| Colombia
Solidarity Campaign
PO Box 8446,
London N17 6NZ
Tel 07743 743041
Email the campaign
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URGENT
ACTIONS
Urgent Action List
As reports on this website and in our bulletin
have shown, urgent actions by email and other means can save
lives.
It is essential to build up this humanitarian
network. If you want to be added to our lists and want to
help send messages to Colombia, please send your name and
organisation details to campaign@colombiasolidarity.org.uk.
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VICTORY
AT TABACO
The
people of Tabaco, in La Guajira, Colombia, have won a legal
victory which may be unprecedented for a rural community in
that country. On May 9th, 2002, the Supreme Court of Colombia
ruled that the village, demolished last year by mining company
Intercor, must be reconstructed on a new site, as the villagers
have been demanding.
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ATTEMPTED
KIDNAP OF CHILD OF COCA COLA TRADE UNIONIST
At about 2:45 p.m. on 18th June
2002, three unknown subjects tried to kidnap KAREN MENDOZA
DÕAZ , the four-year-old daughter of our comrade WILLIAM
MENDOZA GÓMEZ. KAREN was with her mother LUZ ESTHER
DÕAZ in Parque de la Constitución in Barrancabermeja,
while she was trying to make a call through a public telephone.
[En Español]
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CONTINUING
GENOCIDE AGAINST THE CUT UNITED TRADE UNION FEDERATION
[En
Español]
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Lawyer
in BP case threatened
A lawyer and peasants who are suing BP's
oil pipeline company have received death threats from paramilitaries
in Colombia. Please urgently fax BP's pipeline company, Ocensa,
and the governor of Antioquia, expressing your concern. Use
the proposed text below or write your own. |
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DEATH
THREATS TO NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF USO, OILWORKERS UNION
Through its Human Rights Department,
the United Workers Federation of Colombia, the CUT, denounces
to the national and international community the serious situation
of state terrorism to which the trade union leadership is
submitted in Colombia. From 30th May death threats have increased
against comrade Hernando Hernández Pardo, President
of the Oil Industry Union USO. [En
Español]
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Nizkor Int. Human
Rights Team - Derechos Human Rights - Serpaj Europe Urgent
Solidarity – 08 May02
ALL RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS PRESENT
IN THE VIGIA DEL FUERTE AREA ASK FOR A SUSPENSION OF AERIAL
MILITARY ACTIONS AND A TEMPORARY CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES.
Ref: Vigia del Fuerte and Bellavista. Request for suspension
of military operations. Urges support for humanitarian crisis.
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CUT
Colombia: Human Rights Report for August 2001
The
following has been compiled as an English summary of several
original reports by Jesus Gonzalez, Director of the CUT's
Human Rights Department. According to our figures, 91 Colombian
trade unionists have been assassinated so far this year up
to the end of August. Through its Human Rights Department,
the Colombian Workers Federation "CUT" denounces the constant
outrages against those who are trying to defend the right
to work and to live.
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Cali,
Colombia 4/08/00 16:05:37
SINTRAEMCALI, Cali, Colombia, is yet again
suffering as a result of its attempts to defend public services,
rebuild the social fabric of the community, and fight against
corruption. We are particularly concerned for the lives and
well-being of Ruben Enrique Calvo Zuiga (Identification no
C.C16793842), Carlos Alberto Lozada (Identification no C.C16659
269), and Freddy Hernado Salinas Muoz (Identification no C.C16799
246) all SINTRAEMCALI members.
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| Close From: Andy Higginbottom [SMTP:andy@tetrachoice.demon.co.uk]
Ê To: undisclosed-recipientsÊ Cc: Ê Subject: URGENT ACTION:
Four Women Trade Unionists Assassinated in Two WeeksÊ Sent:
8/3/01 9:52 AMÊ Importance: NormalÊ Dear Friend, Sadly, the
latest report from The Human Rights Department of the CUT records
that in the last two weeks of July four women, all trade unionists
in the public sector, and a man were assassinated. Another man,
a teacher, has been disappeared. As Jesus Gonzalez documents,
the repression is now even worse than last year. Please send
a protest, especially with respect to JAIRO TOVAR DIAZ, demanding
urgent action is taken to establish his whereabouts and obtain
his immediate release. ENGLISH TRANSLATION: IN THE FACE OF BARBARITY
COLOMBIAN MEN AND WOMEN TRADE UNIONISTS WILL NOT YIELD TO THE
TERROR IMPOSED ON US - WE WILL CONTINUE THE RESISTANCE STRUGGLE
FOR BETTER CONDITIONS OF WORK AND LIFE! Through its Human Rights
Department, the Colombian United Workers Federation, the "CUT",
reports the latest barbarous events that have been carried out
against our organisation and its leaders. á On 16th July 2001
nurse LUCILA RINCîN was assassinated. She was intercepted at
a place called La Parroquia on the way from Mariquita to Fresno
in Tolima Departament. This criminal act was carried out when
the comrade, together with other members of her family who were
also assassinated, had been searching for a family member who
had been taken by the paramilitaries. The paramilitaries massacred
the group. This health worker was an activist of the National
Association of Workers and Employees of Hospitals, Clinics and
Units Dedicated to the Protection of Community Health - ANTHOC
- CUT. á On 22nd July 2001 teacher OBDULIA MARTêNEZ was assassinated
in Chiriguana Municipality,Ê Cesar Departament. The incident
occurred when they came looking for her at her home, and there
she was executed with two shots to the head. The comrade worked
at the College of Our Lady of Chiquinquir‡. She was a member
of the Cesar Teachers Association - EDUCESAR - FECODE - CUT.
