Dorsami Naidu
Encyclopedia
Dorsami Naidu is a Fiji
an lawyer
and politician. On 29 July 2005, he announced his intention to resign as President of the National Federation Party
(NFP) at the party conference on the 31 July, following his being taken in for questioning on assault
and indecent assault
charges, of which he has since been acquitted. He remains the President of the Then India Sanmarga Ikya Sangam (TISI), a Hindu
organization for Indo-Fijians of South India
n descent.
On 12 July 2005, the NFP asked Naidu to resign, following his appearance in a Nadi
court the previous day on charges of indecent assault and assault. Naidu was released on a surety bail
of F$
500 after pleading not guilty to both charges. The case was adjourned till 21 July.
Naidu took over the leadership of the NFP, once the main political party appealing to the Indo-Fijian community, when it was in a state of disarray following its poor showing in the parliamentary elections
of 1999
and 2001
. Naidu had a reputation as a dynamic organizer who undertook a major drive to rejuvenate the party and broaden its appeal to indigenous Fijians
, women, and the disadvantaged. In mid-2005, he was at the forefront of a major campaign
against a controversial bill
being promoted by the Fijian government, that aims to establish a Commission with the power to compensate victims and pardon perpetrators of the civilian coup d'état
which deposed the elected government in May 2000.
Announcing his resignation, Naidu commented on the party's general secretary, Pramod Rae
, for going public with calls for him to step down. The NFP was not a media-led party, he said, and he was "disappointed and hurt" that Rae had gone to the media despite a private assurance from Naidu that he would resign soon. Rae should have called a meeting of the executive board before making such a unilateral decision, Naidu said. On 31 July, the party conference elected Raman Pratap Singh
to replace him.
Naidu declared that he still supported the NFP, and that he would remain available to them if ever called upon.
Naidu was acquitted by the Nadi
Magistrates Court on 4 August 2005, when the charges against him were dismissed for lack of evidence. The court ordered the prosecution to pay Naidu F$
2000 to cover court costs.
Two days after his acquittal, Naidu reiterated that he would remain a supporter of the NFP, despite his "betrayal" by a number of party officials.
In 2009 Naidu, by then president of the Fijian Law Society was arrested and released without charge.
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
an lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and politician. On 29 July 2005, he announced his intention to resign as President of the National Federation Party
National Federation Party (Fiji)
The National Federation Party is a Fijian political party founded by A.D. Patel in November 1968, as a merger of the Federation Party and the National Democratic Party...
(NFP) at the party conference on the 31 July, following his being taken in for questioning on assault
Assault
In law, assault is a crime causing a victim to fear violence. The term is often confused with battery, which involves physical contact. The specific meaning of assault varies between countries, but can refer to an act that causes another to apprehend immediate and personal violence, or in the more...
and indecent assault
Indecent assault
Indecent assault is an offence of aggravated assault in many jurisdictions. It is characterised as a sex crime.Indecent assault was an offence in England and Wales under sections 14 and 15 the Sexual Offences Act 1956...
charges, of which he has since been acquitted. He remains the President of the Then India Sanmarga Ikya Sangam (TISI), a Hindu
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
organization for Indo-Fijians of South India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n descent.
On 12 July 2005, the NFP asked Naidu to resign, following his appearance in a Nadi
Nadi
Nadi is the third-largest conurbation in Fiji. It is located on the western side of the main island of Viti Levu, and had a population of 42,284 at the most recent census, in 2007. Nadi is multiracial with many of its inhabitants Indian or Fijian, along with a large transient population of foreign...
court the previous day on charges of indecent assault and assault. Naidu was released on a surety bail
Bail
Traditionally, bail is some form of property deposited or pledged to a court to persuade it to release a suspect from jail, on the understanding that the suspect will return for trial or forfeit the bail...
of F$
Fijian dollar
The dollar has been the currency of Fiji since 1969 and was also the currency between 1867 and 1873. It is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively FJ$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
500 after pleading not guilty to both charges. The case was adjourned till 21 July.
