1 Jun 2002

Fiji retaliates against Australian union officials

3:13 am on 1 June 2002

Authorities in Fiji have placed an immigration watch on officials of the Australian Council of Trade Unions.

Fiji TV reports that the ministry of foreign affairs is to be informed immediately if officials of the ACTU attempt to enter the country.

The action follows government anger at a threat by Australian unions to place sanctions on air and sea links to Fiji if the state-owned Airports Fiji Limited does not give recognition to the Fiji Public Servants Association.

The ministry of foreign affairs would not comment on the immigration watch measure, saying it is a national security matter.

But sources within the immigration department at Nadi International Airport have confirmed the monitoring measure is in place.