176 Trade Unionists Murdered in Colombia in 1994

Last year, 176 trade unionists were murdered in Colombia, according to a survey by the Brussels-based Inter-national Confederation of Free Trade Unions, released June 14 . A ''typical'' case was that of Jorge Rodriguez, killed by ''7 armed and hooded men last April, just after his union had presented claims to the management''.

According to the Unified Workers Central, which represents about 60% of Colombia's unionized workers, 3 of every 5 union workers killed for political reasons in the world last year were Colombian. Since 1986, there have been 1800 political killings of Colombian unionists, according to Human Rights Watch.

On June 14, Human Rights Watch and the International Labor Rights Education and Research Fund filed petitions with the US Trade Representative, calling for a second review in three years of labor practices in Colombia. The petitions charge that hundreds of unionists have been killed, assaulted, or threatened for belonging to a union, participating in negotiations or trying to form locals.

In 1994, more than a quarter of Colombia's exports to the US entered duty-free under the Generalized System of Preferences program -- which could be denied if President Clinton were to show some backbone and cut off Colombia due to the abuse of labor rights. A petition to Clinton in 1993 was, for all practical purposes, ignored. The current petition cited "abundant and convincing evidence linking state agents and the paramilitary death squads often working as their allies or associated to the killings of trade unionists".

Protect Oil Workers in Colombia Threatened by Death Squads

The Regional Corporation for Human Rights (CREDHOS) and the Worker's Union (USO) in Barrancabermeja, Colombia, are receiving anonymous death threats signed by various "self-defense" groups operating in the city.

The threats and harassments include the following:

  1. On 30th June 1995 a CREDHOS worker was threatened at the CREDHOS headquarters by a man dressed in civilian clothing and carrying a gun.
  2. Death threats have been received by telephone at the CREDHOS headquarters. "You don't say anything when one of us dies, but we are going to make you say something,..." "Your last quarter of an hour is nearly up, you smell of formaldehyde"
  3. Members of CREDHOS have been harassed and followed by unknown men in cars or on motorcycles, some without number plates. In one case a worker was followed by men who were identified as being members of the National Army.
  4. 21 oil workers, USO members, have received threats by telephone and in writing signed by 'The urban self-defense groups of Magdalena Medio' and 'The Extermination group of Barranca and Yondo'. Three of the men threatened have already been forced to move away from the area.
Please Send A Fax/Telex/Letter to:

-- Presidente de la Republica, Ernesto Samper, Palacio de Nariño, Santa fe de Bogota, Colombia, Telex: 44281 PALP CO, Fax: +57 1 284 0472

-- Ministro de Defensa Nacional, Dr. Fernando Botero Zea, Ministerio de Defensa Nacional, Avenida Eldorado CAN-Carrera 52, Santa fe de Bogota, Colombia, Telex:42411 INPRE CO; 44561 CFAC CO Fax: +57 1 288 4906/2221874

--- Or send a precomposed telex by calling Worldlink at 1-800-357-0326: Refer to PBI message #1 to the President, #2 to the Min. of Defense and #3 to the Min. of the Interior. Worldlink charges $6 (Billed) / $4 (Visa/MC) per Telex or Fax.

TELEX MESSAGE: I am extremely concerned about the threats received by CREDHOS and 21 USO oil workers in Barrancabermeja as well as the continuing human rights violations in Colombia. I request your cooperation in ensuring investigations into these threats and guarantying the security of CREDHOS and USO members.

For more information contact
Peace Brigades International:
2642 College Ave.
Berkeley CA 94704
510-540-0749
pbicolusa@igc.apc.org

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