á On 24th July 2001 teacher SILVIA ROSA ALVAREZ ZAPATA was assassinated.
This occurred as she was heading for El Viento Rural School
in Barbosa Municipality, Antioquia Departament. She was accompanied
by 6 pupils who were left abandoned at Potrerito hamlet in the
same municipality.Ê The comrade was 50 years old. She had been
dedicated to teaching for 27 years and was a member of the Antioquia
Teachers Association ADIDA - FECODE - CUT. á On 24th July 2001
teacher RUBEN DARIO OROZCO GRAJALES was assassinated. He was
pulled out of school at 12:30 in the afternoon. This took place
at Palenque Rural School which is in Buritica Municipality,
Antioquia Departament.Ê The comrade was 48 years old, of which
28 years had been dedicated to the teaching profession. He too
was a member of the Antioquia Teachers Association ADIDA - FECODE
- CUT. á On 28th July 2001 specialist Attorney MARêA HELENA
ORTIZ was assassinated by 6 shots to the head, just as she was
leaving a clinic in the city of Cœcuta, Santander Departament.
She was a member of the National Association of Functionaries
and Employees of the Justice Branch - ASONAL - CUT. The comrade
was accompanied by her son and her husband NESTOR RODRêGUEZ,
Head of the Special Unit in the Administrative Security Departament
-DAS - who were both seriously wounded. á On 29th July 2001,
teacher JAIRO TOVAR DIAZ was disappeared in the outskirts of
Galeras Municipality, Sucre Departament, when he was snatched
by armed men at the margins of the law. He was a member of the
Sucre Teachers Association - ADES - FECODE - CUT. To this date
the comrade is still disappeared,Ê for that reason we make an
URGENT CALL for his life to be saved, and that he be returned
s quickly as possible safe and sound to his family and union
comrades. These terrible events clearly show that actions against
trade unionists are increasing from day to day. By July 2000,
67 people had been assassinated that year. So far this year
to the end of July this figure has gone up byÊ more than 15%.
There have been 78 assassinations, 35 disappearances and kidnappings,
14 attempted assassinations and a large number of threats that
have not been possible to determine because of their grand magnitude.
This murderous policy has brought on a profound humanitarian
crisis where the number of forced displacements and refugees
is already impossible to manage with the required humanitarian
attention.Ê JESòS ANTONIO GONZALEZ LUNA Director Human Rights
Departament 1st August 2001 SPANISH ORIGINAL: ÁANTE LA BARBARIEÊ
LOS HOMBRES Y MUJERES SINDICALISTAS COLOMBIANOSÊ NO DEJAREMOS
QUE SE NOS IMPONGA EL TERROR...... CONTINUAREMOS EN LA LUCHA
DE RESISTENCIA POR MEJORES CONDICIONES DE VIDA Y TRABAJO! La
Central Unitaria de Trabajadores de Colombia "CUT", a travŽs
del Departamento de Derechos Humanos, informa los œltimos hechos
de barbarie que se esta llevando a caboÊ contra nuestra Central
y sus dirigentes. á El d’a 16 de julio de 2001, fue asesinada
la enfermera LUCILA RINCîN, al ser interceptada en el sitio
La Parroquia entre la v’a Mariquita - Fresno del Departamento
del Tolima, este criminal hecho fue llevado a cabo cuando la
compa–era en compa–’a de otros integrantes de la familia quienes
tambiŽn fueron asesinados; estaban buscando otro familiar retenido
por los paramilitares quienes efectuaron esta masacre. Esta
trabajadora del sector salud era activista de la Asociaci—n
Nacional de Trabajadores y Empleados de Hospitales, Cl’nicas
y Entidades Dedicadas a Procurar la Salud de la Comunidad -
ANTHOC - CUT. á El d’a 22 de julio de 2001, fue asesinada la
docente OBDULIA MARTêNEZ, en el Municipio de Chiriguana del
Departamento del Cesar, hechos ocurridos en momentos en que
fueron a buscarla a su residencia y all’ de dos disparos en
la cabeza la ejecutaron; la compa–era trabajada en el Colegio
Nuestra Se–ora de Chiquinquir‡ y estaba afiliada a la Asociaci—n
de Educadores del Cesar - EDUCESAR - FECODE - CUT. á El d’a
24 de julio de 2001, fue asesinada la educadora SILVIA ROSA
ALVAREZ ZAPATA, hecho ocurrido cuando se dirig’a hacia la Escuela
Rural El Viento del Municipio de Barbosa, Departamento de Antioquia;
estaba acompa–ada de 6 alumnos a quienes abandonaronÊ en la
Vereda Potrerito del mismo municipio.Ê La compa–era ten’a 50
