As the repression continues, Syria’s opposition has called for a general strike on Wednesday 18 May.
“Refusing to work is the only weapon the Syrian people have against the bullets, the tanks, the arrests and all the other brutal excesses of the Assad regime. The International Trade Union Movement (ITUC) supports this courageous strike for fundamental freedoms and social justice,” said Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of the ITUC.
This was contained in a statement issued by the ITUC Press in Brussels, copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Tuesday.
According to non-governmental organisations, at least 700 people have died in the repression so far, including hundreds in Deraa, while at least 8,000 have been arrested around the country. But information and eye-witness reports cannot be independently verified.
Local journalists and cyber-activists are the target of fierce repression.
Sharan Burrow said “As it was in Syria and Egypt, and still is in Libya and Bahrain, press freedom is being blatantly suppressed in Syria.
“If they want their denials to have any credibility, the Syrian regime, which became notorious in 1982 for the massacre of over 20,000 people in 24 hours in Hama, must allow the international press to work freely.
“The regime must allow humanitarian and human rights organisations do their job, as foreseen in international law”.
Sharan Burrow, who is urging the international community to finally take action to put an end to the massacre said “This extremely serious situation deserves the full attention of the United Nations’ Secretary General, and the International Criminal Court”.
The official government-controlled trade union centre has absolutely nothing to do with the opposition’s strike call, and instead has followed the line of the Assad regime, describing the reform movement as a “conspiracy”.
“The Assad regime must end this violent repression immediately, open genuine dialogue with the opposition and authorise the creation of legitimate civil society organisations, notably bona fide trade unions capable of fighting for decent work and against the poverty that has caused the people to rebel,” concluded Sharan Burrow.
The ITUC represents 175 million workers in 305 affiliated national organisations from 151 countries and territories.