Fiji unions organise for democracy

Date: 29 May 2000

The Fiji Trades Union Congress has convened a meeting tomorrow morning of all of Mahendra Chaudry's MPs who were not captured in Parliament House last week.

The MPs will discuss the organisation of a huge public rally , on Wednesday, in the Western regions of Fiji, to support the reinstatement of democracy.

Also the Fiji TUC Secretary, Felix Anthony, has organised a meeting of his Executive to discuss a new round of industrial action to start tomorrow afternoon or Wednesday morning.

The industrial activity is expected to support the demonstration for democracy being organised by MPs.

About 20 MPs who are part of the People's Coalition government led by Labour Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudry, have escaped the Parliament House complex.

Out of 71 members in the Fijian parliament, 58 sit on the government side in the People's Coalition.

Both the meetings of the MPs and the union leadership are taking place well away from Suva where law-and-order has now completely broken down.

The Fiji TUC leadership have requested the TUC in London to help immediately stop European Union sugar imports from Fiji which is all purchased by the London headquartered sugar company Tate and Lyle.

There are rumours that George Speight is in the process of organising a massive march from the Parliament House complex to the home of the President, Ratu Mara, to demand his immediate resignation.

Fiji radio has been broadcasting orders for all Army territorialists and reservists to report immediately to barracks. The Army commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, has been consulting most of the afternoon with Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara.

Meanwhile Suva city is virtually deserted as police advised everyone to go home after rumours that armed youth from coup leader George Speight's group would again attack targets in the city. Schools have been shut and students have been given early holidays. Indo-Fijians especially are reported to be streaming out of Suva to find safety on the western part of the island.

At about 4pm Fiji time Coup leader George Speight said he had called off a march by his supporters from Parliament to Government House, the home of the President, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara.

It is not clear why the march was called off, but it may be due to the inherent warning in the decision of the Fiji Military Forces earlier in the day to call all soldiers back to camp.

However the capital, Suva, has come to a standstill because rumours the march may still occur later tonight.

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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