> -----Original Message-----
> From: Andy Higginbottom [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 27 January 2002 01:21
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: SUPER URGENT ACTION: DANGEROUS SMEARS AGAINST SINTRAEMCALI
> 
> 
> ENGLISH VERSION
> ===============
> 
> I.      COMMUNIQUÉ FROM SINTRAEMCALI AND HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN
> 
> II.     El Pais article "Terrorist Plan Discovered"
> 
> III.    El Tiempo article 
>         "Cali on Alert for Strikes by the FARC and trade unionists" 
> 
> IV.     Recommended Action
> 
> 
> I. "SINTRAEMCALI" THE TRADE UNION OF EMCALI WORKERS, THE 
> ASSOCIATION FOR
> SOCIAL INVESTIGATION AND ACTION "NOMADESC", and the CONVENING
> ORGANISATIONS OF THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN
> AGAINST PRIVATISATION, CORRUPTION AND THE CRIMINALISATION OF SOCIAL
> PROTEST
> 
> WE DENOUNCE TO THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY THE 
> MEDIA SMEARS
> AGAINST THE PERMANENT ASSEMBLY OF EMCALI WORKERS AND THE GENERAL
> COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORTS THE PEACEFUL PROTEST IN THE CAM BUILDING
> 
> Today, Saturday the 26th January 2002 reports appeared in the regional
> daily newspaper EL PAIS aimed at misleading public opinion concerning
> the situation at EMCALI corporation.
> 
> This daily announced on page B4 that: "A terrorist plan to destabilise
> the city through road blocks, the occupation of churches, public
> buildings and other buildings as part of a civic strike 
> endorsed by the
> EMCALI workers union was discovered yesterday by the authorities".   
>    
> In the same edition, the commander of the Third Division of the Army,
> General Francisco Rene Perlaza, alleged that " ... some trade union
> organisations and armed groups at the margin of the law are behind the
> calling of the civic strike..."
> 
> Both allegations are false. The local, national and international
> community has followed step by step what has happened in the 
> occupation
> as a form of peaceful protest action. The people of Cali, the 
> workers of
> EMCALI and the leaders of SINTRAEMCALI are acting in the 
> defence of the
> common wealth of the people of the Cauca Valley. What those 
> in power do
> not admit is that the community has expressed, through 
> peaceful rallies
> and marches, as well as in cultural events, its will which is against
> the privatisation of public services in general.  
> 
> The attempt to link the trade union movement with insurgent groups is
> part of the dirty war organised by the Colombian state that 
> tries to set
> up social leaders as military targets. SINTRAEMCALI trade union, with
> the support of the communities, as well as trade union and social
> organisations, is peacefully defending public services for the good of
> all.
> 
> We ask the national and international community to send 
> protests by fax
> and electronic mail to the Colombian government authorities, to put an
> end to this dirty war by the state against the social movement. 
> 
> These events have put at great risk the human rights of the trade
> unionists inside the permanent assembly [occupation] of the EMCALI
> building, the CAM tower, and the community at large.    
> 
> NO TO PRIVATISATION!
> NO TO PRICE INCREASES!
> YES TO A HIGH LEVEL ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION! 
> 
> National and International Human Rights Campaign against 
> Privatisation,
> Corruption, and the Criminalisation of Social Justice.
> 
> II.     Terrorist Plan Uncovered
> --------------------------------
> 
> "El Pais"  26th January 2002
> 
> On Monday there will be no classes in the educational institutions. 
> Plants providing services will be militarised.
> 
> A terrorist plan to destabilise the city through road blocks, the
> occupation of churches, public buildings and other buildings 
> as part of
> a civic strike endorsed by the EMCALI workers union was discovered
> yesterday by the authorities.
> 
> The Commander of the Third Division of the Army, General 
> Francisco Rene
> Perlaza said that some trade union organisations and armed 
> groups at the
> margin of the law are behind the calling of the civic strike.
> 
> According to the official on Monday it is planned that Saint Peters
> cathedral, the Archbishop's palace, the Regional Labour offices, the
> Chamber of Commerce would be occupied, as well vehicles set alight and
> blocking roads that give access to the city.
