Brussels, 16 March 2007: The ITUC has addressed a strong protest letter to Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, following the attacks on trade unionists, the ransacking of the offices of the Zimbabwe Trade Union Congress (ZCTU), the killing of pro-democracy activist Gift Tandare during the peaceful demonstration on 13 March and the vicious beatings of opposition politicians and human rights activists, including Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai, whose skull was fractured by security forces during a sustained assault.

The ITUC letter called on Mugabe to release immediately and without charge all persons detained during the March 11th and 13th events, to guarantee the safety of all those from the trade union movement and other civil society organisations, to ensure that the victims of the police violence receive proper medical attention and to cease interference in the internal affairs of the trade union movement. The ITUC has also raised the case with the International Labour Organisation, requesting it to intervene with the Zimbabwe authorities to help ensure that these demands are met.

International pressure continues to mount on the Mugabe regime, including from other African countries. ITUC affiliates around the world are maintaining contacts with national governments to put pressure on the regime, and African and international support for a 2-day stayaway being planned by the ZCTU for 3 and 4 April continues to grow.

Founded on November 1 2006, the ITUC represents 168 million workers in 153 countries and territories and has 304 national affiliates.

For more information, please contact the ITUC Press Department on +32 2 224 0204 or +32 476 621 018.