Bahrain is sliding rapidly towards absolute dictatorship, and the authorities seem intent on creating and deepening sectarian divisions, deputy general secretary of International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) said on Tuesday.

According to ABNA, an urgent visit to Manama, Jaap Wienen has pledged a comprehensive package of international actions in support of the fundamental rights of Bahrain’s working people, as the trade union movement in the Persian Gulf country faces an all-out assault from the government.
“The Bahraini trade unions have been at the forefront of the movement for dialogue, peace and reconciliation, yet the government has clearly decided to try and destroy them. The international trade union movement will not simply stand by and allow this to happen. If the government does not change course, the global diplomatic and economic consequences will be severe,” said Wienen.
Some 2,000 workers in 30 mainly government enterprises have been sacked for joining trade union actions in support of dialogue and an end to violence, including 6 members of the Executive of the ITUC-affiliated General Federation of Bahraini Trade Unions (GFBTU) and 22 local trade union leaders. The ITUC understands that employees of the key employer body, the Chamber of Commerce, have also been dismissed.
Scores of protesters have been killed and many others gone missing during the harsh crackdown.
The Human Rights Watch reports that more than 400 opposition activists and protesters have been arrested in the recent weeks.
(Source: ABNA)
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