15 Jul 2002

Fiji's Prime Minister has accused trade unions of posing a threat to the country

9:40 am on 15 July 2002

Fiji's Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase, has attacked trade unions saying attempts by their overseas counterparts to intervene are a threat to the country.

Mr Qarase says such intervention by foreign unions at the urging of a misguided minority of Fiji's citizens is an attack on the country's sovereign rights.

He says only a few weeks ago the Australian council of Trade Unions was virtually telling the democratically elected government of Fiji what to do over a conflict at Air Terminal Service Ltd at Nadi.

He says if the decision had not been to the ACTU's liking, then innocent citizens of Fiji would have been punished