Australia, New Zealand express concerns over unionist arrests

Another trade unionist arrested by the Fijian authorities remains in police custody on Sunday, as neighboring countries Australia and New Zealand expressed concerns over the measures to keep unionists threatened. Felix Anthony, the National Secretary of the Fiji Trades Union Congress, has been arrested by the Fijian authorities for meeting other trade unionists without a permit. It came after the arrest of the president of the Fiji Trades Union Congress Daniel Urai on Oct. 29. Neither of them has been charged. Fijian Information Ministry Permanent Secretary, Sharon Smith Johns confirmed to media that Felix Anthony remains in police custody on Sunday. He has also confirmed that Daniel Urai remains in police custody as well. Urai was taken in for questioning on Monday. The detainment of the Fiji trade unionists has caused international outrages, with Australia's Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd condemning the arrest of Anthony. Rudd described in a statement the arrest and the failure of the regime to charge Anthony and Urai as unacceptable. "This is another example of what appears to be a concerted campaign by the Fiji authorities to target and intimidate trade unionists and other political opponents." The Australian government says it is watching developments closely and is calling on the Fiji interim government to release Urai and Anthony from detention. Australian unions have also condemned the arrest, saying it is increasingly concerned at what appears to be a systematic campaign of persecution by the regime of workers and their representatives. The ACTU President Ged Kearney says the regime is resorting to strong arm tactics. "The fact that not just one but two union leaders have been arrested and detained in Fiji within a week is an alarming and aggressive tactic," he said. "The intimidation of workers and their representatives in Fiji is continuing unabated despite international condemnation," he said. In New Zealand, the Labour Party's Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Maryan Street, said Anthony and Urai have already suffered at the hands of the regime, having both been arrested and beaten previously. "The New Zealand Labour Party calls on the Fiji regime to release these men and restore their human rights, or at the very least, charge them with something which is not a pretence or charade," she said. Fiji Islands Council of Trade Unions general secretary Attar Singh said Anthony's arrest is not a surprise and the talk among workers and unions is that the unionists have been linked to the campaign against the recent Essential National Industries Decree.