I have already expressed my personal opinion on Imrana Jalal's summons by the FICAC, the anti-corruption commission, for allegedly running a restaurant without a proper licence. I thought the charge inappropriate, vindictive, an harassment prompted by her anti-Government stance -- and an action unworthy of a Government with higher principles. I couldn't have expressed myself any more strongly than that.
But Imrana's recent statement to Radio NZ International deserves a further comment. She says: “Here I’m being prosecuted for charges that are unrelated in any way whatsoever. And my family is being persecuted because of me. That is callous, that is underhand. Stopping my five-year old from travelling to see his grandparents in Brisbane on the 12th of December is callous, it’s contemptible."
I agree, but with one important qualification. Why has Imrana, an International Civil Rights lawyer, not spoken out against identical conseqences resulting from the Australian and NZ travel bans that (to use her words) "persecute" wives, partners, children (and grandparents!) for the actions of one family member? Are they not also "callous" and "contemptible"? She should tell us when she next speaks to the media.
Addendum
See also this statement by the Attorney-General.
Photo: USP.
Addendum
See also this statement by the Attorney-General.
Photo: USP.
13 comments:
Croz,
Did Imrana really have to make public statements about travel bans and unfair treatment by the Fiji Government? She is a lawyer. But if her job is to do so then I could be wrong because I feel she really didn't have to.
But the case that is against her and Mr. Tuisolia can be thought of as unfair and harsh considering that there are so shops selling pirated copies of DVDs, there are thousands of illegal mini vans operating as public service vehicles, unlicensed shops have sprung up everywhere. Boot legging is aplenty.
Well, what can we say. I just hope this case will set the precedent and all these illegal operators will be brought to task and given the same treatment Ms Jalal and Mr Tuisolia have been given. And of course the same publicity that has been given them.
@ Edge
Exemplary treatment for exemplary people. "Make an example of them". The trick is to avoid being made an example of by conduct which is scrupulous and above comment or remark. Surely, an educated woman of standing should be able to do this? The adage about Caesar's wife comes to mind. Behaviour in a courthouse which requires comment from the Lady Magistrate when one is a qualified and well-known lawyer places one in a particular place: an uncomfortable place. Conduct unbecoming will not be taken lightly. Now apply this to all the others and there are dozens of them. Be fair and just to all of them: charge them. celebrity status does not apply to those who are careless about the law and think that they are 'special'. In fact, celebrity status means extra care should be taken. Will this now be understood?
Imrana has a selective memory. She now says she was in the dock in 1987 for her political stance against Rabuka! That's not what she said in her evidence in court when she and 17 others including Atu Bain and Jane Rickets were charged with unlawful assembly. On oath she said that she had approached the other protesters to advise them to stop the protest! A rat abandoning the sinking ship? Actually the court did not believe her and found her guilty anyway. Integrity, integrity, wherefore art thou integrity?
Why was she running a restaurant when it had no licence? Surely as a lawyer she should have known better? not good enough to blame the SCC. No licence, no business. All the persecution nonsense is a smoke screen. So much for the rule of law eh?
Being a lawyer, she should know what is legal/illegal. With all that illegal stash of cash, fly the grannies over to meet the 5yr old. There are daily flights from Brisbane to Nadi. It was a good try though, to seek assylum in OZ and avoid prosecution. Who is she trying to fool? FICAC has better things to do than prosecute someone for a mere 20 lousy dollars.
What is 'callous and contemptible' is actually the manner in which many choose to personalise issues which are capable of rational analysis and should be seen purely objectively. There is one common factor in such cases: they think only about themselves and their predicament (so often of their own making). Despite their professional calling to consider others, the consequences of their alleged illegal or unethical conduct escape them. What kind of thinking is this? It is narcissistic even dysfunctional and displays HUGE EGO. Hubris in fact. This would appear common to all who face court appearances on serious corruption charges. "We are special; we are different; we are above the common herd; we should be exempt". Oh yes? A study must be made one day of this mindset.
Re Labour Party Response Pathetic.
So Chris Carter has many Indo-Fijian contacts. He is just so full of his own importance and this was observed at a recent Diwali function. He breezed in, fresh from his impromptu Samoan Tsunami Trip and sat in the VIP seat at the front,(along with the other VIP's and politicians from the different political parties). The formal ceremony began and the young man who was M.C. proceeded to explain what Diwali was all about and outlined what was to happen next. During the time this young man was talking on stage, Chris Carter and the Mayor of Waitakere had a lengthy chinwag about all that Chris Carter had been doing. The chin wag was intercepted by an elbow nudge from the Mayor's wife. They stopped for a while then continued. Chris Carter's behaviour was so rude and inconsiderate and showed a lack of respect to those who were hosting the evening. Next thing the VIP's are invited on stage. Chris Carter gets up when his name is called and leaps onto the stage like a rock star waving out to his "adoring" crowd. Chris Carter and the Labour Party haven't a clue about how to help Fiji, so I suggest his Indo-Fijian contacts inform him, and the Labour Party, exactly how to help Fiji. The Labour Party’s track record on Fiji is nothing to brag about! Chris Carter does need to learn a bit more wisdom and....... manners - especially when sitting up the front in the public eye.
