12 03 14 TUC condemns arrest of trade union leader in Democratic Republic of Congo

Dear Ambassador

Arrest of Mr Victor Umba Ilunga, President, National Union Delegation at SNCC

On behalf of the TUC General Council, I write to express our deep
concern over the arrest of Mr Victor Umba Ilunga, president of the
national union delegation of the Congolese national rail company, SNCC.

Mr Ilunga was detained by the security services on 24 February in
Lubumbashi, where the General Directorate of the SNCC is based. No
information has yet been provided as to where he is being held. Mr
Ilunga’s arrest was connected with the strike staged at the Company
 since October 2013 over the non-payment of salaries for 68 months.

The Democratic Republic
of Congo ratified Convention 87 on freedom of association and the
protection of the right to organise (1948) on 20 June 2001 and is under
an obligation to take every measure necessary and appropriate to
guarantee the free exercise of trade union rights. The ILO Committee on
Freedom of Association states that the detention of trade union
officials or members for reasons connected with their activities to
defend the interests of workers constitutes a serious violation of civil
liberties in general and trade union rights in particular.

The TUC joins the international trade
union movement in its condemnation of the arbitrary arrest and demands
that the Congolese government ensure the unconditional release of Mr
Victor Umba Ilunga, as well as the opening of a genuine dialogue between
the parties involved, with a view to finding a solution to the crisis.

Yours sincerely

FRANCES O’GRADY