Fijileaks: We must never shy away from asking whether those who had (the late Brij Lal), and others who have voluntarily renounced their Fiji citizenship, and don't hold dual citizenship, have the automatic right to be buried, cremated, or their ashes scattered into the sea or the rivers of Fiji. The Coalition government must spell out its policy regarding former citizens who die abroad - whether friends or foes of political parties. In the late Brij Lal's case, he was an Australian-American citizen, and NOT a Fiji citizen. He became an American citizen in 1993, and an Australian citizen in 1995.
*The treatment meted out to him was no different to that meted out to the two Australian publishers of the Fiji Sun and Fiji Times respectively. In Russell Hunter's case, like Brij Lal, he died in exile, in Brisbane, Australia. Still, all three Australian citizens should NOT have been subjected to deportations because of their views and actions.
*Luckily, for the late Brij Lal, his career nor his academic research suffered after the 1987 coups because he somehow remained in the good books of the Coupist Sitiveni Rabuka, and also because of his close links to the NFP, and its leadership.
*Even after the 2006 coup, he was left alone. It was not until 2009, when Aiyaz Khaiyum took control, that the late Brij Lal ran foul of the regime.
 |  |
Fijileaks: Our Founding Editor-in-Chief had been a friend of the late Brij Lal (RIP), an academic colleague, and later a leading campaigner to bring suspended Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho to justice for assaulting and deporting the late Brij Lal out of Fiji, leading to him being banned from returning, and later his wife PADMA LAL.
*Setting aside sentiment, friendship, and hatred for FFP's 16 year long dictatorship, we must never shy away from asking whether those who had (the late Brij Lal), and others who have voluntarily renounced their citizenship, have the automatic right to be buried, cremated, or their ashes scattered into the sea or the rivers of Fiji.
*It is in this context that we must debate whether FFP was right or wrong to act against a former Fiji Citizen?
*We were surprised to learn that despite not being a Fiji citizen, the late Jai Ram Reddy had nominated the late Brij Lal to be a nominee of the NFP in drafting the 1997 Constitution of Fiji.
*The Coalition government must spell out its policy regarding former citizens who die abroad - whether friends or foes of political parties.
*The late Brij Lal's former student ASHWIN RAJ had revealed that his former academic supervisor at ANU had long given up Fiji citizenship.
From Fijileaks Archive, 29 December 2021
Amnesty International to Fijileaks Editor, 28 July 2020
"I've checked with a colleague. If he did arrive in the UK, the UK provides universal jurisdiction for torture, which means UK police would need to investigate allegations of torture if a complaint were made.
I'm sure you know of the accusations as well as I do, but I'd be interested to know if you think any witnesses might come forward?
Is there any other evidence (written statements etc) that you've received for your blog that could also be used to support such claims? It might be the only shot at accountability.".
Fijileaks: We had agreed, without disclosing personal reasons, that I was at liberty to reveal the late Professor Brij Lal's collaboration in our pursuit to arrest Sitiveni Qiliho in London
20 July 2020
To Whom It May Concern
Bhai, I plan to move against him.
Looks like this Academy has turned a blind eye but the coward kept everything in utter secrecy
I need a proper statement on a separate document as an attachment from you to pass it to Amnesty and others, explaining your background involvement in Fiji Constitution, arrival in Fiji, arrest, beating and spitting at barrack etc
And explain why you are coming forward now
Maybe state you were still busy with academic stuff
Also mention how Australia denied him visa etc
Look forward to your cooperation
He can’t get away just like this
I will be approaching my constituency MP to write to the Home Secretary Priti Patel and Foreign Secretary and also Defence Minister now he is definitely arriving in London
Regards
22 April 2021
Bula Brij
I m having a zoom meeting with the lawyers on Friday and they have sent me a few questions. There are some I can fill in but others are for you.
Loloma
Witness evidence
2.1 Brij Vilash Lal:
• How long was Brij in detention and subjected to this treatment?
• Were there any injuries sustained as a result of the slapping? If so:
(a) were any photos taken?
(b) is there any medical evidence available from this time?
• What is Brij’s immigration history? Did he claim asylum in Australia? If so, are the papers relating to this claim/decision available?
• Can we be provided with a copy of the account given to the UNHRC. What was the outcome of this submission?
• Does Brij have any previous convictions?
Brij Lal, 23 April 2021
Bula,
Have been under the weather a bit with winter approaching. To your questions:
Interrogation lasted 3-4 hours.
Slapping and spitting in my face, breaking my glasses in the provess.
No photos taken though I have my broken glasses.
I am an Australian citizen and had proper visa to do research in Fiji
I have no previous convictions anywhere.
I wrote to UNHRC both to Nazhat Shameem Khan as well as to the Australian ambassador to Geneva but did not receive even an acknowledgement of my letters.
After a series of further e-mails, he sent to us his "Torture Affidavit".
"Here it is. It will be great if Qiliho is prevented from returning to Fiji and becoming commander RFMF."
