Unions shun talks in Guinea

CONAKRY- Union leaders failed to show up at planned talks with Guinean officials, again delaying any solution to an impasse over demands that the West African nation’s long-ruling president relinquish his near-absolute power.

Meanwhile, a delegation from the 15-member Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, said Saturday that the region needs to help keep Guinea from falling into lawlessness. “We wouldn’t like to see Guinea (descend) into a very chaotic situation,” said the head of the delegation, former Nigerian military ruler Ibrahim Babangida.Guinea has been in varying degrees of turmoil since mid-January, when the country’s two strongest unions called a general strike that they said would last until President Lansana Conte agreed to leave office.Conte has exercised strict control over the country since seizing power in a coup in 1984.More than 100 people have died in two waves of clashes with security forces – the first during the strike in January and the second last weekend after Conte apparently violated a compromise deal in which he would share power with an independent prime minister.The unions have complained of economic problems and demanded salary increases and subsidies for staples like rice.Recently, they have become increasingly political, saying the country’s hardships are symptoms of a corrupt government that neglects its people.Their most recent strike began Monday with calls for Conte to leave office, though at least one of the union leaders now says she just wants Conte to give up some of his sweeping powers.The president declared martial law later that same day, imposing a “state of siege” due to end February 23.Talks were called for Saturday, and one of the country’s two main union leaders had said she planned to attend the negotiations.But union members said they decided they needed more time to come to agreement among themselves.”We decided not to respond to the invitation,” said Bamba Bakary, a member of the executive office of Guinea’s teachers union.”We want to organise at our own level first and resolve problems between ourselves.”National Assembly President Aboubacar Sompare said the union chiefs did not appear at the morning meeting because security documents allowing them to travel before the curfew was lifted were delayed.He said talks were rescheduled for Monday.Union leaders could not be reached for comment.Nampa-AP”We wouldn’t like to see Guinea (descend) into a very chaotic situation,” said the head of the delegation, former Nigerian military ruler Ibrahim Babangida.Guinea has been in varying degrees of turmoil since mid-January, when the country’s two strongest unions called a general strike that they said would last until President Lansana Conte agreed to leave office.Conte has exercised strict control over the country since seizing power in a coup in 1984.More than 100 people have died in two waves of clashes with security forces – the first during the strike in January and the second last weekend after Conte apparently violated a compromise deal in which he would share power with an independent prime minister.The unions have complained of economic problems and demanded salary increases and subsidies for staples like rice.Recently, they have become increasingly political, saying the country’s hardships are symptoms of a corrupt government that neglects its people.Their most recent strike began Monday with calls for Conte to leave office, though at least one of the union leaders now says she just wants Conte to give up some of his sweeping powers.The president declared martial law later that same day, imposing a “state of siege” due to end February 23.Talks were called for Saturday, and one of the country’s two main union leaders had said she planned to attend the negotiations.But union members said they decided they needed more time to come to agreement among themselves.”We decided not to respond to the invitation,” said Bamba Bakary, a member of the executive office of Guinea’s teachers union.”We want to organise at our own level first and resolve problems between ourselves.”National Assembly President Aboubacar Sompare said the union chiefs did not appear at the morning meeting because security documents allowing them to travel before the curfew was lifted were delayed.He said talks were rescheduled for Monday.Union leaders could not be reached for comment.Nampa-AP