More fallout from the Cali occupation - I hope some Critters are actually
getting something out of this, and either doing something practical or at
least thining about it and discussing it elsewhere: the lack of response and
discussion on CGF is, quite frankly, depressing...

David.


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Andy Higginbottom [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 20 February 2002 21:23
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: URGENT ACTION: LUIS HERNANDEZ THREATENED L2
> 
> 
> VERSION ESPANOL
> ---------------
> 
> ACCION URGENTE
> 
> Las organizaciones abajo firmantes denunciamos ante  la comunidad
> nacional e internacional las sistemáticas amenazas en contra de los
> directivos, activistas y voceros de   SINTRAEMCALI, que protagonizaron
> la defensa de las Empresas Municipales de Cali EMCALI 
> E.I.C.E, logrando
> mantener la naturaleza pública de la misma.
> 
> Los hechos:
> 
> 1. El día de ayer 19 de febrero de 2002, aproximadamente a 
> las 5:45 p.m.
> cuando el Presidente de Sintraemcali, LUIS HERNANDEZ MONRROY, se
> desplazaba desde la sede de la Central Unitaria de Trabajadores CUT
> hasta el aeropuerto el Dorado de Bogotá, varios individuos que se
> transportaban en un Mazda 626  Blanco, (con placas borrosas donde lo
> único que se leía era la Calera)  lo siguieron y al llegar al 
> aeropuerto
> se bajaron del carro, obligando al Dirigente  LUIS HERNANDEZ, a buscar
> apoyo de la Policía Nacional, quienes lo acompañaron a la sala donde
> abordo el vuelo a la ciudad de Cali.
> 
> 2. LUIS HERNANDEZ se encontraba en la capital diligenciando 
> la visa para
> viajar al Reino Unido y acompañando a algunas reuniones  a la 
> delegación
> Inglesa, compuesta por varios miembros de la TUC, UNISON y  
> un delegado
> de los Trabajadores en la OIT, los cuales habían estado el 
> día domingo y
> lunes en la ciudad de Cali con el objetivo de hacer seguimiento a los
> acuerdos firmandos entre el Gobierno Colombiano, los Trabajadores de
> EMCALI y la ciudadanía Caleña.
> 
> 3. En horas de la mañana del 19 de Febrero 2002,  un 
> individuo que no se
> identifico realizó una llamada telefónica a la casa de la Mamá del
> Presidente de SINTRAEMCALI y expreso, dígale a LUIS HERNANDEZ 
> que  "si a
> ALEXANDER LOPEZ  no le hicimos nada,  a él no le vamos  a dejar coger
> vuelo" y colgó.
> 
> 4. El día 16 de Febrero 2002, se recibió una amenaza telefónica en la
> sede de Campaña de ALEXANDER LOPEZ MAYA, candidato a la  Cámara de
> Representantes, ex presidente de SINTRAEMCALI,  miembro de la Junta
> Directiva y quien firmara los acuerdos con el gobierno para el
> salvamento de EMCALI EICE, el pasado 29 de enero en la sede de la
> Superintendencia de Servicios Públicos. Igualmente tanto ALEXANDER
> LOPEZ, como sus escoltas han notado un seguimiento permanente durante
> todas las actividades que le demandan actualmente la campaña 
> a la Cámara
> de Representantes. 
> 
> 5. El 11 de febrero de 2002 Fue asesinado el líder comunal y
> extrabajador de EMCALI EICE, JULIO GALEANO, quien con su esposa
> participó activamente de la Asamblea Permanente de los Trabajadores
> afiliados a SINTRAEMCALI.
> 
> 6. Es importante recordar  que durante los 36 días de Defensa de las
> Empresas Municipales de Cali EMCALI EICE, se recibieron en la 
> sede de la
> Organización Sindical varias amenazas y fueron detenidos tres 
> individuos
> armados que hacían rondas frente a la Torre de EMCALI, donde se
> encontraban los trabajadores.
> 
> 7. Por ultimo denunciamos la actitud del  Gerente de Energía, FERDANDO
> PRETELL, quien incumpliendo los acuerdos del 29 de enero de 2002,
> pretende privatizar todas las áreas rentables y contratar las 
> funciones
> de carácter continuo y permanente de los trabajadores oficiales.
> 
> Solicitamos:
> 
> Se exija al gobierno nacional brindar las garantías suficientes y
> necesarias, para que los dirigentes y activistas de 
> SINTRAEMCALI, puedan
> continuar ejerciendo su trabajo Sindical.
> 
> Se investigue imparcialmente quienes  son los autores materiales e
> intelectuales de dichas amenazas.
> 
> Se refuercen los esquemas de seguridad de los sindicalistas 
> amenazados y
> se de tramite la consecución de  carros blindados para los dirigentes
> amenazados, pues ante la inminencia de un Atentado los vehículos que
> hacen parte de los esquemas de seguridad actualmente, no brindan las
> garantías necesarias de protección.
