Jagannath Sami
Encyclopedia
Jagannath Sami has been a soccer player representing a premier district side in the Fiji Football Association
competitions, a leader of the sugar mill workers, a leader of a farmers' union, a politician and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Sugar Cane Growers Council
of Fiji
(SCGC) but he is best known for the controversy surrounding his dismissal as the CEO of the SCGC by the military regime of Commodore
Josaia Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama
following the military coup of 2006
.
from a struggling first division side to a serious contender for the Fiji Football Association
competitions in the premier division, in the 1970s. Jagannath Sami's soccer career started when he first represented the Lautoka soccer team
in 1972, playing his first game in that year's Pala Cup against Suva
. The following year he represented the Nadogo Soccer Association
, a second division district team from Vanua Levu
, as player/coach and helped the team win the second division Inter District Soccer
Trophy for the first time. From 1974 until 1979 Jagannath represented the Labasa soccer side with his brothers Anand, Gopal and Abhilasha. Jagannath represented the Fiji National side with brother Anand in 1976. He was awarded the Jamnadas Gold Trophy that year as the best right winger in Fiji. In 1980 he was elected the Manager of the Labasa Soccer Side and the following year he was elected Chairman of the Board of Control. In 1981 Sami was elected the President of the Labasa Soccer Association becoming the youngest of a Premier Division in Fiji.
, Sami rose through the ranks to become the National President of the 250 management staff union,the Sugar Milling Staff Officers Association. He was also elected Vice President of the Fiji Trades Union Congress
to represent the sugar sector. He began his involvement in sugar cane growers politics as the General Secretary of the Fiji Cane Growers Association
. He assisted the cane lorry drivers during its 5 day strike, in addressing their grieviences with the Lautoka Mill Management, for better facilities and amenities at the mill yard. He subsequently facilitated the registration of the Fiji Cane Transport Operator's Association and was elected its first general secretary. He also assisted in the formation and registration of the South Pacific Distillery Worker's Association and the Lautoka Fishermens' Association.
for the National Federation Party
but lost to his Fiji Labour Party
opponent. He was similarly defeated in the 1999 elections,contesting the Lautoka Communal Seat.
(NFU) had 21 members).
He used unconventional methods to assist farmers by directly approaching the Great Council of Chiefs (Fiji)|GCC],taking a Delegation of the Cane Growers Council and madesubmissions to help solve the country’s land lease problems, claiming that political leaders had politicised the land issue and could not resolve the problem.
and Acting President of Fiji
. Bainimarama alleged that Sami had manipulated the council's operations to serve certain political and personal agendas. Earlier he had questioned the acting Police Commissioner on his statement that rule of law was still intact in the country and had been warned by the military to not make any comments against it.
After his appointment as Chief Executive he faced constant opposition from the other farmers' union, the National Farmers Union (NFU) so it came as no surprise when the NFU supported his suspension.
, which ordered his reinstatement the next day. When he attempted to enter his office after the verdict handed down by Justice John Connors, however, his staff informed him that Military personnel had instructed them to prevent him from entering the premises. This was directly contrary to the court ruling.
In response to the verdict, Interim Attorney-General
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum
said that Justice Connors must have been uninformed about Sami's formal dismissal , the day before by the President of the Republic of Fiji.He reported that No sealed copy of the order had been served in his office, Khaiyum said. He said that the government would "honour" the court order "when served", and that the judge would be "formally informed" when the matter returned to court on 23 January. President Ratu
Josefa Iloilo
had signed the Promulgation(Decree No.1) terminating Sami's contract, Khaiyum said the next day.
Headquarters. He was later admitted to the coronary care unit of Lautoka Hospital after complaining of chest pains. Sources said he showed no sign of physical injury, but appeared psychologically traumatized.
On 26 January 2007, Justice John Connors ordered the Military to stop harassing Sami, warning that any interference with him could compromise any legal proceedings that he was a party to.
announced on 25 January that Sami had been banned from leaving Fiji. Two days later, Sami went into hiding, following alleged threats against him and his family. His lawyer, Shalend Krishna, also alleged that harassment and intimidation from the Military had prevented him from obtaining the necessary decree from the Government Printery to file court pleas on Sami's behalf.
