Mr. Kofie Annan
Secretary-General
United Nations
New York
14 July 2000
Dear Mr. Secretary-General,
The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, working in close
collaboration with our affiliated national trade union centre the Fiji
Trades Union Congress, has closely monitored the distressing events in Fiji
since the beginning of the current crisis in that country on 19 May. We are
profoundly relieved that the elected Prime Minister, Mr. Mahendra Chaudhry
and his fellow hostages, have now been released after so many weeks in
captivity.
At the same time, we are deeply concerned at the illegal dismissal of the
duly-elected Peoples' Coalition Government, and abrogation of the 1997
Constitution, which guaranteed democracy and balanced the interests of the
various components of Fijian society, in accordance with the principles of
international law. Of particular concern has been the role played by the
military authorities in Fiji, which as I'm sure you are aware, has been
instrumental in the dismissal of the government and the abrogation of the
Constitution.
The granting of a complete amnesty to those who took the Prime Minister
hostage, arranged by the Fiji military, and the apparent inability of the
military to support the application of the rule of law and the maintenance
of civil peace, are cause for further alarm. These factors have been
instrumental in enabling the triumph of racial discrimination over the
democratic rights of the Fijian people.
The international trade union movement therefore appeals to the United
Nations and the international community to take urgent and decisive action
to support the restoration of democracy in Fiji, within the framework of the
1997 Constitution. Given the actions of the Fiji military, we also strongly
feel that it would be inappropriate for the Fiji military to continue to
play any part in United Nations peacekeeping operations, and respectfully
call for the United Nations to take the necessary steps to cease their
involvement in such operations without delay.
The ICFTU, and its affiliated trade union centres around the world, are
pledged to do all within our influence to support the restoration of
democracy in Fiji and to bring an end to rule by racial division in that
country.
We thank you for your attention to this matter, and look forward to your
response.
Yours sincerely,
General Secretary
This site is best viewed using Netscape 4.0 or higher.
Any problems or kind suggestions, please email: webmaster@lookinglassdesign.com
last revision July 21, 2000