The Greater London Association of Trade Union Councils is the latest union organisation to write to Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to ask for the release of the nine people detained without trial since the attack on the union rally at Guacimal, near St.Raphael, in northern Haiti, on 27 May.

The Greater London Association of Trade Union Councils' letter follows similar appeals for President Aristide to intervene from:
the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions;
the International Labour Organisation;
the Spanish union federation - Confederación Sindical de Comisiones Obreras;
the Austrian union federation - Osterreichischen Gewerkschaftsbund; the Polish Solidarnosc union;
the Miami Area Local, American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO;
the British GMB general union, northern section;
the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU).

Amnesty International has also written to Haiti's Justice Minister asking for clarification about the legal position of the detainees.

Non-governmental organisations, including Réseau-Solidarité (France), the National Coalition for Haitian Rights (USA), War on Want, and the Haiti Support Group (both UK), have been joined by the Montreal-based Rights & Democracy, International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development, in asking the Haitian authorities to respect international and local laws guaranteeing workers' rights.

Contact details:
GREATER LONDON ASSOCIATION OF TRADE UNION COUNCILS
President: Peter Spalding
Secretary: Bob Tennant
25 Vicarage Road
Leyton
LONDON E10 5EF
020-8558 6612
website: www.glatuc.org.uk