of the strike.
What were the events that led to the general strike?
The workers in the rutile, diamond, port and other industries live and work in appalling conditions. They live six to a room and earn f35 a month when a bag of rice costs £45. Health facilities are virtually and the houses that have been built are occupied by the local ruling party officials and executive officers of the mining companies.
These conditions have been going on lor years and tere was not really any one incident that sparked ott the sunke. Ibrahim Langley and Lames June secretary genera. and president of the Sierra cone Labour Congress. jam Kassim of the Employed Workers Federation and many shop stewards, were thrown into the Freetown Maximum Security Prison.
The only radical independent newspaper was attacked and its premises bombed and printing presses destroyed. IB Kargbo, journalist, Pius Foray the editor and Lans Joe Sesay, correspondent for the London-based magazine Africa Now are gaol. Teachers and pupils have been was widespread and Special Branch police atpolitical groups.
When people turned up to protest the closing newspaper 25 were shot and killed by State Security Detachment officers.
The strike was effective Socialist Challenge general strike was called against the Stevens government, in protest against low wages, the cost of rice, unemployment and the lack of health care, education and transportation.
throughout the countly.
Makeni, in the north, and in the southern province of Bo, there was a virtual shut-down. In Kenema Province in the east peasants tions and refused to sell their produce in the markets. capital, Freetown, no work was done at all.
How did the government react?
emergency declared, a curfew imposed and the army was put on alert. But because governments' lack of Stevens had to call LOUDS Guinea These troops evervwhere in the capital. armed with automatic grenades and tear gas.
They attempted to neutralise the strike by workplaces and killing jailing strike leaders and those who followed them. licall Army security operations.
What affect has the strike had on neighbouring coun tries?
The new Liberian ment of Sergeant Doe has 200 LEONE American army to ensure that the government stays in power. Gambia totally Stevens. governmends the neighbouring states are afraid of the effect of the militancy of the Sierra Leoneans over their borders. And, as the chairman of the 12 November 1981 of support rom various African governments.
Siaka Stevens power after a coup in 1969. He came movement, and became head destabilised lne movement, hanged several of his party members, top military commanders and non-commissioned the army.
He courted Seku Torre of Guinea who provided troops to pul down tne radicals who ob.
In jected to the influence of big business and corruption.
Tne next few
solidified his power, but in 1977 radical students rebelled and •emonsua the Sierra Leone army killed people.
In the What is happening at the moment in Sierra Leone?
Stevens' The general strike came to a temporary halt at the beginning was without any pay, their families were starving to death. Troops were continually harassing anyone the strike. support, in neighbouring What can people in Britain were do to help the workers and peasants in Sierra Leone? weapons, One of the main contributing factors to the ending of the general strike was the lack of and sustained pressure from trade union organisations outside my The Gui- country. People in Britain and charge of the rest of Europe must develop La new sense of awareness for the plight of workers in Sierra Leone We implore the trade union movement in Britain to raise coveral their voices in condemnation and to take industrial action against those British and multinational firms that are shattering the liberty of the SuDOUlLS Leone people.
We take responsibility for our own struggle against imflowing perialism, successful WEBOUT NATI tional support.
Calle union party after he valduell he thoroughly trade union international business.
executed officers in For years Stevens MAURITANIA weeks workers and involved in TLANTIC Port Loko and other countries for Freetown O Cherbro Metres 5000 Sierra 3000 but we cannot be internasnap general election and by various means only 15 per cent ot the population was allowed to vote. That same year a one was ratified in in in the pay of diamond ALGER siti? of {sumner A N PMagburake LEONE Who controls the Sierra Leonean economy?
the South Africanoccupied territory of Namibia, Sierra Leone is dominated by Cala lulle LIBYA EGYP Coresta CHA D CENTRAL AFRICAN 8938:62 ZAIRE is the most active company in their extraction. In fact, the Anglo-American Corporation virtually controls Sierra Leone But there are others! GerHulall. French, British, Ameriand Lebanese companies predominate.
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with a population of 2.5 million people. This ex-British colony became independent in 1961 under a pro-imperialist government led by Milton Margai. On 1 September this year a
LARRY HERMAN interviewed BAI KABLAI, an exiled journalist, in London whose paper The Tablet was closed down on the first day
SIERRA Bales
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