Dear Victor
"By separate email from my computer, I will send you something I have cobbled together. I am not used to this sort of writing so please make any changes to it you see fit. There may be some extraneous matter in it that may have to go. I am very grateful to you for your interest in this case and for bringing this fellow's vile and vicious behaviour into the public domain. But I also have a deep sense of foreboding that other concerns might drown out our call for justice. I have had a few enquiries from friends from Fiji, but a feeling of fatigue is palpable there, the spirit to fight injustice quashed...Thanks.
I had not seen this news item [Qiliho going up to the Royal Defence Academy in London]. It is shocking. When he was slated to come to Australia, I wrote to Julie Bishop and he was refuseed a visa to study here. Qiliho was a Bainimarama protege who was groomed to succeed him. He was his chief enforcer, assisted by Ben Naliva and Asaeri [Aseri] Rokoura, both viciious thugs.Qiliho interrogated me at QEB. He covered my face with his spitting and slapped me around to the point of breaking my glasses, He told me that if I did not leave by the first flight the next day, my family would have to fetch my body from the morgue.
He led a group of arsonists to burn down Justice Gordon Ward's Deuba villa. There are stories around of him stomping on the bodies of women taken to the camp for their various protests. It is deeply saddening to see him being welcomed in London. After the Canberra hiccup, he will now realize his ambition. Such are the ways of the world. Keep safe in these strange times, my friend."
"I've checked with a colleague. If he did arrive in the UK, the UK provides universal jurisdiction for torture, which means UK police would need to investigate allegations of torture if a complaint were made.
I'm sure you know of the accusations as well as I do, but I'd be interested to know if you think any witnesses might come forward?
Is there any other evidence (written statements etc) that you've received for your blog that could also be used to support such claims? It might be the only shot at accountability.".
Fijileaks: We had agreed, without disclosing personal reasons, that I was at liberty to reveal the late Professor Brij Lal's collaboration in our pursuit to arrest Sitiveni Qiliho in London
20 July 2020
To Whom It May Concern
Bhai, I plan to move against him.
Looks like this Academy has turned a blind eye but the coward kept everything in utter secrecy
I need a proper statement on a separate document as an attachment from you to pass it to Amnesty and others, explaining your background involvement in Fiji Constitution, arrival in Fiji, arrest, beating and spitting at barrack etc
And explain why you are coming forward now
Maybe state you were still busy with academic stuff
Also mention how Australia denied him visa etc
Look forward to your cooperation
He can’t get away just like this
I will be approaching my constituency MP to write to the Home Secretary Priti Patel and Foreign Secretary and also Defence Minister now he is definitely arriving in London
Regards
22 April 2021
Bula Brij
I m having a zoom meeting with the lawyers on Friday and they have sent me a few questions. There are some I can fill in but others are for you.
Loloma
Witness evidence
2.1 Brij Vilash Lal:
• How long was Brij in detention and subjected to this treatment?
• Were there any injuries sustained as a result of the slapping? If so:
(a) were any photos taken?
(b) is there any medical evidence available from this time?
• What is Brij’s immigration history? Did he claim asylum in Australia? If so, are the papers relating to this claim/decision available?
• Can we be provided with a copy of the account given to the UNHRC. What was the outcome of this submission?
• Does Brij have any previous convictions?
Brij Lal, 23 April 2021
Bula,
Have been under the weather a bit with winter approaching. To your questions:
Interrogation lasted 3-4 hours.
Slapping and spitting in my face, breaking my glasses in the provess.
No photos taken though I have my broken glasses.
I am an Australian citizen and had proper visa to do research in Fiji
I have no previous convictions anywhere.
I wrote to UNHRC both to Nazhat Shameem Khan as well as to the Australian ambassador to Geneva but did not receive even an acknowledgement of my letters.
After a series of further e-mails, he sent to us his "Torture Affidavit".
"Here it is. It will be great if Qiliho is prevented from returning to Fiji and becoming commander RFMF."
Dear Victor
"By separate email from my computer, I will send you something I have cobbled together. I am not used to this sort of writing so please make any changes to it you see fit. There may be some extraneous matter in it that may have to go. I am very grateful to you for your interest in this case and for bringing this fellow's vile and vicious behaviour into the public domain. But I also have a deep sense of foreboding that other concerns might drown out our call for justice. I have had a few enquiries from friends from Fiji, but a feeling of fatigue is palpable there, the spirit to fight injustice quashed...Thanks.
I had not seen this news item [Qiliho going up to the Royal Defence Academy in London]. It is shocking. When he was slated to come to Australia, I wrote to Julie Bishop and he was refuseed a visa to study here. Qiliho was a Bainimarama protege who was groomed to succeed him. He was his chief enforcer, assisted by Ben Naliva and Asaeri [Aseri] Rokoura, both viciious thugs.Qiliho interrogated me at QEB. He covered my face with his spitting and slapped me around to the point of breaking my glasses, He told me that if I did not leave by the first flight the next day, my family would have to fetch my body from the morgue.
He led a group of arsonists to burn down Justice Gordon Ward's Deuba villa. There are stories around of him stomping on the bodies of women taken to the camp for their various protests. It is deeply saddening to see him being welcomed in London. After the Canberra hiccup, he will now realize his ambition. Such are the ways of the world. Keep safe in these strange times, my friend."
