[mobglob-discuss] US Trade Unionist Assassinated in El Salvador

[Gordon Flett]

Urgent Action Alert Maquila Solidarity Network 
November 17, 2004 

US Trade Unionist Assassinated in El Salvador 

Gilberto Soto was assassinated on November 5, at 6:00 p.m., while visiting his mother in the city of Usulutan, El Salvador. A US citizen and Salvadoran by birth, Mr. Soto was just about to begin working on a new project documenting violations of the rights of Central American port workers and drivers when he was killed by unknown assailants. 

Mr. Soto received a call on his cell phone and had just stepped outside the doorway of his mother's home when he was approached by two men who shot him at close range. He died instantly. The killers fled, running to a car waiting about 100 yards away. There may also have been a third assailant on a bicycle. There was no attempt to rob Mr. Soto, and according to eye witnesses, it was clear that this was an assassination. 

Mr. Soto was a long time organizer with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT). Less than a year ago, he met in New York City with Denmark 's SID Union (The Specialized Workers Union in Denmark). The IBT and SID were interested in collaborating on a joint project documenting the systematic violations of worker rights by Maersk, one of the largest shipping companies in the world. Port workers and drivers in Central America work long hours with little pay and are not allowed to exercise their right to freedom of association. Mr. Soto was about to begin working on this project when he was assassinated. 

REQUESTED ACTION: 

Please write to Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew, with a cc to the Salvadoran Ambassador to Canada, urging his government to communicate to the Salvadoran government the need for prompt, thorough and fair investigation into Mr. Soto's assassination, and for Mr. Soto's murders to be brought to justice. 

To:       The Honourable Pierre Pettigrew 

Minister of Foreign Affairs 

125 Sussex Drive 

Ottawa, ON  Canada 

K1A 0G2 

Fax: 613 995 8180 

Email: pettigrew.p at parl.gc.ca 


Cc:       His Excellency Dr. Mauricio Rosales-Rivera 

Ambassador for El Salvador 

209 Kent Street 

Ottawa, ON   Canada 

K2P 1Z8 

Fax: 613 238 6940 

Email: embajada at elsalvador-ca.org 


SAMPLE LETTER (Please write your own and send a copy to MSN.) 


November 16, 2004 

The Honourable Pierre Pettigrew Minister of Foreign Affairs 
125 Sussex Drive Ottawa, ON, Canada K1A 0G2 

Dear Minister Pettigrew: 

I am writing to register my serious concerns about the recent assassination of US trade union leader Mr. Gilberto Soto in Usulatan, El Salvador, and to strongly urge your government to communicate to the Government of El Salvador the urgent need for a prompt, thorough and fair investigation into his murder and that all those responsible for the murder be brought to justice. 

Mr. Soto was murdered while visiting his mother in Usulutan on November 5, 
2004. The circumstances surrounding the murder suggest that this was a well-planned assassination. Two men shot Mr. Soto in the back, at close range, before fleeing to a waiting car. There was no attempt to rob Mr. Soto, and according to eye witness accounts, it was clear that the sole intent was to kill him. 

Originally from El Salvador and a long-time resident and citizen of the United States, Mr. Soto was a well-known activist in the Teamsters union. He was just about to begin work on a new project documenting violations of the rights of Central American port employees and drivers when he was murdered. 

I am extremely concerned that the assassination of Mr. Soto is related to his solidarity activities in support of workers in Central America and that his murder was intended to prevent him from meeting and promoting solidarity with these workers. 

I understand that the Salvadoran government is promising an investigation into the murder of Mr. Soto, but that to date, there has been very little done to apprehend Mr. Soto's killers. 

I would strongly urge that your government communicate to the Salvadoran government the importance of carrying out a full investigation of Mr. Soto's murder and duly bring to justice all those responsible for the crime. 

Thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter. 

Yours truly, 


Cc: Dr. Mauricio Rosales-Rivera, Ambassador for El Salvador

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