Daniel Urai Explained

Daniel Urai
Constituency Mp11:Lautoka City Open
Parliament11:Fijian
Term Start11:1 September 2001
Term End11:5 December 2006
Predecessor11:Haroon Ali Shah
Successor11:None (Parliament disestablished)
Birth Place:Lautoka
Party:Fiji Labour Party

Daniel Urai, also known as Daniel Urai Manufolau, is a Fijian trade unionist and former politician.

Urai was President of the Fiji Trades Union Congress.[1] From 1990 to 2006, he was also involved in the leadership of the Fiji Electricity and Allied Workers Union (FEAWU).[2]

He was elected to the House of Representatives of Fiji in the Lautoka City Open Constituency in the 2001 Fijian general election.[3] As an MP he opposed the Reconciliation, Tolerance, and Unity Bill.[4] He was re-elected at the 2006 election.[5] He lost his seat when parliament was dissolved following the 2006 Fijian coup d'état. Following the coup he continue as president of the TUC[6] and continued to serve on the board of the Fiji National Provident Fund.[7]

In August 2011 following the military regime's promulgation of a decree which banned strikes, he was arrested for unlawful assembly after holding a union meeting.[8] [9] In October 2011 he was detained by the military regime while returning from a Commonwealth meeting.[10] He was subsequently charged with sedition over a supposed coup plot against dictator Frank Bainimarama.[11] The charges were eventually withdrawn in 2015.[12]

In January 2014 he was arrested for organising a strike at the Sheraton Fiji.[13] The charge were later dropped.[14]

In 2012 following a break with the Fiji Labour party,[15] Urai joined other unionists in forming the People's Democratic Party.[16] He planned to stand as a candidate for the party at the 2014 Fijian general election,[17] and resigned his position as president of the National Union of Hospitality, Catering and Tourism Industries in order to comply with a regime decree banning union leaders from being political candidates.[18] [19] However, his candidacy was disallowed by the military regime.[20]

At the 2018 election he was accepted as a candidate for the Social Democratic Liberal Party,[21] but was not elected to Parliament.

He was selected as a candidate for the People's Alliance at the 2022 election,[22] but his candidacy was again rejected by the Electoral Office.[23]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tension grows between Fiji labour minister and FTUC . . 23 May 2003 . 9 February 2023.
  2. Web site: Fiji electricity workers agree to call off planned strike . . 8 September 2005 . 9 February 2023.
  3. Web site: REPUBLIC OF THE FIJI ISLANDS: PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS OF 25 AUGUST TO 1 SEPTEMBER 2001 . Psephos . 9 February 2023.
  4. Web site: Fiji opposition MPs contest Qarase reconciliation bill . . 18 May 2005 . 9 February 2023.
  5. Web site: REPUBLIC OF THE FIJI ISLANDS: PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS OF 6 MAY 2006 . Psephos . 9 February 2023.
  6. Web site: Fiji public service threatens resistance to proposed pay cuts . . 5 February 2007 . 9 February 2023.
  7. Web site: FTUC justifies board positions under interim regime . . 30 April 2008 . 9 February 2023.
  8. Web site: Urai charged with unlawful assembly . Fiji Sun . 4 August 2011 . 9 February 2023.
  9. Web site: Fiji trade unions say movement set back 80 years by new decree . . 5 August 2011 . 9 February 2023.
  10. Web site: Claim union leader arrested in Fiji . Stuff . Michael Field . 30 October 2011 . 9 February 2023.
  11. Web site: Fiji trade unionist on sedition charge . Stuff . Michael Field . 8 November 2011 . 9 February 2023.
  12. Web site: Urai, Karunaratne Freed . Fiji Sun . Farisha Ahmed . 8 October 2015 . 9 February 2023.
  13. Web site: Sheraton strikers appear in Fiji court . . 10 January 2014 . 9 February 2023.
  14. Web site: Charges against Fiji unionists to be dropped . . 3 February 2014 . 9 February 2023.
  15. Web site: Fiji Trades Union Congress condemns Fiji Labour Party practices . . 3 September 2012 . 9 February 2023.
  16. Web site: Fiji trade union leaders say need for new voice prompted new political party . . 28 November 2012 . 9 February 2023.
  17. Web site: Prominent Fiji unionists plan to stand for election . . 4 February 2014 . 9 February 2023.
  18. Web site: Urai to quit union job for Fiji election . . 13 August 2014 . 9 February 2023.
  19. Web site: Urai resigns for polls . Fiji Times . 14 August 2014 . 9 February 2023.
  20. Web site: A-G in, Urai out . Fiji Times . 23 August 2014 . 9 February 2023.
  21. Web site: Vote2018: Rabuka – Dan Urai Is Poll Provisional Candidate . Fiji Sun . Ashna Kumar . 7 July 2018 . 9 February 2023.
  22. Web site: 7 Women And 48 Men For The Peoples Alliance . Fiji Sun . 11 November 2022 . 9 February 2023.
  23. Web site: Tuiteci's application denied due to a criminal conviction . FBC News . 15 November 2022 . 9 February 2023.

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