Brussels, 08/06/2004 (Agence Europe) - The International Confederation of free Trade Unions (ICFTU) launched its annual report on 9 June on breaches of union rights in the world. This country-by-country report illustrates union rights violations in 2003. It covers 134 countries and provides data on the assassination of trade unionists, physical ill treatment, death threats, arrests and sackings for union activities. In Asia, for example, no less than 353,128 people were sacked in 2003 due to union activity; in Venezuela, 19,000 workers in the oil sector have been sacked for taking part in a general strike; in Colombia 95% of violations reported go unpunished; in Uganda strikers have been sacked en masse in an effort to attract direct investment for abroad. (Info: http: //http://www.icftu.org ).