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The ITF, fellow global unions and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) have jointly condemned the latest undemocratic and anti-union tactic by Fiji’s illegal military government.
The Fiji Political Parties Decree (Decree 4 of 2013) was issued on 15 January, just after the military regime had discarded a new draft constitution produced following a popular, consultative process. Anyone defying the decree faces a $50,000 fine, five years imprisonment or both.
The union bodies state that the decree’s purpose could not be clearer - to eliminate existing opposition political parties and to prevent new ones from being registered. It was issued just days after the Fiji Trades Union Congress (FTUC) held a special delegates’ meeting to launch a new opposition political party that would include trade unions.
The decree excludes all public officers from applying for, being a member of, or holding office in a political party; defines ‘public officer’ to include any elected or appointed trade union officer; and bars trade union officials from even expressing support for a political party. Any trade union leader joining or becoming an officer of a party will be deemed as having resigned from their trade union office.
Sharan Burrow, ITUC general secretary, explained: “The regime is once again attempting to silence the largest civil society organisation and opposition force in the country - the trade union movement. The promise of elections in 2014 will be meaningless if all Fijian citizens cannot fully participate in the political process. There should now be no doubt internationally that the regime will seek election in 2014 by any means necessary.
”ITF president Paddy Crumlin commented: “The regime is making it very clear that it pretty much intends to do what it wants without any sanction by the people of Fiji. We are very concerned that the regime’s own proposed constitution will ratify repression of workers’ rights. The ITF and other unions will be calling on governments around the globe to reassess their diplomatic relationship with the Bainimarama military regime.”