Breaking News No.3

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Japan
On behalf of all ITF-affiliated Japanese unions, representatives of All Japan Federation of Transport Workers' Unions (UNYU-ROREN) and National Railway Workers' Union (KOKURO) together with representatives from the ITF Asia Pacific Regional Office and Japanese Council of Transport Workers' Unions (KOUN-ROKYO) made representations to the Iranian Embassy in Tokyo and handed a letter of protest to Mr Inami of the Public Relations Department. Mr Inami apologised for the absence of the Ambassador due to prior engagement and assured that he would deliver the letter to the Ambassador and convey the delegation's message to the Iranian Government.

On 4 March, ITF-afiliated All Japan Seamen's Union (AJSU) and National Council of Dockworkers' Unions of Japan (ZENKOKU-KOWAN) visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to express their deep concern over the continued imprisonment of Mansour Osanloo and oppression of workers in Iran and submitted a letter. In the letter addressed to the Foreign Minister, the delegation urged the Japanese government to pressure the Iranian authority to release Mansour Osanloo immediately and comply with ILO Conventions guaranteeing workers' democratic rights and right to organise.

This action followed a solidarity rally held in Tokyo on 12 February, where about 120 union and human rights activists and NGO representatives gathered to raise awareness of the oppression taking place in Iran. (Email report by Takako Uchida)

1,600 union members from the JRU distributed 45,000 leaflets at 135 locations throughout the country during the morning rush-hour. At Shinagawa station, a representative from KOUN-ROKYO joined the distribution of flyers organised by the JRU national office staff and members of its affilate, the Cen t ral Japan Railway Workers' Union. The union sent a strong message to condemn attacks on workers and their trade union rights anywhere in the world, as well as to oppose deregulation which brings down the workers' conditions.
(Email report by Mizue Taoka)

Pakistan
The Pakistan Transport Workers' Federation organised a rally and march in Lahore, attended by a large number of deomnstrators. Representatives from the government also participated.
(Phone report by Muhammas Haji Saeed)

Ethiopia
The Transport & Communications Workers' Trade Unions Industrial Federation in Ethiopia reports that affiliates from civil aviation, road transport, seafarers, dockers and the telecommunication sector have joined the campaign activities. The ITF "Freedom Will Come" film has been shown widely amongst member unions and a special issue newsletter has been distributed to workers and the diplomatic authorities. The Federation has sent protest letters, together with copies of the ITF film to the Iranian Embassy in Ethiopia and the Ethiopian Prime Minister as well as other government agencies.
(Email report by Daniel Gebeyehu)