Ethiopia: Repression against the Ethiopia Teachers’ Association worsens
Education International is deeply concerned at the actions taken by the Ethiopian authorities to dismantle the Ethiopia Teachers’ Association (ETA), which has been representing the legitimate interests of the teaching profession in that country since 1949. While Ethiopia has never been a haven for independent trade union activities, it can be said that in recent months EI’s Ethiopian affiliate has become the target of escalating repression which is clearly aimed at bringing about the total destruction of the union.
Source: http://www.ei-ie.org/
Education International is deeply concerned at the actions taken by the Ethiopian authorities to dismantle the Ethiopia Teachers’ Association (ETA), which has been representing the legitimate interests of the teaching profession in that country since 1949. While Ethiopia has never been a haven for independent trade union activities, it can be said that in recent months EI’s Ethiopian affiliate has become the target of escalating repression which is clearly aimed at bringing about the total destruction of the union.
A brief overview of recent developments will highlight the gravity of the situation:
Latest legal onslaught: ETA’s existence under threat
On 30 March 2006, the Federal High Court ordered the ETA to hand over all its assets and properties to a surrogate ETA, which was set up in its entirety by the government. The authentic ETA lodged an appeal against the decision, but this is its last chance to have it reversed in court and, in view of the context, the very existence of the ETA is now under threat. In fact, since the creation of the surrogate ETA, the legitimate ETA has had no access to its offices and financial assets. The offices it currently occupies are regularly searched and ransacked by security forces under all kinds of pretexts.
Second wave of legal proceedings: Imprisonment of ETA officials
Several dozen representatives of civil society – including Kassahun Kebede, Head of the Addis Ababa branch of the ETA, Daniel Bekelle, Policy Director of the Ethiopian office of ActionAid, and Netsanet Demissie, Chair of the Organisation for Social Justice in Ethiopia – have been in detention since 30 November 2005. A number of teachers and journalists are also among those who were arrested in connection with opposition demonstrations organised to protest against the rigging of the parliamentary elections. An arrest warrant has also been issued against ETA President Taye Woldesmiate, who is currently in exile.
Continued interference in ETA trade union activities
To mention only the latest development, on 30 April special army forces surrounded the compound where the ETA was due to hold a Special General Assembly. Participants were forced to vacate the premises, and several were arrested and deprived of their IDs and documents.
As you know, the EI affiliate in Ethiopia is in urgent need of support from all EI member organisations. EI, which has been supporting the ETA for many years now, has already voiced its concern to the Ethiopian Government, the ILO and the ICFTU. A joint mission comprising representatives of EI, the ICFTU and the International Federation of Journalists will visit Ethiopia shortly. The Ethiopian Embassy in Brussels has been approached to secure meetings with government officials.
All EI member organisations are encouraged to take similar action in protest against the Ethiopian authorities’ unacceptable tactics. Any action which helps to bring home to the Ethiopian Government the message that it cannot destroy, with impunity, a legitimate trade union organisation will be most useful.
http://www.ei-ie.org/en/news/show.php?id=180&theme=rights&country=ethiopia