CUT: THREATS AND HARRASSMENT OF UNION LEADERS AND THEIR FAMILIES

- ANOTHER TRADE UNIONIST ASSASSINATED



Comrade JUAN DE JESÚS GÓMEZ was assassinated on 1st May, INTERNATIONAL WORKERS DAY. He was a member of the National Farm Industry Union SINTRAINAGRO, and President of the Mining Section in San Martín Municipality, in Cesar Department in the north of the country. These unfortunate events were committed in San Alberto in the same Departament. Comrade GÓMEZ was currently leading an historical collective negotiation for workers at PALMAS DEL CESAR S.A in the palm oil sector. 14 trade unionists have been assassinated this year in our affiliated organisations.

At about 9 am on 4th May MAGDA BEATRIZ TOVAR GONZALEZ recieved a death threat. She is the daughter of DOMINGO TOVAR ARRIETA , a member of the national Executive Committee of our federation who is Director of the Human Rights Department. Magda received a phone call from mobile number 315736595. According to state security organisations this number is in the name of RAFAEL ANTONIO LÓPEZ GUITERREZ. We note that on 21st march Domingo's other daughter (ANA PAULINA) was the vcictim of an attempted kidnapping. On 25th March she lodged a statement in the office of HUMBERTO CAIFFA RIVAS, Mayor of Barranquilla, Atlántico Department, but has to this date received no response.

It is lamentable that the Colombia conflict is deepening, and that the worst part is felt by the civilkian population, that is human rights defenders and trade unionists. What is even worse is this practice of attacking our families.

The Central Unitaria de Trabajadores (CUT - United Workers Federation) demands primarily that we are left out of the armed conflict, and that the government of Doctor ÁLVARO URIBE VÉLEZ guarantees our constitutional right to trade union activity; and to the international community we appeal for the solidarity that with each day that passes we need ever more in the search for PEACE in our country.

Signed

CARLOS A. RODRÍGUEZ DÍAZ, President

DOMINGO TOVAR ARRIETA, Director Human Rights Department


SINTRAEMCALI:

FAILED ATTEMPT AGAINST UNION LEADERS ON Ist MAY DEMONSTRATION IN CALI

EVENTS

1.- At 8:45 am on 1st May 2003 union leader OSCAR FIGUEROA, Sintraemcali's Assesser (Fiscal), was followed by a red Mazda 626 vehicle with semi-open polarised windows and with no number plates from the South West Motorway to 8th Avenue, where the May Day demonstration was assembling. WILMAN CASTILLO, one of Oscar's bodyguards, noted that there was a man inside the following vehicle dressedin a uniform like that of the National Police.

2.- Then at 9:45 am, at the high point of the Thousand Days bridge, on Simón Bolívar Motorway, once the demonstration had set off this same vehicle broke into the SINTRAEMCALI workers' contingent on the march. On seeing that it was the same vehicle that had followed him, OSCAR FIGUEROA, went to it to see the occupants and he complained aloud to the police inside "That they were being very provocative to the workers and it would be better if they withdrew". A police woman scoffed in a challenging tone "do what you want, but if there is any problem we know how to control you". At that moment a member of the special police Mobile Anti-Mutiny Squad named Martínez said to the union leader infronn of the workers at his side that "What are you talking about and what are you worried for - we all know that you are a guerrilla amnongst the workers". Oscar demanded that he be respected, and that if there were any proofs of this allegation taht they be presented to the competente authorities. The workers surrounded Oscar and harangued the policemn who then walked away rapidly and mounted the Mazda vehicle.

3.- At aproximately 11:00 am SINTRAEMCALI workers informed DOMINGO ANGULO and OSCAR FIGUEROA that there were suspicious individuals on the march, particularly one of dark complexion who was following Congress Representative ALEXANDER LOPEZ , while others were taking photos and filming. The leaders asked the workers to point them out, and they approached one who was surpirsed to be asked from what union or social organisation he came from. The individual repsonded that he belonged to SINTRAEMCALI, but none of the workers knew him and th eman tried to flee. So the workers surrounded him and insisted on questionning, but he didn't answer. He brought out an identity card which showed him to be HECTOR MANUEL SAAVEDRA CASTILLO, a student at the Business Administration School. The workers asked whathe had in his belt, he attempted to pull out a gun, so the workers disarmed him.

4.- As this situation developed leaders from several unions drew near and called for the police. A patrol car drew up anbd the police pointed guns threateningly at CARLOS VALEN leader of Sintra Departamento Valle del Cauca and at OSCAR FIGUEROA who urged them to respect the workers on May Day. Under pressure from the massive presence of the workers and their leaders demands, the police put back their weapons.

Dr. ALEXANDER LOPEZ met with Colonel LEÓN of the Cali Metropolitan Police asking him to guarantee that the march could go ahead. León stated that this had been an isolated incident and that the marchers' security was guaranteed. ALEXANDER communicated with the Interior Ministry informing it what was happening and demanding guarantees for the thousands of workers and caleño citizens on the demonstration.

5.- At 11: 35 am Sintraemcali's journalist GIOVANNY SERRANO was filming from a pedestrian bridge when he was tackled by several men with film equipment who demanded his ID and what channel he worked for. When Giovanny replied it was for the programme "Popular Awakening" [a local community tv channel] the men ordered him to get down from the bridge saying only federal [national channels] could be there. Giovanny returned to the demonstration to inform the union leaders. A group of supposed demonstraters came to hear what had happened, but when they were asked who they were these people fled off and boarded the same Mazda 626 L vehicle with polaroid windows previously mentioned.

