Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
We, the people of Fiji, in Fiji and elsewhere, hereby implore the Vice Chancellor of Massey University, Steve Maharey, to rescind the appointment of Dr Shaista Shameem, as Director Migrant Services, for the following reasons:
1. She, as Director Fiji Human Rights Commission, prepared a paper in January 2007, wherein she justified the 2006 military coup and said the actions of President Iloilo in dismissing the Qarase government was lawful - which was subsequently held to be unlawful by the Fiji Court of Appeal in April 2009;
2. She as DHRC, made application and joined the Qarase v Banimarama court proceedings to argue that the coup was lawful and that there was a threat of foreign intervention and that laws relating to traditional fishing grounds, as proposed by SDL, inParliamentwere a threat to human rights;
2. She, as DHRC, did not properly discharge her duties, in failing to strongly condemn and ordering proper investigations into the deaths of Sakiusa Rabaka and Nimilote Verebasaga and of the assault, torture and ill treatment of children and youths such as Pita Waqavonovono; women such as Laisa Digitaki and Virisila Buadromo and men such as Attar Singh and Richard Naidu;by the military; and
3. She fought opposition from the FHR Commissioner Shamima Ali, to be held to account in the performance of her duties.
We believe that the appointment of Dr Shameem to such an important position at Massey University would suggest to NZ citizens and others that it is normal for New Zealand tertiary institutes to employ coup sympathisers.
We note Dr Steve Maharey to be a former Labour Party stalwart and a former distinguished Massey University academic, who was/is well aware of the impact of the 3 coups in Fiji and that he ought to exercise prudence, good judgment and proper conscience and terminate the appointment of Dr Shameem so as to shield Massey University from unwarranted criticism.
Many former and current Fiji students at Massey University would also applaud Dr Maharey for his courage if he were to act to rescind the appointment of Dr Shameem.
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Updates
February 26, 2014
Steve Maharey remains silent while this inexcusable appointment continues to stain the reputation of Massey University. We are tracking every piece of correspondence from their office and the absence of a real answer proves they have no defense for this betrayal of human rights principles.
36 Comments
Shaista openly showed no concern for human rights abuses in 2006. When we looked to her office FHRC for direction and support, she was a let down. A very bad one. Massey University, when you allow people like her to get a job after realising her days in our country is now numbered especially opportunities, you are supporting the shredding of our human rights and the killing of freedom and justice.
She was the Director of Human Rights Commission in FIji and we all know that she justified the coup which justifies the killing of my friends through military torture and collegues who were told to "F.Off " from their work place...without any reason at all...we saw Mr Bhallu Khan taken to CWMH after being tortured, Ms Digitaki being hounded by the military and families of the New Zealand & Australian embassy being sent home ..and she said nothing ...????...
She allegedly usurped the rule of law in Fiji by supporting an illegal take over of a democratically elected Government. In a normal society she would be tried for aiding and abetting mutiny! She cannot be allowed to use any influence to get a position at a prestigious tertiary University.
An abuser of human rights and supporter of coup mongers should never ever be the face of education in the way. Shame on you Massey University for appointing Dr. Shameem in your institution. This is NOT the Pacific way!
I was sitting in her office with Mohhamed Aziz when she started giving him tips on how to prosecuted the case against the CRW soldiers. I was shocked beyond belief as the Commission was at the same time acting as defense lawyers for one or two of those charged at the Military Court Marshall. Kick her out please.
please terminate Shameen ,a biased and poor judgement inflicting life long grievance for many Fijians ,this is also a mediocre reflection on NZ who practises and advocates our cultural fabric , this person is an embarressment to Massy and all peaceful living New Zealanders .
All the authors of the petition must provide their name and address and provide full reasons why they cosnider the dismissal of Mr Qarase was illegal. The names of the petitioners will identify those who are able to identify the legal raesons why two forms of executive pwoer was not available to the President to prevent civil war in Fiji on 5 December 2006? The petitioners views as to why the dismissal was illegal should justify the submisison of this petition, as the authors support that the dismissal was justified is supported by several legal writers supporting the author Shammen's justificataion for the dismissal. So far only the Indigenious Fijians have signed their names to the petion but they do not say what should ahve been the scope of executive pwoer in a democracy?