a–os de los cuales 27 hab’a dedicado a la docencia y estaba
afiliada a la Asociaci—n de Institutores de Antioquia - ADIDA
- FECODE - CUT. á El d’a 24 de julio de 2001, fue asesinado
RUBEN DARIO OROZCO GRAJALES, hecho ocurrido cuando fue sacado
a las 12:30 de la tarde de la Escuela Rural Palenque ubicada
en el Municipio de Buritica, Departamento de Antioquia.Ê El
compa–eroÊ ten’a 48 a–os de los cuales hab’a dedicado 28 a la
docenciaÊ y estaba afiliado a laÊ Asociaci—n de Institutores
de Antioquia - ADIDA - FECODE - CUT. á El d’aÊ 28 de julio de
2001 fue asesinada la Fiscal especializada MARêA HELENA ORTIZ,
de 6 tiros en la cabeza, en momentos en que sal’a de una cl’nica
de la ciudad de Cœcuta, Departamento de Santander, estaba afiliada
a la - Asociaci—n Nacional de Funcionarios y Empleados de la
Rama Judicial - ASONAL - CUT La compa–era estaba acompa–ada
de su hijo y esposo NESTOR RODRêGUEZ, Jefe de la Unidad Especializada
ante el Departamento Administrativo de seguridad -DAS - quienes
resultaron gravemente heridos. á El d’a 29 de julio de 2001,
desapareci— el docente JAIRO TOVAR DIAZ a las afueras del Municipio
de Galeras, Departamento de Sucre, cuando fue retenido por hombres
armados al margen de la ley;Ê estaba afiliado a la Asociaci—n
de Educadores de Sucre - ADES - FECODE - CUT. A la fecha, el
compa–ero se encuentra desaparecido, por lo cualÊ hacemos un
llamado para actuarÊ de manera URGENTE, con el prop—sito de
salvar su vida para que seaÊ devuelto a la mayor prontitud sano
y salvo al seno de su familia y de sus compa–eros. EstosÊ sucesos
tan nefastosÊ dejan claro que el incremento de las accionesÊ
contra los sindicalistas se incrementa d’aÊ a d’a ya que para
julio de 2000 hab’an asesinado 67 personas y para julio de 2001
esta cifra se incremento m‡s del 15% que se refleja en los 78
asesinatos, 35 desaparecidos y secuestrados, 14 atentados y
unÊ nœmero indeterminado de amenazados que noÊ ha sido posible
determinar por su gran magnitud. Esta criminal pol’tica, entrega
un cuadro de profunda crisis humanitaria,Ê donde la cifraÊ de
desplazamientos forzados y refugiados ya es imposible de manejarÊ
en la requerida atenci—n humanitaria. JESòS ANTONIO GONZALEZ
LUNA Director Departamento de Derechos Humanos PROTEST ACTION
Send protest e-mails, faxes and letters demanding a) protection
for trade unionists under threat and b) the removal of state
impunity from those carrying out the assassinations c) real
steps to dismantle the far-right paramilitary groups to: Doctor
Andres Pastrana Arango President of the Republic, Palacio de
Narino, Santafe de Bogota DC E-mail: rdh@presidencia.gov.co
Fax: 00571 3362109 / 337 1351 / 2867434 / 286 6842 With copies
to: CUT Trade Union Federation, Departmento Derechos Humanos,
Calle 35 No 7-25 Piso 9, Bogota, Colombia.Ê Tel/Fax: 00571 288
8577 / 323 7550 E-mail: cutcol@col3.telecom.com.co and Colombia
Solidarity Campaign, PO Box 8446, London N17 6NZ E-mail: colombia_sc@hotmail.com
and whichever other government or institutional bodies you believe
appropriate. -- Andy Higginbottom Ê |
| Close From: Andy Higginbottom [SMTP:andy@tetrachoice.demon.co.uk]
Ê To: undisclosed-recipientsÊ Cc: Ê Subject: Outline 6 month
ProgrammeÊ Sent: 8/7/01 11:57 AMÊ Importance: NormalÊ Outline
6 month Programme Rough draft circulated informally, for thinking
about now, discussion and agreement at our next meeting. Sat
8 SeptÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ Colombia Solidarity Campaign Meeting ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ
(now in doubt, clash CORAS foro, please resolve) Sat 29 SeptÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ
Proposed international action day Sat 6-13 OctÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ Delegation
to Cali Sat 20 OctÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ Report Back from Cali Delegation
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ New Bulletin Sat 3 NovÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ
Colombia Solidarity Campaign Meeting November 2001ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ
Speaking tour - Early DecemberÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ e.g. education trade
