Issue No 72 | 06 October 2000 | |
NewsFiji 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."
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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.
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