Workers Online
Workers Online
Workers Online
  Issue No 72 Official Organ of LaborNet 06 October 2000  

 --

 --

 --

.  LaborNET

.  Ask Neale

.  Tool of the Week


News

Fiji Facing Dictatorship


The leader of Fiji's union movement - Felix Anthony - warned today that the Interim Administration had started walking down the path to dictatorship.

Felix Anthony, the general-secretary of the Fiji TUC, slammed plans to introduce new Internal Security legislation which he labelled oppressive, and challenged ordinary Fijian's human rights.

Mr Anthony made these comments in the lead up to a national day of protest scheduled for next Tuesday - Fiji's National Day.

On Monday, in Melbourne, the Australian Council of Trade Unions President, Sharan Burrow, will release a report on a recent international union delegation visit to Fiji.

The report outlines the continuing deterioration of human rights in Fiji.

Ms Burrow will use the release of the report to highlight next week's planned day of protest, both in Fiji and around the world, as well as outline a continuing strategy of support for Fiji workers and their unions.

The national day of protest will be known as Fiji's Blue Day .

You can get extensive details from the following web-page: http://www.fijisblue.com/help.html.

On this day Fiji citizens and their supporters are asked to:

� Wear something blue;

� Do something blue;

� Request a blue song on your favourite radio station and say "this song is dedicated to the restoration of democracy in Fiji".

� Tie a blue ribbon on your gate, tree, car aerial, hair, dog, cat, anything!

The international union movement is actively backing this campaign, with the International Transport Workers Federation asking affiliates to:

� Fax letters of protest to the President of Fiji, Ratu Josefa Iloilo, on fax number +679-310645. (Please do not fax the Prime Minister, who is not recognised by the Fiji TUC.)

� Send letters of solidarity to the FTUC, General Secretary Felix Anthony, on fax number +679-300306 or email [email protected]

� Organise pickets outside the Fijian Embassy. In Fiji protesting workers will wear blue, and so the FTUC is suggesting that pickets in other countries might like also to wear blue clothes or ribbons as a gesture of solidarity;

� put a 'Fiji's Blue' banner on your web-site, which you can find at the website noted above.

Mr Anthony has told the media that the Qarase Administration did not have any legitimate right to enact laws which challenged the people's human rights.

The Fiji TUC will oppose any legislation which violates freedom of association, movement and speech, Mr Anthony said.

" The Interim Administration will trigger a major reaction from the Fiji TUC if it goes ahead with plans to introduce the Security Decree. These laws are obviously designed to muzzle the voice of the people in our country," Mr Anthony said.

" They don't want any criticism. They want a completely free hand."

The comments were in reaction to plans revealed this week by the Interim Administration to introduce an Internal Security Decree.

The decree, according to the Interim Administration, will be designed to counter or avert activities intended to sabotage the economy.

Mr Anthony said it would do the unelected Administration some good if it learnt from the events of 1988.

The interim government then had promulgated a similar decree which Felix Anthony said had been a complete failure.

This he said was because of the backlash it generated nationally and internationally.

"It should stop at imposing its dictatorship on the people of Fiji."

He said the Internal Security Decree introduced in 1988 curbed the basic rights of individuals and groups.

"These empowered the Home Affairs Minister among numerous provisions to restrict movement of individuals, prohibited publications, allowed confiscation of goods and properties and detention without trial for two years. Also, included powers to arrest and detain individuals without a warrant.

" The Minister was also empowered to restrict movement, travel, speech, holding of official position in associations or political parties."


------

*   View entire issue - print all of the articles!

*   Issue 72 contents

In this issue
Features
*  Interview: Taking It To The Union Busters
ACTU Assistant Secretary Richard Marles talks to Workers Online about turning back the anti-union sentiment growing in the business community, responsible unionism and the sense of fun to be found at the ACTU.
*
*  International: The White Knights
The International Labour Organisation has become the great hope for those fighting to give globalisation a human face. Australian Bob Kyloh is one of those working with trade unions within the ILO to make it happen.
*
*  Politics: Industrial Democracy for Australia
Glenn Patmore argues we need new forms of employee representation in the workplace to broaden employee participation.
*
*  Unions: Behind The Scenes
In a small office at Homebush Bay, as the world focused on all that was positive about our games, Unions 2000 and SOCOG officials worked tirelessly to ensure that no worker was ripped off. Chris Christoudoulou reports.
*
*  Satire: Parade of Icons �Could Have Included Even More Ex-Aussies� Say Critics
The selection of Greg Norman, Paul Hogan and Elle Macpherson to represent Australia in the �Parade of Icons� during the Closing Ceremony of the Sydney Games last night has prompted a storm of complaints from other famous former Australians.
*
*  Review: Elliott Smiths Figure 8
Smith is basically the secret love child of the fab four and it�s so blatantly obvious. That�s not a bad thing because one thing Lennon and McCartney were reknown for was there ability to pen catchy tunes.
*

News
»  Interstate Rail Workers Rebel Against AWAs
*
»  Australia Post Exposes Staff to Bomb Danger
*
»  Alliance Builds Against Commonwealth Bank
*
»  Carr Lauds Union Movement For Golden Olympics
*
»  Big Brother Unwelcome In Child Care Centres
*
»  Council Workers Win Community Language Allowance
*
»  Fiji Facing Dictatorship
*
»  Home Care Win Recognises Community Contribution
*
»  Pressures Mount on Truckies
*
»  Industrial Action Looms At IBM Global
*
»  In Your Face Provocateurs
*
»  Putting A Stop To Workplace Intimidation
*
»  Australian History To Be Buried Alive
*

Columns
»  Away For The Games
*
»  Sport
*
»  Trades Hall
*
»  Tool Shed
*

Letters to the editor
»  Brits Look To Cuba For Health Solutions
*
»  Looking For Donnelly
*
»  Union Official Nominates For Telstra Board
*
»  End the Olympics?
*

What you can do

Notice Board
- Check out the latest events

Latest Issue

View entire latest issue
- print all of the articles!

Previous Issues

Subject index

Search all issues

Enter keyword(s):
  


Workers Online - 2nd place Labourstart website of the year


BossWatch


Wobbly Radio



[ Home ][ Notice Board ][ Search ][ Previous Issues ][ Latest Issue ]

© 1999-2000 Labor Council of NSW

LaborNET is a resource for the labour movement provided by the Labor Council of NSW

URL: http://workers.labor.net.au/72/news6_fiji.html
Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005

[ Privacy Statement | Disclaimer | Credits ]

LaborNET is proudly created, designed and programmed by Social Change Online for the Labor Council of NSW

 *LaborNET*

 Labor Council of NSW

[Workers Online]

[Social Change Online]