From Andy Higginbottom
Co-ordinator Colombia Solidarity Campaign
2 January 2002

Update on Situation of Sintraemcali
Workers Enter Second Week of Occupation

Around 800 SINTRAEMCALI workers, who began an indefinite occupation of the multi- storey Central Administration Building 'CAM' of the Public Service Provider EMCALI, in the South West of Colombia on Christmas Day, enter into the second week of their occupation. A tense stand off between occupying workers and their supporters outside the building and several hundred armed riot police and army threatens to spill
over into violent confrontation.

On the 28th of December a humanitarian agreement was signed between government and union representatives covering the following four points. Firstly, that a peaceful negotiated solution to the crisis was the aim of all parties, and that the aim was to neither interfere with the provision of the public services nor use force to remove the workers from 'CAM'. Secondly, that a humanitarian cordon would be set up so that food, clothes and hygienic goods could enter the building. Thirdly, that the parties would do all that is necessary to allow for medical treatment and medical personnel to enter the building. Finally, that 6 negotiators for the Union could enter and leave the building whenever necessary with the aim of resolving this dispute as quickly as possible.

Despite this agreement there have been several serious incidents, which have threatened to spill over into a full confrontation between the police and the workers.

On the evening of the 28th of December at around 10pm several police attempted to force entry into the lower area of the building. This was resisted by union members, which eventually lead to a police withdrawal. Secondly, on the evening of the 29th of December whilst food, clothes and medicines were being searched, prior to entry into the building, the police allegedly found weapons hidden in the consignment. According to
Alexander Lopez, president of the union, the weapons were planted, and that it was "part of a strategy to discredit the movement".

On New Year Eve rumours of a police and army attempt to enter the building by force began circulating amongst the more than three thousand supporters outside who had come to celebrate the New Year with their comrades, friends and loved ones in occupation. According to eye-witness reports police movements around the building added to the atmosphere of fear and intimidation.

All of the above events have seriously raised the tension both inside and outside the 'CAM', and Alexander Lopez calls for International pressure to be applied on the Colombian government not to use force to resolve a justified, and peaceful occupation aimed at defending the interests of the popular classes in Cali: "Struggling against privatisation, mobilising against the wholesale give-way of our natural resources, and patrimony is an ethical, historical and patriotic duty."

EMCALI's future is the subject of negotiations that are due to take place today. Talks will be held in Bogota between Cali's mayor, Jhon Maro Rodríguez and representatives of the national government, including Diego Humberto Caicedo the superintendent of Public Services, Angelino Garzón the Labour Minster and Armando Estrada Villa, Minister of the Interior. The trade union SINTRAEMCALI has not been invited to these talks, although it is due to join the negotiations on Friday 4th January. The venue of the talks has become an issue. Death threats against Alexander Lopez have been issued since the workers' occupation, and SINTRAEMCALI is reluctant to risk its president's life. The union is demanding that the government team come to Cali and negotiate with the union leaders inside the CAM tower.

Recommended Actions
1) SEND messages of protest to the Colombian authorities:

ANDRES PASTRANA ARANGO
Presidente de la Republica,
Presidencia de la Republica
Carrera 8 No. 7-26 Palacio de Nariqo,
Santa Fe de Bogota
Telifono. +57.1.5629300 ext. 3550 (571) 284 33 00
Fax +(57)1 - 286 74 34 - 286, 68 42 -284 21 86
Mailto:  rdh@presidencia.gov.co

Mr VICTOR RICARDO,
Ambassador to the UK,
Embassy of the Republic of Colombia
Flat 3A, 3 Hans Crescent, London SW1X 0LN, UK
Tel: (020) 7589 9177. Fax: (020) 7581 1829.
E-mail:  mail@colombianembassy.co.uk

With copies to:

The National and International Human Rights Campaign Against Corruption,
Privatisation and the Criminalisation of Social Protest. E-mail
 dhintegralsuroc@yahoo.com

And Colombia Solidarity Campaign E-mail:  colombia_sc@hotmail.com
PO Box 8466, London N17 6NZ Tel: 07950 923 448

EXAMPLE LETTER TO COLOMBIAN AMBASSADOR

Dear Ambassador,

We are writing to you with great concern for the situation in Cali where
the workers of EMCALI have been in occupation since 25th December 2001
to stop the privatisation of their corporation. As you know, our
organisations participated in a trade union and human rights delegation
as guests of SINTRAEMCALI trade union between 6th and 13th of October
2001.

