INTERNATIONAL CONFEDERATION OF FREE TRADE UNIONS (ICFTU)

ICFTU-OnLine...
015/240102/JL-LB

Africa: human rights 'D-day' as three court trial resume

Brussels January 24, 2002 (ICFTU OnLine): Mario Masuku, a Swazi political
leader, Adams Oshiomhole, leader of ICFTU an affiliate in Nigeria and Taye
Wolde Semayat, President of an Ethiopian teacher union: three little known
names imprisoned for struggling for basic freedoms in their own countries.
January 24, 2002 will see these men in court and on trial, testing the
democratic credentials of three very different Africa states. The
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) will be closely
monitoring the results.

* Doctor Taye Wolde Semayat, President of the Ethiopian Teachers Association
(ETA) accused of destabilising public order has been languishing in an
Ethiopian prison since his arbitrary arrest in March 1996. For 6 years, he
has consistently been denied the right to be judged for his alleged
misdemeanours and faced brutal treatment in jail at the hands of his
captors. His judgement day has finally been set for January 24, 2002 and
already the signs for a fait trial are not good.

* Mario Masuku, President of one of the main opposition parties in
Swazialnd, was arrested in November 2000 for exclaiming "away with his
Majesty King Mswati's reign" at a bus stop in Mbabane. Masuku, a long-time
defender of democracy, had been living under excessively stringent bail
conditions until he was re-incarcerated in October 2001 for failing on one
occasion to report to the local police station, even despite serious
deteriorating health.

* Adams Oshiomhole, President of the ICFTU affiliate, the Nigeria Labour
Congress (NLC), faces trial on January 24 for his organising role in the
recent peaceful protests in Nigeria. The NLC were forced to take to the
streets after negotiations with the government failed to prevent a 15.3%
hike in fuel prices.

ICFTU General Secretary Bill Jordan said, "it is a coincidence that on
January 24, 2002, democracy and basic rights should be on trial for
different reasons in far apart countries in Africa. The ICFTU staunchly
defends these principles across the world, and it is clear today that it is
more than just these three men on trial, the results and the manner in which
the trials are carried out will cast a judgement on the very nature of
African democracy and justice."

The ICFTU represents 157 million workers in 225 affiliated organisations in
148 countries and territories. ICFTU is also a member of Global Unions:
http://www.global-unions.org

For more information, please contact the ICFTU Press Department on +32 2 224
0232 or +32 476 62 10 18.

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