DISAPPEARANCE OF USO LEADER

We inform national and international public opinion that GILBERTO TORRES
MARTINEZ, leader of the Pipeline Sub-division of USO, the Oiworkers
Union [lit. Workers Trade Union] was disappeared at 6pm on 25th
February.

Gilberto left the pumping station at El Porvenir, in an Ecopetrol*
vehicle headed for his home in Monterrey, in Casanare departament. His
disappearance occurred during this journey.

We have informed the National Government and the People's Defender
concerning this serious incident, which follows the disappearance of two
other of our comrades in the last three years, the assassination of
several leaders and permanent death threats against all of the union's
leadership.

We urge the civil authorities and the state security organisations to
carry out the necessary actions to preserve the life of comrade Torres.
And to whoever has him in their power to free him safe and sound
immediately.

In rejecting this new aggression against our union, we have started an
indefinite strike in Ecopetrol from today 26th February at 4.00am. We
call on all the Colombian people to give solidarity to our protest which
is to defend the lives of our members.

UNION SINDICAL OBRERA USO

HERNANDO HERNANDEZ PARDO
President

Bogotá, 26th February 2002


* Ecopetrol - State Oil Corporation



LEADER OF THE PIPELINE SUB-DIVISION OF USO THE OILWORKERS UNION
DISAPPEAERED

The below signed organisations affiliated to the National and
International Human Rights Campaign express our deepest concern for
GILBERTO TORRES MARTINEZ, who works for ECOPETROL at the Porvenir
Pumping Station on the Llanos Central pipeline in Monterrey, Casanare.

THE FACTS:

1.- At about 6pm yesterday, 25th February 2002, GILBERTO left the
Porvenir Station in Monterrey, which is only a few kilometres from his
house. But he never arrived home. According to some accounts it seems
that the union leader was captured by a group of heavily armed men who
forced him to go with them.

2. It appears that these individuals are members of the Centaur Block of
the so called United Self -Defence of Colombia AUC [paramilitaries] that
operates in this region. They drove him to the town of Puerto Lopez in
Meta, where it is public knowledge that this group have their centre of
operations.

3. It should be noted that this area is strongly guarded by army
personnel. There is a Military Base next to the Pumping Station, charged
with protecting Llanos Central Pipeline, the multinational consortium in
which British Petroleum Company, ECOPETROL and Canadian Pipelines
participate. The military officers who patrol the pipeline have several
guard points from where they control all of the road and they are able
to detect the entrance and exit of personal vehicles in the area.

Background:

1. The Oilworkers Union [Unión Sindical Obrera] USO has been
systematically threatened by the Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia AUC
paramilitaries who have declared the union a military target.

2. On 3rd December 2001, USO's regional President in Cartagena, AURY
SARA MARRUGO and his bodyguard ENRIQUE ARELLANO were kidnapped and
subsequently assassinated by the Caribbean Block of the AUC, who accused
him of being a guerrilla commander. The AUC's central command claimed
responsibility on its official internet page.

3. After the assassination of Aury Sará, the Inter-American Human Rights
Commission of the Organisation of American States granted protective
measures for USO members due to the grave situation of dirty war against
that organisation, demanding that Colombia Government provides the
necessary guarantees to protect the physical and psychological well
being of the USO throughout the country.

4. In spite of this decision from the Interamerican Court of Human
Rights, the Colombian Government has not done anything to provide
security measures that would minimise the risk, on the contrary the
situation grows ever worse and without official response.


WE DEMAND

a. That the President of the Republic, the High Commissioner for Peace,
the people's Defender, the Attorney General, and other related
organisations take forward whatever action is required to make the
autodefensas paramilitaries free U.S.O. leader GILBERTO TORRES MARTINEZ
immediately.

b. That the Colombian State guarantees the free exercise of trade union
activities, as well as the promotion and defence of human rights carried
out by different social organisations, trade unions and human rights
groups in the country, of which USO is one.

Asociacion para la Investigaciòn y Acciòn Social - NOMADESC;
Coorporación Servicios Profesionales Comunitarios - SEMBRAR;
La Union Sindical Obrera- USO;
Sindicato de Trabajadores de Las Empresas Municipales de Cali -
SINTRAEMCALI;
Sindicato De Los Trabajadores Universitarios De Colombia - SINTRAUNICOL;
Central Unitaria De Trabajadores - CUT (VALLE DEL CAUCA);
Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Mineria en Colombia -SINTRAMINERCOL;
Movimiento Estudiantil Del Valle Del Cauca;
Fundación Comité De Solidaridad Con Presos Politicos FCSPP Seccional
Valle del Cauca; Sintramunicipio Bugalagrande; Sintramunicipio Yumbo


NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN AGAINST PRIVATISATION,
CORRUPTION AND THE CRIMINALISATION OF SOCIAL PROTEST

26th February 2002


[COLOMBIA SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN ADDS] RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
-------------------------------------------------------

ENVIAR MENSAJES O CARTAS A / SEND MESSAGES TO:

ANDRÉS PASTRANA ARANGO
Presidente de la República,
Presidencia de la República
Carrera 8 No. 7-26 Palacio de Nariño,
Santa Fe de Bogotá
Teléfono. +57.1.5629300 ext. 3550 (571) 284 33 00
Fax +(57)1 - 286 74 34 - 286, 68 42 -284 21 86
Mailto:  pastrana@presidencia.gov.co

And to:

FOR THOSE IN THE U.K.
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
 
FOR THOSE IN CANADA:
Write to: Fanny Kertzman Yankelevitch
Ambassador for Colombia
360 Albert Street, Suite 1002
Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7X7
Fax:      (613) 230-4416
Email:  embajador@embajadacolombia.ca 
 
FOR THOSE IN THE UNITED STATES: 
Write to: Luis Alberto Moreno
Embajador de Colombia
2118 Leroy Place, NW,
Washington, DC 20008
Phone: (202) 387 8338
Fax:     (202) 232 8643
 as@colombiaemb.org

Send copies to and to


 
MOBILISE IMMEDIATE SOLIDARITY ACTIVITIES

Join the campaign's 'No to Plan Colombia' contingent on the 'Stop the
War Coalition' demonstration this Saturday, 2nd March. Assemble 1pm,
Hyde Park, London.