The Cali Municipal Workers Union SINTRAEMCALI has sent an Urgent Action concerning another attack by gunmen on them and an important press notice
(these follow below in Spanish and English).
The union is in its sixth year of fighting to stop the privatisation of its employer, the EMCALI corporation which provides water, phone and electricity services. In an unprecedented concession due to the sustained and multi-faceted popular campaign, the Colombian government recently agreed to negotiate for the union to take over the running of EMCALI and so allow the services to stay in public hands. Meanwhile the intimidation of union members by the state and right wing paramilitaries has intensified.
SO PLEASE WRITE TO PASTRANA, DEMAND FULL GUARANTEES FOR THE RIGHT
TO TRADE UNION ASSOCIATION AND THE SECURITY OF SINTRAEMCALI.
(addresses at end of page)
Alexander Lopez, the President of SINTRAEMCALI, is this week with other trade unionists at the annual meeting of the International Labour Organisation in Geneva lobbying for an international Commission of Inquiry into the human rights violations of trade unionists in Colombia.
Alexander will return to Britain to address a meeting of the Colombia Solidarity Campaign at 10am on Saturday 16th June (Cock Tavern, Phoenix Road, London NW1). He will be an official guest at UNISON's annual conference in Brighton from 18th to 22nd June, where UNISON will debate a motion condemning US military intervention in Colombia through Plan Colombia. Alexander will be available for interviews and meetings in Britain during the week commencing 25th June.
I. URGENT ACTION 11 June - English
II. ACCION URGENTE 11 de junio - Espanol
III. SINTRAEMCALI Activists Released 13 June - English
IV. LIBRES ACTIVISTAS DE SINTRAEMCALI 13 de junio - Espanol
V. ADDRESSES FOR URGENT ACTION
I. URGENT ACTION - ATTACK ON SINTRAEMCALI WORKERS, ACTIVISTS AND LEADERS
We, the below signed organisations, are alarmed at the security situation of the workers, activists and trade union leaders of the Cali Municipal Workers Union SINTRAEMCALI, and we denounce the following events before the national and international community: Events:
1. On 10th June 2001 as the workers proposals for The Recovery of the Cali Municipal Corporation, EMCALI EICE were being presented, a highly armed group of men surrounded the EMCALI Club where the work session was taking place.
2. The individuals were in civilian dress and bearing heavy weapons. On being surprised by the trusted bodyguards who look after SINTRAEMCALI's union executive, the attackers shot indiscriminately for 10 minutes into the interior of the Club, which is located at kilometre 2 on the road to the sea.
3. These events took place at about 10 pm, that is after 6 hours of work in which the different committees co-ordinated by the SINTRAEMCALI executive had presented their proposals to the General Supervising Inspector of Public Services, Juan Manuel Pulido, as well as to the Chief of Planning, Oscar Barona and the Chief of Finance, Jaime Alban of the current administration.
4. The first shots were made near to the auditorium. One of the union's bodyguards responded with a shot and the others moved to near the auditorium where approximately 60 people were meeting, amongst them workers, union leaders and the mangers of the current administration.
5. On seeing the reaction of the guards one of the attackers tried to take a 12 year old girl hostage, without success. She is the daughter of a worker and was there with her mother.
6. The co-ordinated reaction of the union's guards made the four aggressors flee off towards La Fortuna barrio, shooting as they ran.
7. According to several versions, between 9.30 and 10.00pm strange movements and suspicious persons had been spotted on the inside and the outside of the Club. The most evident cases were two individuals who hid themselves in the grass shortly before the shooting, and a tall, black man wearing a blue shirt.
8. It is important to note that from six in the afternoon only the workers at the meeting and some of their families had been in the Club.
9. When the leaders heard the first shots they immediately contacted the state authorities asking for protection, however the Cali police only arrived 40 minutes after the attack. In which time the bodyguards had started a search for the assailants. They got the help of local people near to the Club, who saw a man with a rifle run off. When a Police Sergeant arrived at their place, they told him that they had seen a man in a blue shirt hide himself at the side of the highway close to the scene of the attack.
