Crackdown on the trade-union movement

BHR 002 / 0411 / OBS 061

Crackdown on the trade-unionmovement

Arrests / Arbitrary andincommunicado detentions

Bahrain

April 14, 2011

The Observatory for the Protection of HumanRights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation for HumanRights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), requests yoururgent intervention in the following situation in Bahrain.

Description of the situation:

The Observatory has been informed by reliablesources about the harassment against trade-union leaders and trade-unionistswho called for strikes to protest violent repression led bysecurity forces against peaceful protesters demanding human rights anddemocracy in the country, or who provided help to the victims of thisrepression.

In the wake of thewave of peaceful demonstrations which started in February 2011 and which havebeen met by the Bahraini authorities with excessive use of force, the GeneralFederation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU) - to which more than 60 trade-unions areaffiliated – first announced a nationwide strike to denounce the killing onFebruary 14 and 15, 2011 by the military and security forces of peacefulprotestors calling for reforms. This strike was called off on February 20,after the military first withdrew from the Pearl Roundabout on February 19. OnMarch 13, 2011, the GFBTU called for the launch of an indefinite strike, insolidarity with protesters who had been violently evicted from the areaadjacent to the Bahrain Financial Harbor on the same day. Thestrike was called off on March 22, 2011, when the Government assured the GFBTUthat workers would not be harassed on the way to work.

Following theseevents, on April 5, 2011, theParliament called on the Government to take immediate legal measuresagainst the heads of organisations that supported the strikes, and to referthem to the Public Prosecution Office.

To date, the GFBTU registered 603 workers who have been dismissed byprivate employers for participating in the strikes.

The Observatory wasfurther informed that on March 29 and 30, 2011, five members of the Board ofDirectors of the Bahrain Teachers’ Society (BTS), Ms. Jaleela Al-Salman,Mr. Anwar Abdul-Aziz Akbar, Ms. Salah Al-Bari, Ms. AfrahAl-Asfour, Ms. Sana Abdul-Razak, were arrested without warrant bysecurity forces and individuals in civilian clothes at their places ofresidence. All stillremain reportedly detained incommunicado to date. Furthermore, on April 6, theSocial Development Ministry issued a statement dissolving the BTS. The sameday, security forces stormed the house of Mr. Mahdi Abu-Deeb, Presidentof the BTS, and then arrested him in another house and took him to an unknownlocation. He also reportedly remains detained incommunicado to date. TheObservatory fears that the six were arrested for their support to the call forthe strikes mentioned-above.

On April 4, 2011,Mrs. Rulla El Saffar, President of the Bahrain Nursing Society (BNS), wassummoned by phone to the Adlia Criminal Investigation Building and taken awayfrom there by security forces to an unknown location. She had been active inproviding help to injured victims of the demonstrations.

In addition,on April 6, 2011, the Social Development Minister issued an edict suspending theBoard of Directors of the Bahrain Medical Society (BMS), and the Ministry ofHealth suspended 30 doctors and nurses whose cases was referred to an“investigation committee” created by the Ministry, which mandate is toinvestigate the medical personnel who treated injured victims ofdemonstrations.

TheObservatory was also informed that on April 11, 2011, Dr. Nabeel Tamman,an Ear/Nose/Throat (ENT) specialist, member of Bahrain Human Rights Society(BHRS) and the former president of the Medical Committee, was arrested andtaken by security forces to an unknown location. Dr. Tamman is under treatmentfor cancer, and needs constant medical care and medication.

Furthermore,Mr. Abdul Ghaffar Abdullah Hussein, one of the founding leaders of theBahraini labour movement and Chairman of the trade-union of Bahrain PetroleumCompany was fired on March 31, 2011 for having "called on workers to takepart in the general strike». The management of the Bahrain Petroleum Companythreatened to undertake a legal action against him and other members of theunion.

The Observatory condemnsthe crackdown against trade-union leaders and trade-unionists, which merelyseems to aim at sanctioning the exercise of their human rights activities. TheObservatory is concerned about the arrests and intimidations against supportersof peaceful demontrations and professionals providing injured demonstratorswith medical assistance.

The Observatory urges theBahraini authorities to take the necessary measures to guarantee the protectionof all human rights defenders in Bahrain and, more generally, to comply withthe United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders adopted on December 9,1998 by the United Nations General Assembly, the Universal Declaration of HumanRights as well as international and regional human rights instruments ratifiedby Bahrain, including the International Covenant on Civil and PoliticalRights.

Actions requested:

The Observatory urges the authorities of Bahrainto:

i. Guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of the above-mentionedtrade-union leaders and trade-unionists and all human rights defenders inBahrain;

ii. Put an end to any acts of harassment, including at thejudicial and administrative level, against trade-unions, human rightsorganisations and their members, and against all human rights defenders inBahrain;

iii. Guarantee in all circumstances the independence ofhuman rights organisations and prevent any interference in their activities,such as suspension of their board or dissolution;

iv. Conformin any circumstances with the provisions of the Declaration on Human RightsDefenders, adopted on December 9, 1998 by the United Nations General Assembly,in particular :

-its Article 1, which states that “everyone has the right, individually or inassociation with others, to promote the protection and realization of humanrights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”;

-its Article 5 (a) and (b) which provides “for the purpose of promoting and protecting human rights and fundamentalfreedoms, everyone has the right, individually and in association with others,at the national and international levels: (a) To meet or assemblepeacefully; (b) To form, join and participate in non-governmentalorganizations, associations or groups;

- its Article 6 (c) which states that: everyone has the right,individually and in association with others to study, discuss, form and holdopinions on the observance, both in law and in practice, of all human rightsand fundamental freedoms and, through these and other appropriate means, todraw public attention to those matters;

-its Article 10 which provides that “No one shallparticipate, by act or by failure to act where required, in violating humanrights and fundamental freedoms and no one shall be subjected to punishment oradverse action of any kind for refusing to do so”;

-and its Article 12.2 which states that “the Stateshall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competentauthorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, againstany violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination,pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or herlegitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration”.

v. Ensure in all circumstances respect for human rightsand fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rightsstandards and international instruments ratified by Bahrain.

Addresses:

· Cheikh Hamad bin Issa AL KHALIFA, King of Bahrain,Fax: +973 176 64 587

· Cheikh Khaled Bin Ahmad AL KHALIFA, Minister ofForeign Affairs, Tel: +973 172 27 555; Fax : +973 172 12 6032

· Cheikh Khalid bin Ali AL KHALIFA, Minister of Justiceand Islamic Affairs, Tel: +973 175 31 333; Fax: +973 175 31 284

· PermanentMission of Bahrain to the United Nations in Geneva, 1 cheminJacques-Attenville, 1218 Grand-Saconnex, CP 39, 1292 Chambésy, Switzerland. Fax: +41 22 758 96 50.Email: info@bahrain-mission.ch

Please also write to diplomatic representationsof Bahrain in your respective countries.

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Paris-Geneva, April 14, 2011

Kindly inform us of any action undertakenquoting the code of this appeal in your reply.

The Observatory, a FIDH and OMCT venture, isdedicated to the protection of Human Rights Defenders and aims to offer themconcrete support in their time of need.

To contact the Observatory, call the emergencyline:

· E-mail: Appeals@fidh-omct.org

· Tel and fax FIDH + 33 (0) 1 43 55 25 18 / +33 1 43 55 18 80

· Tel and fax OMCT + 41 (0) 22 809 49 39 / + 41 22 809 49 29