Ei-iE

The Council of Global Unions*, headed by the EI General Secretary Fred van Leeuwen, protested against the arrests of several trade union leaders following the imposition of the state of emergency earlier in November.

EI deplores the murder of two teacher trade unionists within the past week

In an email dated 29 October 2007, Gemoraw Kassa, General Secretary of the Ethiopian Teachers' Association(ETA), informed EI that the Ethiopian Federal Supreme Court decided on that day to release on bail detained colleagues Anteneh Getnet, Berhanu Aba-Debissa, Wolde Dana, along with Wibit Ligamo, Dana’s wife.

In light of the Urgent Resolution adopted by its recent 5th World Congress, EI calls on the solidarity and support of its members and partners to ensure the immediate release of detained Ethiopian colleagues.

Teachers in Argentina joined a national strike convened by EI affiliate CTERA on October 4th to demand that those responsible for the assassination of Carlos Fuentealba be brought to justice.

Education International is deeply concerned by reports that up to 600 students have been denied exit from Gaza despite assurances from the Israeli authorities that they would be allowed to leave.

Teachers have been on strike for a month in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Education International has again demanded action by President Joseph Kabila to resolve the crisis.

Education International encourages all member organisations to write to the Burmese representatives in their countries following the recent violent repression used to break up peaceful demonstrations.

EI has written to Ehsanul Haque, Private Secretary to the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, expressing concern at the violent repression of university student protests.

The world must not stand aside, but must act in support of a free and democratic Burma. That is the message from the World Congress of the Public Services International, taking place in Vienna from 24 to 28 September.

Schools across the world are being urged to join together in performing The Poverty Requiem on October 17th - International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

EI is delighted to inform all members and Global Union partners that Raquel Castro, Colombian teacher and union activist, was released from prison last August 2nd.

Following the resolution passed by the 5th EI World Congress held in July 2007, EI urges the governor of the State of Oaxaca, Ulises Ruiz Ortiz, to find an immediate and satisfactory solution to end the conflict between the authorities and teachers.

The 5th EI World Congress held from 22-26 July in Berlin passed an urgent resolution on the current situation in Peru, where the conflict between the government and teachers has resulted in many arrested and one teacher killed.

Today, 9th August, is the ITF/ITUC International Action Day in solidarity with union leaders Mansour Osanloo and Mahmoud Salehi.

Education International has written to the Albanian government to protest against the expulsion of nationally recognised trade union confederations the KSSH and the BSPSH from their offices in Tirana.

EI supports the global call to stop the execution of a Sri-Lankan teenage girl who has been sentenced to death by beheading in Saudi Arabia.

Education International has written to the President of the Philippines following an urgent resolution adopted at the 5th World Congress calling on the government to immediately put a stop to extrajudicial killings and involuntary disappearances.