> 
> Por ultimo exigir al Gobierno Nacional en Cabeza del Presidente ANDRES
> PASTRANA, El superintendente DIEGO humberto CAICEDO ORTIZ, el Ministro
> del Trabajo ANGELINO GARZÓN, el Ministro de Hacienda y 
> Crédito Público,
> director de Planeación Nacional.
> 
> CAMPAÑA NACIONAL E INTERNACIONAL DE DERECHOS HUMANOS CONTRA LA
> PRIVATIZACIÓN, LA CORRUPCION Y LA PENALIZACION DE LA PROTESTA SOCIAL
> 
> 20 de febrero, 2002
> 
> 
> ENGLISH VERSION
> ---------------
> 
> We the below signed organisations denounce to the national and
> international community the systematic threats being mounted 
> against the
> leaders, activists and spokespeople of SINTRAEMCALI, who 
> fought for the
> defence of EMCALI E.I.C.E. managing to keep it in the public sector.
> 
> The facts:
> 
> 1. On 19th February 2002, at about 5.45pm as LUIS HERNANDEZ 
> MONRROY, the
> President of SINTRAEMCALI, was leaving the national union federation
> CUT's headquarters in Bogota to go to el Dorado airport, several
> individuals in a white Mazda 626 (with blurred number plates where the
> only thing readable was the Calera [?] )followed him to the airport,
> where LUIS was obliged to seek the help of the National Police, who
> accompanied him to the boarding lounge for flights to Cali.
> 
> 2. LUIS HERNANDEZ was in the capital to get a visa to travel to the
> United Kingdom and to attend some meetings with the delegation from
> England, composed of members of the TUC, UNISON and the Workers'
> Delegate to the ILO [International Labour Organisation]. This 
> delegation
> had visited Cali on Sunday and Monday in order to monitor the accords
> signed between the Colombian Government, EMCALI's workers and the
> citizenry of Cali.
> 
> 3. In the morning hours of 19th February 2002, an unidentified
> individual made a telephone call to the house of the SINTRAEMCALI
> President's mother and said to tell LUIS HERNANDEZ that "we won't do
> anything to ALEXANDER LOPEZ, but we won't let him [LUIS] take 
> off*" and
> hung up. 
> 
> [* this could be literal catch the flight to England, or 
> figurative get
> popular support in the way Alexander has]. 
> 
> 4. On 16th February 2002, a telephone threat was received at the
> headquarters of ALEXANDER LOPEZ MAYA's election campaign. The ex-
> President of SINTRAEMCALI remains a member of the unions 
> executive while
> he is standing as a candidate in the House of Representatives. It was
> ALEXANDER who on 29th January at the headquarters of the 
> Superintendent
> of Public Services signed the accords with the government to 
> save EMCALI
> E.I.C.E. as a public corporation. And ALEXANDER LOPEZ and his 
> bodyguards
> have noted that they are continually followed in all their election
> campaign activities.
> 
> 5. JULIO GALEANO, a community leader and former worker at EMCALI
> E.I.C.E. was assassinated on 11th February. He and his wife 
> had actively
> participated in the Permanent Assembly (occupation) by SINTRAEMCALI
> members.
> 
> 6. It is important to recall that through SINTRAEMCALI's 36 day
> occupation to defend EMCALI E.I.C.E. the union's headquarters received
> several threats, and three armed individuals who had been circling in
> front of the CAM tower workers' occupation had been detained.
> 
> 7. Ginally we denounce that attitude of the Energy Director, FERDANDO
> PRETELL, who has failed to carry out the accords of 29th January 2002,
> trying to privatise all the profitable areas and enter 
> contracts for the
> ongoing and permanent functions of official workers.
> 
> We ask:
> 
> That demands are made on the National Government to implement the
> sufficient and necessary guarantees so that SINTRAEMCALI leaders and
> activists can continue in their trade union work.
> 
> That there be an impartial investigation into the intellectual and
> material authors of these threats.
> 
> That the security schemes for threatened trade unionists are 
> reinforced,
> and that the government provides cars with bullet proof windows for
> leaders under threat, because in the imminence of the latest
> assassination threat there are not enough vehicles currently available
> to provide the necessary protection. 
> 
> Finally [to direct these demands] to President ANDRES 
> PASTRANA, as head
> of the National Government, to Superintendent of Public Services DIEGO
> HUMBERTO CAICEDO ORTIZ, to Labour Minister ANGELINO GARZON and to the
> National Plan Director in the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit.
> 
> NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN AGAINST 
> PRIVATISATION,
> CORRUPTION AND THE CRIMINALISATION OF SOCIAL PROTEST.  
>         
> 20th February 2002
> 
> 
> COLOMBIA SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN ADDS
> ---------------------------------
> 
> This threat is deadly serious. We saw just last week how the death
> squads are already being employed to murder people involved in the
> occupation. The life of our friend and comrade LUIS HERNANDEZ is in
> imminent danger. Please do whatever you can to get immediate protests
> sent to the Colombian authorities in support of the above demands.
