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ITF urges affiliates to act over horrific Guinea massacre and rapes

7 October 2009

The ITF has called on affiliated unions to demand action on the outrageous atrocities committed against the men and women of Guinea.

On 28 September, soldiers violently intervened in a peaceful demonstration organised by trade unions and religious and civil society groups at a sports stadium in the capital, Conakry. The demonstrators were protesting against the Guinea’s military junta, led by Captain Moussa Dadis Camara.

One hundred and fifty people lost their lives during the assault; 1200 were wounded. Human rights activists have also collected testimony from at least 30 women who were raped in the streets.

So far the victims’ remains have not been returned to their families and arbitrary detentions have also taken place.

In a circular to affiliated unions, the ITF called for solidarity with the Guinean people following these shocking acts of repression and urged them to write to the authorities in their own country to make a number of demands. These include that all victims receive full medical attention as well as redress for their injuries and that those detained be released unconditionally.

The ITF’s message states: “The ITF supports the position of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), which has requested the establishment of an independent international commission of inquiry, to investigate these events and to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice."

Last week, the ITF’s road transport section conference in Kampala expressed solidarity with Guinean workers after a report was presented by a Guinean ITF affiliate.

These appalling acts of violence were also highlighted during a meeting of the ITUC’s human and trade union rights committee in Berlin, Germany, on 4 October. During the meeting delegates welcomed the launch of a human and trade union rights networks across the world’s regions, designed to provide information and follow-up on key human and union rights abuses such as those in Guinea.



 
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