TUC demands release of Colombian union leader due to address Congress

date: Friday 30 August 2013

embargo: For immediate release

The Colombian union leader Huber Ballesteros must be released immediately and the charges against him dropped, the TUC has demanded in a letter to the Colombian government.

Following Huber Ballesteros' arrest at the weekend at the headquarters of the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores (CUT) in Bogatá, the Colombian equivalent of the TUC, he has been detained and charged with inciting rebellion and financing terrorism.

Huber Ballesteros had been due to address the TUC conference in Bournemouth next month to update Congress on Colombia's peace process and the current wave of industrial action taking place throughout the South American country.

Commenting on Huber Ballesteros' arrest, TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady said: 'This is a catch all charge which has been used to imprison many trade unionists down the years, and its use against Huber is a sign that little has changed in Colombia.

'The timing of the arrest, just as industrial action is taking place across the country and as Huber was preparing to travel to the UK to speak at our Congress and encourage support and solidarity amongst UK trade unionists, is nothing short of predictable.'

As well as sitting on the CUT National Executive, Huber is also the Vice President of the FENSUAGRO agricultural union and national organiser for the Patriotic March movement - an alliance of civil society organisations.

Here in the UK, the TUC-backed organisation Justice for Colombia (JFC) has worked closely with Huber and FENSUAGRO for many years, and has forcefully rejected the allegations made against him by the Colombian Attorney General's office that resources from JFC have been used to fund the FARC.

JFC Director Mariela Kohon said: 'We stand by FENSUAGRO and Huber Ballesteros. We know that our funding has gone towards human rights and organising projects to help our colleagues in their struggle for justice - in the face of constant repression at the hands of state and paramilitary forces which has seen over 1,000 of its members assassinated since the union's foundation 30 years ago and 70 members currently imprisoned.'

The TUC has written to the Colombian ambassador in London and authorities in Bogotá to make clear that it believes Huber Ballesteros' detention is due to his leadership role in the strikes which began earlier this month and which are still taking place across the country.

The strikes are taking place across agriculture, transport, mining and public services as Colombian workers join forces to demand a response from the government which has so far failed to meet its commitment to provide economic support to these sectors.

The TUC letter condemns the government for resorting to the age-old practice of imprisoning high-profile critics simply for carrying out their right to organise and protest.

The TUC has also contacted the British embassy in Bogotá to ask that officials visit Huber Ballesteros in La Picota prison to check on his treatment and welfare.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- The TUC's campaign plan can be downloaded from www.tuc.org.uk/campaignplan

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

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- Follow the TUC on Twitter: @tucnews

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
Alex Rossiter T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07887 572130 E: arossiter@tuc.org.uk