Jagannath Sami

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article documents a current event.
Information may change rapidly as the event progresses.

Jagannath Sami is a former Chief Executive of the Sugar Cane Growers Council of Fiji. He was appointed to this post in 2000, [1] but was suspended on 27 December 2006 by Commodore Josaia Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama, the Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and Acting President of Fiji. Bainimarama alleged that Sami had manipulated the council's operations to serve certain political and personal agendas.^[1] 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.^[2]

As an employee of the Fiji Sugar Corporation, Sami rose through the ranks to become a leader of the sugar mill workers. He began his involvement in sugar cane growers politics as the General Secretary of the Fiji Cane Growers Association.^[3] 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.^[4]

1 Political candidacy
2 Legal controversy
3 Attempted return to work
4 Hiding
5 Latest developments
6 Trivia
7 References

[edit] Political candidacy

In the 1994 Parliamentary elections he contested a Lautoka Indian Communal seat for the National Federation Party but lost to his Fiji Labour Party opponent. He was similarly defeated in the 1999 elections.

[edit] Legal controversy

Sami responded to his suspension by announcing that he was going to sue the President of the NFU.^[5] He filed his legal challenge on 16 January 2007,^[6] in the Lautoka High Court, which ordered his reinstatement the next day.^[7] 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.^[8] 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.^[9] President Ratu Josefa Iloilo had signed the Promulgation terminating Sami's contract, Khaiyum said the next day.^[10]

[edit] 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 Division Headquarters.^[11] He was later admitted to the coronary care unit of Lautoka Hospital after complaining of chest pains.^[12] Sources said he showed no sign of physical injury, but appeared psychologically traumatized.^[13]

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.^[14]

[edit] Hiding

Director of Immigration Viliame Naupoto announced on 25 January that Sami had been banned from leaving Fiji.^[15] 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.^[16]

[edit] 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.^[17]

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.^[18]

Justice John Connors gave the five defendants fourteen days to acknowledge the amended documents.^[19]