Laisa Digitaki
Encyclopedia
Laisa Digitaki is a Fiji
an businesswoman, originally from Moala Island in the Lau Archipelago.
"shrine
" in the wake of the military coup
which deposed the elected government of Prime Minister
Laisenia Qarase
on 5 December.
The Fiji Sun
reported on 11 December that the so-called shrine had been demolished by gunmen, whom Digitaki accused of being Military
personnel, though she was not present in the office at the time. Ground floor windows were shattered and a television satellite disk was damaged.
venue in Suva
were arrested by the Military on 21 December 2006, which claimed that she and her companions had no permit for a protest. http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_34572.shtml The next day, Judge John Semisi released them on bail
pending a scheduled court appearance on 29 January 2007, Fiji Live
reported. On 24 December, the Fiji Sun
reported her as saying that she had nothing against the Military Commander and coup leader, Commodore
Frank Bainimarama
personally, but thought he was becoming increasingly unbalanced mentally.
Digitaki failed to appear for the hearing on 29 January. Her lawyer, Tomasi Tuitoga told Magistrate Aminiasi Katonivualiku that she was in hiding and could not appear. The magistrate accepted that and refused to issue a bench warrant for her arrest, and adjourned the case to 19 February 2007. http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=56091
's Queen Elizabeth Barracks
at Nabua
; http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2006/12/25/Fijilive02.html she appeared the next day wearing a neck brace and claimed to have been physically assaulted by soldiers. http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2006/12/27/Fijilive01.html. She and her colleagues were warned to dismantle the shrine permanently and discontinue attacking the Military regime, or else there would be further trouble. http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?ref=archive&id=54164 When she arrived home (after having been forced to run from Suva
to Lami) in the early hours of Christmas morning, Fiji Television
reported that she found it ransacked, with documents strewn everywhere. The Military, meanwhile, said it would conduct its own investigation into the alleged abuse. http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2006/12/26/Fijilive06.html
Fiji Village
quoted her as saying on 27 December that she had decided to forgive Commodore Bainimarama for the injuries she had suffered at the hands of his troops. http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_34742.shtml
On 28 December, Elizabeth Clayton, an Australia
n to whom Digitaki and her husband loaned $50,000 to save her CHE furniture manufacturing business, questioned her motives for opposing the Military regime. http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_34715.shtml http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_34793.shtml
Military authorities directed Immigration Department on 28 December 2006 to prevent Digitaki and several other activists from leaving Fiji. http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2006/12/29/29fijilive02.html On 30 December, when she attempted to board a flight to Sydney
, Australia
at 9am at Nadi International Airport
, she was stopped, according to Fiji Television
. Her two teenage children were allowed to depart, however, http://www.fijitv.com.fj/index.cfm?go=tv.resources&cmd=forumview&cbegin=0&uid=fijionenews&cid=11282, but her youngest daughter, according to a Fiji Television
report, was sent home with her mother.
for "inciteful" comments they had allegedly made. http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2007/01/25/fijilive02.html Fiji Live
quoted what it called "a reliable source" as saying that the Military was angry about allegations Digitaki had made in a statement posted in the Fiji Village
forum on 17 January, detailing her treatment during her interrogation at the barracks on 25 December. According to the unnamed source, the Military was annoyed that Pita Driti
, the Land Force Commander, had been named in the statement, and the Military had contacted her on 23 January. Digitaki was reported to have fled her home and gone into hiding. http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2007/01/25/fijilive04.html Soldiers in civilian clothes were patrolling her home in Muanikau, Suva
.
Digitaki announced on 26 January that she had requested, and received, the protection of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Fiji. http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_35403.shtml She claimed to be dealing with the headquarters in Geneva
directly, and to have been instructed not to divulge further details. http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2007/01/26/26fijilive05.html
The police announced on 28 January that they had begun an investigation into Digitaki and Heffernan on the basis of a formal complaint from the Military. http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_35447.shtml
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 businesswoman, originally from Moala Island in the Lau Archipelago.
The democracy shrine
Digitaki came into the public eye in December 2006 when she converted her office building into a pro-democracyDemocracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
"shrine
Shrine
A shrine is a holy or sacred place, which is dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon or similar figure of awe and respect, at which they are venerated or worshipped. Shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated....
" in the wake of the military coup
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....
which deposed the elected government of Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Fiji
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji is the head of government of Fiji. The Prime Minister was appointed by the President under the terms of the now-suspended 1997 constitution....
Laisenia 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...
on 5 December.
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....
reported on 11 December that the so-called shrine had been demolished by gunmen, whom Digitaki accused of being Military
Military 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...
personnel, though she was not present in the office at the time. Ground floor windows were shattered and a television satellite disk was damaged.
Great Council of Chiefs protest
Digitaki and a number of others protesting outside the Great Council of ChiefsGreat Council of Chiefs (Fiji)
The Great Council of Chiefs is a now dormant 1997 constitutional body in the Republic of the Fiji Islands. In April 2007 the council was suspended, due to an unworkable relationship with Frank Bainimarama, leader of an "interim government" which came to power through a military coup in December 2006...
venue in Suva
Suva
Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
were arrested by the Military on 21 December 2006, which claimed that she and her companions had no permit for a protest. http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_34572.shtml The next day, Judge John Semisi released them on bail
Bail
Traditionally, bail is some form of property deposited or pledged to a court to persuade it to release a suspect from jail, on the understanding that the suspect will return for trial or forfeit the bail...
pending a scheduled court appearance on 29 January 2007, Fiji Live
Fiji Live
Fijilive is an online newspaper and business and cultural directory in Fiji. The site is owned by the Future Group of Companies owned by Fiji entrepreneur Yashwant Gaunder....
reported. On 24 December, 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....
reported her as saying that she had nothing against the Military Commander and coup leader, 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...
personally, but thought he was becoming increasingly unbalanced mentally.