Immediate background:
On 15th March 2001 three union activists, Luis Carlos Tafur, Omar Ospina
and Hooveer Yasnot, were detained and accused of terrorism, in a clear
and open set up between management and the prosecutor's office.
On 19th April 2001 the daughter of union leader Edinson Gómez was detained, taken off to an unknown place and subject to physical and psychological tortures.
In the week of 19th to 25th May 2001, 3 activists of SINTRAEMCALI were assassinated: on 19th May Juan Esteban Tenorio; on 21st May Carlos Elicier Prado and on 25th May Henry Jiménez. The last two were killed on arrival at their place of work.
On 23rd May 2001 two men in a large-engined car went to the Autonomous Western University, located on the outskirts of Cali by the motorway that leads to the town of Jamundi. They asked for the daughter of union leader Domingo Angulo.
On 1st June 2001 two individuals in a car went to Miguel Camacho Perea College, situated on the corner of 13th street and 17th avenue telling the supervisor that Domingo Angulo had sent them had sent them to pick up his son.
On 2nd June when Domingo Angulo was returning from a union meeting, the guards of the place where he lives approached and told him that three suspicious individuals had been watching his residence, two opposite the house and one from a nearby bakers, and that they seemed to be armed. When this third man saw that the guards had informed the police he warned the others and they all fled.
On 7th June Domingo's daughter got on a mini-bus from the University. Two men placed themselves near her seat watching her continuously. She got off the bus at the Cosmo Centre shops, they got off as well. She boarded another bus, and they followed her aboard. Then she got off at a supermarket near her home, and they got off one block further on, watching her from a distance. They call [by telephone] and hang up, sometimes they laugh and hang up.
In the last month union leaders Alexander Barrios and Robinson Masso have on repeated occasions observed a white large-engined car hanging about their place of residence and nearby to the buildings of the Municipal Administration Centre, where they have meetings with the mayor and EMCALI's management.
On 11th June, the day after the attack at the Club, worker Oscar Figueroa received a call at his place of work from someone who identified himself as Gerardo Duque from the planning department. This caller said, "I know that union's proposal for the restoration [of EMCALI] is good, but I don't agree that a lot of people should leave work. I would like a copy". Oscar replied that the proposal was held in the union's safe. Afterwards Oscar received another call in which they declared, "we already know where you are working, and we have located your family".
To these latest events can be added the long history of persecution of our union, threats, disappearances, assassinations, attacks, arbitrary detentions and assaults by the state forces that the workers of EMCALI have suffered in their persistent struggle to defend the common good of the Cali people against privatisation.
Because of the above we ask you to send protest messages to the government demanding full guarantees for the right to exercise trade unionism, collecting bargaining and mobilisation, and to respect the lives of the workers and trade union leaders.
Cali Municipal Workers Union SINTRAEMCALI Colombian Workers United Federation , CUT, Valle de Cauca region Association for Investigation and Social Action, NOMADESC
Santiago de Cali, 11th June 2001
II. ACCION URGENTE: ALERTA POR ATENTADO CONTRA LOS TRABAJADORES, ACTIVISTAS Y DIRIGENTES DE SINTRAEMCALI
Las organizaciones abajo firmantes alarmadas con la situación de seguridad contra los trabajadores, activistas y dirigentes sindicales del Sindicato de Trabajadores de las Empresas Publicas de Cali SINTRAEMCALI, denunciamos ante la comunidad nacional e internacional los siguientes hechos:
Los hechos:
1. El día 10 de junio de 2001, cuando se realizaba la presentación
de las propuestas de los trabajadores frente al Plan de Recuperación
de las Empresas Municipales de Cali, EMCALI EICE, un grupo de hombres fuertemente
armados rodearon las intalaciones del Club de Emcali donde se ralizaba
la sesión de trabajo.