On the same day, Sami's lawyer Shalend Krishna filed writs in the Lautoka High Court, naming President Iloilo, interim Prime Minister Bainimarama, the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and interim Attorney-General Khaiyum as defendants in a civil case challenging the authority of the President to dismiss him. Sami was also claiming damages for the termination of his contract, as well as for the travel ban.
Justice John Connors gave the five defendants fourteen days to acknowledge the amended documents.
Fiji Football Association
The Fiji Football Association is the governing body of football in Fiji. It came into existence in 1961, replacing the ethnically based Fiji Indian Football Association...
competitions, a leader of the sugar mill workers, a leader of a farmers' union, a politician and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Sugar Cane Growers Council
Sugar Cane Growers Council (Fiji)
Sugar Cane Growers Council represents the sugar cane farmers with the sugar industry in Fiji. It is made up of 38 members elected by the farmers and eight members nominated by the Government. The Sugar Cane Growers Council election is held every three years. The Council has a Chief Executive, the...
of Fiji
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...
(SCGC) but he is best known for the controversy surrounding his dismissal as the CEO of the SCGC by the military regime of 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...
Josaia Voreqe (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...
following the military coup of 2006
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....
.
Soccer player, coach and manager
Sami became known nationally as a brilliant soccer player when he, together with three of his brothers (known as the Sami brothers), helped lift his home soccer district team of LabasaLabasa F.C.
Labasa F.C. is a Fijian football team playing in the first division of the Fiji Football Association competitions. It is based in Labasa, which is the largest town on the second largest island, Vanua Levu, in the Fiji group. Their home stadium is Subrail Park...
from a struggling first division side to a serious contender for the Fiji Football Association
Fiji Football Association
The Fiji Football Association is the governing body of football in Fiji. It came into existence in 1961, replacing the ethnically based Fiji Indian Football Association...
competitions in the premier division, in the 1970s. Jagannath Sami's soccer career started when he first represented the Lautoka soccer team
Lautoka F.C.
Lautoka FC is a Fijian football team playing at the top level. It is based in Lautoka. Their home stadium is Churchill Park. The Lautoka team is currently known as the Baby Blues-History:...
in 1972, playing his first game in that year's Pala Cup against Suva
Suva F.C.
Suva F.C. is a Fijian football team playing in the premier division of the Fiji Football Association competitions. It is based in Suva. Their home stadium is National Stadium. Their uniform is white shirt, black shorts and black and white socks....
. The following year he represented the Nadogo Soccer Association
Nadogo F.C.
Nadogo F.C. is a Fijian football team playing in the second division of the Fiji Football Association competitions. It is based in Wainikoro, which is a situated on the island of Vanua Levu.Their uniform includes olive green shirt.- History :...
, a second division district team from Vanua Levu
Vanua Levu
Vanua Levu , formerly known as Sandalwood Island, is the second largest island of Fiji. Located 64 kilometres to the north of the larger Viti Levu, the island has an area of 5,587.1 km² and a population of some 130,000.- Geography :...
, as player/coach and helped the team win the second division Inter District Soccer
Inter-District Championship (Fiji)
The Inter-District Championship is the most important event in the Fiji Football Association calendar. Teams representing various football playing districts of Fiji have taken part in this annual event every year, except 1987 due to disruptions caused by military coups, since the formation of the...
Trophy for the first time. From 1974 until 1979 Jagannath represented the Labasa soccer side with his brothers Anand, Gopal and Abhilasha. Jagannath represented the Fiji National side with brother Anand in 1976. He was awarded the Jamnadas Gold Trophy that year as the best right winger in Fiji. In 1980 he was elected the Manager of the Labasa Soccer Side and the following year he was elected Chairman of the Board of Control. In 1981 Sami was elected the President of the Labasa Soccer Association becoming the youngest of a Premier Division in Fiji.
