Trade unionists Abdeljalil BEDOUI, Ali ROMDHANE, Abdelmajid SAHRAOUI, Hamed NJIMA, Abdennour MADDEHI, Lahbib BEN ACHOUR, Chaker BELHASSEN, Hechmi LAQHAL and Noureddine OUNISS were arrested on the 10 and 11 May 1999. Their arrests are believed to be linked to their criticism that the union was controlled by the government.
