INFORMATION BULLETIN - World Federation of Trade Unions - 18 April 2012

INTERNATIONAL TRADE UNION ACTION

For the immediate release of all political prisoners held in Israeli jails
The World Federation of Trade Unions faithfull to its duty in solidarity with the Palestinian people organised on the 17th of April 2012, Day of the Palestinian Political Prisoners and International Action Day calling for the immediate release of all political prisoners held in Israeli jails. Within this framework the General Secretary of WFTU addressed a letter to the General Secretary of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon and the United Nations High Commisioner for Human Rights, Mr. Navanethem Pillay.
To: General Secretary of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon Subject: INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR PALESTINE
For the immediate release of all political prisoners held in Israeli jails The World Federation of Trade Unions representing its 82 million members in 120 countries of five continents declares: Today in Israeli prisons there are 4,600 Palestinians imprisoned militants. Of these: 560 have been convicted to life imprisonment by Israeli courts. 220 are children. 24 are Members of the Parliament. 204 prisoners have died in Israeli prisons. Among the prisoners there are great Palestinians and Arab militants who have dedicated their lives to the struggle of the Palestinian People to get their own independent homeland. The WFTU from the first day of its establishment is firmly on the side of the Palestinian People. On April 17th is the International Day of Action for Palestinian people for the release of all prisoners in Israeli jails. All of those militants kept illegally and undemocratically by the imperialists and their organs. For years now the International Organizations are limited to words. They show indifference. They allow the government of Israel to kill, to imprison, and to terrorize the people of the region. The WFTU in a joint meeting with the General Union of Palestinian Workers held recently in Ramallah decided to call upon all our affiliates and friends to act on April 17. To submit statements to the Israeli embassies in their countries, as well as international organizations and to demand the immediate release of all the militants from Israeli prisons. On April 17 the WFTU is calling for: - The immediate release of all political prisoners kept unfairly in Israeli prisons. - To stop the settlement activity and the dismantling of the settlements. - The immediate lifting of the unfair and inhumane blockade of Gaza Strip, the withdrawal of the Israeli army from all occupied territories, which is there since 1967, including the Golan Height and the Shebaa area of southern Lebanon. - The demolition of the racist wall. - The creation of an independent, democratic and truly free Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital and the return of all Palestinian refugees to their homeland. - The international community to undertake its responsibilities and to implement all decisions of the United Nations and the Security Council!

To: Ms. Navanethem Pillay UN High Commissioner for Humans Rights Email: npillay@ohchr.org, infoDesk@ohchr. org, urgent-action@ohchr.org
Dear Ms. Pillay, The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), NGO with consultative general status in ECOSOC since 1947, representing today 82 million members in more than 120 countries, would like to call your attention about the urgent and grave human rights situation of Palestinian and Arab political prisoners in Israel prisons. Today in Israeli prisons there are 4,600 Palestinians imprisoned militants. Of these: 560 have been convicted to life imprisonment by Israeli courts. 220 are children. 24 are Members of the Parliament. 7 are women 300 prisoners are under administrative detention, without charges. 204 prisoners have died in Israeli prisons The prisoners have suffered torture, cruel and degrading treatment, physical, verbal and psychological abuse, uses of threats and force to extract confessions, use of solitary confinement for extended periods up to 10 years, prisoners are also assaulted and injured in their cells by the Israel army forces and their dogs, no family visits, lack of access to proper medical treatment, overcrowding and decrepit cells, children has been tortured with electrical shocks and sexually harassed, female prisoners also violated, harassed or hit. Among the prisoners there are great Palestinians and Arab militants who have dedicated their lives to the struggle of the Palestinian People to get their own independent homeland, their right to self determination. Some of the prisoners are in hunger strike after many days, as a way to protest against Israel abuses, and their lives and health are very weak and risk dying. Since the occupation started in 1967, more than 800 000 Palestinian has been detained, among them 10 000 children and 15 000 women. Israel had run a policy of daily violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. It is very disappointed to know that all these concerns have been raised for many years, that there has been dozens of UN and HRC reports, resolutions, fact finding missions, statements and calls without producing changes, without stopping this war crime. The Human Rights Council had failed to provide redress for the victims of occupation, to achieve that Israel respect the Fourth Geneva Convention, the Convention against Torture and other important International treaties. The Humans Rights Council must take URGENT attention, action and intervention, to use its mandate to protect humans rights abusers, to protect Palestinian prisoners, victims of tortures including minors and women. Today, 17 of April 2012, WFTU joins to an international campaign and raises its voice for the Palestinian Prisoners asking: - The immediate release of all political prisoners kept unfairly in Israeli prisons. - To stop the settlement activity and the dismantling of the settlements. - The immediate lifting of the unfair and inhumane blockade of Gaza Strip, the withdrawal of the Israeli army from all occupied territories, which is there since 1967, including the Golan Height and the Shebaa area of southern Lebanon. - The demolition of the racist wall. - The creation of an independent, democratic and truly free Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital and the return of all Palestinian refugees to their homeland. - The international community to undertake its responsibilities and to implement all decisions of the United Nations and the Security Council! We hope the HRC success in coordinating the efforts to serve the question of Palestinian prisoners.

