[mobglob-discuss] URGENT ACTION APPEAL: write Columbian President Uribe on December 10

[Paul Browning]

Please circulate widely, and sorry for cross-postings.

To all friends of Colombian unionists:

Last December, Public Services International (PSI), the global union federation that represents public sector workers, launched a campaign asking unions and their members to write Colombian president Uribe, denouncing the deaths and disappearances of Colombian union members.

Regrettably, the situation in Columbia has not improved. Once again, PSI has designated December 10, the UN International Day of Human Rights, as a day to protest Colombia's ongoing violation of union and human rights.

Colombia remains the most dangerous country in the world to be a union member. Union members there have a saying "doing union work is like carrying a tombstone on your back". In the last 15 years, over 3,000 union members have been assassinated. Many thousands more have disappeared or faced death threats. The families of union members are increasingly targeted. So far this year, 69 union members have been assassinated. The United Nations, the International Labour Organization, and many human rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have documented and protested these abuses. This situation cannot continue!


No person has ever been arrested in connection with the murders, disappearances, or threats against union members and their families. This impunity concerning crimes against union members, condoned by the Colombian government, has gone on for too long. Our Colombian sisters and brothers continue with their daily struggle for basic labour rights. We must act in solidarity with them.

I am asking all unions, union members, progressive organizations, and people concerned about union and human rights in Colombia to participate in the PSI campaign by sending a letter by email or fax  to Colombian president Uribe on December 10, denouncing these crimes and the impunity facing the criminals. A sample version follows below and is also included as an attachment, but feel free to send a personal letter. Please send a copy to the people and organizations listed at the end of the letter.

Please note that the letter was meant for Canadians to send. The "cc" section includes Canadian politicians. Please insert the appropriate officials for your country.




In solidarity with our Colombian sisters and brothers,


Jim Gorman, CUPE National Representative and CoDevelopment Canada board member


 
**********************************************************

December 10, 2003

Senor Presidente Alvaro Uribe Velez

Presidente de la Republica

Palacio de Narino

Carrera 8 No. 7-26

Santafe de Bogota

Colombia


 
Fax: 011 57 1 342 0592

or: 011 57 1 286 7434

or: 011 57 1 286 6842

or: 011 57 1 284 2186

E-mail: auribe at presidencia.gov.co

or: rdh at presidencia.gov.co


 
Dear President Uribe:


 
Re: DECEMBER 10, 2003: AN END TO IMPUNITY


 
[insert name of organization] represents [XX] workers. We are writing to you this December 10, International Human Rights Day, to express our deep concern over the continuing assassinations of Colombian trade unionists and their relatives, and the impunity with which these crimes take place.


 
The International Labour Organization (ILO) conservatively estimates that 184 trade unionists were murdered in 2002 and another 69 in the first eleven months of 2003. During this year, there has been an increase in the number of assassinations of trade unionists' family members, of arbitrary detentions without due process of law, and death threats which have forced union leaders into hiding or exile.


 
We strongly urge your government to bring these severe human rights abuses to an end, and to bring those responsible to justice.


 
Public Services International (PSI) issued a similar appeal to you last December 10th, and also sent a mission to your country to inquire into four specific assassinations of PSI affiliates. Despite requests for information from the Procuraduria General, the Attorney General, and your office's Human Rights advisor, PSI has yet to be provided with any details regarding these murders, and no charges have been laid. The victims are:



 
1. Diego de Jesus Salazar, Treasurer of the Cartago branch of SINTRAEMSDES (Sindicato de Trabajadores y Empleados de Servicios Publicos, Autonomos e Instantes Descentralizados de Colombia), killed on October 14, 2001 while returning home from work.


 
2. Hoover de Jesus Galeano, Committee member of the Pereira branch of SINTRAEMSDES for over 14 years, assassinated on October 12, 2001. His body showed signs of torture.


 
3. Jairo Balbuena, Treasurer of the Buga branch of SINTRAEMSDES, murdered on October 10, 2001.


 
4. Orlando Arenas Marin, SINTRAEMCALI (Sindicato de Trabajadores de las Empresas Municipales de Cali), killed on May 18, 2002.


 
We call upon your government to ensure the full implementation of the recommendations of UN human rights bodies and the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association. Further, we call for compliance with Colombia's constitutional provisions referring to ILO Convention 151, which protects the right to organize in the public service, and Convention 154 concerning the promotion of collective bargaining.


 
Finally, we demand that you strengthen the protection program for union leaders administered by the Ministry of the Interior, and extend this program to relatives who may also be at risk.


 
Sincerely,


 
cc:      Public Services International (rights at world-psi.org / fax 33 450 40 73 20)

Jim Gorman, CUPE BC International Solidarity Committee (jgorman at cupe.ca / fax: 604-291-1194)

Paul Martin, Prime Minister (Martin.P at parl.gc.ca / fax 613-992-4291)

Bill Graham, Minister of Foreign Affairs (Graham.B at parl.gov.ca / fax: 613-996-9607)

Svend Robinson, NDP Foreign Affairs critic (Robinson.S at parl.gov.ca / fax: 613-996-5597)

Jean Marc Duval, Canadian Ambassador to Colombia (bogota at dfait-maeci.gc.ca / fax: 011 571 657 9910)

Programa Derechos Humanos Presidencia de la Republica (ppdh at presidencia.gov.co)

UN High Commission for Human Rights in Colombia (oacnudh at hchr.org.co / fax: 011 57 1 313 4050)

Colombian Empassy in Canada (embaiador at embajadacolombia.ca)
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