Fiji Trade Union Congress President Daniel Urai and General Secretary Felix Anthony were released from prison this week.
Their release was achieved through strong international union member campaigning.
IEU members participated in a postcard campaign that has put international attention on Commodore Josaia Voreque Bainimarama’s regime
Through the collective attention of our union and other unions nationally and internationally together with International Labour Organisation, the High Commission of Australia, the High Commission of UK and Amnesty International, support for Fijian unionists has been unwavering and the world has placed the Fijian regime on notice.
Campaign Must Continue
Unfortunately, the matter is unlikely to end with the releases of Daniel Urai and Felix Anthony.
Daniel Urai has been released on bail with sureties made for Daniel by our teaching colleagues, the Fiji Teacher’ Union and by the Fiji Islands Council of Trade Unions. But he still remains under charges of sedition and on a curfew and must report to the police daily.
While Anthony Felix was released without charges, the Fijian Assistant Police Commissioner has said that “Anthony may be brought in again for questioning when the need arises”
Thus, the campaign for Fijian workers’ rights, safety and well-being must continue.
Harassment of Trade Unionists
IEU members can be left with no doubt that the military dictatorship in Fiji is not a benign regime. The regime has adopted intimidation tactics to instill fear.
These arrests followed a long running campaign by Fijian unionists warning about the Fijian regime’s attack on workers through the introduction of the “Essential National Industries (Employment)” Decree
The Decree removes all collective bargaining rights, curtails the right to strike, bans overtime payments and voids existing collective bargaining agreements for workers.
The Essential National Industries (Employment) Decree follows many other anti- democratic actions by the military regime including the removal of free speech though the control of the media, the outlawing of meeting of more than four people without a permit – hence curtailing the meeting of trade union members and the unfair dismissal of Tevita Koroi (President of Council of Pacific Education) from his duties as Head Teacher.
Without their right to freedom of speech, working rights and union association, Fijian individuals and their families are vulnerable to discrimination and violence.
The IEU continues to stand in solidarity with FTU and FTA members and all other union members in Fiji as they battle for their human rights, their working rights and their rights to union association.