WORLD ACTION on April 17th, 2012

Palestine, Ramallah
WFTU Demonstration for Solidarity with Palestine held in Nabi Saleh, Palestine on 23 March 2012

Solidarity Mobilization in front of the Israeli Embassy organised by the All- Workers Militant Front (PAME)

Greece, Athens

Solidarity Mobilization in front of the Israeli Embassy organised by Union Syndicale de Base (USB)

Italy, Rome

WORLD ACTION on April 17th, 2012

Nepal, Katmandu
Solidarity Mobilization in front of the Israeli Embassy organised by CONEP and NTUF

Guyana, Georgetown
A delegation from the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) presented a statement to the offices of the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU).

South Africa, Johannesburg

Solidarity Conference organised by the WFTU Africa Regional Office and the WFTU Affiliates in South Africa, NUMSA, NEHAWU, POPCRU, CEPPWAWU

TUI BIFU, INDIA

International Bulletin "Dear Palestine we are with you, Solidarity from TUI BIFU We demand - Immediate release of all political prisoners unfairly kept in Israeli prisons - stop dismantling of the settlements - lift inhuman blockade of Gaza strip - create independent democratic and free Palestine with East Jerusalem as capital - implement UN resolution on Palestine C.h. Venkatachalam, general secretary trade union international of Banks, insurance & finance unions"

WORLD ACTION on April 17th, 2012

World-Wide
Other mobilizations were organised in many countries of the five continents. Letters of protest were handed to the Israeli Embassies and the offices of the European Union. In some countries the Israeli diplomats presented a very undemocratic stand. Most characteristic was their behaviour against the action organised in India, N. Delhi.

Palestine, Ramallah
Letter from the Leaderhip of the General Union of Palestine Workers (GUPW) to the WFTU leadership and the trade union organisations worldwide

CGTP-IN Protest Letter delivered to the Israeli Empassy in Lisbon, Portugal

Members and friends of WFTU organised activities for the release of the Palestinian Prisoners in: - Palestine - Poland - Chile - El Salvador - Cameroon - USA, New York - Pakistan - DPR Korea - Canada - Mauritius - India - Spain - Angola - Bulgaria - Gabon

Comrade George Mavrikos, Friends of the World Federation of Trade Unions WFTU Comrades heads global union federations and regional respected After greeting, The beginning we would like to extend our great thanks to you for your solidarity with the Palestinian people, the great general and our prisoners of Palestinian heroes who are fighting a war against the Israeli occupation. We in the General Union of Palestine Workers and thank you very express our sincere feelings to you and we will fight all forms of imperialism and we will stand against the Israeli occupation and all occupations, the criminal world. We will stay as we are fighting for the release of all prisoners in the free world and we declare our solidarity with all oppressed workers of the world and detainees from Cuba to Costa Rica to Nejaregwa to various parts of the world. Long live the World Federation of Trade Unions Long live the General Union of Palestine Workers Long live the struggle of our workers in Palestine and in the world Haidar Ibrahim Secretary General Mohammed Yahya Deputy Secretary General

Belgium, Brussels
Solidarity Action of the Delegates participating in the International Trade Union Conference in Solidarity with the Arab People, European Parliament, 9-10 April 2012