SUVA, Fiji Islands (May 30, 2000, Labornet)---The Fiji TUC -- despite the military
takeover in an attempt to end the ongoing Fiji
crisis -- has maintained its support for comprehensive sanctions applied swiftly
and speedily.
The TUC has even suggested that there may be a need for an international peacekeeping
force to protect citizens from armed
vigilante groups.
On the first day of martial law the Fiji labor movement is now watching closely
the action of the Fiji military as they try to run this
Pacific Island country.
The Fiji TUC leader, Mr. Felix Anthony, said today there is considerable uncertainty
as to which way the military leadership will
eventually jump.
"We just don't know if they are eventually going to back Speight, or back
the Constitution. There is a meeting later today between
Commodore Frank Bainimarama, who imposed martial law, and George Speight. We
are awaiting the result of the meeting," Felix
Anthony said today.
The TUC has scheduled a meeting for 1:00 p.m. Wednesday in the national capital,
Suva, to discuss the latest events.
The union leadership was scheduled to meet on Tuesday but was forced to cancel
that meeting because of the military coup.
Fiji TUC leader, Felix Anthony, was visited by military officers hours after
martial law was announced, and told he would have to
cooperate with the military hierarchy.
The result of the re-scheduled Fiji TUC meeting tomorrow will be reported to
the ACTU Fiji Crisis Committee, which is also
scheduled to meet on Wednesday afternoon.
The 48-hour curfew announced by the military last night has already been lifted
and some people have been able to return to work.
The TUC has released a seven-page analysis and update on the Fiji hostage crisis
attacking the outrageous outcome of the Great
Council of Chiefs.
The TUC document started circulating in Fiji yesterday, just hours before the
military took over the country.
The sudden changed political circumstances do not, however, make the contents
of this document irrelevant.
"The call by the Council of Chiefs for the dissolution of an elected Parliament
and the appointment of an interim Government are
unequivocally unconstitutional," the document states.
"They are therefore absolutely unacceptable to the Fiji TUC, just as they
are to the people of Fiji, the People's Coalition Government
and the international community.
"There cannot be any political solution negotiated while the elected government,
including the Prime Minister, remain in captivity.
"The Fiji TUC strongly condemns the President's suspension of parliament
and the dismissal of the Prime Minister and his cabinet."
Signed by the National President of the TUC, Daniel Urai, and the National
Secretary of the TUC, Felix Anthony, it names 26 people
as being responsible for the hostage taking. Number one on their list is George
Speight.
The TUC has accused a Labour Party Minister - David Momoedonu - of an act of
treachery for co-operating with the President in
the so-called dismissal of Prime Minister Chaudhry and the proroguing of Parliament.
The TUC document has put forward a ten-point strategy for trade union solidarity
action in the form of:
For further information:
Contact: Andrew Casey
Union: Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union
Phone: 9281 9511
Fax: 92821 4480
Email: Andrewc@lhmu.org.au
This text may have been edited to protect the writer.
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