2. Los individuos que se encontraban vestidos de civil y quienes portaban armas largas, al verse sorprendidos por los escoltas de confianza de la Junta Directiva de SINTRAEMCALI, dispararon indiscriminadamente por espacio de 10 minutos al interior del club, ubicado en el kilometro 2 vía al mar.
3. Los hechos sucedieron aproximadamente a las 10:00 p.m. luego de seis horas de trabajo, en que los diversos comites de reacción coordinados por la Junta Directiva de SINTRAEMCALI, habian presentado sus propuestas al Gerente Interventor de la Superintendencia de Servicios Publicos, Juan Manuel Pulido, los Gerentes de Planeación Oscar Barona y Financiero, Jaime Alban pertenecientes a la actual administración.
4. Los primeros disparos fueron hechos cerca al auditorio, uno de los escoltas respondio con un disparo y los otros se trasladaron cerca al auditorio donde se encontraban aproximadamente sesenta personas,entre trabajadores, directivos sindicales y los gerentes de la actual administración.
5. Uno de los individuos al ver la reacción de los escoltas, trato de tomar como rehen, sin lograrlo, a una menor de 12 años, hija de un trabajador que se encontraba acompañada por su madre.
6. La reacción coordinada de los escoltas provoco la huida de cuatro de los agresores hacia el barrio la fortuna, quienes continuaron disparando mientras corrian
7. Según varias versiones entre las 9:30 y las 10:00 de la noche se vieron movimientos extraños y personas sospechosas tanto al interior, como al exterior del Club. Los casos más evidentes fueron los de dos individuos que se ocultanban entre la malesa poco antes de la balacera y de un hombre de contestura alta color negro, que vestia camisa azul.
8. Es importante anotar que desde las seis de la tarde solo habian quedado en el club los trabajadores que se encontraban en la reunión y algunos de sus familiares.
9. Los directivos inmediatamente escucharon los primeros disparos se comunicaron con la fuerza pública solicitando protección, sin embargo, los efectivos de la policia metropolitana de Cali, solo llegaron 40 minutos despues del atentado. Tiempo durante el cual otros escoltas emprendieron la busqueda de los agresores, pudiendo constatar por los moradores de una vivienda cercana al club, que vieron huir a un hombre que portaba un arma larga. Igualmente una Sargento de la Policia que llego al lugar, expreso que ellos habian visto a un hombre de camisa azul que se ocultaba a la orilla de la carretera cercana al lugar de los hechos.
Antecedentes inmediatos:
El 15 de marzo del 2001 fuerón detenidos tres activistas Luis
Carlos Tafur, Omar Ospina Y Hooveer Yasnot acusados de terrorismo, dentro
de un claro y abierto montaje de la administracion en coordinacion con
la fiscalia.
El 19 de abril del 2001, fue detenida, llevada un lugar desconocido y sometida a torturas físicas y psicológicas la hija del dirigente sindical Edinson Gómez.
En la semana del 19 al 25 de mayo del 2001, fueron asesinados 3 activistas de sintraemcali. 19 de mayo, Juan Esteban Tenorio; el 21 de mayo, Carlos Eliecer Prado y el 25 de mayo Henry Jiménez, estos dos ultimos al ingresar al lugar de trabajo.
El dia el 23 de mayo de 2001, dos hombres en una moto de alto cilindraje fueron a la Universidad Autonoma de Occidente, ubicada en las afueras de Cali por la Autopista que conduce al municipio de Jamundi, a preguntar por la hija del Directivo Sindical Domingo Angulo.
El dia 1 de junio de 2001, dos individuos en moto fueron al Colegio "Miguel Camacho Perea" ubicado en la calle trece con carrera 17 le manifestaron al celador del colegio que el directivo Domingo Angulo los habia enviado a recoger a su hijo.
