Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau's civil servants striking

afrol News, 1 November - State offices in Bissau are closed today as the general strike of the country's civil servants enjoys a near 100 percent participation. The workers protest late payments and government's failure in economic policy. The strike actually is a support for IMF and World Bank reform policies.

The National Union of Workers of Guinea-Bissau (UNTG) and the Confederation of the Independent Unions (CSI) called on their members to strike today and on Monday, 4 November. The two unions demand the resignation of the government of the Social Renewal Party if it continues to fail implementing the reforms agreed upon with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. 

According to the UNTG, government's failure to comply with IMF reforms, and the subsequent failure to draw credits from that institution, is the main reason behind the continuous devastating economic situation in Guinea-Bissau. Therefore, government was also late in paying wages; another reason for the general strike to be called.

UNTG spokesman Filomeno Cabral, who also coordinates the general strike, told the press in Bissau that the unions had given the government a fair chance to negotiate their demands. No government initiative was however produced.

In contrary, national security officers on Wednesday had summoned Mr Cabral, urging him to call off the strike "for reasons of security of the state." He was interrogated about declarations he had made on the private broadcaster 'Rádio Bombolom'. Mr Cabral however refused to cancel the protests and told the press that he considered "trade unionists should be spared from intimidation attempts." 

In an interview with the Portuguese radio RDP today, Mr Cabral said that the strike "is surpassing all expectations", as the participation of civil servant was "100 percent." Encouraged by the success, he said that, if government "continues to be silent," the unions would study other ways of protest.

Workers agree the government can only blame itself for their action. A social services framework agreement made in April had not been lived up to. Government had failed to implement administrative and economic reform, not paid wages and was increasingly unable to provide a minimum of basic services such as drinking water and electricity to Bissau residents. 

UNGT Secretary-General Desejado Lima da Costa pronounces what is more than often heard in Guinea-Bissau; "the government has lost all credibility." A general strike was the only way to push it to the negotiation table. 

Union protests come at a time when there is growing civil society pressure against the government and the Head of State, Kumba Yala. Churches, organisations, trade unions and the majority opposition are all asking the government to step down and for President Yala to accept anticipated legislatives and presidential elections. 

Also, the so-called Movement of Civil Society for Democracy, Peace and Development, which unites forceful fragments of the Bissauan society, recently threatened with protest actions against the government. 

A manifest directed at President Yala by the groups outlined two possibilities to step out of the malicious circle the country has been in since the 1998/99 civil war, and which the groups blame on President Yala's "constant atrocities against the Constitution:" the establishment of a government of national unity or anticipated presidential elections. 

Sources: Based on press reports, UN sources and afrol archives

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