Egypt(No Further Information):
STRIKING WORKERS RELEASED

STRIKING WORKERS HELD BY MILITARY POLICE

Five men working at the Sumid Arab Petroleum Pipeline Factory in the Egyptian port of Suez have been arrested after taking part in a strike. They may be prisoners of conscience, held solely for peacefully exercising their right to assemble freely and their right to strike. They could face an unfair military trial.

Mahmoud Farouk Aljundi, Ahmed Mohamed Talaat, Mohamed Issam Syam, Abu Al Yazid Abdul Atti and Hassan Ahmed Al Armouti were arrested by the military police on 7 March. They were among over 100 workers at the Sumid plant, which also operates as a privately-run port, who had decided to go on strike over their working conditions and lack of job security. The men were taken to Ataka police station in Suez, where they are still being held. According to information received by Amnesty International, military police officers beat the five men when they arrested them and on their arrival at the police station, as well as forced them to take off their clothes, in an apparent attempt to humiliate them. One of the men is believed to have received hospital treatment for a broken rib as a result of beating.

The five men have been accused of “disrupting navigation in the Suez Canal”, “blocking a naval base”, “disrupting the work of a public port” and “insulting the armed forces”. Their lawyers believe the charges to be trumped-up and the arrest and detention of the men to be designed as a message to scare other workers from going on strike again. The military prosecution in Suez initially ordered their detention for 15 days for investigation but this was renewed several times and they have now spent over 40 days in detention. Besides an initial interrogation, their families and lawyers are not aware that the authorities are continuing to investigate the case. The men could face a trial before a military court. Military trials violate some of the basic guarantees of a fair trial, as among other things they do not give defendants the right to make an effective appeal. Amnesty International opposes the trial of civilians before military courts.
 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The workers in the private company Sumid Arab Petroleum Pipeline Factory in Suez went on strike on 7 March 2012 demanding better job security. Their demands include direct employment by Sumid Factory instead of the current situation where they are employed through a subcontracting company on contracts and given temporary contracts. Many have complained of being treated as temporary workers although they have worked for the company for more than 20 years. Following the example of workers in other factories and companies, the workers decided to go on strike after their demands continued to go unheeded.

The military police first tried to enter the Sumid plant by sea but failed when the workers, following company security regulations, denied anyone access. Other military police then arrived by car, dispersed the demonstration and arrested the five workers. The strike lasted for only two hours.

Following their arrest on 7 March, the military prosecution ordered the detention of Mahmoud Farouk Aljundi, Ahmed Mohamed Talaat, Mohamed Issam Syam, Abu Al Yazid Abdul Atti and Hassan Ahmed Al Armouti for 15 days pending investigations. This was renewed for another 15 days on 21 March and then for a further 10 days on 5 April. The last renewal on 15 April was for a further 15 days. During this time, the company has withheld all of the men’s monthly wages although by law they are only allowed to withhold a quarter of their wage. As the men are the main breadwinners for their families, the families are in difficult financial circumstances.

Workers have continued to protest since the 2011 uprising to demand their rights despite a law passed by the Supreme Council of Armed Forces in April 2011 (Law 34 of 2011) criminalizing strikes and any other form of protest deemed to obstruct work and imposing prison sentences and heavy fines on those convicted. While many independent unions have formed, the law on trade unions continues to impose undue restrictions on their operations.

Military courts have jailed thousands of ordinary Egyptians since the “25 January Revolution”. The trials violate some of the basis guarantees of a fair trial, including the right to an effective appeal. While there are reports that many who have been tried in military trials have been tried again and released, thousands remain in prison.

In line with international law, Amnesty International opposes the trial of civilians by military courts. Such trials violate the right to a fair and public hearing before a competent, independent and impartial tribunal established by law, as guaranteed in Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Egypt is a state party.

Name: Mahmoud Farouk Aljundi, Ahmed Mohamed Talaat, Mohamed Issam Syam, Abu Al Yazid Abdul Atti and Hassan Ahmed Al Armouti
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UA: 107/12 Index: MDE 12/011/2012 Issue Date: 19 April 2012

STRIKING WORKERS RELEASED

Five Egyptian workers detained after participating in a strike were released without charge on 23 April 2012 after spending more than forty days in military custody.

Mahmoud Farouk Aljundi, Ahmed Mohamed Talaat, Mohamed Issam Syam, Abu Al Yazid Abdul Atti and Hassan Ahmed Al Armouti were arrested by the military police on 7 March after participating in a strike at the Egyptian port city of Suez. They were among over 100 workers at the Sumid Petroleum Pipeline Factory who had decided to go on strike over their working conditions and lack of job security. The men were never charged with any offence.

The five men were reportedly beaten on one occasion and made to take their clothes off but have said that they were not beaten again during their time in custody and received medical treatment for their injuries.

They five men have not returned to work yet. They are concerned that they may face repercussions for their actions and ensuing detention. Amnesty International will continue to monitor their situation.

Many thanks to all of those who sent appeals. No further action is requested.
This is the first update of UA 107/12. Further information: http://amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE12/011/2012/en

Further information on UA: 107/12 Index: MDE 12/013/2012 Issue Date: 03 May 2012