.
- INTELLIGENT RESISTANCE -
Free. Fair. Fearless. Intelligentsiya is made up of Fiji Islanders who are libertarians in their own way and who cherish the free flow of news, ideas and information and will peacefully resist any attempts by the country's military rulers to stifle free speech. intelligentsiya will also bear witness, report and discuss human rights abuses by the authorities.
14 comments:
Its amazing to hear this news yeah.. Times up for the stoned hearted fake compassinate human rights director Dr Shaista. A wolf in a sheep skin who fights not for the innocent but for criminal football heads who is as doppy as she is. I'a boka a drakana, me mu ka vina kata. Its also amazing to hear, that she was also appointed board member for the FNPF n soon to be deployed to India as the New Fiji High Commisoner. Something fishy smelling here aye!!! Lots of scheming taking place at the army barracks. I'a as the saying goes O na oti mai sakaraia. One down few more to go. I like how the Czechoslovakian people got rid of there communist goverment. They all march to the goverment buildings infront of there dictators office with there car keys n house keys in the air shouting TIMES UP for the goverment. May that day soon arrive in a peaceful loving way we will win Fiji.
Typical "we're right and everyone else is wrong" kind of attitude, like she displayed in her response to the EPG report. Could signify an opportunity for a genuine human rights NGO to establish itself and attract international funding by prosecuting human rights issues through the courts.
Can someone or can we jioin hands 2gether and set up another group better than FHRC? that will be nice! isn't it? Lolz!
The gall of Shaista to say that the suspension from the international body is really nothing ... and to further say that they had resigned their affiliation anyway. I mean where does this woman get off? Is she saying that as a personal comment or is she thinking holistically and considering her position as the Director of the Fiji Human Rights Commission who is responsible for a number of things as set out in the Constitution?
I'm amazed that she is even still considering being a continued martyr for this sham-of-a-takeover that is beginning to really crumble around her. She loses face within the Fiji Law Society (and even bothers to complain to her sister who is equally tainted as she is); she loses face amongst other human rights bodies existing in Fiji; she loses face amongst regional human rights bodies and then she loses face as well internationally and she has the gall to challenge the US and say down-right stupid remarks about the UN??? Where will her stupidity end?
Get off your high-horse woman and change your shampoo ... you may just wake up and think right!
Both of these two people are a disgrace to their profession and their country. They have sold their soul and have no credibility left and their time will come to be humiliated for mouthing off without thinking.
Instead of running after developed countries and trying to score points by making them 'lose face', Dr. Shaista should look into the human rights abuses that violate our Constitution happenning right under her very nose. But then, that would take real hard work because of the indifference of the arrogant IR to the human rights abuses that have taken place.
You have erred abt Aiyaaz. He is in fact a Corporate Lawyer. He does NOT take part in court proceedings - rather, his job is to work along the legal administrative end of the company he works for.
Dr. Shaista has nothing to lose really I think because this is natural from the IHRC as it was done in past coups. While I think your article is fairly well written, I think your articles need to carry a certain level of fairness when being published.
Good Luck!
To the keyboard c@per: sa dua naka na via vakilakila! U obviously know nothing about the legal fraternity in Fiji. Corporate lawyer mai vei!! ASK outsourced the work that he was supposed to be doing @ Colonial and by the way, corporate lawyers also go to Court, the market in Fiji is still too small for specialisation..so when lawyers are called to the bar, they are sworn in as barristers & solicitors.. The article was balanced, fair and spot on, there is more to the 'crumbling' of ASK's entire legal career than just going to Court if that's what u were worried about.
And what's with the nonsense that your good 'ol doc shyster shameem has nothing to lose?! Looks like you're a PRO-COUP, PRO-ILLEGAL IG but trying to so hard to sound neutral! Another wolf in sheep's clothing!!
Aiyaz & Shaista: You fool no one in your various feeble attempts to conceal the increasingly huge gap between your filthy lies and what is actually happening on the ground!
@ keyboard c@per ... Aiyaz was to have been terminated from Colonial because he had outsourced 100% of the cases that were supposed to have been taken to Court by him. Being a corporate lawyers means attending court cases and instigating them esp if you are a head barrister/solicitor for a bank like Colonial.
So NO! He cannot go to Court because he has no Court experience and has never appeared in any Court case to say the least. Aside from his one-year tenure with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) he has never argued any case within the four walls of a court-room. So all this hoopla about nine years experience as a lawyer is rubbish.
@keyboard c@per
respectfully, either way you choose to publish an article. The truth still remains very translucent.
shysta, poor thing my ass. Shes getting a position on the FNPF board, must be really nice to be franks left hand cherry!!! Also she gets a posting to india. Must be really nice to be franks left hand cherry!!! Wonder what I will get if I choose to support Frank. Owww I know, Frank can I be Major like leweni, or maybe a police commisioner.
Frank you are like a modern day militant santa(scary)clause who only encourages those who support your cons.
case in point, aiyaaz, poor thing. He is not qualified to be the AG, finally someone let the cat outta the bag, his a bloody business lawyer that does not have the expertise not the experience to deal with national legal affairs. Wonder, which post he will get maybe ahhhh high commisioner to malaysia or japan...
What is a Corporate lawyer now doing as AG? Was he only into conveyancing?
Shyster will lose out. It is very clear that this group thought they could pull a fast one, hoodwinking the international community (the ones that matter are the ones with the aid money) with their warped logic, and therefore avoid the hassles of the last coups. They would then continue on their merry way, enjoying the perks, the priviledges with the added bonus of being in the driver's seat. Sorry. Moce Jo...
dont worry about keyboard caper, he's more pro coup then anything. sledges intelly when he gets the chance.
full time expat with no cares about this place.
Troopers, keyboard c@pers blog is http://mcpriz.blogspot.com
You can then find for yourselves that he is a military mole.
It's amazing the articles that he has written, which ofcourse has no backing of evidence.
Just accusations, allegations etc.
The same thing that the Bainimarama has done, all accusations, allegations etc with no evidence.
Shame.
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