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ITF OFFICIALS FACE �MUTINY� CHARGES
Friday, 08 October 2004
THE International Transport Workers� Federation has reacted angrily to a warrant issued in the Philippines for the arrest of two Philippine Seafarers' Union officials and the Papua New Guinea Maritime Workers� leader.
ITF says that the warrants appear to accuse the union officials of conspiracy to mutiny were issued for union officials from the Philippine Seafarers' Union, PSU (ALU-TUCP) and Papua New Guinea Maritime Workers Industrial Union, after they tried to help resolve a dispute between Philippines fish processing giant, RD Tuna Ventures, and 200 fishermen the company employed on vessels off the coast of Papua New Guinea (PNG).
The global union body is protesting to the Philippines Government over what it describes as �a travesty of justice that would be almost funny if it weren�t so serious�. It has written to the President and four senior ministers of the Republic of the Philippines warning them that the issuing of arrest warrants for ITF affiliated union officials who had acted as mediators in an acrimonious dispute calls the probity and independence of the country�s legal system into doubt.
ITF General Secretary David Cockroft said: �Mutiny is one of the most serious charges there is. For it to be bandied about at the behest of RD Tuna is a bad joke. I believe that what we are seeing is an opportunistic abuse of the law by this company. Ironically this is happening at the same time as the government is pardoning military mutineers.�
According to the ITF, the dispute arose after the fishermen � who were not union members � made complaints about low remuneration, bad provisions, safety concerns and repatriation. A safety check by PNG port authorities showed several defects. Following action by the crew the dispute was finally resolved at the end of August when the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs brokered an agreement promising improved conditions and which included a �no reprisals� deal promising no action would be taken against the crew members.
Despite the guarantee that no punitive action would be taken at the end of last week several RD Tuna employees were arrested in the Philippines while attending a company seminar and the warrant issued for arrest of the officials. Given the seriousness of the situation the ITF has also today issued an Action Alert to ITF affiliates in the Asia-Pacific Region, and Fisheries� Section affiliates worldwide, asking them to protest to the Philippines Government.
Cockroft has written to the President; Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs; Secretary, Department of Labor and Employment; and Acting Secretary, Department of Justice of the Republic of the Philippines to express his disquiet � bordering on disbelief � that a Philippine company "should demonstrate so little regard for employment rights, for the rights of local people and indeed for the agreement brokered by the Philippine authorities in this case. You will no doubt be aware that the current criminal case will do little to enhance the reputation of the Philippines as a nation that protects its citizens working abroad".
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