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DIWALI PHIR AGAI SACHINI: Last year we promised to shine more light on MEATY FALLOUT just before Diwali between High Commissioner to India Namita Khatri and the Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem

18/10/2017

8 Comments

 

"While I haven't seen the complaint, I understand that he has taken offense to my mentioning the word "Muslims" in a conversation as I was leaving the office. If the complaint is one of religious bias, I can on heart say that this is not the case and I harbour no such sentiment" -
Namita Khatri to then Foreign Secretary Robin Nair, 4 November 2016

Fijileaks Comments Moderator: We have not, and will not, approve virulently anti-Muslim comments if you are purely abusing Indo-Fijian Muslims and not commenting on the posting. We have also not approved comments containing the word "Kattu", once allegedly deployed by former Education Minister Reddy against Khaiyum. The focus of our story is Election Supervisor Mohammed Saneem, who Khatri claims made a meaty mountain out of comments uttered in jest in New Delhi

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While re-iterating that we are not fanning anti-Muslim hatred, we now publish the e-mail the then Fiji High Commissioner Namita Khatri had written to the then Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs ROBIN NAIR. In the e-mail, Khatri explained her side of the exchanges, putting the whole event in context but it was not good enough for the petulant and sulking Mohammed Saneem - she lost her job as High Commissioner:

4Friday, November 4, 2016

Dear PS
As per our telephone discussion, you advised me that there has been a complaint against me in regard of something I may have said to the Supervisor of Elections in the presence of the Mission's SS [Azreen Khan]. While I haven't seen the complaint, I understand that he has taken offense to my mentioning the word "Muslims" in a conversation as I was leaving the office. If the complaint is one of religious bias, I can on heart say that this is not the case and I harbour no such sentiment.

If it is the conversation that I recall, it was in the context of me having invited the Supervisor of Elections to dinner, but him having made arrangements to have Moghlai cuisine [Mughlai cuisine consists of dishes developed in South Asia at the centers of the Mughal Empire. It represents a combination of the cooking style and recipes of Central Asia and North India] for dinner that evening with the Mission's SS and his nephew who is studying in India. I had suggested that we could then meet the next night for dinner. In passing him in the corridor on my way out of the Mission later, I asked him if he was sure about dinner that night, and he said yes.

In this context, I said, in what I thought was the same friendly bantering conversation we had been having, that while they did their Muslim outing that night, I hoped we could still meet for dinner another evening. I used the word Muslim there in the context of his intended company and the heritage of the cuisine that they were going to eat that evening.

Perhaps my words were not chosen so well, and he took offense at those words having interpreted them in another light. My intent had just been to flag that I still wanted to take him out for dinner while he was in Delhi, notwithstanding his plans for that night. There was no other intent, and I apologise if my choice of words caused offense. If I recall correctly this conversation was partly in Hindustani and partly in English, which may have added to the likelihood of misunderstanding.

I consider it important to clarify this matter, as I firmly believe in an inclusive and secular approach to life, and would like to believe that those who know me would be able to speak to my fundamental belief in inclusiveness and freedom from discrimination or bias on any grounds whatsoever. I would be keen also to speak with Supervisor of Elections to clear up any offence taken. I will however await your guidance on the matter as the Supervisor of Elections did not come directly to me, and I should respect his chosen path of action.

Vinaka
HC

Fijileaks: It was Azreen Khan, on 3 November 2016, who had filed a litany of complaints against Khatri to Nair (more later) including this one: 'Sir, HC in my presence passed a racial comment to the Supervisor of Elections during his courtesy call to the High Commissioner at the Fiji Mission in New Delhi."

The petulant Saneem refused to accept the apology and Khatri lost the High Commissionship to India. Since then rumours have been swirling that Riyaz Sayed Khaiyum might be the next Fiji High Commissioner to New Delhi, India

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Saneem and Rawat exchange Memorandum of Understanding in New Delhi, India
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CRUELLY CUT DOWN: Namita Khatri presenting her credentials to the President of India

Azreen Khan to Robin Nair, 3 November 2016:
"Some weeks back I was requested by HC [Khatri] to prepare an objective paper on the decision of the Fiji Police to arrest Leader of Opposition and other party leaders during the Constitution Day celebration. I was told to consider the Human Rights issues and Legality of the arrests when writing the paper. I didn't provide as I work for the Government and support the decisions of the Government and its functional arms. I cannot object to the decisions of the Government. - Vinaka, Azreen Khan (Ms), Second Secretary."

