Shamima Ali
Encyclopedia
Shamima Ali is a Fiji
an political activist of Indian
descent. As of January 2007, she is a member of the Fiji Human Rights Commission
(FHRC) and the Coordinator of the Fiji Women's Crisis Centre
(FWCC).
Ali condemned the military coup
of 5 December 2006 and has taken a strong stand against human rights abuses alleged to have been committed by the Military
-backed interim government. She has also criticized Shaista Shameem
, the Director of the FHRC and a coup-sympathizer, for allegedly ignoring such violations. http://www.fijitv.com.fj/index.cfm?go=tv.resources&cmd=forumview&cbegin=0&uid=fijionenews&cid=11142 When six pro-democracy activists were arrested and allegedly assaulted by the Military in the early hours of 25 December 2006, Shameem told her there was nothing the FHRC could do, according to Ali. http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2006/12/27/Fijilive04.html Ali's position in the FHRC had already been further isolated by the resignation of Sevuloni Valenitabua the previous week. http://www.fijitv.com.fj/index.cfm?go=tv.resources&cmd=forumview&cbegin=0&uid=fijionenews&cid=11174
On 28 December, Ali vowed to continue speaking up, though she admitted that she was somewhat fearful.
On 31 December, the Fiji Sun
quoted her as cautioning against believing the claims of Australia
n fraudster Peter Foster
, which was being cited by the Military administration as implicating the deposed government of Prime Minister
of involvement in electoral fraud.
Ali spoke out on 4 January 2007 against a report written by Shaista Shameem, condoning and excusing the coup d'état as the removal of an "illegally constituted government". The report was based on Shameem's personal opinions and was neither commissioned nor sanctioned by the FHRC, Ali claimed. "The report by Dr Shameem is not in accordance with Commission procedures and policy and I presume it to be her personal opinion," she said. "The report carries numerous errors and fabrications," she added. Ali called on Shameem to resign http://www.fijitv.com.fj/index.cfm?go=tv.resources&cmd=forumview&cbegin=0&uid=fijionenews&cid=11340 and declared her intention to consult with her colleagues to explore the possibility of having Shameem dismissed.
Ali claimed that her own intervention had secured the release from military custody of Richard Naidu
, a prominent lawyer who was detained on 23 January 2007 for making what the Military called "inciteful" comments on Radio New Zealand
. http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_35345.shtml The Military, however, denied that Ali had played a role in the release. http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_35359.shtml
On 10 December 2009 Ali was awarded Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand
's inaugural Human Rights Defender award.
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 political activist of Indian
Indians in Fiji
Indo-Fijians are Fijians whose ancestors came from India and various parts of South Asia, South-East Asia and Asia itself. They number 313,798 out of a total of 827,900 people living in Fiji...
descent. As of January 2007, she is a member of the Fiji Human Rights Commission
Fiji Human Rights Commission
The Fiji Human Rights Commission was created by presidential decree in 2009, succeeding the entity of the same name established as an independent statutory body under the 1997 Constitution of the Republic of the Fiji Islands.- The 1997 Commission :...
(FHRC) and the Coordinator of the Fiji Women's Crisis Centre
Fiji Women's Crisis Centre
The Fiji Women's Crisis Centre" is a Non-Government Organization established in 1984. It offers counselling and legal, medical, and practical support to woman and children victims of violence. The Women's Crisis Centre started in August 1984...
(FWCC).
Ali condemned 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....
of 5 December 2006 and has taken a strong stand against human rights abuses alleged to have been committed by the 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...
-backed interim government. She has also criticized Shaista Shameem
Shaista Shameem
Shaista Shameem, a Fijian lawyer of Pakistani and Indian descent, was director of the Fiji Human Rights Commission from 2002 to 2007, and its director and chairperson from 2007 to 2009...
, the Director of the FHRC and a coup-sympathizer, for allegedly ignoring such violations. http://www.fijitv.com.fj/index.cfm?go=tv.resources&cmd=forumview&cbegin=0&uid=fijionenews&cid=11142 When six pro-democracy activists were arrested and allegedly assaulted by the Military in the early hours of 25 December 2006, Shameem told her there was nothing the FHRC could do, according to Ali. http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2006/12/27/Fijilive04.html Ali's position in the FHRC had already been further isolated by the resignation of Sevuloni Valenitabua the previous week. http://www.fijitv.com.fj/index.cfm?go=tv.resources&cmd=forumview&cbegin=0&uid=fijionenews&cid=11174
On 28 December, Ali vowed to continue speaking up, though she admitted that she was somewhat fearful.
On 31 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....
quoted her as cautioning against believing the claims of 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 fraudster Peter Foster
Peter Foster
Peter Clarence Foster is an Australian who has been convicted and jailed on three continents for offences involving weight loss products and property transactions....
, which was being cited by the Military administration as implicating the deposed 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....
of involvement in electoral fraud.
Ali spoke out on 4 January 2007 against a report written by Shaista Shameem, condoning and excusing the coup d'état as the removal of an "illegally constituted government". The report was based on Shameem's personal opinions and was neither commissioned nor sanctioned by the FHRC, Ali claimed. "The report by Dr Shameem is not in accordance with Commission procedures and policy and I presume it to be her personal opinion," she said. "The report carries numerous errors and fabrications," she added. Ali called on Shameem to resign http://www.fijitv.com.fj/index.cfm?go=tv.resources&cmd=forumview&cbegin=0&uid=fijionenews&cid=11340 and declared her intention to consult with her colleagues to explore the possibility of having Shameem dismissed.
Ali claimed that her own intervention had secured the release from military custody of Richard Naidu
Richard Naidu
Richard Naidu is a Fijian lawyer of Indian descent. A partner with the Munro Leys law firm, he was an unsuccessful candidate for the Presidency of the Fiji Law Society on 9 September 2006 .-Naidu and the 2006 coup d'état:...
, a prominent lawyer who was detained on 23 January 2007 for making what the Military called "inciteful" comments on Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand
Radio New Zealand is a New Zealand public service radio broadcaster and Crown entity formed by the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. It operates news, current affairs and arts network Radio New Zealand National and classical music and jazz network Radio New Zealand Concert with full government funding...
. http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_35345.shtml The Military, however, denied that Ali had played a role in the release. http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_35359.shtml
On 10 December 2009 Ali was awarded Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand
Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand
Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand is a part of the Amnesty International network, and works to end human rights abuses.The first New Zealand Amnesty group was founded in 1965, and the organisation was incorporated in 1966...
's inaugural Human Rights Defender award.