Union activities
As an employee of the Fiji Sugar CorporationFiji Sugar Corporation
Fiji Sugar Corporation is the Government-owned sugar milling company in Fiji having the monopoly on production of all raw sugar in Fiji. It is also the largest public enterprise in Fiji directly employing nearly 3000 people while another 200,000 or more depend on it for their livelihood in rural...
, Sami rose through the ranks to become the National President of the 250 management staff union,the Sugar Milling Staff Officers Association. He was also elected Vice President of the Fiji Trades Union Congress
Fiji Trades Union Congress
The Fiji Trades Union Congress is a trade union organization in Fiji, originally founded in 1952 under the leadership of Pandit Ami Chandra as the Fiji Industrial Workers Congress . As the FIWC the organisation was the third federation in Oceania, after the ACTU and the NZCTU, to join the ICFTU. ...
to represent the sugar sector. He began his involvement in sugar cane growers politics as the General Secretary of the Fiji Cane Growers Association
Fiji Cane Growers Association
The Fiji Cane Growers Association is a cane farmers' union established in 1992 by supporters of the National Federation Party .After the 1987 military coup in Fiji, most of the farmers' unions curtailed their activities, leaving the National Farmers Union as the only active farmers' union in the...
. He assisted the cane lorry drivers during its 5 day strike, in addressing their grieviences with the Lautoka Mill Management, for better facilities and amenities at the mill yard. He subsequently facilitated the registration of the Fiji Cane Transport Operator's Association and was elected its first general secretary. He also assisted in the formation and registration of the South Pacific Distillery Worker's Association and the Lautoka Fishermens' Association.
Political candidacy
In the 1994 Parliamentary elections he contested a Vuda Indian Communal seatCommunal constituencies (Fiji)
Communal constituencies have been the most durable feature of the Fijian electoral system. In communal constituencies, electors enrolled as ethnic Fijians, Indo-Fijians, Rotuman Islanders, or General Electors vote for a candidate of their own respective ethnic groups, in constituencies that have...
for the National Federation Party
National Federation Party (Fiji)
The National Federation Party is a Fijian political party founded by A.D. Patel in November 1968, as a merger of the Federation Party and the National Democratic Party...
but lost to his Fiji Labour Party
Fiji Labour Party
The Fiji Labour Party is a political party in Fiji, which holds observer status with the Socialist International. Most of its support at present comes from the Indo-Fijian community, although it is officially multiracial and its first leader was an indigenous Fijian, Dr. Timoci Bavadra. It is...
opponent. He was similarly defeated in the 1999 elections,contesting the Lautoka Communal Seat.
CEO of Sugar Cane Growers Council
Jagannath Sami was appointed to as the Chief Executive of the Sugar Cane Growers Council of Fiji in 2000. He owed appointment to the 16 Fiji Cane Growers Association (FCGA) and the 8 Government appointed members who together formed a majority in the Council. (The National Farmers UnionNational Farmers Union (Fiji)
The National Farmers Union is one of Fiji's largest trade unions. It was launched in Labasa in July 1978 under the auspices of the Fiji Trades Union Congress, with Mahendra Chaudhry as its first General Secretary...
(NFU) had 21 members).
He used unconventional methods to assist farmers by directly approaching the Great Council of Chiefs (Fiji)|GCC],taking a Delegation of the Cane Growers Council and madesubmissions to help solve the country’s land lease problems, claiming that political leaders had politicised the land issue and could not resolve the problem.
Suspension
Sami was suspended from Growers Council on 27 December 2006 by Commodore Josaia Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama, the Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military ForcesMilitary 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...
and Acting President of Fiji
President of Fiji
The President of the Republic of Fiji is the head of state of Fiji. The President was appointed by the Great Council of Chiefs for a five-year term under the terms of the now-suspended 1997 constitution. The Great Council of Chiefs is constitutionally required to consult the Prime Minister, but...
. Bainimarama alleged that Sami had manipulated the council's operations to serve certain political and personal agendas. Earlier he had questioned the acting Police Commissioner on his statement that rule of law was still intact in the country and had been warned by the military to not make any comments against it.
