Trade unions plan action on Fiji
BY NORM DIXON
Fiji's President Ratu Kamisese Mara formally sacked Labour Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and his government on May 27. Parliament has been suspended for six months. A minister in the Fiji Labour Party-led government, Ratu Tevita Momaidonu, accepted the position of acting PM offered by Mara.
Mara's move officially signals the success of the kidnapping of the Chaudhry government by coup leader George Speight. Mara reaffirmed that the constitution will be amended in line with Speight's demands (see article on page 15). He added that it was "highly likely" that Speight and the six gunmen who stormed parliament on May 19 would be granted immunity from prosecution. Mara said he would not accept Speight's demand that he resign the presidency, however.
"I am saddened at having to do this", said Mara. "Fiji will suffer when the rest of the world realises this is the course of action I have taken ... I have been warned we will be on the bottom of the pariah list of countries ... We are going to face not only purgatory, but hell", Mara said.
The Fiji Labour Party-led People's Coalition rejected Mara's decision, condemned Momaidonu's treachery and declared that no settlement that contravenes the constitution was acceptable. The coalition said in a statement that Mara's decision was clearly intended to "legitimise the overthrow of a constitutionally and democratically elected government by a group of terrorists".
The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) on May 28 announced from Brussels that it will lead a "campaign of action" to demand the restoration of democracy in Fiji. The campaign could include boycotts, sanctions and strikes. The federation specifically mentioned the disruption of mail, shipping and air services.
The Asia Pacific Regional Organisation of the ICFTU sent a fax to the Fiji president on May 28 stating: "The abrogation of democracy at the behest of an armed gang is a course of action which the international community, including the international trade union movement, cannot allow to go unchallenged. We pledge our full support to the Fiji Trades Union Congress in their efforts to restore democracy, ensure respect for the Fiji constitution and defend the rights of the working people of Fiji.
"We call upon you to immediately ensure the release of the hostages, the reinstatement of the legitimate government and the full respect of the Fiji Constitution, in order to avoid the damage which will otherwise inevitably be done to the international standing and the interests of your country."
The Australian Council of Trade Unions announced that union action would begin at midday on May 28. ACTU president Sharan Burrow said that Australian unions will "isolate the terrorist coup leaders" by imposing transport and communication boycotts on Fiji.
"Australians will not support terrorists who hold elected government representatives at gunpoint and hijack a constitution", said Burrow. "Australian unions will do whatever we can to help our Fijian neighbours. Boycotts and pickets will be applied until democracy is restored to Fiji."
The Maritime Union of Australia has banned the loading and unloading of cargo for Fiji; Australian Services Union, the Flight Attendants Association of Australia, the Transport Workers Union, and the Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association will impose bans on air freight and passengers to and from Fiji; and the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union will take action against postal services.
The ACTU also announced it will mount pickets at the Fiji embassy in Canberra and ask tourism sector employees to discourage travellers from visiting Fiji.
The Auckland-based Fiji Democracy Support Group on May 28 called on governments around the world — particularly the Australian and New Zealand governments — to impose sanctions. "All sporting contacts with Fiji to stop and we want the UN to withdraw the Fijian security forces, the Fijian army, from all peacekeeping operations throughout the world", said the group's spokesperson Salim Singh.