Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand has renewed its call for the New Zealand Government to ensure human rights are included in any dialogue with Fiji.

The Fiji government has started the new year with renewed attacks against people's right to freedom of expression through threats, intimidation, discrimination, and the cynical use of the law as a tool of oppression.

The arbitrary detention and ill-treatment of Fiji-born Australian academic Professor Brij Lal by the Fijian military on 4 November 2009 is the latest example of the ongoing crackdown against any criticism of the regime and peaceful opposition activities.

Industrial action including strikes continues today at some of the six polytechnics covered by the ITP MECA. Union members resumed industrial action earlier this week after mediation between them and their employers failed to resolve the long-running dispute.