27 March 2008
COLOMBIA: IMPUNITY CONTINUES
Assassination of four trade unionists; threats against a trade union activist
PSI is calling on its affiliated organisations to send letters of protest to President Alvaro Uribe condemning the assassinations of four trade unionists on or around the day of action held in Colombia on 6 March. The day of action “For the Dignity of Victims”, which had the full support of the trade union movement, was a tribute to—and in solidarity with—all the victims of arbitrary violence and the armed conflict. PSI is further calling on affiliates to protest against serious threats made against Maria Fernanda Bolaños, an employee of the publicly owned waste and sanitation services of Cali and a member of PSI affiliate SINTRAEMSIRVA.
Background
On 6 March hundreds of thousands of people participated in events in 102 cities in Colombia and around the world in solidarity with the victims of the paramilitary and the crimes of the State. By means of a public communiqué, the Government pointed out that it did not support this demonstration, but offered guarantees for the programmed events to take place. Nevertheless, Mr. Gaviria made public declarations referring to the planned demonstration as a march “convened by the FARC”. Despite a request by the organisers of the 6 March Global Action Day, no Government spokesperson withdrew these assertions. This situation generated an increasingly tense atmosphere which was further exacerbated by the declaration of the paramilitary group, Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia, claiming that guerrillas were responsible for instigating the march. In the lead-up to 6 March, organisations promoting the day of action in Nariño were threatened and on 28 February, gunshots were fired at march organiser, Adriana González, in her apartment in Pereira.
Four trade unionists were assassinated during the week of the 6 March protests:
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Carmen Cecilia Carvajal, teacher. Killed 4 March, in Ocaña.
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Leonidas Gómez Rozo, member of the bankworkers union, Unión Nacional de Empleados Bancarios (Uneb),
President of the CITY-BANK Employees Union. Killed on 5 March, in Bogotá.
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Gildardo Gómez Alzate, teacher and activist of the Asociación de Institutores de Antioquia (Adida). Killed 7 March, in Medellín.
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Carlos Burbano, vice-president of the National Hospital Workers’ Union who led the local 6 March demonstrations, disappeared on 9 March in San Vicente del Caguán. His body was found in the municipal rubbish dump, his face disfigured by acid.
Threats against Maria Fernanda Bolaños
In a separate incident, PSI has learned that on 12 March 2008 serious threats were made via email against Maria Fernanda Bolaños, a member of PSI affiliate SINTRAEMSIRVA. These threats follow action taken by the workers’ union of the Cali waste and sanitation services, denouncing plans to privatise the service and the resulting increase in tariffs. The workers union had presented alternative proposals which would have kept the services in public hands, maintained decent work for the employees and resulted in a quality service for the users. Since opposing privatisation plans, the leaders, members and activists of SINTRAEMSIRVA have been the victims of harassment and threats.
The threatening email received by Mara Fernanda Bolaños falsely accuses her of conspiring against the President and attempts to link her to the FARC. The email promises retaliation against her.
PSI is calling on its affiliates to send a letters of protest to President Uribe:
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Condemning the assassinations and calling for the government to investigate as a matter of urgency the events leading to the deaths of the 4 trade unionists and to act swiftly against all those implicated in these murders, including any government officials
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Demanding that the government take all necessary measures to guarantee the safety of Maria Fernando Bolaños, her family and the members and activists of SINTRAEMSIRVA
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Demanding that the competent authorities carry out a thorough investigation of the threats made against Maria Fernando Bolaños and make public the results of those investigations.
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Calling on the government of Colombia to abide by its obligations under international law to guarantee the fundamental right to freedom of association, including the safety and security of all trade unionists in Colombia.
Please use the model letter in Spanish or the online
form. Please remember to send copies of your letters to the PSI Andean subregional office (ispandina@etb.net.co) and to PSI Headquarters at rights@world-psi.org as well as to the Colombian mission in your country.
 Download
model letter (spanish)
View PSI's letter
_____________________________________________
Translation of Model Letter
(You can send this online by filling in the boxes and clicking "submit" below)
Doctor Álvaro Uribe Vélez
Presidente de la República de Colombia
Palacio Nariño
Carrera No 7-26
Bogotá D. C.
COLOMBIA
Fax: +57-1-566-2071
E-mail: auribe@presidencia.gov.co
25 de marzo de 2008
Señor Presidente,
Organisation name is appalled to learn that on or around the day of action “For the Dignity of Victims”, held on 6 March, four trade union activists were assassinated:
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Carmen Cecilia Carvajal, teacher. Killed 4 March, in Ocaña.
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Leonidas Gómez Rozo, member of the bankworkers union, Unión Nacional de Empleados Bancarios (Uneb),
President of the CITY-BANK Employees Union. Killed on 5 March, in Bogotá.
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Gildardo Gómez Alzate, teacher and activist of the Asociación de Institutores de Antioquia (Adida). Killed 7 March, in Medellín.
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Carlos Burbano, vice-president of the National Hospital Workers’ Union who led the local 6 March demonstrations, disappeared on 9 March in San Vicente del Caguán. His body was found in the municipal rubbish dump, his face disfigured by acid.
Organisation name has also learned that on 12 March 2008 serious threats were made via email against Maria Fernanda Bolaños, a member of PSI affiliate SINTRAEMSIRVA, falsely accusing her of conspiring against the President and attempting to link her to the FARC. The email promises retaliation against her.
Organisation name strongly condemns and denounces these murders and the continued use of violence and harassment against trade unionists and calls on your government to:
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investigate as a matter of urgency the events leading to the deaths of the four trade unionists and to act swiftly against all those implicated in these murders, including any government officials
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take all necessary measures to guarantee the safety of Maria Fernando Bolaños and her family as well as the members and activists of SINTRAEMSIRVA.
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carry out a thorough investigation of the threats made against Maria Fernando Bolaños and make public the results of those investigations.
Organisation name urges the government of Colombia to abide by its obligations under international law to guarantee the fundamental right to freedom of association, including the safety and security of all trade unionists in Colombia.
Yours sincerely,
Firstname Lastname
Organisation Name
Copies:
Fill in the boxes below to send letter of protest
(please note that the e-mail sent will be a translation into Spanish of the
above model letter)
We have been infomed that the e-mail for
President Uribe is no longer valid. You may use this form to send the copies to
the above-contacts and PSI will forward your e-mail by fax. Or you may download
the attached model letter and fax it directly to the following number:
+57-1-566-2071.
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