Imrana Jalal
Encyclopedia
Imrana Jalal, sometimes known as Patricia Jalal http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?ref=archive&id=54036, is a Fiji
an lawyer and activist of India
n descent, who serves as a human rights advisor to the United Nations Development Program http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?ref=archive&id=53270 and as a member of the International Commission of Jurists
, a body of sixty eminent judges and lawyers, to which she was elected in May 2006. http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2006/05/05/05Fijilive0502.html
regime that seized power
on 5 December 2006.
The Fiji Times
reported on 11 December that she had filed a complaint on 5 December, alleging that an anonymous male caller had threatened to publish embarrassing details about Jalal's personal life, if she did not stop opposing the Military junta that had taken power. "I am not pro-Qarase
. I am pro-democracy and for the rule of law," the Times quoted her as having said the previous day (10 December). http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?ref=archive&id=53270 She claimed that the call had been traced to a telephone box close to the Queen Elizabeth Barracks
at Nabua
.
The Fiji Sun
later clarified on 15 December that she accused the anonymous caller of threatening her with rape
. Military spokesman Major
Neumi Leweni
denied any knowledge of the threats. On 19 December, the Fiji Sun quoted Josaia Rasiga, the Police Criminal Investigations Director, as saying that Jalal had lodged a complaint that was being investigated.
On 14 December, the Military administration terminated Jalal's membership of the board of Posts Fiji. The Fiji Times reported on 20 December that she had refused to accept her termination http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?ref=archive&id=53839, and sent apologies for her absence from a meeting while travelling. A source told the Times that she had warned the board chairman, Mahendra Patel, that if he withheld any papers from her, he would later have to answer for it in a court of law.
On 23 December, Commodore
Frank Bainimarama
, Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, accused Jalal, along with women's rights campaigner Virisila Buadromo
, of having published his personal e-mail address and mobile telephone number in newspapers, which was creating difficulties for him. http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?ref=archive&id=54036
, is married to an indigenous Fijian
chief
, Ratu Sakiusa Tuisolia
. http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2006/05/05/05Fijilive0502.html He, too, has been dismissed by the Military from a senior civil service position, as Chief Executive Officer
of Airports Fiji Limited.She is a mother of 3 an is currently out of the country.
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
an lawyer and activist of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n descent, who serves as a human rights advisor to the United Nations Development Program http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?ref=archive&id=53270 and as a member of the International Commission of Jurists
International Commission of Jurists
The International Commission of Jurists is an international human rights non-governmental organization. The Commission itself is a standing group of 60 eminent jurists , including members of the senior judiciary in Australia, Canada, and South Africa and the former UN High Commissioner for Human...
, a body of sixty eminent judges and lawyers, to which she was elected in May 2006. http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2006/05/05/05Fijilive0502.html
2006 coup
Jalal is known as an outspoken opponent of the MilitaryMilitary of Fiji
The Republic of Fiji Military Forces are the military of the Pacific island nation of Fiji. With a total manpower of 3,500 active soldiers and 6,000 reservists, it is one of the smallest militaries in the world. However, most of its surrounding island nations have no militaries at all...
regime that seized power
2006 Fijian coup d'état
The Fijian coup d'état of December 2006 occurred as a continuation of the pressure which had been building since the military unrest of the 2000 Fijian coup d'état and 2005-2006 Fijian political crisis....
on 5 December 2006.
The Fiji Times
Fiji Times
The Fiji Times is a daily English-language newspaper published in Suva, Fiji. Established in Levuka on 4 September 1869, it is Fiji's oldest newspaper still operating....
reported on 11 December that she had filed a complaint on 5 December, alleging that an anonymous male caller had threatened to publish embarrassing details about Jalal's personal life, if she did not stop opposing the Military junta that had taken power. "I am not pro-Qarase
Laisenia Qarase
Laisenia Qarase is a Fijian political figure. He served as the sixth Prime Minister of Fiji from 2000 to 2006. After the military quashed the coup that led to the removal of Mahendra Chaudhry, Qarase joined the Interim Military Government as a financial adviser on 9 June 2000, until his appointment...