Fijileaks
Founding Editor-in-Chief VICTOR LAL:
"We are still going through scores of e-mails and highly sensitive confidential documents leaked to me from inside the Fiji High Commission in India and the Foreign Ministry in Fiji"

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The Charge d' Affaires of the High Commission of Fiji - Ms. Azreen Khan (left) with Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum
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On 12 December 2016, we had published the following: 'Fijileaks has been reliably informed that Khatri was supposed to take Saneem out for a meal. But she said that since Diwaali was near she won't eat meat but Saneem said he wanted to eat meat. So Khatri's deputy [Azreen Khan] and Saneem said "Ok we will go and eat meat". On that Khatri said "Oh you two Muslims, go and eat meat". Saneem allegedly told Aiyaz Khaiyum that Khatri
"is Anti-Muslim"; she was later recalled from India. We would like to categorically state that we are not fanning anti-Muslim hatred but have relayed what our behind-the-scene investigations have revealed - so far!'

8 Comments
Chiku
18/10/2017 10:50:31 pm

Diplomatic affairs being conducted in typically banana republic style. No surprises here. Petty politics and patronage politics have become pretty much the norm under mediocre lawyer Khaiyum's national leadership.

Reply
Sanjay Sharma
18/10/2017 10:55:21 pm

Its no secret that the muslim mob keeps striking and taking out Hindus so that muslims can replace them. Recent case of reddy is another example where muslim mob involving saneem, kaiyum, aslam(ficac) and mohammed shiraz(ficac) ganged up to persecute a Hindu. Reddy by no means is a saint but there was no need to prosecute him for such irrelevant issue. Bainimarama also made similar comments but saneem never got him charged. These cases makes it clear that Fiji muslims hold deep hatred for Fiji Hindus eventhough they claim not to. Its sad that it has come to this but its a reflection that once muslims gain power, they start to isolate and discriminate against other races. saneem's family is known racists in fiji. azreen probably is powerhungry and was getting rid of Khatri to make way for herself or another muslim to become HC.

Reply
Rajend Naidu
19/10/2017 12:21:11 am

Editor,
Minister for Nothing and Minister for Everything.
Allen Lockington, a thinking man says in his letter to the Fiji Times ( 19/10 ) we are wondering if some ministers are getting paid to stay home because we never hear from so many of them.
There is a perfectly reasonable explanation for that.
Fiji has a super-minister who covers their territory as well.
We hear from him all the time about everything in Fiji.
Happy Diwali to all you gang in Fiji.
Sincerely,
Rajend Naidu
Sydney.

Reply
Faiyaaz link
19/10/2017 03:40:31 am

In any conversation whether it is social or otherwise there should be no mention of one person's race or religion. It is easy to say I never meant that but the damage is already done. Stick to the individual not his/her race or religion. Only then Fiji will be able to rid itself from racial prejudices. Fiji should strive towards becoming one nation one people identified according to their names and achievements not race or religion. For those of us who work and live abroad and work in professional settings it is a taboo to call someone or to even pass a joke about a person's race, ethnicity or religion. People have been sacked on the spot if they have uttered any word designed to bring someone into disrepute because of their religion or race. Only in very exceptional circumstances can such comments be tolerated and only if it is passed through or mentioned between two very close friends or confidants. A HC represents Fiji overseas. She is expected to display a very high standard. If she can not zip it up then other working under it will follow suit.

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Jim
19/10/2017 01:57:34 pm

Rubbish Faiyaaz. Crap. Just too damn hypersensitive, thin skinned and vindictive. Over the top reaction is a hallmark. We see this all the time.

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Dekho
19/10/2017 07:38:15 pm

Yeah, Faiarse stop talking tatti. You live in a make believe imaginary world abroad. Race and racism is part and parcel of life abroad. You are simply trying to justify the unjustifiable action of your Muslim mates in Fiji. You don't fool us with your tatti talk.

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Samjoe
20/10/2017 01:06:53 am

Faiyaaz please! Don't insult our intelligence with your disguised rationalisation for the unwarranted eviction of Namita Khatri from her post as High Commissioner by the Muslim Mafia in Fiji.

Reply
Ratu
19/10/2017 10:59:24 am

The founding purpose of social democracy practised in modern western society referred to by Faiyaaz is to encourage cooperation between people transcending self interest and superficial differences such as skin colour, religious beliefs and other forms of identities. Yet the Fiji First Party selectively applies this principle and only disciplines the powerless such as Madam Khatri. The PM can criticise Opposition MPs and refer to their race; former High Court Judge, now Ambassador in Geneva, Naazhat Shameem can promote gender apartheid by preaching womens' rights to the exclusion of men's or human rights. No rebuke from the Fiji First Party.

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