> 
> RECOMMENDED ACTION
> 
> ENVIAR MENSAJES O CARTAS A / SEND MESSAGES 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] 
> 
> And to:
> 
> FOR THOSE IN THE U.K.
> 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]
>  
> FOR THOSE IN CANADA:
> Write to: Fanny Kertzman Yankelevitch
> Ambassador for Colombia
> 360 Albert Street, Suite 1002
> Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7X7
> Fax:      (613) 230-4416
> Email: [log in to unmask] 
>  
> FOR THOSE IN THE UNITED STATES: 
> Write to: Luis Alberto Moreno
> Embajador de Colombia
> 2118 Leroy Place, NW,
> Washington, DC 20008
> Phone: (202) 387 8338
> Fax:     (202) 232 8643
> [log in to unmask]
> 
> Send copies to <[log in to unmask]> and to
> <[log in to unmask]>
> 
>  
> SOLIDARITY ACTIVITIES
> ---------------------
> 
> More than ever we sincerely hope that LUIS HERNANDEZ will be 
> joining us
> in Britain starting with the conference this weekend. 
> 
> 
> Dayschool & International Solidarity Rally 
> ------------------------------------------
> Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London WC1
> Saturday 23 February 2002  
> 
> Dayschool: Plan Colombia: Clearing the way for the Multinationals 
> 10am to 5pm
> 
> With guest speakers from Sintraemcali, USO - the Colombian oil workers
> union and Sinaltrainal - the Colombian food workers union currently
> taking Coca Cola to court for complicity in the assassination of trade
> union leaders. Workshops on Plan Colombia and the 
> environment, the Latin
> American context, and neoliberalism and the role of the 
> multinationals. 
> 
> daytime tickets- £6 waged/£3  unwaged. Places limited, book 
> in advance.
> 
> 
> Solidarity Rally VICTORY TO SINTRAEMCALI! 6pm until 8pm 
> 
> Following a 36 day occupation which commenced on Christmas Day, the
> public sector union Sintraemcali successfully prevented the
> privatisation of the public services of Cali, Colombia's second city.
> This victory rally will pay tribute to the 1535 trade unionists
> assassinated in Colombia over the past 10 years and the continuing
> struggle of the Colombian people against the imposition of neo-
> liberalism.
> 
> Speakers:
>         Luis Hernández          (President Sintraemcali)
>         Berenice Celeyta        (Colombian Human Rights Defender)
>         Hector Vaca             (USO Oilworkers union)
>         and UNISON, War on Want, Colombia Solidarity Campaign, 
>         Haldane Society and others
> 
> To be followed at 8pm by FIESTA
> Live Salsa with Latino Na'Ma
> musical special guests, DJs  & Colombian food & drink 
> 
> Evening tickets- £6 waged/£4 unwaged. Book in advance to 
> guarantee entry
> 
> Combined ticket- day school, solidarity rally and fiesta  
> £10 waged/£5 unwaged
> 
> Join the Colombia Solidarity Campaign and attend the AGM on
> Sunday 24 February, Conway Hall 10am to 4pm
> 
> Workshops on British multinationals, building international solidarity
> etc
> 
> Combined weekend ticket £15 waged, £5 unwaged existing members; 
> or £25 and £10 new members
> 
> Creche facilities will be available during the daytime sessions, but
> please notify us of needs in advance, latest Thursday 21st Feb.
>  
> To book tickets, To receive more information about Colombia, 
> or to join
> the Colombia Solidarity Campaign, contact us at PO Box 8446, 
> London N17
> 6NZ. Tel 07950 923448,  email [log in to unmask]
> 
> 
> SINTRAEMCALI Speaking Tour
> --------------------------
> 
> Mon 25  
> Bristol         7.30pm to 9.30pm  Malcolm X Centre, City Rd
> Sheffield       7.30pm Sheffield Library Theatre, Norfolk Street  
>      
> 
> Tue 26  
> Manchester      7.30pm Mechanics Institute, Princess Street
>                 Speakers: Luis Hernandez, Hector Vaca, Andy 
> Higginbottom  
> 
> Cardiff         (venue tbc)   Speakers: Berenice Celeyta, 
> Mario Novelli
> 
> Wed 27  
> Glasgow         7.30pm  Jarvis Ingram Hotel, Ingram Street
> 
> Thu 28          
> Edinburgh       7.30pm University
> 
> Fri 1           
> Belfast         through NIC-ICTU Speakers: Luis, Berenice, Mario
> 
> 
> Sat 2                   
> Glasgow         War on Want Conference 
> 
> Sun 3                   
> Dundee          12.30-2pm Scottish Socialist Party rally 
> 
> Mon 4           
> Nottingham      7pm County Hall
> 
> Tue 5                   
> Birmingham      (tbc)
> 
> The TUC and UNISON are also supporting the Colombian delegation, and
> have arranged several national level meetings. 
>  
> -- 
> Andy Higginbottom
> Co-ordinator Colombia Solidarity Campaign
>