Mon, 18 Jul 2011
New Zealand unions will ask members whether they will support industrial action against Fiji.

It follows a warning from Australia's Transport Workers Union that it will disrupt flights to Fiji from Wednesday unless Qantas protects its workers from state-sanctioned violence in the country.

Peter Conway, the secretary of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, told Pacific Beat his organisation had not decided on any action but shared the concerns raised by his Australian counterparts.

SOURCE: Radio Australia News

Thu, 14 Jul 2011

The Commonwealth secretary-general, Kamalesh Sharma, says talks on the restoration of democracy in Fiji have stagnated.

Fiji was suspended from the Commonwealth in 2009 when military ruler Commodore Frank Bainimarama refused to bow to demands to hold elections by 2011.

Mr Sharma told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat the Commonwealth will keep exploring opportunities to push for democracy in Fiji.

"We would like a broad-based political discussion heading towards the restoration of democracy," he said.

"But the abrogation of the constitution, the emergency order, and the decision making format which now avails by decree - all this has actually put the clock back."

Mr Sharma is in the Pacific this week to discuss ways the Commonwealth can strengthen its partnership with Samoa and Tonga.

SOURCE: Radio Australia News