Internationaler Bund Freier Gewerkschaften
Pressemitteilung vom 1.August 2002

Breite internationale Verurteilung der Unterdrückung im Congo

(Zusammenfassende Übersetzung)

9 Gewerkschafter der Zuckerfabrik Kwilu Ngongo sind seit Juni festgenommen, weil sie Flugblätter verfasst haben, mit denen die Belegschaft zum Streik aufgerufen wurde.

Der IBFG unterstützt den Widerstand des kongolesischen Gewerkschaftsbundes CDT (Demokratischen Konföderation der Arbeit) und zahlreiche Gewerkschaftsorganisationen und Menschen aus aller Welt haben bisher über 2000 Protestbriefe an Präsident Kabila geschickt.

Die Aktion wird fortgesetzt, da die Anhörung am 2.August nichts ergab. Die Verhafteten stellten fest, dass sie nichts anderes getan haben, als ihre grundlegenden Rechte entsprechend jenen ILO-Konventionen wahr zu nehmen, die auch die DR Congo unterzeichnet hat.

Unter http://www.icftu.org/displaydocument.asp?Index=991215623&Language=EN gibt es eine (englische) Übersicht über die Lage der Gewerkschaften in der DR Congo.

INTERNATIONAL CONFEDERATION OF FREE TRADE UNIONS (ICFTU)
ICFTU OnLine...
141/010802/JL-DP

Widespread international condemnation of violations in Congo

Brussels 1 August, 2002 (ICFTU OnLine): An international outcry against violations of trade union rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo has followed a call from the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) for solidarity for 9 trade unionists currently appealing a ten month prison sentence for legitimate trade union activities in the country.

Thousands of trade unionists and labour activists worldwide have bombarded Congolese President Joseph Kabila with letters and e-mail messages demanding the release of the unionists representing workers at the Compagnie sucrière de Kwilu Ngongo, who were jailed in June this year, charged with having written strike leaflets. The appeal has been taken up by dozens of national trade union centres on all 4 continents, and over two thousand individual trade union activists.

"We welcome this important show of international solidarity," said Richard Kadanga, international representative of the ICFTU-affiliated Congolese trade union centre, Confédération Démocratique de Travail (CDT). "We must keep up the pressure on the Congolese authorities to ensure the release of the trade unionists, and the respect workers basic human rights in future. The only crime of these nine people has been to pursue legitimate trade union activities covered by ILO conventions 87 and 98, both of which the Democratic Republic of Congo has ratified."

The date for the hearing at the appeal court has been set for Friday 2 August. According to the ICFTU, it is vital to keep up the pressure in order to let President Kabila know that such anti-union behaviour is unacceptable, especially in a country striving for peace and reconciliation after years of draining conflict. His actions and the actions of other abusers of trade union rights worldwide will not go unnoticed.

"This is intolerable situation for Congolese trade unions and we hope that President Kabila and the authorities under his control will now resolve the situation, and prevent any further abuses of this kind," said ICFTU General Secretary Guy Ryder.