Colombia Solidarity Campaign

- Fighting for Peace with Justice -

c1.jpg

FINE TUNING THE REPRESSION Print
Share
Bulletin archive - Bulletin Issue12 January-March 2004
Tuesday, 09 September 2008 15:40
Colombia�s armed forces have fine-tuned their repression in order to avoid international criticism. Grotesquely, vice-president Santos boasts of an improvement in the human rights situation with only (!) 60 trade unionists assassinated last year compared to 184 in 2002.
We have many objections to the government seeking credit for this: there is still complete impunity for the assassins and the government is making it more difficult for trade unionist to protect themselves. Trade unionists� lives are being targeted in other ways - their families are being attacked with more forced displacements, they are being raided more often by state forces with more detentions.

Meantime the elimination of activists in other less visible sectors has increased dramatically, 139 indigenous people were assassinated in the first eleven months of 2003. Are these assassinations not just as scandalous as the murder of trade unionists?

Lastly, what is the mechanism of government action translating into fewer assassinations, if not the obvious one that the government has passed an order on to the death squads under its control?

The reality is that bolstered by the new Anti-Terrorism Statute Uribe�s regime is becoming ever more repressive. Uribe cannot brook democratic dissent, there is always menace threatening the life of opponents. This is a measure of the bravery of those who speak out. The latest example is Congressman Alexander Lopez, who dared to lay charges against Uribe for his role in the illegal liquidation of the Telecom state corporation, and who now (coincidentally?) has a contract out on his life.
 

Colombia Solidarity Campaign on Twitter

about 2 days ago Colombia's resistance to corporate mining excess has lessons for the world http://t.co/fNuNBtdr
about 2 days ago RT @HollmanMorris : http://t.co/lK0NEEax "Suarez Gold" en @guardiannews Reflexión recomendada sobre minería
about 16 days ago RT @amnestylondon : Thank you Andy from @ColombiaSC for an in depth discussion around HR & peaceful protest in #Colombia http://t.co/19ryL9aW
about 20 days ago Blog: No head of state should rest easy – today a precedent has been set – Taylor-made justice will catch up with you http://t.co/96K1ewqH
about 20 days ago RT @HollmanMorris : Colombianos en Londres, todavía pueden llegar a la presentación del nuevo documental Los espero!!! http://t.co/bV2KDsyW
about 20 days ago Film screening and Q&A with @HollmanMorris and experts on Afro -descendant rights and mining in #Colombia 7pm 26 Apr http://t.co/n7M1jd97
about 20 days ago Suárez Gold: Afro-Colombian miners defending their heritage - New doc from MRG Thurs 26th April Amnesty HR Centre http://t.co/bV2KDsyW
about 20 days ago RT @londonmining : Web: Colombia: going for gold http://t.co/ibbiXkTX
about 20 days ago Film screening and a Q&A with @HollmanMorris and experts on Afro-descendant rights and mining in #Colombia - 7pm 26 Apr http://t.co/n7M1jd97
about 21 days ago RT @Gus5ilva : RT @Contravia : IMPUNITY en París, Francia. HOY http://t.co/Oqko4A2g
about 21 days ago Film screening and a Q&A with @HollmanMorris and experts on Afro-descendant rights and mining in #Colombia - 7pm 26 Apr http://t.co/n7M1jd97
about 22 days ago Film screening and a Q&A with @HollmanMorris and experts on Afro-descendant rights and mining in #Colombia - 7pm 26 Apr http://t.co/n7M1jd97
about 26 days ago #FF @londonmining @ABColombia1 @Col_Caravana @JOTAKLAN @PBIColombia @PBIUK @AmnestyUK @ccajar @HollmanMorris @Contravia
about 26 days ago RT @londonmining : @newsneighbour Vote Rio Tinto for #GreenwashGold 2012 at http://t.co/oSZbUJIV
about 26 days ago RT @londonmining : Olympic medal pollution protesters disrupt Rio Tinto meeting http://t.co/xozf1XSy via @guardian #greenwashgold
about 26 days ago RT @bbcmundo : Los planes hidroeléctricos que pueden poner en riesgo a la Amazonia http://t.co/HtLDrDvP
about 26 days ago Where does the metal for 2012 medals come from? http://t.co/NbRjSajg The women leading mining resistance via @thefworduk #greenwashgold
about 26 days ago Protesters grab chance for a dig at mining giants - Business News - Business - The Independent http://t.co/CZcC7shU #GreenwashGold

Latest branch meeting

London Mining Network

london-mining.jpg

The London Mining Network (LMN) is an alliance of human rights, development and environmental groups. We pledge to expose the role of companies, funders and government in the promotion of unacceptable mining projects.

London Mining NetworkColombia | London Mining Network
Holding the mining industry to account