Guineans Stage One Day Strike to Protest Massacre

Guinea authorities have cracked down on opposition parties with the massacre of 157 people at the stadium in the capital Conakry. ECOWAS has labeled the state a 'dictatorship.'
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos

Monday, October 12, 2009
23:31 Mecca time, 20:31 GMT

Guineans in post-massacre protest

Camara seized power in a coup and there is speculation that he will stand in next year's poll

Thousands of Guineans have stayed at home in protest over the massacre nearly two weeks ago of at least 150 people who were among thousands demonstrating against the country's military rulers.

The strike, which began on Monday, brought Conakry, the capital, to a standstill with banks, shops, markets and offices remaining closed.

A collection of unions called for the two-day strike after a September 28 demonstration ended in a bloodbath, with security forces opening fire on protesters who had gathered outside a stadium in defiance of an official ban on the protest.

The demonstration followed speculation that Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, Guinea's president who seized power in a coup last December, would stand in next year's elections.

Strong backing

Rights organisations and the UN say the toll may have been higher than 150 and that at least 1,200 people were injured.

The military government puts the death toll at 56.

In a statement issued last week, the main union federation called on people to observe a "day of prayer", urging them to "kneel piously before the mortal remains of the ... martyrs for democracy in Guinea" - a reference to the protesters killed by security forces.

The strike action received strong support in the southeastern town of Kissidougou, where traders said there was "no activity" in the main market.

"All the shops, as well as the banks, have shut down, and the bus station as well," Sall Mamadou Lamarana, a trader, told the AFP news agency.

In northwestern Boke, Sine Magassouba, a teacher, said: "There is no activity at the market. People have been praying in the courtyards, and youth clubs."

Bauxite exports hit

Union sources said the strike also hit an aluminium refinery and bauxite exports, which are a major source of Guinea's foreign exchange.

Sekou Ousmane Diallo, head of the union at UC RUSAL's Friguia refinery, said: "We are maintaining minimum service because an aluminium refinery cannot be completely shut-down without the equipment possibly being damaged. However, 90 per cent of the Friguia workers stayed at home."

The refinery, which was projected to produce 527,000 tonnes of aluminium in 2008, is still operating despite a decision last month by the government to strip it from Rusal. Rusal is contesting the decision.

Efforts to resolve the crisis are continuing and last week Mohamed Ibn Chambas, head of the regional grouping Ecowas, met Blaise Compaore, the president of Burkina Fasso, who has been appointed by the body to mediate.

Amid mounting international pressure on Camara, rights groups have also reported cases of rape and other abuses at the stadium where the protest was staged.

Source: Agencies


Guinea 'facing new dictatorship'

Guinea is in danger of slipping into dictatorship, the leader of West Africa's economic group, Ecowas, says.

Mohamed Ibn Chambas said the junta, who seized power late last year, was repressing the people with "arbitrary and irresponsible" use of state power.

Ecowas ministers are meeting in Nigeria to try to resolve the crisis in Guinea, sparked when soldiers opened fire on an opposition rally two weeks ago.

Guineans are holding a two-day strike to remember dozens who were killed.

Activists say 157 people were killed by troops, and rights groups have reported that soldiers raped women in the streets.

The government put the number of dead at 57 and said most had died in a stampede.

The AP news agency reports that Agriculture Minister Abdulrahmane Sano has resigned in protest over the killings.

Strident language

The country's military rulers were widely criticised over the shootings - with the US denouncing "vile abuses" perpetrated against their own people.

Critics of the military are hoping that the strike, combined with the Ecowas talks, will increase pressure on junta leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara to resign.

Ecowas is hosting talks in Abuja where opposition leaders, members of Guinea's military and Ecowas foreign ministers met to try to resolve the crisis.

Opening the meeting, Mr Chambas told delegates Guinea was "characterised by arbitrary and irresponsible use of state power by the military to repress the population".

"The signs are there now that if the military junta has its way it will impose yet another dictatorship on them," the AFP news agency quoted him as saying.

Analysts say it is unusual for Ecowas to use such strident language.

The bloc suspended Guinea after last December's coup, when the military took power shortly after the death of long-term leader Lansana Conte.

The protests two weeks ago were sparked by persistent rumours that Capt Camara intends to stand for president in an election scheduled for next January - something he had previously ruled out.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/8303726.stm
Published: 2009/10/12 17:59:46 GMT