Sudan security arrests nine teachers in North Darfur state
September 10, 2014 (KHARTOUM) – The National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) in Sudan’s North Darfur state has arrested nine teachers at the locality of El-Fasher as a strike by high school teachers in the region entered its fourth day.
More than 1,000 teachers went on strike over unpaid salary arrears since 2005. The state’s government did not fulfil its commitment towards teachers’ financial rights forcing them to take the decision to stop working.
One of the teachers told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday that NISS summoned members of the teachers’ committee and arrested them under the pretext that the committee is illegitimate.
The teacher who requested anonymity for security reasons demanded authorities to pay the salary arrears, stressing that teachers will not lift the strike until they recover their financial rights.
The governor of North Darfur state, Osman Mohamed Yossef Kibir, on Monday accused unnamed political circles of standing behind the strike, underscoring he would not deal with the teachers’ committee.
He considered the teachers union the sole legitimate body authorised to demand teachers’ rights.
Kibir acknowledged accumulation of salary arrears for several years, saying he is committed to pay them but would only deal with the teachers union.
State teachers accuse the teacher union of collusion and procrastination which led to accumulation of salary arrears.
(ST)