Freedom for Alirio Garcia, Colombian farmworkers' legal officer

Solidarity with Colombian unions

Protest about FENSUAGRO arrest

August 2009

TUC Deputy General Secretary has written to the Charge d'Affaires at the Colombian Embassy condemning the arrest of Colombian farmworkers' trade union legal officer Alirio Garcia on trumped up charges of 'rebellion', and calling for him and his wife Rosalba, also a farmworkers' union activist, to be freed. The TUC is concerned that the union, FENSUAGRO, is being targeted by the Colombian Government. Non-specific charges of 'rebellion' are often used to arrest and hold Colombian trade unionists - sometimes for years before they are let go without trial - and put their lives at risk by identifying them for the paramilitary death squads.

Justice for Colombia have arranged a trade union delegation to visit the Colombian Embassy on Friday 18 August to protest the arrest. The full text of Frances O'Grady's letter follows.

Dear Mr Donoso

Arrest of Alirio Garcia, Legal Officer of the Colombian Agricultural Workers Union (FENSUAGRO)

I understand that Alirio Garcia, Legal Officer for the Colombian Agricultural Workers Union (FENSUAGRO), Colombia's second largest trade union, was arrested on 10 August and accused of 'rebellion' - an accusation regularly used to imprison unjustly Colombian trade unionists. I would be grateful if you could convey to the Colombian Government our deep concern about this arrest, and urge that he and his wife be released immediately.

Colombia has the dubious reputation of being the most dangerous place in the world in which to be a trade unionist. One of the reasons for that appalling track record is that many trade unionists are unjustly imprisoned - often kept for many months and even years without trial or due process - on charges of 'terrorism' or 'rebellion', as has now happened to Alirio Garcia. This seriously disrupts the work of the trade union movement in Colombia and, worse still, puts a target on their back when they are eventually released, albeit without trial or conviction.

In the case of FENSUAGRO, there is also serious concern that other leaders will also be arrested under trumped-up charges, imprisoned or worse.

I understand that Mr Garcia, a member of the union's National Executive Committee, was leaving his sister's house, in the city of Armenia, Quindio Department at 6.15am on 10 August when he was accosted by various men from the technical investigation police, claiming to have an warrant for Mr Garcia's arrest from the anti-terrorist unit of the Attorney General's office in Bogota. He was taken away, accused of 'rebellion' and of dealing with money for the FARC, and the following day, imprisoned in the San Bernardo Prison in Armenia.

Mr Garcia and his family have suffered from persecution for many years as a result of his high-profile trade union activity. On 9 March, Mr Garcia's wife Rosalba Gaviria Toro, who is also a leading Fensuagro member and a local community activist, was detained and remains imprisoned without trial.

Please convey to your Government our concerns, and please urge the Colombian Government to release Mr and Mrs Garcia forthwith, and grant them all their fundamental rights.

Yours sincerely

Frances O'Grady

Deputy General Secretary