|
Honduras ship action declared |
|
|
|
Sunday, 19 July 2009 |
 The ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) today called for all its union members to oppose the coup in Honduras by focusing protests on the Honduran merchant fleet.
The global union organisation, which represents 656 unions worldwide
with four and a half million members, has made the call as its latest
move to defend democracy in the coup-stricken Central American nation,
and in support of the Organization of American States’ (OAS)
condemnation of the military takeover. The action call is likely to
affect the loading and unloading of the 650 ships flying the Honduran
flag, which the ITF considers a flag of convenience – a low cost
cosmetic ship registration by companies with no link to the country and
no intention of employing its citizens onboard.
ITF General Secretary David Cockroft stated: “We have to put real
pressure on the Honduran military to allow the country to revert to
democracy. We are therefore calling on our member unions to consider
taking lawful action to defend the rights of the citizens of Honduras.
That is likely to include protests that centre on Honduran ships. All
such actions will be peaceful, will respect the rights of the seafarers
on the ships, but will send a clear message to those in authority – for
now – in Honduras, that the outside world does not accept their seizure
of power.”
Following the coup the ITF mobilised trade unionists in El Salvador,
Guatemala and Nicaragua, after its member unions within Honduras asked
it to help them by organising peaceful demonstrations at its borders
with the three neighbouring countries. The Federation has also sent a
message to the OAS Secretary General and the President of the Honduran
Congress to declare the military’s action illegal and indefensible, and
issued an urgent action alert to its member trade unions asking for
their support in backing those trying to reestablish democracy in the
country. The alert also mobilises the ITF’s worldwide membership to
protest against the illegal grab of power and seek the support of their
own governments.
Source: ITF
|
Rss
Online - Contact
