Union representatives of the International Transport Workers Federation from Australia and New Zealand were not allowed by the Fiji government to enter the country Wednesday. The three-day mission was to investigate alleged violation of human and labour rights by the Bainimarama military regime.

Upon arrival at Fiji's Nadi Airport, Australian Council of Trade Unions President Ged Kearney and her New Zealand counterpart, Helen Kelly, were turned away and sent home.

"The human rights of all Fijians are being willfully abused by the Bainimarama military regime. This is yet another example of unacceptable behaviour from a military dictatorship which is drunk on power and it needs to be brought in line," ITF President and Maritime Union of Australia National Secretary Paddy Crimlin said in a statement.

He said the ITF will continue to fight for Fijians' rights by initiating solidarity action with international unions, human rights activists and community support groups.

The two union officials flew to Fiji to respond to an open invitation from the Fijian government and upon the request of workers and ordinary residents to probe alleged serious violations of human and labour rights.

"If Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama has nothing to hide, then why should he refuse us entry? Even more concerning was the refusal to allow the delegation consular support and the confiscation of our mobile phones," the ACTU president said in a statement.

In April 2011, Felix Anthony, the general secretary of the IYF-affiliates Fiji Sugar and General Workers' Union, was allegedly attacked by military officers. The government also issued a decree that virtually banned all trade union activities.

"We can assure Mr Bainimarama that we will not be intimidated by his tactics and we will not back down in our mission to defend the rights of Fijians," Kearney said.