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Trades union group publishes global



Trades union group publishes global blacklist 
09:57 a.m. Jul 10, 1998 Eastern 
BRUSSELS, July 10 (Reuters) - The International Free Trades Union
Confederation (CISL) on Friday named and shamed close to two dozen countries
for failing to respect trades union rights during the last four years. 

The Brussels-based CISL, upholding workers' rights to set up trades unions
enshrined in a 1993 International Labour Organisation convention, named
countries from around the world for murder, torture, police beatings,
arrests and total bans on unions struggling to win their members a better deal. 

One of the severest indictments was against Colombia, where the CISL said
568 trade unionists had been assassinated since 1994 and thousands more had
fled death threats. 

The CISL pinpointed beatings, the use of mercenaries to break union power,
repressive or restrictive legislation and spying on activists. 

The confederation singled out six countries each from Africa, Australasia,
the Americas and Europe, and eight from the Middle East for non-respect of
union rights. 

It condemned Nigeria, Algeria, Sudan and Swaziland in Africa, with a less
stern warning to Ethiopia and Zimbabwe, while in Australasia there were
harsh words for Burma, China, Indonesia and Pakistan, and warnings for
Australia and Turkey. 

Iran, Saudi Arabia and Syria headed the list in the Middle East, followed by
Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Lebanon. 

In Latin America, allegations against death squads and government forces in
Colombia, Guatemala and Costa Rica prompted the CISL's condemnation, while
Argentina, Mexico and the United States were also cited. 

Belarus and Kosovo were found to have the worst record in Europe, followed
by Bulgaria, Serbia, Germany and Britain. 

The CISL did, however, note some improvement in workers' rights in Nigeria,
Indonesia, Turkey, Guatemala, Mexico and Britain. 

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