6.- As the march came into Agua Blanca district and headed for the Diamond Sports Centre two individuals were spotted on the terrace of a two storey house filming and photographing the union leaders, the workers, students and community members on the march. ALEXANDER LÓPEZ and HERNAN SANDOVAL, Public Defender, noticed the situation and immediately contacted Colonel LEÓN, who gave the order for this to stop. The students and workers had to be extracted from the place by armed bodyguards, because there were men in civilian clothes hanging about all around the spot, demanding questions and ready to detain them.

7.- Representantive ALEXANDER LÓPEZ mediated in the situation. He received a call from Colonel Naranjo, commander of the Cali Metropolitan Police, saying that the person the workers had earlier disarmed was in fact a policeman and could his gun be returned? Alexander agreed to use his good offices to personally hand over the weapon, asking why there was so much filming of the community and why were the security forces behaving in this manner. Colonel Naranjo acknowledged that HECTOR MANUEL SAAVERA was not a student as he had claimed but the head of SIPOL, Police Intelligence Service, and that he did not have authorisation to enter onto the demonstration in this way.

8.- On the afternoon of Sauturday 3 May, first vice Sergeant JAIRO VALENCIA presented himself at the home of Juan Carlos Valen, a bodyguard for union leaders, at No. 2 – 57 on 42nd Avenue in Siloe district. Without any judicial or adminstrative written warrant the sergeant decommissioned the weapon that had been supplied to Jairo as a DAS bodyguard under the Ministry of Interior's protection programme. The sergeant proceeded to film the bodyguard's home and vehicle. We point out that this is the same sergeant who decommisoned the arms from the bodyguards of union leaders' on 12th March, the day of the Public Hearing.

IMMEDIATE PREVENTATIVE ACTION against any attempt on the physical and psychological integrity of trade union and community leaders in the Valle del Cauca.

That the UN, Organisation of American States, the diplomatic corps in Colombia and the International Labour Organisation ILO demand that there be sufficient and necessary guarantees for the respect of constitutional rights, such as rhe right to life, security, freedom of opinion, information, demonstration, unionisation and protest.
Demand that the Colombian government carries out an exhaustive investigation to punish the intellectual and material authors of the here mentioned events.
Finally, and in the face of the evidence that members of the security forces are tailing, photographing, filming and threatening the workers, as has been shown with evidence on a number of occasions, we make the Colombian state repsonsible for whatever might happen against the integrity of union, social, community and human rights leaders.
CAMPAÑA NACIONAL E INTERNACIONAL DE DERECHOS HUMANOS CONTRA LA PRIVATIZACIÓN, LA CORRUPCION
Y LA PENALIZACIÓN DE LA PROTESTA SOCIAL / NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN AGAINST PRIVATISATION, CORRUPTION AND THE CRIMINALISATION OF SOCIAL PROTEST

Asociación Para la Investigación y Acción Social NOMADESC, Sindicato de Trabajadores de Las Empresas Municipales de Cali SINTRAEMCALI, Sindicato De Los Trabajadores Universitarios ALI De Colombia SINTRAUNICOL, Oilworkers Union USO, Corporación Servicios Profesionales Comunitarios SEMBRAR, Central Unitaria De Los Trabajadores CUT - VALLE DEL CAUCA Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Minería en Colombia SINTRAMINERCOL, Movimiento Estudiantil del Valle del Cauca y Nariño, Fundación Comité De Solidaridad Con Presos Políticos Seccional Valle del Cauca, Sintramunicipio Bugalagrande, Sintramunicipio Yumbo, Sintramunicipio Dagua, Sintrametal Yumbo, Sutev, Asonal Judicial Valle del Cauca, Sintrahospiclínicas, Sinaltrainal Bugalagrande
Cali 5 May 2003

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Send Letters and Messages To:

- Álvaro Uribe Vélez www.presidencia.gov.co
- Luis Eduardo Cifuentes, Defensor del Pueblo secretaría_privada@hotmail.com
- Luis Camilo Osorio, Fiscal General de la Nación  contacto@fiscalia.gov.co
- Martha Lucía Ramírez, Ministra de Defensa comunicación@mindefensa.gov.co
- Luis Fernando Londoño, Ministro del Interior  mininterior@gov.co

And, in the UK, to

Colombian Embassy (UK):  mail@colombianembassy.co.uk
Bill Rammell MP Under Secretary of State Foreign Office  james.morrison@fco.gov.uk

with copies to

 colombia_sc@hotmail.com
and
 dhintegralsuroc@yahoo.com
and
 derechoshumanos@cut.org.co





Yesterday evening we responded to an urgent message that we call SINTRAEMCALI.

The union's representative told us that there are many rumours that the Colombian government has decided to liquidate EMCALI Muncipal Corporation, and it is now concentrating on tactics to avoid public protest. Thus a number of hopeful reports have been published in Cali's main newspaper "El Pais". Uribe's team is due to meet the union and other interested parties on Friday.

Through our conversation yesterday evening SINTRAEMCALI has asked all its supporters in the UK to join an emergency mobilisation, with those who can picketing the Colombian Embassy and joining a delegation on Thursday 8th May. Those of you outside of London can send in e-mail protests (for addresses see last Urgent Action)

We will be translating and circulating a public statement from SINTRAEMCALI within the next few hours. In the meantime please mobilise for:

EMERGENCY PICKET COLOMBIAN EMBASSY
4.00pm - 6.00pm Thursday 8th May
3a Hans Crescent (back of Harrods), London
nearest tube Knightsbridge

NO TO LIQUIDATION OF EMCALI!
NO TO PRIVATISATION!
KEEP WATER, ELECTRICITY AND TELECOMMS PUBLIC!
SOLIDARITY WITH SINTRAEMCALI AND ALL COLOMBIAN TRADE UNIONS!