10 Jul 2007

Fiji police reject PSA rally application

10:39 am on 10 July 2007

Fiji police have rejected an application by public sector unions to hold a series of rallies around the country in support of their proposed national strike.

The Fiji Times quotes the new police commissioner, Captain Esala Teleni, as saying they "will not entertain any rally of that sort."

Captain Teleni has warned that the application by the Confederation of Public Sector Unions has been turned down and if they go ahead, they will be breaking the law.

He says those who hold any illegal gatherings will be held accountable.

The unions had planned to hold rallies in Suva, Lautoka and Labasa from tomorrow.

The chairman of the Confederation of Public Sector Unions, Rajeshwar Singh, was reported to have said yesterday that plans for a rally tomorrow and the strike on July 20th remained unchanged.

Meanwhile, talks yesterday between the unions and the government to avert a strike were described as positive.