El dia 2 de junio cuando Domingo Angulo regresaba de una reunión con el sindicato, los vigilantes del lugar donde reside se acercaron a él y le manifestaron que tres individuos sospechosos habian estado vigilando su residencia, dos frente a su casa y uno desde una panaderia cercana, el que al parecer estaba armado y al ver que los vigilantes informaron a la policia y que requisaron a los otros huyo.
El 8 de junio, la hija de Domingo, abordo una buseta desde la Universidad, dos hombres se ubicaron cerca del puesto observandola permanentemente, en los almacenes de Cosmocentro se bajo y ellos tambien se bajaron, ella abordo otra ruta y seguidamente ellos se subierón, luego desciende en un supermecado cercano a su residencia y ellos se bajan una cuadra mas adelante, vigilandola desde la distancia. Permanentemente llaman y cuelgan, a veces se rien y cuelgan.
En en ultimo mes los directivos del sindicato, Alexander Barrios y Robinson Masso han observado en repetidas ocasiones una moto de alto cilindraje de color blanco, merodiando el lugar de residencia y en cercanias de las instalaciones del Centro Administrativo Municipal CAM lugar de reuniones con el alcalde y la administración de Emcali.
El 11 de Junio del 2001, un día despues del atentado al club, el trabajador Oscar Figueroa recibio una llamada al lugar de trabajo donde se identifican como Gerardo Duque del departamento de planeación, el cual le manifesto "Conosco la propuesta que presento el sindicato de restauración es buena pero no comparto que salgan muchas personas del trabajo, quisiera tener copia" el contesto que esta reposaba en la caja fuerte del sindicato. Posteriormente recibio otra llamada en la que manifestaron " ya sabemos en que estas trabajando, tenemos ubicada a tu familia".
A los mas resientes hechos se suman la larga historia de persecución sindical, amenazas, desapariciones, asesinatos, allanamientos, detenciones arbitrarias y agresiones de la fuerza publica que han padecido los trabajadores de Emcali en su persistente lucha por defender el patrimonio del pueblo caleño contra la privatización.
Por lo anteriormente expresado solicitamos enviar notas de protesta al gobierno exigiendo plenas garantias para el ejercicio del derecho de sindicalización, movilizacion y negociación colectiva, el respeto al derecho a la vida de los trabajadores y lideres sindicales.
SINDICATO DE TRABAJADORES DE EMPRESAS MUNICIPALES DE CALI SINTRAEMCALI.
CENTRAL UNITARIA DE TRABAJADORES SUB DIRECTIVA VALLE DEL CAUCA.
ASOCIACION PARA LA INVESTIGACION Y ACCION SOCIAL, NOMADESC.
Santiago de Cali, 11 de Junio de 2001.
III. SINTRAEMCALI Activists Released
To the National and International Media
After being arbitrarily arrested and accused of terrorism three SINTRAEMCALI activists, LUIS CARLOS TAFUR, OMAR OSPINA and HOOVEER YASNOT will at 6pm today at last regain the liberty that for four long months has been taken from them.
The mobilisation of all the workers, protests from international organisations, the solidarity of the popular movement and the work of our legal advisers were together able to counteract the judicial frame up prepared by the employer and unscrupulous leaders, who at all costs want to stop the actions in defence of EMCALI EICE, that have been launched by the workers, activists and trade union leaders.
Our comrades were subject to all kinds of insults and abuse: from their arbitrary arrest; the inhuman conditions in which they were kept; and the public smear campaign mounted by the local communications media, condemning them before they were judged, so that last Friday they were victims of an attack by an armed group who threw a grenade into Canarios prison where they were being held under investigation.
The case of LUIS CARLOS TAFUR, OMAR OSPINA and HOOVEER YASNOT is part of the punishment of social protest and of the repressive policies of the current government, which has lead to ten members of SINTRAEMCALI being assassinated. There have also been assassination attempts, illegal assaults, harassment and constant threats against the union leaders.
We confirm that we the workers of EMCALI EICE are not terrorists, we are defenders of the public commonwealth [patrimony] for the good of the community.
