When the sheriff came

THE year-long stand-off between striking mine workers at Fiji’s Vatukoula gold mine and their employers, Emperor Gold Mining Co Ltd, took a tragic turn last month when a high court sheriff was stoned to death.

Mani Lai, 52, was killed almost instantly as he tried to serve an eviction notice to one of the striking miners. More than 50 miners then attacked the 30 policemen, who fired tear gas.

Some of the striking miners who have appeared in court say the union gave orders for them to riot. More than 400 miners went on strike in February last year protesting against poor wages, working conditions and living con ditions. The company said their biggest problem was that they did not have enough accommodation and they could not keep up with the maintenance of company houses. Emperor refused to submit to demands and sacked striking miners. The company has said that they were doing their best, and added gold prices were low in recent times.

Emperor has claimed the strike was politically motivated it has proved a popular issue among candidates for this year’s general election. The unions have

warned strikers not to let politicians talk to them as they say they will want to use the Vatukoula issue for political gain.

Former army chief and Prime Minister hopeful Major General Sitiveni Rabuka said recently he was sad that the situation hadn’t been resolved earlier, adding that when he was in government he asked for the situation to be resolved. The govern ment is still being accused of not doing anything to solve the long-standing

impasse.

The government and Emperor have also been accused of inflaming the situation by serving the eviction notices to six families, because the miners have lodged an appeal in the High Court against the court’s eviction judgment last year. Peace talks have been held between police and the striking miners.

Meanwhile Australian company,

Western Mining Corporation (WMC),

announced a drop in profit and output, because of productivity losses resulting from the dispute and a drop in output from the Fiji and other mines outside Australia. WMC last year withdrew from the Vatukoula operation, in which it had an 80-20 joint share with Emperor Gold Mining Co. since 1983. □