Teachers syndicates continue strike, call for procession [Archives:2006/932/Local News]
Saddam Al-Ashmori
SANA'A, March 26 ) In a March 24 statement, teachers and educators syndicates confirmed continuation of an open comprehensive strike in all educational institutions until their demands are met. The Yemen Times received a copy of the statement, which holds the government responsible for all deterioration that has befallen the education process. They also confirmed that the strike involves 85 percent of the republic's schools.
The syndicates denounced oppression and professional terrorism by some officials, going as far as detention. The statement said officials prevented some teachers from entering their schools and asked the help of armed vehicles to dodge striking teachers. The statement also accused officials of firing a large number of striking teachers, while deputies, headmasters and managers were replaced on the pretext that they were lenient in resisting striking teachers. The last such oppression mentioned was preventing strikers from signing attendance lists.
In their statement, the syndicates pointed out that all such cases were listed and referred to the attorney general.
They called all education employees to a mass sit-in at the Capital Secretariat, Parliament and the Shoura Council, and in front of all government offices on Tuesday, March 28 to denounce authorities' abuses for conducting the strike.
They also invited all education employees to a peaceful demonstration Monday, April 4, beginning from Al-Tahreer Square and proceeding to presidential buildings unless their demands are met.
They said they put their case before the president, calling on him to direct the government to execute their legal demands and asking him to stop all abuses and illegal oppressive punishment procedures against strikers.
They also called all workers and students syndicates, in addition to civil community organizations, to participate in the procession to defend human rights which are being overtly abused.
Hussein Ali Hazib, Sana'a office educational manager, said the strike has a spirit of political intrigue, adding that the educators do not differ over their rights. He alleged that what some syndicates have called for is of a political background. He advised that it is for the educators' good not to politicize the syndicate movement, calling the government to unify syndicate activities.
Hazib stated that the Ministry of Education came to an acceptable agreement with authorities over teachers' rights, under sponsorship of the vice president. He added that the educators' demands are legal and hopes their demands will be reasonable and within capability so they can be met. He also hopes the government's reply will be reasonable and carried out at the right time in order to keep the process on a professional level.
Hazib said he prefers teachers continue teaching, revealing that they tried to persuade teachers that their unilateral strike is useless and considered a partisan work. However, he considers the syndicates who called for the strike to be illegal, depending on the fact that some called for the strike while others did not.
Hazib went on to say that they consider the interest of students, adding that achievements will include both the strikers and those did not go on strike. He said they addressed the headmasters, as they are the leaders, and found them cooperative.
Hazib said they expect the strike to end and work to resume, pointing out that the strike involved only 20 out of 1,100 schools. He asked concerned authorities to take legal action against syndicates without licenses.
Hazib said the official, private and partisan media role was negative, charging the partisan press with being unreasonable. He added that official media speak only of legal rights, pointing out that media as a whole is fueled by excitement and reactions.
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