> 
> In the face of such events the City Security Council ordered 
> a series of
> measures to preserve calm for the citizenry and guarantee control of
> public order.
> 
> As a consequence there will not be any classes in any public 
> or private
> educational institutions in the city next Monday.
> 
> The announcement was made by the mayor of Cali, Jhon Maro 
> Rodríguez, who
> called on the citizens not to participate in anty actions 
> connected with
> the day of protest.
> 
> The measures of control will start to be enforced from 6pm on Sunday
> until 6pm on Tuesday, including restrictions on the movement of
> motorcyclists, suspension of safe conduct for carrying arms, and
> invoking the 'dry law' [which bans alcohol sales, closing all bars]
> amongst others. 
> 
> The Mayor said that in any case there is no reason for the 
> civic strike,
> given that on Monday there will be a meeting in Bogota with 
> the central
> Government, which must resolve the occupation of the EMCALI tower and
> decide once and for all the solution to the problems faced by 
> the public
> services corporation.
> 
> He announced out that that this type of protest action is 
> dangerous for
> the city when the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have
> announced an armed stoppage in the south west of the country 
> starting on
> Monday. 
> 
> For that reason, the Security Council decided on the militarisation of
> [sending troops into] all public buildings, and the plants and work
> stations of supplying domestic public services, as well 
> strategic points
> in the city to prevent acts of terrorism or sabotage.
> 
> According to the announcement these operations will be carried out by
> the Military Police and two battalions that arrived yesterday at the
> Third Brigade, in order to guarantee calm and public order in the
> region. 
> 
> Mayor Jhon Maro Rodríguez annunced that the Security Forces will be
> available to intervene in cases of disorder or wherever there is an
> attempt to prevent the free movement of citizens and the provision of
> public transport.
> 
> At the same time he reiterated his call to the people of Cali 
> to abstain
> from participating in any action on Monday called by the City Strike
> Committee.  
> 
> The Mayor of Cali announced should any irregular event occur, or any
> change to public order, the organisers of the protest will be arrested
> and put at the disposition of the competent authorities.
> 
> He also announced that the EMCALI workers that participated 
> in the road
> blockades last Thursday using the corporation's vehicles, are 
> now under
> criminal and disciplinary investigation.
> 
> Principal Measures
> 
> A set of measures have been taken to guarantee normality in the city
> next Monday, as ordered by the City Security Council.
> 
> 1. On the recommendation of the security forces the 
> authorities ordered
> the suspension of academic activities in schools, colleges and
> universities in the department.
> 
> 2. Dry law, no sale of alcohol, from 6pm on Dunday until 6am 
> on Tuesday
> with Cali city limits.
> 
> 3. The Army's Third Brigade have enacted an order by which 
> safe conduct
> to carry arms has been suspended in all the municipalities under its
> jurisdiction.
> 
> 4. Restriction on the movement of motorcycles from 6pm on Sunday until
> 6am Tuesday.
>
> 5. Immobilisation of vehicles that are left on main roads or 
> in front of
> public buildings.
> 
> 6. Prohibition of meetings, gatherings and marches.
>   
> 7. Taxis and public passenger vehicles must drive with their inside
> lights on.
> 
> 8. Normal attention to the public at all public buildings.
> 
> 9. The corporation of urban transport must operate on the 
> routes and to
> the timetable set by the Secretary of Transport.       
> 
> Recommendations
> 
> 1. Do not participate in marches, assemblies, gatherings or acts of
> protest.
> 
> 2. Do not send children to school.
> 
> 3. Try and wear sports hoes in case you have to walk long distances
> because transport services have been suspended.
> 
> 4. Try and leave for work earlier than usual.
> 
> 5. Do not leave your vehicle parked on the public highway, it will be
> immobilised by the authorities.     
> 
> 6. Report as soon as possible to the authorities any strange action of
> which you have knowledge.
> 
> 7. Be attentive to recommendations and instructions given out by the
> authorities.
> 
> 8. Communicate to the authorities the presence of strange people or
> people acting suspiciously which you observe close to your 
> home or place
> of work.
> 
> Control Operations
> 
> From tomorrow, troops from the Army's Third Brigade will put 
> in motion a
> security plan for the city to prevent possible terrorist attempts
> against the urban infrastructure and public services.
