21.03.2003 (ANNCOL) ANNCOL is pleased to provide our readers with an English translation of the March report from the Central Trade Union Federation of Colombia concerning assassinations of union activists: *** MARCH REPORT FROM THE CENTRAL TRADE UNION FEDERATION OF COLOMBIA (CUT) THE POLICY OF EXTERMINATING COLOMBIAN TRADE UNIONISTS CONTINUES 1. EDUCATOR ASSASSINATED The Central Trade Union Federation of Colombia (CUT), through its human rights department, denounces the extent of a policy of exterminating trade unionists, especially those belonging to the CUT, in the government of Alvaro Uribe Velez with the famous "Democratic Security" it extols. On 12 March 2003, comrade SORAYA PARTICIA DIAZ, educator, affiliate of the Risaralda Educators' Union and affiliate of FECODE-CUT, was assassinated. The vile murder was committed in the village of Agua Salada, Quinchoa municipality. This trade union has seen 52 educators assassinated in recent years, which shows the extent of the policy of extermination. 2. SITUATION IN ARAUCA DEPARTMENT The department of Arauca is situated in the north east of the country on the border with the Republic of Venezuela. It is a great oil centre in the hands of multinationals and has been declared a zone of rehabilitation and social consolidation under the state of national emergency and democratic security imposed by Alvaro Uribe Velez, through which he gave the military power over civil authorities democratically elected by the people. This fascist policy has resulted in 43 people being detained in the Picota and Buen Pastori prisons. They include trade union leaders, human rights defenders, social leaders and they have all been charged with rebellion and terrorism through crude fabrications and invented witnesses. The long list of people assassinated in different parts of the department is appalling. The objective of this policy is to get rid of social organisations by by-passing conventions and international treaties. They even temporarily detained comrade SAMUEL MORALES, President of the Arauca branch of the CUT. He was released thanks to immediate condemnation of the arrest and the pressure of a number of human rights NGOs. Today we are calling on the national and international community to keep their eyes and ears turned on Arauca. Solidarity with the people of Arauca is needed. The CUT is asking the government of Alvaro Uribe Velez to hold a meeting every three months (government, the CUT and people of Arauca) in the capital, Arauca, to discuss the situation. 3. EMCALI - the national army attacks trade union leaders at a Public Audience On 12 March 2003 in the city of Cali, Valle del Cauca department, a public audience was held against impunity and against the liquidation of EMCALI (State Company) with the participation of international delegations, when members of the 3rd Brigade of the army, without any explanation, proceeded to disarm the bodyguards of the trade union leaders and immobilise vehicles leaving ta number of trade union leaders totally without protection. They included: OTONIEL RAMIREZ, President of the Valle branch of the CUT, ARIEL DIAZ, executive of the CUT and responsible for humen rights, JUAN CARLOS VALENS, President of SINTRADEPARTAMENTO, and CARLOS GARCIA, a leader of the Colombian Communist Party. The soldiers kept saying they were acting on orders from their superiors and nothing more. The government has never given any response concerning these events and we are continuing to demand an investigation and clarification by the government. 4. IN CUNDINAMARCA On the night of 11 March 2003 in the municipality of Fusagasuga, home to comrade LAURA GUERRERO, executive of the Bogota-Cundinamarca branch of the CUT and well known as a leader in the Sumapaz region, Laura's house appeared to have been raided and everything registered, although nothing was taken. Everything was left in total disorder and it is an extremely worrying situation given that the comrade is experiencing very grave security problems. We condemned this act to the authorities in order to prevent worse things in the future and we are waiting for a response. 5. IN PASTO On 13 March 2003, in the city of Pasto, capital of the department of Narino, in the south west of the country, the police attacked teachers and students at the university of Narino when they were protesting about the government's lack of attention to the university. The attack was so bad that there was not even any respect shown for the presence of DOCTOR CARLOS MAYA, the public ombudsman, and DOCTOR PEDRO VICENTE OBANDO, who were put at risk by the security forces. 18 students were detained, all released today (14 March), and four students were injured. The government has given no response, in spite of being informed immediately. The human rights department of the CUT will be tireless in its condemnation of the violation of fundamental human rights in any respect and we hope that you will collaborate by disseminating the information and sending messages to the Colombian government. SOLIDARITY IS A UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLE OF PEOPLES THE PEOPLE AND THE CUT THANK YOU! DOMINGO TOVAR ARRIETA Director of the Human Rights Department 14 March 2003