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TUC condemns assassination of Colombian trade unionist

Issue date

Ambassador Noemi Sanin Posada
Embassy of Colombia
3 Hans Crescent
London SW 1X OLN

Dear Ambassador

Assassination of William Rubio Ortiz

On behalf of the Trades Union Congress I wish to express my dismay at yet another assassination of a trade union activist in Colombia.

We understand that William Rubio Ortiz, a leader of the SINTRAMBIENTE trade union, representing employees of the national environmental institution, was killed at 7pm on 12 December, when two shots were fired at him by assassins on motorbikes just after leaving his home in the town of Santander de Quilichao, in the department of Cauca.

The murder of Mr Ortiz, a member of the SINTRAMBIENTE governing body, coincided with the union's difference of opinion with the director of the Valle regional authority, William Garzon Solis, who has been accused of corruption, harassment of trade unions and enjoying close links with Senator Martinez who appears to be linked to paramilitary death squads. We have been told that Mr Garzon has stated that he has a list of 50 trade unionists he would like to get rid of.

The TUC categorically condemns the murder of yet another trade unionist in Colombia and notes that the number killed during 2008 has now far exceeded the number murdered during 2007. This makes a mockery of the claims by the Uribe regime that the situation for our trade union colleagues in Colombia is improving.

The TUC and others in the British and international trade union movement will continue to denounce these murders in the strongest possible terms and demand that the Colombian government acts to bring the perpetrators to justice.

We call on the Colombian authorities carry out a full investigation into this most recent murder and do all in their power to ensure respect of workers' rights in Colombia.

Yours sincerely

Brendan Barber

General Secretary

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