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Fiji Women's Rights Movement: Statement: Women's group condemns attacks against human rights defenders
The family later found their two cars and a window of their home smashed from the impact of very large (โlovoโ) stones.
โWe are deeply concerned by the attack against Priscilla and her family, which is clearly an attempt to intimidate human rights defenders. The police must make every effort to investigate this crime and bring the perpetrators to justice,โ said FWRM Executive Director, Virisila Buadromo.
โBoth Priscilla and Attar are well-known Fiji citizens, who have consistently spoken out for human rights, the rule of law and democracy. We must now ensure that their rights are also protected, and that they are made safe from such cowardly attacks.โ
Attar Singh is an outspoken unionist, as well as a pro-democracy and free speech advocate, who is frequently quoted in the news media. He often speaks on behalf of the Movement for Democracy in Fiji. He has faced other acts of intimidation since the military coup of December 2006. In January 2007, soldiers surrounded the Singh home, terrifying his family, before taking Singh away to be detained and interrogated.
โOur basic human rights, including free speech, are protected by the Bill of Rights in Fijiโs Constitution, as well as international human rights law,โ Buadromo said.
โWe call on the authorities to comply with their obligation to protect all our human rights, and ensure that the criminals who perpetrated these acts are brought to justice."
- End of Statement-
Priscilla Singh is a long-time member of the Fiji Women's Rights Movement, who is now on the Movementโs Management Board. She has also been an elected councillor on the Suva City Council for close to ten years, serving Samabula and Suva Central until January this year, when all municipal councils were dissolved by the interim regime.
The Fiji Womenโs Rights Movement is a multiethnic and multicultural non-governmental organisation committed to removing discrimination against women through institutional reform and attitudinal change. Our vision is for the women of Fiji to be free from all forms of discrimination, have equal access to opportunities and to live in a healthy environment where the principles of feminism, democracy, good governance, multiculturalism and human rights prevail.
Additional Information
Country: Fiji
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Source: http://www.awid.org/eng/Women-in-Action/Announcements2/Fiji-Women-s-Rights-Movement-Statement-Women-s-group-condemns-attacks-against-human-rights-defenders
When: 27/3/2009
