Thousands of rugby fans heading to Thomond Park for the November 17 friendly against Fiji will be urged to support the Congress campaign to win greater freedom for the Pacific island people.
Congress will be handing out leaflets outside Thomond Park - where an Ireland selection takes on Fiji - urging match goers to show their support for the island's repressed people and its trade union movement. Congress is not attempting to stop the current Fijian tour.
Congress Development Officer, David Joyce said: "Rugby is a popular sport and thankfully it is mainly played by democracies. While no-one wants to stop anyone from enjoying the match tomorrow, it won't hurt anyone to spare the Fijian people a few minutes' thought.
'the Fijian military dictatorship is passionate about rugby - one of its senior officials is over here to manage the national team - but sadly the government is less enthusiastic about improving the lot of its people and restoring democracy to the islands.
"Meanwhile, as workers are becoming ever poorer, it is only the trade union movement which dares speak out, and for doing so its leaders and their families are living in fear of arrest and assault.
'the Fijian dictatorship controls almost every aspect of island life - it even appoints the team manager of its national sport.
'the Fijian economy is collapsing and people being driven into increasing poverty. There is no free press, the army has sacked independent judges and expelled an international human rights mission. Unions across the islands have been told they can only negotiate with employers if the police are also in the room," Mr Joyce explained.
He said rugby fans in Thomond Park for the match could show their support for the Congress campaign and the Fijian people through social media by tweeting #fairplayfiji to @FTUC1 (the Fijian Trade Union Confederation).
The leaflet also calls on rugby supporters to email the Fijian Authorities to say that they are appalled at the human rights abuses being carried out and to demand an end to draconian restrictions on freedom and human rights.
