The International Centre for Trade Union Rights ('ICTUR')
COLOMBIA BULLETIN: April 2008

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During the period between January to April 2008, ICTUR received the following reports from Colombia, including serious violations of trade union rights: During the first four months of 2008, the Colombian trade unions reported 23 unionists who have been assassinated. Alongside death threats, illegal arrests and armed attacks, human rights violations against Colombian trade unionists have increased substantially when compared with this period last year.
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2 January: Mario Zuluaga, a member of the health workers’ union ASMEDAS, was assassinated in the city of Medellin, Antioquia Department.

12 January: Ramiro de Jesús Pérez Zapata, a member of the regional teachers’ union of Antioquia ADIDA, was assassinated in the town of San Jerónimo, Antioquia Department.

24 January: Israel González, a member of the agricultural workers’ union FENSUAGRO, was assassinated in the town of San Antonio, Tolima Department.

28 January: Jose Yebraín Suárez, a local leader of the prison officers’ union was assassinated at his home. Yebraín Suárez was shot in the doorway of his house by killers who were waiting for him on his return from work. The union is affiliated to the CGT Colombia

2 February: José Martín Duarte Acero, a member of the environment sector workers’ union SINTRAMBIENTE, was assassinated in the town of La Macarena, Meta Department.

8 February: Maria del Carmen Mesa Pasochoa, a member of the regional teachers’ union - ASEDAR, was assassinated in the town of Tame, Arauca Department.

9 February: Samboni Arley Benavides, a member of the health workers’ union ANTHOC, was assassinated in the town of Balboa, Cauca Department.

9 February: José Giraldo Mamian, a member of the regional teachers’ union ASOINCA, was assassinated in the town of La Vega, Cauca Department.

12 February: José Domingo Florez, a member of the foodworkers’ union SINALTRAINAL, received death threats signed by the paramilitary groups.

17 February: Mauricio Cubides, a member of the agricultural workers’ union FENSUAGRO, suffered an attempt at enforced disappearance, by armed persons. Later he received death threats.

4 March: Carmen Cecilia Carvajal Ramírez, a member of the regional teachers’ union ASINORT, was assassinated in the city of Ocaña, Norte de Santander Department.

7 March: Gildardo Antonio Gómez Alzate, a member of the regional teachers’ union ADIDA, was assassinated in the city of Medellín, Antioquia Department.

7 March: Rafael Boada, local President of the bank workers’ union UNEB, suffered an attempt again his life. He had recently received death threats.

8 March: Leonidas Gómez Rozo, a member of the bank workers’ union UNEB, was assassinated in the city of Bogota.

11 March: Trade unionists, community leaders, peace activists and human rights defenders have been receiving death threats following the national day to commemorate victims of state violence that was held on 6 March in Colombia and around the world.

12 March: Víctor Manuel Muñoz, a member of the regional teachers’ union ADUCESAR, was assassinated in the town of Agustín Codazzi, Cesar Department.

12 March: Carlos Burbano, a member of the health workers’ union ANTHOC, was assassinated in the city of San Vicente del Caguan, Caquetá Department.

12 March: Fernanda Bolaños, a member of the public sector workers’ union SINTRAEMSIRVA, received email death threats against its members and specifically naming Fernanda Bolaños, the leader of the union.

15 March: Manuel Antonia Jiménez, a member of the agricultural workers’ union FENSUAGRO, was assassinated in the town of Puerto Asís, Putumayo Department.

16 March: José Fernando Quiroz, a member of the agricultural workers’ union FENSUAGRO, was assassinated in the town of Puerto Asís, Putumayo Department.

18 March: José Gregorio Astros Amaya, a local leader of the prison officers’ union, ASEINPEC, was assassinated in the city of Cartago, Valle Department.

22 March: Adolfo Gonzáles Montes, a member of the mineworkers’ union SINTRACARBON, was assassinated in the city of Riohacha, Guajira Department.

27 March: Manuel de Jesús Reyes Reyes, a leader of the regional agricultural workers’ union SINDAGRICULTORES (affiliated to FENSUAGRO) was taken into detention, illegally, by members of the Colombian army.

10 April: Members of the Agro-mining Federation of the South of Bolivar Department FEDEAGROMISBOL, and other local human rights organisations, received email death threats signed by the paramilitary group ‘Black Eagles’ (Aguilas Negras). The message informed them that they were considered to be military targets and would be killed.

16 April: Jesús Heberto Caballero Ariza, a local leader of the public sector workers’ union SINDESENA and a member of the human rights committee of the union, was ‘disappeared’. His body was found the next day, with evidence of torture.

22 April: Guillermo Rivera Fúquene, the President of the local public sector workers’ union SINSERPUB, was ‘disappeared’ while taking his daughter to school.

23 April: Jorge Gamboa, the national President of the oil workers’ union USO, suffered an attempt again his life, by armed persons, at the time when the union leader was accompanying a group of workers in the town of San Vicente del Chucurri, Santander Department.

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ICTUR has written to the Colombian authorities to protest against the continuing violations of trade union rights. ICTUR insists that the authorities must implement and ensure full respect for the international legal standards that protect freedom of association.

For more information contact ICTUR: miguel@ictur.org

If you want to take action in support of these cases you can send letters of protest to the Colombian authorities at the following addresses:

President of the Republic of Colombia
Dr. Alvaro Uribe Velez
Palacio de Narino, Carrera 8 No.7-26 Santafe de Bogota, COLOMBIA
Fax: + 57 1 337 5890
E-mail: auribe@presidencia.gov.co

Vicepresident of the Republic of Colombia
Francisco Santos - Consejeria Presidential de Derechos Humanos
Carrera 8A No. 5-57, Santafe de Bogota, COLOMBIA
Fax: +57 1 334 4507 / 772 0130
E-mail: fsantos@presedencia.gov.co

Minister of the Interior and Justice
Carlos Holguin Sardi - Ministerio del Interior y Justicia
Palacio Echeverry, Carrera 8a, No.8-09, piso 2o., Santafe de Bogota, Colombia
Fax: +57 1 560 4630
E-mail: ministro@minjusticia.gov.co

Programa Presidencial de Derechos Humanos y de Derecho Internacional Humanitario.
Dr.  Carlos Franco
Calle 7 N° 5-54
TEL: (+571) 336.03.11
FAX: (+57 1)  337.46.67
E- mail: cefranco@presidencia.gov.co
E-mail: fibarra@presidencia.gov.co

Representante Permanente de la OIT en Colombia
Dr. Marcelo Castro Fox
Dirección: Av. 82. No. 12-18 Oficina: 504.
Teléfono: 623 75 86.
Bogotá D.C.
E-mail: castrofox@oit.org.pe

Procuraduría General de la Nación
Dr.  Edgardo José Maya Villazón
Carrera 5 No. 15-80
Santa Fe de Bogotá.
Fax: (+57 1)342.97.23
E-mail: reygon@procuraduria.gov.co; anticorrupcion@presidencia.gov.co

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