> 
> In accord with the decision of the Security Council all plants,
> headquarters and station providing public services will be 
> taken over by
> the army [militarised].
> 
> Equally, the Metropolitan Police have put a plan to guard and protect
> public buildings, and road and pedestrian bridges. 
> 
> Also they are ready to guard the places of despatch and 
> routes of public
> transport.
> 
> The Army as well as the Police will set up road blocks and control
> points on the access roads into the city and they will 
> implement control
> and registration at strategic points of the city.
> 
> In the rural zone, especially in the districts that are partly in the
> mountains, there will be permanent army patrols.
> 
> III.      "Cali on Alert for Strikes by the FARC and trade unionists" 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> El Tiempo 26th January 2002
> 
> Exceptional measures to preserve public order were taken at an
> extraordinary security council meeting held yesterday. From Sunday the
> 'dry law' will be in force, and transport will be guaranteed 
> on Monday.
> 
> There will be no classes in any college, school or university 
> in Cali on
> Monday.
> 
> To this measure is added the dry law, restrictions on arms and on
> motorcycles.
> 
> The measures were announced by Mayor Jhon Maro Rodríguez 
> because of the
> armed strike called for next Monday by the FARC in the whole of the
> south west.
> 
> To this is added the decision to call a civic strike endorsing the
> protest of the EMCALI workers, also for next Monday. 
> 
> Secretary for Education Henry Arcila said that "the measure adopted by
> the Government of Cali is taken to guarantee security to 
> students in the
> face of a city strike announced by the unions", as he announced the
> suspension of classes in all official and private establishments in
> Cali.
> 
> The mayor announced, at the end of the extra-ordinary 
> security council,
> that from 6 in the evening this Sunday until 6 in the morning of next
> Tuesday the sale and consumption of liquor is banned in all the city.
> Neither will the movement of motorcycles be permitted in this same
> period.
> 
> It was decided as well that every badly parked vehicle in whatever
> public highway or in front of official buildings, residential units or
> the banking zone will be immobilised. 
> 
> "I call on those promoting the civic strike to desist from it 
> and on the
> community not to participate, in the face of the danger that 
> may occur.
> I call on calenos to work normally", begged the mayor.  
> 
> The local leader said that he did not understand the attitude 
> assumed by
> the EMCALI workers' union, because on Monday the destiny of the
> corporation will be decided as will be that of the occupation 
> of the CAM
> tower which for the last 31 days has been in the power of the workers.
> 
> The local government guaranteed the provision of public transport
> services throughout the city. The Police and Army are positioned in
> strategic locations in the city to deal with any eventuality that may
> arise.   
> 
> IV. RECOMMENDED ACTION
> 
> Send urgent protests to:
> 
> ANDRÉS PASTRANA ARANGO 
> Presidente de la República, 
> Presidencia de la República 
> Carrera 8 No. 7-26 Palacio de Nariño, 
> Santa Fe de Bogotá 
> Teléfono. +57.1.5629300 ext. 3550 (571) 284 33 00 
> Fax +(57)1 - 286 74 34 - 286, 68 42 -284 21 86 
> Mailto: [log in to unmask]
> LUIS CAMILO OSORIO
> Fiscal General de la Nación.
> (Attorney General)
> Diagonal 22 B No. 52 - 01 Bogotá.
> Telefax: 57.1.5702022.
> 
> Mr VICTOR RICARDO,
> Ambassador to the UK,
> Embassy of the Republic of Colombia
> Flat 3A, 3 Hans Crescent, London SW1X 0LN, UK 
> Tel: (020) 7589 9177. Fax: (020) 7581 1829. 
> E-mail: [log in to unmask]
> 
> ( or in your country)
> 
> With copies to:
> 
> The National and International Human Rights Campaign Against 
> Corruption,
> Privatisation and the Criminalisation of Social Protest. E-mail
> [log in to unmask]
> 
> And Colombia Solidarity Campaign E-mail: [log in to unmask]  
> PO Box 8466, London N17 6NZ  Tel: 07950 923 448
> 
> -- 
> Andy Higginbottom
> Co-ordinator Colombia Solidarity Camapaign
>