Case History: Atchi Walla
On 16 March 2015 from 8 pm to 9 pm, a military jeep with a machine-gun was reportedly parked outside the offices of the Syndicat des Praticiens Hospitaliers du Togo – SYNPHOT (Hospital Workers of Togo Sindicate) in Lome. Two hours earlier, the office had hosted the General Assembly of the Synergie des travailleurs du Togo – STT (Synergy of Workers of Togo).
Atchi Walla is one of the main leaders of the STT, the central labour union body that works to improve the living conditions of Togolese workers. It is also a member of the Réseau Sentinelle pour la protection des Droits de l'homme (Watchdog Network for the protection of Human Rights), which monitors the security of human rights defenders in Togo. Members of STT have been the subject of threats, intimidation for several months, and even physical assaults, and Atchi Walla has been threatened with arrest by the government.
On 16 March 2015 from 8 pm to 9 pm, a military jeep with a machine-gun was reportedly parked outside the offices of the Syndicat des Praticiens Hospitaliers du Togo – SYNPHOT (Hospital Workers of Togo Sindicate) in Lome. Two hours earlier, the office had hosted the General Assembly of the Synergie des travailleurs du Togo – STT (Synergy of Workers of Togo).
Earlier on 16 March 2015, the STT had called for the removal of the Minister of primary and secondary teaching during the extraordinary General Assembly held in SYNPHOT's offices. One day before, Messrs Mayonou Pakindame, Taki Komi, Douti Kanssouguibe, Gnuitoh Ayao and Tchangaï Komla, all members of STT, had been physically assaulted in Dapaong, in northern Togo. They were attacked by approximately 20 armed members of a militia affiliated with the political party in power while the human rights defenders were holding a meeting to prepare for the General Assembly of the STT and a meeting with ministers due to take place the next day. The human rights defenders suffered severe head injuries, including concussions and bruising.
The physical attack follows STT's organisation since December 2014 of a series of teachers' strikes calling for an improvement in their working conditions. Previously, on 11 March 2015, the STT had held a press conference at which it denounced threats of dismissal made against striking teachers by the Minister of primary and secondary teaching, as well the violation of the workers' rights.
Members of STT have been the subject of threats and intimidation for several months. In correspondence dated 27 February 2015, the government had declared the strikes of the STT to be illegal and threatened to arrest the main leaders of the STT, Mr Atchi Walla, Mr Gilbert Tsolenyanu and Ms Nadou Lawson.
