Imrana Jalal

Imrana Jalal, sometimes known as Patricia Jalal [http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?ref=archive&id=54036] , is a Fijian lawyer and activist of Indian descent, who serves as a human rights advisor to the United Nations Development Program [http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?ref=archive&id=53270] and as a member of the International Commission of Jurists, a body of sixty eminent judges and lawyers, to which she was elected in May 2006. [http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2006/05/05/05Fijilive0502.html]

2006 coup

Jalal is known as an outspoken opponent of the Military regime that seized power on 5 December 2006.

The Fiji Times reported on 11 December that she had filed a complaint on 5 December, alleging that an anonymous male caller had threatened to publish embarrassing details about Jalal's personal life, if she did not stop opposing the Military junta that had taken power. "I am not pro-Qarase. I am pro-democracy and for the rule of law," the "Times" quoted her as having said the previous day (10 December). [http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?ref=archive&id=53270] She claimed that the call had been traced to a telephone box close to the Queen Elizabeth Barracks at Nabua.

The Fiji Sun later clarified on 15 December that she accused the anonymous caller of threatening her with rape. Military spokesman Major Neumi Leweni denied any knowledge of the threats. On 19 December, the "Fiji Sun" quoted Josaia Rasiga, the Police Criminal Investigations Director, as saying that Jalal had lodged a complaint that was being investigated.

On 14 December, the Military administration terminated Jalal's membership of the board of Posts Fiji. The Fiji Times reported on 20 December that she had refused to accept her termination [http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?ref=archive&id=53839] , and sent apologies for her absence from a meeting while travelling. A source told the "Times" that she had warned the board chairman, Mahendra Patel, that if he withheld any papers from her, he would later have to answer for it in a court of law.

On 23 December, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, accused Jalal, along with women's rights campaigner Virisila Buadromo, of having published his personal e-mail address and mobile telephone number in newspapers, which was creating difficulties for him. [http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?ref=archive&id=54036]

Personal life

Jalal, who hails from Nadi, is married to an indigenous Fijian chief, Ratu Sakiusa Tuisolia. [http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2006/05/05/05Fijilive0502.html] He, too, has been dismissed by the Military from a senior civil service position, as Chief Executive Officer of Airports Fiji Limited.