Reporting
Guinea: unions threaten a general strike to free journalist Sékou Jamal Pendessa
After 11 days of detention, journalist and secretary general of the Union of Press Professionals of Guinea Sékou Jamal Pendessa remains in prison. The country's major organizations denounce an arbitrary arrest, and showed their solidarity on Tuesday January 30 by issuing a 72-hour ultimatum to the authorities. If he is not released by Friday February 2, they will launch a general and indefinite strike throughout the country.
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A trade unionist journalist holds up a portrait of Sékou Jamal Pendessa, the general secretary of the SPPG, in front of the labor exchange, in Conakry, January 30, 2024. © Matthias Raynal / RFI
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With our correspondent in Conkary,
Matthias Raynal
In the packed room of the Labor Exchange, the fans are struggling to cool the ambient air: minds are white hot. “
This is a serious time for the Guinean trade union movement
,” declared a trade unionist during the meeting
. The basis of all our actions is
freedom of expression
, which truly allows us to be trade unionists representing workers.
»
According to Guinean unions, freedom of expression and freedom of the press are threatened today.
“
As a trade union movement, we consulted
,” explains Abdoulaye Sow, the general secretary of the Union of Workers of Guinea.
We took the decision to ask the government to
immediately and unconditionally release Sékou Jamal Pendessa
, failing which, within 72 hours, there will be an unlimited general strike throughout the country
. »
Meanwhile, at the Dixinn Court of First Instance, Sékou Jamal Pendessa is heard by the senior investigating judge: it is he who is now in charge of the case. He decided to keep him in pre-trial detention. Sékou Jamal Pendessa was
arrested for calling for a demonstration
against restrictions on social networks and the media.
“
It's a very harsh reality, but from now on, we are going to submit a request for release to the same investigating judge
,” explains Pendessa's lawyer, Master Salifou Beavogui.
Then, we will demand that the procedure be accelerated so that he does not remain in prison unduly
. »
Sékou Jamal Pendessa should be heard again by the judge at the end of the week.
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