I would urge all ex Fijians not to support the Labour Party in NZ. I know a lot of the NZ residents were(are) ssupporters of the Labour Party in Fiji.
The Labour Party in NZ has not done anything to help Fiji, does not listen to the view of the ex Fiji residents in NZ and takes their vote for granted.
Croz - i hope you can highlight this issue in your blog.
Adi Dame Imrana Tuisolia - patron saint of the Suva sisterhood - should pull her pretty little head in before it gets severed like one of the chooks in her miserable little eatery. To see her on Fiji TV a couple of nights ago at her latest court appearance, you get the distinct impression she is actually reveling in all the attention when anyone with any PR sense would be adopting a low profile. Those who know the highly strung damsel will know that she tends to erupt in gales of laughter at the first sign of nervousness or stress. But to see her gushing in every shot and trading hysterical banter with her bevy of feminist supporters will only further enrage those in the regime who seem so obviously determined to knock her and her wretched husband off their comfortable perch. Take a tip, oh beauteous Princess of the Pathans turned first lady of a minor Fijian ratu. Pull your head in before it's too late. If this woman had half a brain, she'd be going to her persecutors on bended knee in the time honoured Fijian fashion to try to patch things up. Instead she tells everyone in Suva who's still prepared to listen that she's an "international cause celebre" and the regime " wouldn't dare" to take her on. Hello? It's already happening, dear. Why not accept that if you want to throw stones, you better as hell not live in a glass house. If a lawyer with an international reputation doesn't think it's important to get a licence for her chook shop, why should anyone else? Isn't that what this is all about? Rather than gush all over the place and talk tough, this woman should realise that if you choose marry a chief who's so closely aligned with the old guard of the SDL, you'd better be Caesar's wife or cop the unfortunate consequences. Take a tip sweetheart. Start looking appropriately grave and at least give the appearance of being contrite and the blow torch might be lifted. Keep going the way you are and you'll be immolated.
Imrana is essentially about Imrana. She married into what she thought was power, into the taukei " intelligentsia". And what a disappointment that turned out to be. So now she is into damage control.Why should she get away with running a restaurant without a licence?
Wow! difficult to upstage the last two posts! But only yesterday, it was imparted tete a tete that this same person had chosen to resort to name calling in front of others: always a "No No". The name calling employed the deadly word "Traitor".
Now, we need to examine this closely and forensically. 'Traitor'? Traitor to whom? Traitor in what precise context? Calling your social superiors and betters 'traitorous' says more about Ms Jalal than it does about anyone else. Let us hope that word gets back: this less than seemly conduct is tantamount to pushing the self-destruct button. Is this a lawyer we are speaking of? It cannot be, surely?
Oi anon at 1.48. Can you elaborate on the traitor anecdote? Was Imrana calling someone a traitor? And if so, who and under what circumstances? Your existing post is frustratingly obtuse. But you're correct about one thing. The Islamic firebrand does seem intent on self destruction. I personally think she is right on the edge and has been for a long time. She told everyone who'd listen for years that her life's plan was for Saki to be Prime Minister and and for her to be Attorney General in his government. It hasn't quite worked out that way. But instead of calmly adjusting to reality, she seems to have developed some kind of martyr fantasy, as if self immolation is an alternative path to fame. A once articulate and beautiful woman now sadly shrill and faded. I just hope the regime can recognise her tenuous grip on reality and not judge her too harshly. She deserves sympathy not censure.
It might now be timely to address Ms Jalal directly and not speak about her as though she were "the Cat's Mother".
Would you care to tell us all why some of us are so-called 'traitors'? Whose cause have we betrayed? Yours? Or your husband's? The SDL Party's or your children's? Because none of this is relevant. What is relevant is the cause of Justice, of the Truth and the interests of Fiji's ordinary citizens and investors. Nothing else matters much? Had you had your wits about you, you might have considered all this? But your wits appear to have been lost in the muddled and confused thought processes which pass as 'learning'. No judgement, no reflection just "Me and My best interests: to hell with everyone else's". That is how it reads. Want to enlighten us otherwise?
Manners Makeyth Man (and Woman). So obviously lacking. So ultimately revealing. You have made your own bed: now you must lie in it. Stating the obvious? one might have thought so.
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