Bitter sweet
The TUC has joined trade unionists globally in calling for the release of Basile Mahan Gahe, General Secretary of the Ivorian trade union confederation, DIGNITY.
Almost 70% of the Ivorian people are engaged in agriculture, and the West African country is the world's largest exporter of cocoa. Gahe was arrested in April 2011 and Amnesty International has since received credible reports indicating he has been tortured.
During an International Trade Union Confederation mission in July the Ivorian authorities admitted that charges of possessing heavy weapons were groundless as no weapons had been found. In August TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber wrote to the Ivoirean Ambassador in London pointing out: “The imprisonment of trade unionists is a violation of the ILO Declaration of Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.....Mr Gahe should be released without further delay and allowed to exercise his rights in his capacity as general secretary of his union without interference from the State.”
You can join the growing demand for Gahe to be released at: -
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