Interview
Tribute to the trade unionist Basile Mahan Gahé, champion of tripartism
The general secretary of the Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Côte d’Ivoire ( Dignité), Basile Mahan Gahé, died in Abidjan on Monday 16th September 2013. After being released on bail in December 2012 following several months’ detention, Mr Gahé was in Geneva for the 102nd session of the International Labour Conference in June 2013 to thank ILO and the international trade union movement who had fought for his release. In tribute to the recently departed African trade unionist, here is the last interview he gave to ACTRAV INFO, during his stay in Geneva.
ACTRAV INFO: You were recently released after months of detention. What is your situation now?
Basile Mahan Gahé: I was released after 22 months in prison. The charges have been dismissed and I am currently at home. I had thought that the dismissal of the charges would mean that I could enjoy my full rights without difficulty, but that’s not been the case. During my detention I was flogged, and my house was torched. I had thought that the State would compensate me after the charges were dismissed. I’m currently taking legal steps in order to be able to access my bank account and carry out my trade union activities.
ACTRAV INFO: In November 2012, on the fringes of the ILO Governing Body, the Workers’ Group of the Governing Body expressed its solidarity with you following your detention. What message would you like to send to your worker colleagues, in particular at ILO?
ILO is the only tripartite organization in the world…I have to thank ILO for expressing its solidarity. Without that call by the Workers’ Group of the Governing Body, I am certain that I would still be in prison. I also want to thank the ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder, the Workers’ Group Spokesperson, Luc Cortebeeck, and the Chairperson of the Governing Body who all got involved in obtaining my release. I also want to thank all my worker colleagues on the Governing Body. The international solidarity expressed by the workers saved me from the prison where I was being detained. I am therefore proud to be a trade unionist, because of this solidarity and because ILO is a tripartite organization that protects equality between the constituents (governments, employers and workers). ILO does not protect any government, any employer, any trade union – it protects human rights.
I would like to take this opportunity to encourage the Workers Group to defend tripartism within this Organization.
ACTRAV INFO: Now that you’ve been released, do you intend to resume your trade union activities in your country?
I intend to resume my trade union activities within Dignité-Côte d’Ivoire. In our trade union, we have well qualified staff and we are going to be organizing a congress soon to allow me to pass on the baton. I am the founder of this trade union, but I have to step down and they also have my thanks.
Basile Mahan Gahé: I was released after 22 months in prison. The charges have been dismissed and I am currently at home. I had thought that the dismissal of the charges would mean that I could enjoy my full rights without difficulty, but that’s not been the case. During my detention I was flogged, and my house was torched. I had thought that the State would compensate me after the charges were dismissed. I’m currently taking legal steps in order to be able to access my bank account and carry out my trade union activities.
ACTRAV INFO: In November 2012, on the fringes of the ILO Governing Body, the Workers’ Group of the Governing Body expressed its solidarity with you following your detention. What message would you like to send to your worker colleagues, in particular at ILO?
ILO is the only tripartite organization in the world…I have to thank ILO for expressing its solidarity. Without that call by the Workers’ Group of the Governing Body, I am certain that I would still be in prison. I also want to thank the ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder, the Workers’ Group Spokesperson, Luc Cortebeeck, and the Chairperson of the Governing Body who all got involved in obtaining my release. I also want to thank all my worker colleagues on the Governing Body. The international solidarity expressed by the workers saved me from the prison where I was being detained. I am therefore proud to be a trade unionist, because of this solidarity and because ILO is a tripartite organization that protects equality between the constituents (governments, employers and workers). ILO does not protect any government, any employer, any trade union – it protects human rights.
I would like to take this opportunity to encourage the Workers Group to defend tripartism within this Organization.
ACTRAV INFO: Now that you’ve been released, do you intend to resume your trade union activities in your country?
I intend to resume my trade union activities within Dignité-Côte d’Ivoire. In our trade union, we have well qualified staff and we are going to be organizing a congress soon to allow me to pass on the baton. I am the founder of this trade union, but I have to step down and they also have my thanks.