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MELBOURNE: Australian Council of Trade Unions president Sharan Burrow
said today that Australian unions may intensify bans against Fijian
cargo if rebel leader George Speight does not release his hostages and
allow the restoration of parliamentary democracy in Fiji.
Australian workers in the oil industry refused to fully load a
fuel-tanker bound for Fiji in Melbourne earlier this week and the ACTU
has warned that further fuel shipments to could be threatened if the
crisis is not resolved.
Ms Burrow also said that unions were making good their commitment to
ensure that the passage of emergency medical supplies to Fiji is not
affected by the protest action.
Arrangements are being made with shipping agents and suppliers to ensure
emergency medical supplies bound for Fiji are identified and freighted
as quickly as possible.
"When Australian unions took the decision to take action in support of
democracy in Fiji a commitment was made that emergency medical supplies
and humanitarian cargo would not be affected. We are honouring that
commitment," said Ms Burrow.
At a meeting of the ACTU coordinated Fiji Crisis Committee yesterday,
Australian unions resolved to increase the scope of current bans if
necessary and called on the Federal Government to help end the hostage
crisis by turning its rhetoric into action.
"We are deeply distressed by reports that George Speight has begun
withholding food rations from his hostages. Mr Downer must now do
everything in his power to end the increasingly violent situation in
Fiji, including the use of trade sanctions."
Unions are also monitoring reports that some Fijian business are
shipping goods via New Zealand to avoid Australian bans.
"We are committed to ensuring that these bans are effective.
Self-interested Fijian business attempting to avoid Australian bans by
moving cargo via other national ports will only encourage us to consider
increasing the scope of the current action," said Ms Burrow.
+++niuswire
Subject: [pasifik_nius] 2820 FIJI: Pro-democracy bans may intensify
Date: Fri, 23 Jun 2000 15:10:41 +1300
From: Journ12 <robie_d@usp.ac.fj>
Organization: Journalism, University of the South Pacific
To: Pasifik Nius <pasifik_nius@lists.c2o.org>
Title -- 2820 FIJI: Pro-democracy bans may intensify
Date -- 23 June 2000
Byline -- None
Origin -- Pasifik Nius
Source -- ACTU, via SR, 23/6/00
Status -- Unabridged
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