We request a meeting with you, next Friday afternoon, 4th January at
which we can explain our concerns. They are, in summary, the following:

Privatisation of EMCALI
Our delegation witnessed the strong agreement between the then General
Manager of EMCALI Juan Manuel Pulido, the trade union SINTRAEMCALI and
the user community to keep EMCALI in the public sector. These
constituencies have been working together against the privatisation of
EMCALI's services. We were impressed by the PARE salvation plan being
implemented by the management board and trade union in co-operation,
with the consequence EMCALI is improving its delivery of water,
electricity and telecommunications services. We therefore fully
understand the anger and disenchantment of General Manager Juan Manuel
Pulido, SINTRAEMCALI and the workforce with the announcement on the 24th
December to remove Mr. Pulido as General Manager. We call on the
Colombian authorities to reconsider this decision. We believe that
EMCALI should be supported in its progress in providing efficient and
transparent services as a municipal state corporation.

Corruption and Impunity
Our delegation was presented with evidence of a wide variety of corrupt
management practices that in previous administrations had drained
resources out of the EMCALI Corporation. Many of these cases of
corruption had been presented to the appropriate Colombian authorities
resulting in some suspensions and fines, although none of those
implicated in corruption have been imprisoned. We witnessed new
procedures to avoid corruption in EMCALI, and a willingness to ensure
that all state resources are utilised properly and efficiently for the
benefit of the community. In complete agreement with SINTRAEMCALI we
support the setting up of an independent commission to investigate cases
of corruption and to bring the guilty to justice.

Human Rights Situation and SINTRAEMCALI's Right to Protest
We are very worried for the safety of the hundreds of trade unionists
currently in occupation of the CAM (Municipal Central Administration)
building. There has been a heavy-armed police and military build up
surrounding the building, which has heightened tensions, creating the
threat of violent confrontation. We hope that the legitimate concerns of
the trade union will be respected by the Colombian government and the
state security forces, allowing for a peaceful resolution of the
situation. Members of SINTRAEMCALI have already suffered greatly for
their principled stand against the privatisation of their employer. Six
members have been assassinated by paramilitaries in the last three
years. We are concerned for the lives of the trade unionists and their
families and call on the Colombian government to guarantee their human
rights.

Finally, our organisations have deep admiration and respect for the
principled and dignified stance that SINTRAEMCALI has taken in the last
three years both in resisting the privatisation of EMCALI, and also in
putting forward concrete proposals for the efficient provision of public
services.

Sincerely,

Louise Richards, Head of International Department UNISON
Nick Dearden, Campaign Officer, War on Want
Andy Higginbottom, Co-ordinator, Colombia Solidarity Campaign

2) PICKET the Colombian Embassy Hans Crescent, London SW1 (back of
Harrods, nearest tube Knightsbridge) from 3pm to 6pm* on Friday 4th
January 2002.

*PLEASE NOTE picket until 6pm, not 5pm as previously announced.

3) FURTHER ACTIONS The Colombia Solidarity Campaign is discussing
further solidarity actions with SINTRAEMCALI and other support groups in
Britain. These will be announced next week.

4) ONGOING ACTIVITIES
Conference: "Plan Colombia - Clearing the Way for the Multinationals"
SATURDAY 23nd & SUNDAY 24th FEBRUARY 2002
CONWAY HALL, RED LION SQUARE, LONDON WC1
Speakers from Colombia, Videos, Latin Food and Music

Join the Colombia Solidarity Campaign: £20 for organisations, £10 waged
and £5 unwaged individual members.