unionist plus Mario Sat 8 DecÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ Colombia Solidarity
Campaign Meeting Sun 9 DecÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ Picket Downing Street
Mon 10 DecÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ International Human Rights Day - ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ
Vigils Across the Country January 2002ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ National Meeting
attended by ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ Colombian Trade unionists
ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ New Bulletin Spring 2002ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ
Demonstration? -- Andy Higginbottom Ê |
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| In recent months the company EMCALI where
the employees work has begun a recuperation plan which involves
the co-administration of the company by the Public Services
Superintendency, and the trade union SINTRAEMCALI.Ê All of the
workers named above are part of the plan, and have been working
hard to try to root out corruption amongst some of the directors.
As a result of their work in detecting and reporting corruption
they and their families have been subjected to an onslaught
of death threats. On the 11th of July they received a call from
an unidentified person that he had just heard in a corridor
of the company that this week (11-15th of July) there is going
to be an assassination attempt against your lives, and he gave
the names of Ruben Enrique Calvo Zuiga, Carlos Alberto Lozada,
and Freddy Hernado Salinas Muoz. Ê Yesterday, August 3, 2001Ê
Ruben Enrique Calvo Zuiga received a Suffragio (a letter of
condolence for his death) in his house in San Antonio, Cali.Ê
It stated that This is the first and only warning, you have
until the 17th of August to leave EMCALI otherwise you and your
family boom. We call on the international community to send
messages of protest, and call for the protection of the lives
of these workers, and other members of SINTRAEMCALI, whose only
crime is to struggle to rebuild the social fabric of society,
fight against corruption, and defend public services in the
region. Please copy and send the following letter to the President
of Colombia (below in Spanish and English), to Doctor Andres
Pastrana Arango, President of Colombia, your own government,
and any other places you think appropriate to assist in the
protection of the legitimate rights of trade unionists in Colombia,
who are suffering attacks of a genocidal nature. Department
of Human Rights, SINTRAEMCALI Cali Colombia dhintegralsuroc@yahoo.com
Ê PROTEST ACTION Doctor Andres Pastrana Arango President of
the Republic, Palacio de Narino, Santafe de Bogota DC Dear Sir,
We the international community are concerned about the terrible
conditions, death threats, and assassinations that the Colombian
Trade Union movement is suffering from in Colombia. We call
forÊ a) protection for trade unionists under threat b) the removal
of state impunity from those carrying out the assassinations
c) real steps to dismantle the far-right paramilitary groups.
Doctor Andres Pastrana Arango President of the Republic, Palacio
de Narino, Santafe de Bogota DC Nosotros la Comunidad Internacional,
estamos muy preocupados por las terribles condiciones y amenazas
de muerte y asesinatos de sindicalistas colombianos. Nosotros
exigimos: a) La seguridad y proteccin para los sindicalistas
amenazamos. b) Solicitamos que los crimenes y amenazas a activistas
de dirigentes sindicalistas y activistas no queden en la absoluta
impunidad. c)Que exista una poltica de compromiso para acabar
con los grupos paramilitares. To: E-mail: rdh@presidencia.gov.co
Fax: 00571 3362109 / 337 1351 / 2867434 / 286 6842 With copies
to: SINTRAEMCALI, Calle 18 No6-54, Cali, Colombia Fax 888 1159,Ê
E. Mail presidenteemcali@latinmail.com, vice28@latinmail.com
CUT Trade Union Federation, Departmento Derechos Humanos, Calle
35 No 7-25 Piso 9, Bogota, Colombia. Tel/Fax: 00571 288 8577
/ 323 7550 E-mail: cutcol@col3.telecom.com.co and Colombia Solidarity
Campaign, PO Box 8446, London N17 6NZ E-mail: colombia_sc@hotmail.com
-- Andy Higginbottom Ê |
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