USTKE welcome release of union president from New Caledonia jail

• Print
• Email

Updated January 14, 2010 16:46:12

New Caledonia's second largest trade union, the USTKE is describing the release of it's president from prison as a "double victory". Gerard Jodar's was freed on Thursday morning, after serving six and a half months of a nine-month sentence for his role in disruptive protests against the domestic airline, Air Caledonie. Two other USTKE members - Michel Safoka and Ato Uveakovi - jailed over the same incident have also been freed. It's thought the court was influenced by the visit of a European Parliament delegation led by the French Deputy and activist, Jose Bove, ealier this week which condemned the severe over-crowding at the Camp Est prison. USTKE spokesman, Joseph Boanemoa, says the release means they have succeeded in highlighting the unacceptable state of the prison . . . as well as underlining their right to protest.

Presenter: Helene Hofman
Speaker: Joseph Boanemoa from New Caledonia's trade union representing Kanak Employees, the USTKE

• Listen:
• Windows Media

• Export orders roll in for Fiji bamboo clothes company
• Rudd wants real change in Fiji before easing sanctions
• Growing concern in Fiji over Public Order Decree
• UN monitoring promised new freedoms in Fiji
• Encouraging sign of new gold and copper find in PNG
• Transparency calls for naming of Vanuatu diplomats "on commission"
• PM says good PNG-Indonesian relations in national interest
• Queensland remembers last year's floods