We are convening today, 13th June 2001 at 6pm, at the Colon telephone plant, a Freedom Meeting to welcome our comrades.
It is important that the communications media give to the country and the world the truth of this case, and thereby compensate for the harm caused when, four months ago, our comrades were presented to public opinion as terrorists.
SINTRAEMCALI Executive Committee 13th June 2001
IV. LIBRES ACTIVISTAS DE SINTRAEMCALI
Comunicado a los medios de comunicación Nacionales e Internacionales
Luego de estar arbitrariamente detenidos y acusados de terrorismo los activistas de SINTRAEMCALI, LUIS CARLOS TAFUR, OMAR OSPINA Y HOOVEER YASNOT, porfin hoy a las 6:00 p.m. recobran la libertad que les arrebataron durante cuatro largos meses. La movilización de todos los trabajadores, el pronunciamiento de diversos organismos internacionales, la solidaridad del movimiento popular y el acompañamiento de nuestros asesores jurídicos, pudieron contrarestar el montaje jurídico preparado por la empresa y los directivos inescrupulosos, que a toda costa quieren frenar las acciones de defensa de EMCALI EICE, emprendidas por trabajadores, activistas y dirigentes sindicales.
Nuestros compañeros fueron sometidos durante este tiempo a todo tipo de vejamenes: desde la detención arbitraria, las condiciones infrahumanas en que permanecieron, el escarnio público y despliegue publicitario que los medios de comunicación locales hicieron en su contra, condenandolos antes de ser juzgados, hasta el atentado del que fueron víctimas por parte de un grupo armado que lanzo una granada el pasado viernes al interior del centro de reclusión "Canarios" del Cuerpo Tecnico de Investigaciones, C.T.I.
El caso de LUIS CARLOS TAFUR, OMAR OSPINA Y HOOVEER YASNOT, se suscribe dentro de la llamada penalización de la protesta social y de las políticas represivas del actual gobierno, que han dejado como resultado el asesinato de una decena de trabajadores afiliados a SINTRAEMCALI, atentados, allanamientos ilegales, hostigamiento y amenazas constantes contra los directivos sindicales.
Ratificamos que los trabajadores de EMCALI EICE, no somos terroristas, somos defensores del patrimonio público, para el bien de la comunidad.
Los convocamos hoy, 13 de junio de 2001 a las 6:00 p.m. a la planta telefonica de Colon, AL ENCUENTRO CON LA LIBERTAD de nuestros compañeros.
Es importante que los medios de comunicación den a conocer al país y el mundo la verdad de este caso y con ello subsanen el daño causado, cuatro meses atrás cuando nuestros activistas sindicales fueron presentados como terrorista ante la opinión publica.
JUNTA DIRECTIVA SINTRAEMCALI
Junio 13 de 2001
V. URGENT ACTION ADDRESSES
Protests to:
1. President of the Republic, Andres Pastrana Arango
Palacio de Narino, Carrera 8 No.7-26, Santafe de Bogota, Colombia
E-mail via rdh@presidencia.gov.co
Fax: 00571 3362109 / 337 1351 / 2867434 / 286 6842
2. Vice-President, Dr.Gustavo Bell.
E-mail: rdh@presidencia.gov.co
Fax 00571 444 2120 / 341 8364
3. Minister of Interior, Senor Humberto De La Calle
Fax: 00571 341 9583 / 334 3960
Copies to:
1. SINTRAEMCALI : presidenteemcali@latinmail.com.co
Calle 18 No.6-54, Cali, Colombia. Tel: 00572 8890189 Fax: 00572 8881159
2. CUT Trade Union Federation : cutcol@col3.telecom.com.co
Departmento Derechos Humanos, CUT, Calle 35 No 7-25 Piso 9, Bogota,
Colombia.
Tel/Fax: 00571 288 8577 / 323 7550
3. Colombia Solidarity Campaign : colombia_sc@hotmail.com
PO Box 8446, London N17 6NZ