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Last Updated: Oct 9, 2008 - 10:44:19 AM |
International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has slammed violent
suppression by Mauritanian authorities against trade unionists who had
come together in Nouakchott yesterday, to take part in World Day for
Decent Work (WDDW).
While welcoming success of this global trade union event in a video
message, general secretary of ITUC, Guy Ryder, also expressed his
concern at aggression meted out to Mauritanian trade unionists
yesterday.
According to a press statement issued by ITUC today, six national trade
union centres (UTM, CGTM, CLTM, USLM, UNTM and CNTM), appealing for
resistance to military dictatorship in Mauritania, had announced that
they would maintain their call for a peaceful yesterday afternoon, as
part of international celebration of WDDW, in spite of junta's ban on
all demonstrations.
"We were expecting to be repressed, but it is price we have to pay,"
said Abdallahi Ould Mohamed, known as Nanah, general secretary of
General Workers' Confederation of Mauritania (CGTM), in a statement to
Agence France Presse.
"If a trade union organisation cannot even express its concerns freely,
out on the streets, then we may as well 'shut up shop' and leave!
Demonstrating is all we have left," added CGTM general secretary,
voicing appeal by six national trade union centres for defence of
fundamental rights suppressed by military authorities.
ITUC's statement shows that in country's provinces, regional trade
union coordinating bodies had planned specific events, such as
conferences and meetings, to mark trade union World Day for Decent Work.
"About an hour after demonstration began, they started to throw tear
gas at us and beat us with clubs. It was very violent, and not even
women were spared," general secretary of CLTM, Samory Ould Beye told
ITUC.
He noted that by nightfall, calm seemed to have been restored, adding
that however that trade unions' premises were still under police
occupation, Mr Beye also explained that about 20 people were injured as
a result of repression.
Statement further indicates that national trade union centres have
called consistently for an unconditional return to constitutional order
ever since coup d'état two months ago by General Mohamed Ould Abdel
Aziz, who has taken over presidency of High Council of State, and for
reinstatement of president of republic and his prime minister in their
legitimate posts.
"Overriding interest of Mauritanian nation lies in respect of its
constitutional will as expressed in March 2007 elections, which marked
culmination of a long democratic process that had made possible
establishment of genuine democratic institutions which remain only
legitimate institutions capable of ensuring nation's lasting
development," it says.
ITUC strongly condemned military coup on 6 August and has expressed its
concerns ever since, joining call of rest of international community
for immediate restoration of constitutional order, it concludes.
Source:Ocnus.net 2008
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