Montevideo, March 30, 2009
Fabio
Valencia Cossio
Interior and Justice Minister of Colombia
Bogotá
C o l o
m b i a
Dear
Sir,
It is
with great concern that we have received reports
from the National Union of Agroindustry Workers
(SINTRAINAGRO) and the United Workers Federation
(CUT) denouncing a wave of threats against union
leaders and workers’ committees of our affiliate
organization in Colombia.
A
rarefied and dangerous atmosphere is taking over
Urabá, where the targets once again appear to be
SINTRAINAGRO’s Executive Comittee and its general
membership. On March 28, the bomb that went off in
Apartadó resulted in serious injuries to four
workers who are members of the Union.
In view
of this situation, we urge you, Sir, to increase
security and control measures in that region to
ensure protection, in particular to union leaders
Guillermo Rivera Zapata and Luis Alejandro Pedraza
Becerra, who are members of the IUF’s Latin American
Executive Committee, and of the Executive Committee
of CUT.
Yours
sincerely,