. I am pro-democracy and for the rule of law," the Times quoted her as having said the previous day (10 December). http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?ref=archive&id=53270 She claimed that the call had been traced to a telephone box close to the Queen Elizabeth Barracks
Queen Elizabeth Barracks (Fiji)
Queen Elizabeth Barracks is a Fijian Army base, located in the suburb of Nabua, in Suva. It is the national headquarters of the military.The barracks, commonly known as QEB, was the scene of an unsuccessful army mutiny on 2 November 2000...
at Nabua
Nabua
Nabua is a suburb of the Fijian capital of Suva. The Queen Elizabeth Barracks, a major military base which saw a mutiny on 2 November 2000, is located there....
.
The Fiji Sun
Fiji Sun
The Fiji Sun is a daily newspaper published in Fiji. Owned by Sun News Limited, it was first published in September 1999. An internet edition is also published....
later clarified on 15 December that she accused the anonymous caller of threatening her with rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
. Military spokesman Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Neumi Leweni
Neumi Leweni
Neumi Leweni is a Fijian Army officer and diplomat, who holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He hails from the Lau Islands. He joined the Military in 1974 and by 2006 was one of two official spokesmen for the Military, the other being Lieutenant Colonel Orisi Rabukawaqa. In August 2007, he...
denied any knowledge of the threats. On 19 December, the Fiji Sun quoted Josaia Rasiga, the Police Criminal Investigations Director, as saying that Jalal had lodged a complaint that was being investigated.
On 14 December, the Military administration terminated Jalal's membership of the board of Posts Fiji. The Fiji Times reported on 20 December that she had refused to accept her termination http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?ref=archive&id=53839, and sent apologies for her absence from a meeting while travelling. A source told the Times that she had warned the board chairman, Mahendra Patel, that if he withheld any papers from her, he would later have to answer for it in a court of law.
On 23 December, Commodore
Commodore (rank)
Commodore is a military rank used in many navies that is superior to a navy captain, but below a rear admiral. Non-English-speaking nations often use the rank of flotilla admiral or counter admiral as an equivalent .It is often regarded as a one-star rank with a NATO code of OF-6, but is not always...
Frank Bainimarama
Frank Bainimarama
Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, CF, MSD, OStJ, Fijian Navy, known commonly as Frank Bainimarama and sometimes by the chiefly title Ratu , is a Fijian naval officer and politician. He is the Commander of the Fijian Military Forces and, as of April 2009, Prime Minister...
, Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, accused Jalal, along with women's rights campaigner Virisila Buadromo
Virisila Buadromo
Virisila Buadromo is a Fijian political activist and former journalist, who is currently the Executive Director of the Fiji Women's Rights Movement . Previously, she was the news director for FM96.- Political positions :...
, of having published his personal e-mail address and mobile telephone number in newspapers, which was creating difficulties for him. http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?ref=archive&id=54036
Personal life
Jalal, who hails from NadiNadi
Nadi is the third-largest conurbation in Fiji. It is located on the western side of the main island of Viti Levu, and had a population of 42,284 at the most recent census, in 2007. Nadi is multiracial with many of its inhabitants Indian or Fijian, along with a large transient population of foreign...
, is married to an indigenous Fijian
Fijian people
Fijian people are the major indigenous people of the Fiji Islands, and live in an area informally called Melanesia. The Fijian people are believed to have arrived in Fiji from western Melanesia approximately 3,500 years ago, though the exact origins of the Fijian people are unknown...
chief
Ratu
Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, Adi is used by females of chiefly rank.-Etymology:Ra is a prefix in many titles and Tu is simply "chief"...
, Ratu Sakiusa Tuisolia
Sakiusa Tuisolia
Ratu Sakiusa Tuisolia is a Fijian chief from the province of Naitasiri and a former civil servant when he served as Chief Policy Adviser to three successive Fijian Prime Ministers and was also Deputy CEO in the Office of the Prime Minister...
. http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2006/05/05/05Fijilive0502.html He, too, has been dismissed by the Military from a senior civil service position, as Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of Airports Fiji Limited.She is a mother of 3 an is currently out of the country.