TUC protest at continued death threats in Colombia

HE Mr Mauricio Rodriguez
Ambassador
Embassy of Colombia
3 Hans Crescent
London
SW1X 0LN

Emal: mail@colombianembassy.co.uk

Dear Ambassador

Trade unionists face continued death threats

On behalf of the TUC, British workers and the 6 million members of our affiliated unions I write to express my grave concern for the safety of trade union leaders Juan Aguas, Edgar Muñoz, Estivenson Avila and Rubén Morrón Guerrero of the Sindicato Nacional de la Industria Minera, Petroquimica, Agrocombustible y Energética, SINTRAMIENERGETICA, who have received death threats by text message.

These trade union leaders are part of a union delegation involved in labour negotiations.

This follows an attack, we understand, on Mr Guerrero on 28 May when gunmen on a motorbike opened fire on the car he was travelling in on his way to participate in a the negotiation meeting taking place on 29 May.

We ask you to urge the relevant authorities to provide protection, agreed with Messrs Aguas, Muñoz, Avila and Guerrero, support the call for a full and impartial investigation into the death threats against Messrs Aguas, Muñoz, Avila and Guerrero, the publication of the results of the investigation- bringing those responsible for the threat to justice, to take immediate action to dismantle paramilitary groups and break their links with the security forces, in line with repeated UN recommendations.

Yours sincerely

FRANCES O'GRADY

General Secretary