In May of last year, over 1,000 oil workers in the town of Zhanaozen, a town in western Kazakhstan, went on strike and staged a sit-in action in the central square of that town. Their dispute was entering into its six month and the workers had survived much harassment from authorities, when on the 16 December 2011, armed troops moved in. At least 16 people were killed with hundreds more injured from the shooting of police and the army. A State of Emergency was announced following the violence, which banned further protests and strikes and imposed curfews with more than 100 workers and activists arrested and detained. Many of these workers were tortured while in jail while others are now facing years behind bars. There is an international campaign by the International Trade Union Confederation and Labour Start for their release.
In May of last year, over 1,000 oil workers in the town of Zhanaozen, a town in western Kazakhstan, went on strike and staged a sit-in action in the central square of that town. Their dispute was entering into its six month and the workers had survived much harassment from authorities, when on the 16 December 2011, armed troops moved in. At least 16 people were killed with hundreds more injured from the shooting of police and the army. A State of Emergency was announced following the violence, which banned further protests and strikes and imposed curfews with more than 100 workers and activists arrested and detained. Many of these workers were tortured while in jail while others are now facing years behind bars. There is an international campaign by the International Trade Union Confederation and Labour Start for their release.
