22 MAY 2000 SUVA (Pacnews) - The national strike called by the Fiji
trade Union Congress (FTUC) at the weekend to protest against the
armed takeover of the Government on Friday, May 19 has been suspended.
National Secretary, Felix Anthony said an executive council meeting
this afternoon (May 22) decided to end the strike as of tomorrow (May
23).
However, Anthony said the FTUC continues its condemnation of the
illegal takeover. The Congress confirmed it has received pledges of
support from international counterparts.
FTUC has also expressed concern about the increasing levels of
lawlessness in the county especially in the capital, Suva and
neighbouring town of Nausori.
FTUC has called on the President, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara to use his
powers, and with the co-operation of police, to restore law and order.
Anthony said FTUC will review its decision on a daily basis....PNS
(ENDS)
22 MAY 2000 SUVA (Pacnews) - The leader of the armed group holding the
Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry and his ministers hostage at the
parliamentary complex, today strongly objected to a directive by the
President, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara to place a restriction on the local
and international media at the site.
George Speight told a news conference that he cannot understand why
the President had made the directive.
He said he learnt from the police and the security people that the
international press and local press were being restricted to a barrier
approximately one kilometre away from the parliamentary complex
"Upon inquiring as to where those instructions came from, I was told
they emanated out of the office of the 'former' President, Ratu Sir
Kamisese Mara," he said.
"I reiterate, with a greatest of respect, that if Ratu Mara believes
his position is in the best interest of the indigenous people of Fiji,
why is he restricting the international press to capture this news and
dispel them widely?"
"I can't understand his reasoning for restricting you (media) in
trying to prevent the flow of information, and to prevent you from
capturing exactly what is taking place here," Speight told the
journalists.
Speight said he discussed the media ban with police officers guarding
the area and encouraged them to give free access to all the
journalists.
Security forces in Fiji yesterday advised journalists gathered outside
the Parliamentary complex to cover the hostage crisis to move their
television and photographic cameras a kilometre from the complex. The
journalists have also been advised that they cannot take photos of
film the parliamentary complex from a plane or helicopter.
Speight also said all indigenous supporters were also being given free
access to the parliamentary complex. Earlier in the day, the Fijian
members of parliament held captive inside parliament complained to the
armed men that they felt like "monkeys in a cage" because supporters
of Speight were staring through the windows of the building....PNS
(ENDS)
22 May 2000 SUVA (Pacnews) - The Dean of the Fiji School of Medicine
(FSM) has written to the Foreign and Education Ministers of Pacific
Island Countries giving them assurances that their students were safe
in the country despite the "fluid" political situation.
Dr. Wame Baravilala advised the ministers there is no need to
repatriate regional students.
He wrote to Foreign Affairs and Education Ministers of Palau,
Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Tuvalu,
the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa, Tokelau, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and
Papua New Guinea.
"Following the seizure of the government on Friday May 19 the FSM
cancelled classes for the rest of the day to enable students who lived
out to go home and to secure the safety of on-campus students and
property," Dr. Baravilala said.
"Despite the fluid political situation we are confident that the Fiji
police and military forces are maintaining law and order".
"I wish to reassure all regional governments that your on-campus
students are safe and we have also offered to accommodate your
live-out students on campus. Most have not accepted the offer other
than to ask to have their meals on campus. This has been arranged.
Transportation of off-campus students is proving difficult because
petrol stations are fast running out of fuel and buses are not
running."
"We resumed classes this morning (Monday, May 22) to try to restore
normality to the School but will keep the situation under constant
review. At the moment I do not see the need to repatriate your
students but obviously if there is any doubt regarding their safety we
will be in contact with your respective governments."
Meanwhile the University of the South Pacific today announced that
classes would be suspended for the next three days. Registrar,
Sarojini Pillay said exams, which were scheduled to be held this week,
had been cancelled.
She said normal classes will resume on Thursday, May 25 if the
political situation improves in the country....PNS (ENDS)
This text may have been edited to protect the writer.
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