Naidu took over the leadership of the NFP, once the main political party appealing to the Indo-Fijian community, when it was in a state of disarray following its poor showing in the parliamentary elections
Elections in Fiji
Fiji has held nine general elections for the House of Representatives since becoming independent of the United Kingdom in 1970; there had been numerous elections under colonial rule, but only one with universal suffrage . In this period, Fiji has had three constitutions, and the voting system has...
of 1999
Fiji election of 1999
General elections were held in Fiji between 8 and 15 May 1999. They were the first election held under the revised Constitution of 1997, which instituted a new electoral system and resulted in Mahendra Chaudhry taking office as Fiji's first Indo-Fijian Prime Minister.-Electoral system:Previously,...
and 2001
Fiji election of 2001
The Constitution of Fiji was restored by a High Court decision on 15 November 2000, following the failure of the political upheaval in which the government had been deposed and the constitution suspended in May that year. On 1 March 2001, the Appeal Court upheld the decision. An election to...
. Naidu had a reputation as a dynamic organizer who undertook a major drive to rejuvenate the party and broaden its appeal to indigenous Fijians
Fijian people
Fijian people are the major indigenous people of the Fiji Islands, and live in an area informally called Melanesia. The Fijian people are believed to have arrived in Fiji from western Melanesia approximately 3,500 years ago, though the exact origins of the Fijian people are unknown...
, women, and the disadvantaged. In mid-2005, he was at the forefront of a major campaign
Yellow Ribbon campaign (Fiji)
Most Fijian politicians outside of the government have come out against the legislation to establish a Commission with the power, subject to presidential approval, to pardon perpetrators and compensate victims of the coup d'état against the elected government in 2000...
against a controversial bill
Reconciliation and Unity Commission (Fiji)
The Reconciliation and Unity Commission is a proposed government body to be set up if the Reconciliation, Tolerance, and Unity Bill, which was introduced into the Fijian Parliament on 4 May 2005 is passed...
being promoted by the Fijian government, that aims to establish a Commission with the power to compensate victims and pardon perpetrators of the civilian coup d'état
Fiji coup of 2000
The Fiji coup of 2000 was a complicated affair involving a civilian putsch by hardline Fijian nationalists against the elected government of a non-native Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry, on 19 May 2000, the attempt by President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara to assert executive authority on 27 May, and...
which deposed the elected government in May 2000.
Announcing his resignation, Naidu commented on the party's general secretary, Pramod Rae
Pramod Rae
Pramod Kumar Rae is a Fijian trade unionist and political organizer of Indian descent. He was born in Suva and completed a Bachelor of Arts degree and Post Graduate Certificate in Education from the University of the South Pacific....
, for going public with calls for him to step down. The NFP was not a media-led party, he said, and he was "disappointed and hurt" that Rae had gone to the media despite a private assurance from Naidu that he would resign soon. Rae should have called a meeting of the executive board before making such a unilateral decision, Naidu said. On 31 July, the party conference elected Raman Pratap Singh
Raman Pratap Singh
Raman Pratap Singh is a Fijian lawyer and politician of Indian descent. His father, Ram Jati Singh, was a member of the Legislative Council, elected on the National Federation Party ticket. Raman contested the 1994 election on the NFP ticket, winning the Bua Indian seat in the House of...
to replace him.
Naidu declared that he still supported the NFP, and that he would remain available to them if ever called upon.
Naidu was acquitted by the Nadi
Nadi
Nadi is the third-largest conurbation in Fiji. It is located on the western side of the main island of Viti Levu, and had a population of 42,284 at the most recent census, in 2007. Nadi is multiracial with many of its inhabitants Indian or Fijian, along with a large transient population of foreign...
Magistrates Court on 4 August 2005, when the charges against him were dismissed for lack of evidence. The court ordered the prosecution to pay Naidu F$
Fijian dollar
The dollar has been the currency of Fiji since 1969 and was also the currency between 1867 and 1873. It is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively FJ$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
2000 to cover court costs.
Two days after his acquittal, Naidu reiterated that he would remain a supporter of the NFP, despite his "betrayal" by a number of party officials.
In 2009 Naidu, by then president of the Fijian Law Society was arrested and released without charge.