Digitaki failed to appear for the hearing on 29 January. Her lawyer, Tomasi Tuitoga told Magistrate Aminiasi Katonivualiku that she was in hiding and could not appear. The magistrate accepted that and refused to issue a bench warrant for her arrest, and adjourned the case to 19 February 2007. http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=56091
Christmas detention
In the very early hours of 25 December, Digitaki and a number of other activists were summoned to SuvaSuva
Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
's 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....
; http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2006/12/25/Fijilive02.html she appeared the next day wearing a neck brace and claimed to have been physically assaulted by soldiers. http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2006/12/27/Fijilive01.html. She and her colleagues were warned to dismantle the shrine permanently and discontinue attacking the Military regime, or else there would be further trouble. http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?ref=archive&id=54164 When she arrived home (after having been forced to run from Suva
Suva
Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
to Lami) in the early hours of Christmas morning, Fiji Television
Fiji Television
Fiji Television Limited is Fiji's television network. It was founded on 15 June 1994 as the first permanent television broadcasting network in the country, although television had previously been introduced temporarily in October 1991 to broadcast the Rugby World Cup as well as Cricket World Cup....
reported that she found it ransacked, with documents strewn everywhere. The Military, meanwhile, said it would conduct its own investigation into the alleged abuse. http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2006/12/26/Fijilive06.html
Fiji Village
Fiji Village
The Fiji Village is an online news service in Fiji. Published daily, it covers political, business, sporting, cultural, and other news items, and also includes the Yellow Bucket commentary, an editorial which does not necessarily reflect the views of the Fiji Village owners or staff, according to...
quoted her as saying on 27 December that she had decided to forgive Commodore Bainimarama for the injuries she had suffered at the hands of his troops. http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_34742.shtml
On 28 December, Elizabeth Clayton, an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n to whom Digitaki and her husband loaned $50,000 to save her CHE furniture manufacturing business, questioned her motives for opposing the Military regime. http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_34715.shtml http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_34793.shtml
Military authorities directed Immigration Department on 28 December 2006 to prevent Digitaki and several other activists from leaving Fiji. http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2006/12/29/29fijilive02.html On 30 December, when she attempted to board a flight to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
at 9am at Nadi International Airport
Nadi International Airport
Nadi International Airport is the main international gateway for the islands of Fiji. It serves about 1.2 million people per year, and is the main hub of Air Pacific. The airport is 10km from the city of Nadi. In 2009 it handled 1,220,000 passengers on international and domestic...
, she was stopped, according to Fiji Television
Fiji Television
Fiji Television Limited is Fiji's television network. It was founded on 15 June 1994 as the first permanent television broadcasting network in the country, although television had previously been introduced temporarily in October 1991 to broadcast the Rugby World Cup as well as Cricket World Cup....
. Her two teenage children were allowed to depart, however, http://www.fijitv.com.fj/index.cfm?go=tv.resources&cmd=forumview&cbegin=0&uid=fijionenews&cid=11282, but her youngest daughter, according to a Fiji Television
Fiji Television
Fiji Television Limited is Fiji's television network. It was founded on 15 June 1994 as the first permanent television broadcasting network in the country, although television had previously been introduced temporarily in October 1991 to broadcast the Rugby World Cup as well as Cricket World Cup....
report, was sent home with her mother.
Under United Nations protection
The Military announced on 25 January that it was searching for Digitaki and fellow-activist Angie HeffernanAngie Heffernan
Angenette Heffernan is a Fijian human rights and democracy activist and Executive Director of the Pacific Centre for Public Integrity . Prior to PCPI she was a prominent regional environmental political campaigner for Greenpeace Australia for eight years...
for "inciteful" comments they had allegedly made. http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2007/01/25/fijilive02.html Fiji Live
Fiji Live
Fijilive is an online newspaper and business and cultural directory in Fiji. The site is owned by the Future Group of Companies owned by Fiji entrepreneur Yashwant Gaunder....
quoted what it called "a reliable source" as saying that the Military was angry about allegations Digitaki had made in a statement posted in the Fiji Village
Fiji Village
The Fiji Village is an online news service in Fiji. Published daily, it covers political, business, sporting, cultural, and other news items, and also includes the Yellow Bucket commentary, an editorial which does not necessarily reflect the views of the Fiji Village owners or staff, according to...
forum on 17 January, detailing her treatment during her interrogation at the barracks on 25 December. According to the unnamed source, the Military was annoyed that Pita Driti
Pita Driti
Lieutenant Colonel Pita Driti is a Fijian soldier. As of January 2007, he serves as the Land Force Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, the third most senior position in the Military...
, the Land Force Commander, had been named in the statement, and the Military had contacted her on 23 January. Digitaki was reported to have fled her home and gone into hiding. http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2007/01/25/fijilive04.html Soldiers in civilian clothes were patrolling her home in Muanikau, Suva
Suva
Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
.
Digitaki announced on 26 January that she had requested, and received, the protection of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Fiji. http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_35403.shtml She claimed to be dealing with the headquarters in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
directly, and to have been instructed not to divulge further details. http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2007/01/26/26fijilive05.html
The police announced on 28 January that they had begun an investigation into Digitaki and Heffernan on the basis of a formal complaint from the Military. http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_35447.shtml