Subject: Joint Communique of ICFTU and EI Regarding Dr. Taye’s Detention
Amsterdam, October 13, 1996
The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) and Education International (EI) Condemn
the Fabricated Charges Against the Leader of the Ethiopian Teachers’ Assoccation (ETA) and the
Suppression of Independent Trade Union Movement in Ethiopia.
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ETHIOPIAN TEACHERS’ UNION FACES TRUMPED UP CHARGES
Brussels, September 25, (ICFTU On Line) :
The ICFTU (International Confederation of Trade Unions) has accused the Ethiopian government
of having fabricated charges against a teachers’ leader in a renewed attempt to suppress independent trade
unions in the country. Taye Woldesemiate, the internationally respected president of the Ethiopian
Teachers’ Association (ETA), a once 120,000 strong group, is soon to appear in court accused of conspiracy
and attempts to assassinate minsters.
But both the ICFTU and Education International, the world’s largest teachers’ body, say the government
accusations are totally groundless and are linked to the authorities’ attempts to crush the influnential
teachers’ association. Mr. Woldesemiate was first arrested in May 1995 after the government refused to
recognise the elected leadership of ETA and helped set up and sustain a break-away group. The offices of
ETA have since been closed and its bank account frozen, depite a court injuction in favour of the elected
leaders. The ETA President was then released and rearrested in May 1996 upon his return from Europe
where he attended international trade union meetings. He was held in solitary confinement until August this
year. Union sources say Mr. Woldemiate is in good health despite the harsh conditions of his detention.
Since he took power in 1991 after the collapse of the Mengistu dictatorship, Ethiopia’s prime minster Meles
Zenawi has adopted a confrontational course with the opposition and democratic trade unions. The
country’s national centre, CETU (Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Unions), was delegalised in 1994 and has
since been unable to function. An appeal lodged by CETU leaders is still pending in Addis Abeaba’s High
Court. In a letter to Meles Zenawi, the ICFTU has called for the release of Taye Woldesemiate and for the
restoration of tradie union rights in Ethiopia.
For more details contact : ICFTU Africa Desk: tel. 32-2-224 8223
or Education International: tel. 32-2-224-0611