Interim Report - Report No 139, 1974

Case No 677 (Sudan) - Complaint date: 28-JUL-71 - Closed

1. 431. The Committee last examined this case at its February 1973 meeting, when it submitted to the Governing Body a report which appears in paragraphs 136 to 156 of its 135th Report, approved by the Governing Body at its 189th Session (February-March 1973).
2. 432. The Sudan has not ratified the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87), but it has ratified the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98).

A. A. The complainants' allegations

1. 433. The Committee recalls that the question of thirty-four trade unionists held in preventive detention was left pending. The Committee recommended the Governing Body to draw the Government's attention to the principle that since measures of preventive detention may involve a serious interference with trade union rights, all detained persons should receive a fair trial at the earliest possible moment. It accordingly recommended the Governing Body to request the Government to state whether or not these persons had appeared before a court, and if so, to send a copy of the sentences pronounced and the reasons given therefor.
2. 434. On 3 April 1973, the International Federation of Teachers' Unions supplied further information to the effect that the Government had dismissed a large number of elementary and secondary school teachers without any charges having been brought against them. Many lost their pension rights. The complainants presented a list of thirty-seven national and provincial union officials and militants affected by these measures. This communication was transmitted to the Government for comment.

The Committee's recommendations

1. 435. The Government meanwhile sent two communications dated 21 and 22 May 1973 stating that the thirty-four union members held in detention had been unconditionally released on 10 May 1973, following promulgation of the country's new Constitution.
2. 436. The Committee recommends the Governing Body to note with interest the release of the union members who had been held in detention, and to decide that no purpose would be served by continuing its examination of this aspect of the case. With regard to the allegations that many union officials and militants have been dismissed, the Committee recommends the Governing Body to postpone its examination of the case and to request the Government to transmit its comments on these allegations.