After his appointment as Chief Executive he faced constant opposition from the other farmers' union, the National Farmers Union (NFU) so it came as no surprise when the NFU supported his suspension.
Legal controversy
Sami responded to his suspension by announcing that he was going to sue the Military Commander and the Attorney General. He filed his legal challenge on 16 January 2007, in the Lautoka High CourtHigh Court (Fiji)
The High Court of Fiji is one of three courts established by Chapter 9 of the Constitution of Fiji—the others being the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. The Constitution empowers Parliament to create other courts; these are subordinate to the High Court, which is authorized to oversee all...
, which ordered his reinstatement the next day. When he attempted to enter his office after the verdict handed down by Justice John Connors, however, his staff informed him that Military personnel had instructed them to prevent him from entering the premises. This was directly contrary to the court ruling.
In response to the verdict, Interim Attorney-General
Attorney-General (Fiji)
Fiji's chief governmental legal officer is the Attorney General. According to the Constitution of Fiji, the Attorney-General is required to be a qualified lawyer and sits in the Cabinet. The office of the Attorney-General is the oldest surviving executive office in Fiji, having been established...
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum Fiji's Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Anti-Corruption, Public Enterprises, Industry, Investment, Tourism and Communications...
said that Justice Connors must have been uninformed about Sami's formal dismissal , the day before by the President of the Republic of Fiji.He reported that No sealed copy of the order had been served in his office, Khaiyum said. He said that the government would "honour" the court order "when served", and that the judge would be "formally informed" when the matter returned to court on 23 January. President Ratu
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"...
Josefa Iloilo
Josefa Iloilo
Ratu Josefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda, CF, MBE, MSD, KStJ was the President of Fiji from 2000 until 2009, excluding a brief period from 5 December 2006 until 4 January 2007 . He held the traditional title of Tui Vuda, the paramount chief of the Vuda district in Ba Province on Fiji's northwest coast...
had signed the Promulgation(Decree No.1) terminating Sami's contract, Khaiyum said the next day.
Attempted return to work
On the basis of the court verdict, Sami attempted to return to work, accompanied by a police escort, on 18 January. Military personnel surrounded the premises that morning and took Sami away for interrogation at the Police Western DivisionWestern Division, Fiji
The Western Division of Fiji is one of Fiji's four divisions. It consists of the three provinces Ba, Nadroga-Navosa and Ra.The capital of the division is Lautoka. The division includes the western part of the largest island in Fiji, Viti Levu, with a few outlying islands, including the Yasawa...
Headquarters. He was later admitted to the coronary care unit of Lautoka Hospital after complaining of chest pains. Sources said he showed no sign of physical injury, but appeared psychologically traumatized.
On 26 January 2007, Justice John Connors ordered the Military to stop harassing Sami, warning that any interference with him could compromise any legal proceedings that he was a party to.
Hiding
Director of Immigration Viliame NaupotoViliame Naupoto
Commander Viliame Naupoto is a former Commander of the Fijian Navy and currently Fiji's Director of Immigration. He was appointed to this post on 8 January 2007 by the Public Service Commission on the advice of Interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama, who seized power in a military...
announced on 25 January that Sami had been banned from leaving Fiji. Two days later, Sami went into hiding, following alleged threats against him and his family. His lawyer, Shalend Krishna, also alleged that harassment and intimidation from the Military had prevented him from obtaining the necessary decree from the Government Printery to file court pleas on Sami's behalf.
Latest developments
The SCGC finalized Sami's termination at the first meeting of the new 11-member board on 1 February 2007, and resolved to appoint a three-member team to investigate all council business during Sami's tenure, including allegations that he had misused council funds to finance a lawsuit challenging his suspension.On the same day, Sami's lawyer Shalend Krishna filed writs in the Lautoka High Court, naming President Iloilo, interim Prime Minister Bainimarama, the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and interim Attorney-General Khaiyum as defendants in a civil case challenging the authority of the President to dismiss him. Sami was also claiming damages for the termination of his contract, as well as for the travel ban.
Justice John Connors gave the five defendants fourteen days to acknowledge the amended documents.