Mara sacks Labour Gv't

Date: 27 May 2000

The Secretary of the Fiji TUC, Felix Anthony, began consulting with his union affiliates the moment the Fiji President announced he had sacked, Mahendra Chaudry, the democratically elected Labour Prime Minister of Fiji.

Mahendra Chaudry, and 34 other members of his government, have been held captive for nine days inside Parliament as gun-toting coup-makers have 'negotiated' with the President the death of democracy in that country.

The Australian union movement has already contacted Mr Anthony and are now waiting for the final word from Fiji.

The ICFTU is also in the process of making contact with Felix Anthony.

Mahendra Chaudry was the immediate predecessor to Felix Anthony in the post of Secretary of the Fiji TUC. The Fijian union movement is a succesful and influential local and regional island union movement.

Fiji President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara today said he had dismissed the country's government and appointed a caretaker administration in its place.

Mara said the decision meant there was no reason for gunmen in a coup plot to continue holding members of the ruling civilian government hostage inside Fiji's parliament complex.

The BBC is reporting that Mara has set up a complicated constitutional manouvere in appointing a caretaker administration which then immediately resigned, leaving the President as Fiji's sole authority.

Parliament has been suspended for the next six months

For further information

Contact:	Andrew Casey
Union:	Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union
Phone:	9281 9511
Fax:	92821 4480
Email:	Andrewc@lhmu.org.au
WWW:	http://www.lhmu.org.au

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