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Over the course of the past few months the TURC has played a key role in important legal cases, including securing a criminal conviction against the person responsible for murdering two mineworkers’ leaders eight years ago in Cesar Department
Valmore Locarno Rodriguez and Victor Hugo Orcasita were President and Vice President of the mining union SINTRAMIENERGETICA at a mine in Cesar Department run by the US mining company Drummond. The two men were ordered to step off a company bus and were assassinated before the eyes of their horrified co-workers in March 2001.
TURC lawyers provided parte civil representation for the families of Locarno and Orcasita in criminal proceedings against Jairo de Jesus Charris Castro, a member of a paramilitary group who was accused of carrying out the assassinations. In September 2009 Jairo de Jesus Charris Castro was sentenced to a prison term of 30 years for his role in the murders.
The Fiscalia (public prosecutor) has now commenced a further investigation into the activities of Drummond managers Jean Jakim, Garry Drummond, Augusto Jimenez and Alfredo Araujo. Over the past several years US lawyers have argued that Drummond should accept responsibility for the murders and have unsuccessfully pursued the company through the US courts. The matter will now be investigated by the Colombian public prosecutor.
Between January to September this year, ICTUR has been informed of a total of 27 trade unionists assassinated in Colombia. The acts of violence against trade unionists continue at an alarming level and with an appalling impact on the human rights of trade unionists.
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During the period between June to September 2009, ICTUR received the following reports from Colombia, including serious violations of trade union rights:
On 27 May, Orlando Ospina Loaiza, vice-president of the public sector workers’ union SINTRAEMSDES in Pereira, Risaralda Department, was followed and harassed by unidentified men riding motorcycles.
On 30 May, Juan Mario Giraldo, Secretary General of the public sector workers’ union SINTRAEMSDES in Pereira, Risaralda Department, was followed and harassed by unidentified men riding motorcycles.
On 9 June, Pablo Rodríguez Garabito, a teacher and member of the Arauca region of the teachers’ union ASEDAR, was assassinated by unknown gunmen in his classroom in the town of Puerto Rondón.
On 11 June, Jorge Humberto Echeverri Garro, a teacher and member of the Arauca region of the teachers’ union ASEDAR, was assassinated in the town of Arauquita.
On 18 June, Rafael Alberto Molano, national vice president of CUT Colombia, received written death threats from the guerrilla group FARC.
20 June, Rafael Antonio Sepúlveda Lara, a member of the national hospital workers’ union ANTHOC and a member of the national executive of the public servants’ federation FENASER, was assassinated in the city of Cucuta, Department of Norte de Santander.
On 30 June, José Antonio Betancourt López, a member of a local peasants’ association ASOCBAC, went missing. Later his body was found completely dismembered in the town of Taraza, Department of Antioquia.
On 24 July, Ricardo Correa Bernal and Nicolás Zapata Vásquez, both members of the Medellin branch of the further education workers’ union SINDESENA, received threatening phone calls from paramilitary groups.
On 29 July, Jorge Orlando Tabares Gómez, a member of the board of the oil workers’ union USO, was intercepted by a man on a motorcycle who made death threats against him and said he should leave the union.
On 10 August, Alirio García, regional leader of the farm workers’ union FENSUAGRO, was arbitrarily detained in the city of Armenia, Department of Quindío.
On 11 August, Jairo Martinez Solarte, a judge and member of court and judicial workers’ union ASONAL JUDICIAL, was assassinated by unknown gunmen in the city of Cali, Department of Valle del Cauca.
On 11 August, Antonio Florez González, a worker of the local university of Córdoba and local president of the public university workers’ union SINTRAUNICOL, was harassed by unidentified men who broke in to his home in the town of Cerete, Department of Cordoba.
On 17 August, several teachers, all members of the university teachers’ association ASPU, received threatening phone calls and email death threats signed by paramilitary groups. The threats came after the trade union published a statement protesting against the establishment of a US military base in Colombia.
On 21 August, Gustavo Gomez, an employee at Nestle–Comestibles La Rosa SA and member of the foodworkers’ trade union SINALTRAINAL, was assassinated by unknown gunmen at his house. According to the union, this crime happened at the time when the trade union had just presented a set of demands to the company.
On 22 August, Fredy Díaz Ortiz, a member of the prison workers’ union ASEINPEC, was assassinated in the city of Valledupar, department of Cesar.
On 1 September, Mauricio Monsalve Vásquez a member of the Antioquia region teachers’ association ADIDA went missing for ten days. His body was found in the town of Ituango, Department of Antioquia.
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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.
President of the Republic of
Dr. Alvaro Uribe Velez
Palacio de Narino, Carrera 8 No.7-26 Santafe de Bogota,
Fax: + 57 1 337 5890
E-mail: auribe@presidencia.gov.co
Vicepresident of the
Francisco Santos
Carrera 8A No. 5-57,
Fax: +57 1 334 4507 / 772 0130
E-mail: fsantos@presidencia.gov.co
Minister of the Interior and Justice
Fabio Valencia Cossio
Palacio Echeverry, Carrera 8a, No.8-09, piso 2o.,
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
Representante Permanente de la OIT en
Dr. Marcelo Castro Fox
Dirección: Av. 82. No. 12-18 Oficina: 504.
Teléfono: 623 75 86.
Dr
Carrera 5 No. 15-80
Santa Fe de Bogotá.
Fax: (+57 1)342.97.23
E-mail: reygon@procuraduria.gov.co
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