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Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
We, the people of Fiji, in Fiji and elsewhere, hereby implore the Vice Chancellor of Massey University, Steve Maharey, to rescind the appointment of Dr Shaista Shameem, as Director Migrant Services, for the following reasons:
1. She, as Director Fiji Human Rights Commission, prepared a paper in January 2007, wherein she justified the 2006 military coup and said the actions of President Iloilo in dismissing the Qarase government was lawful - which was subsequently held to be unlawful by the Fiji Court of Appeal in April 2009;
2. She as DHRC, made application and joined the Qarase v Banimarama court proceedings to argue that the coup was lawful and that there was a threat of foreign intervention and that laws relating to traditional fishing grounds, as proposed by SDL, inParliamentwere a threat to human rights;
2. She, as DHRC, did not properly discharge her duties, in failing to strongly condemn and ordering proper investigations into the deaths of Sakiusa Rabaka and Nimilote Verebasaga and of the assault, torture and ill treatment of children and youths such as Pita Waqavonovono; women such as Laisa Digitaki and Virisila Buadromo and men such as Attar Singh and Richard Naidu;by the military; and
3. She fought opposition from the FHR Commissioner Shamima Ali, to be held to account in the performance of her duties.
We believe that the appointment of Dr Shameem to such an important position at Massey University would suggest to NZ citizens and others that it is normal for New Zealand tertiary institutes to employ coup sympathisers.
We note Dr Steve Maharey to be a former Labour Party stalwart and a former distinguished Massey University academic, who was/is well aware of the impact of the 3 coups in Fiji and that he ought to exercise prudence, good judgment and proper conscience and terminate the appointment of Dr Shameem so as to shield Massey University from unwarranted criticism.
Many former and current Fiji students at Massey University would also applaud Dr Maharey for his courage if he were to act to rescind the appointment of Dr Shameem.
Updates
February 26, 2014
Steve Maharey remains silent while this inexcusable appointment continues to stain the reputation of Massey University. We are tracking every piece of correspondence from their office and the absence of a real answer proves they have no defense for this betrayal of human rights principles.
36 Comments
In her position as Director of the Fiji Human Rights Commission, Dr Shaista Shameem was unfairly partial in her investigation against human rights abuse in Fiji immediately after the December 2006 military coup. She sympathized with the reasons of that coup, and this effectively clouded her professional judgement in that critical position. Dr Shameem did not dishcharge her duties in the proper manner. Therefore, Massey University must conduct a thorough investigation into her claims or otherwise during her interview. Rescing her appointment/contract immediately!
Shaista openly showed no concern for human rights abuses in 2006. When we looked to her office FHRC for direction and support, she was a let down. A very bad one. Massey University, when you allow people like her to get a job after realising her days in our country is now numbered especially opportunities, you are supporting the shredding of our human rights and the killing of freedom and justice.
She was the Director of Human Rights Commission in FIji and we all know that she justified the coup which justifies the killing of my friends through military torture and collegues who were told to "F.Off " from their work place...without any reason at all...we saw Mr Bhallu Khan taken to CWMH after being tortured, Ms Digitaki being hounded by the military and families of the New Zealand & Australian embassy being sent home ..and she said nothing ...????...
She allegedly usurped the rule of law in Fiji by supporting an illegal take over of a democratically elected Government. In a normal society she would be tried for aiding and abetting mutiny! She cannot be allowed to use any influence to get a position at a prestigious tertiary University.
An abuser of human rights and supporter of coup mongers should never ever be the face of education in the way. Shame on you Massey University for appointing Dr. Shameem in your institution. This is NOT the Pacific way!
I was sitting in her office with Mohhamed Aziz when she started giving him tips on how to prosecuted the case against the CRW soldiers. I was shocked beyond belief as the Commission was at the same time acting as defense lawyers for one or two of those charged at the Military Court Marshall. Kick her out please.
please terminate Shameen ,a biased and poor judgement inflicting life long grievance for many Fijians ,this is also a mediocre reflection on NZ who practises and advocates our cultural fabric , this person is an embarressment to Massy and all peaceful living New Zealanders .
All the authors of the petition must provide their name and address and provide full reasons why they cosnider the dismissal of Mr Qarase was illegal. The names of the petitioners will identify those who are able to identify the legal raesons why two forms of executive pwoer was not available to the President to prevent civil war in Fiji on 5 December 2006? The petitioners views as to why the dismissal was illegal should justify the submisison of this petition, as the authors support that the dismissal was justified is supported by several legal writers supporting the author Shammen's justificataion for the dismissal. So far only the Indigenious Fijians have signed their names to the petion but they do not say what should ahve been the scope of executive pwoer in a democracy?
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In her position as Director of the Fiji Human Rights Commission, Dr Shaista Shameem was unfairly partial in her investigation against human rights abuse in Fiji immediately after the December 2006 military coup. She sympathized with the reasons of that coup, and this effectively clouded her professional judgement in that critical position. Dr Shameem did not dishcharge her duties in the proper manner. Therefore, Massey University must conduct a thorough investigation into her claims or otherwise during her interview. Rescing her appointment/contract immediately!