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RI workers condemn union `oppression' in Iran
Indonesian transport workers and seafarers represented by the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), called on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to intensify diplomatic talks with Iran to have the Iranian government end ongoing oppression of labor unions and release without reservation jailed unionists
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ndonesian transport workers and seafarers represented by the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), called on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to intensify diplomatic talks with Iran to have the Iranian government end ongoing oppression of labor unions and release without reservation jailed unionists.
"We are deeply concerned with the critical political condition in Iran and condemn repressive actions taken by *Iranian* President Ahmadinejad's authoritarian regime against education and labor unionists fighting for freedom and true democracy in that country.
"As a predominantly Muslim country, Indonesia should intensify its diplomatic approach to pressurize the Iranian government to release unionists sent to jail without any trial before the court," Indonesian Sefarers' Association (KPI) chairman Hanafi Rustandi said in a press conference here on Thursday.
Hanafi, who also chairs the Asia-Pacific ITF, which closely monitors day-to-day conditions in Iran, said Indonesian transport workers and seafarers condemned the oppression in solidarity with the arrest of Alireza Hashemi, the chairman of the Iranian Teachers' Organization, Kurdistani activist Farzad Kamangar and two unionists, Mansour Osanloo and Ibrahim Madadi.
Kamangar and Hashemi were imprisoned without trial after leading a teachers' demonstration in the observance of Education Day on May 2, 2010. Osanloo and Madadi were imprisoned without trial for leading mass rallies to protest the poor conditions for transport workers in Iran.
"Such inhumane actions are against Islam, universal human rights and ILO conventions," he said.
ITF's worldwide branches have threatened to stop handling Iranian goods transported by air and sea if the Iranian regime refused to release the jailed unionists.
The Iranian Embassy in Jakarta could not be reached for a response on Thursday.
