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Monday 30 November 2009
Friday 27 November 2009
Colombian Union Delegate- Safe Returns...
27th November 2009
PRESS RELEASE
Many safe returns: Australian groups unite in a call for the safety of visiting trade union representative
Australian trade unions, civil society and solidarity groups have called on the Colombian government to take urgent action to protect the safety and human rights of a visiting Colombian trade union official when he returns home.
The call follows a death threat made to the Colombian office of Sinaltrainal, the National Workers Union of Food Industry of Colombia. The threat targeted Sinaltrainal President Luis Javier Correa Suarez and is believed to be linked to a protracted industrial dispute with Coca-Cola and the current tour of Australia by the leader of Sinaltrainal’s Medellin branch, Duban Velez.
Duban Velez is in Australia representing Sinaltrainal and the wider Colombian Trade Union Confederation (Antioquia) speaking out against the treatment of Coca-Cola workers in Colombia. Yesterday he also attended the annual meeting of BHP Billiton to highlight concerns over the treatment of workers at the world’s largest mining company’s Cerrejon coal mine and the forced relocation of Indigenous communities.
Violence and intimidation of trade union and labour rights activists is common in Colombia with 31 organisers murdered already in 2009 and around 4000 in the past decade. Duban Velez has been raising this issue in his meetings with trade unionists and supporters in Australia and now faces the very real threat of this on his return home.
“We expect Duban to have a safe return to Colombia and that the Government will respect Duban’s right to be a union organiser and his human rights, especially his right to live safely and without fear of violence,” Andrew Dettmer President of the Queensland Labor Party.
“In Australia we have the right to use our basic human rights. This also means we have a responsibility to support others who do not enjoy this level of safety. Acting to improve people’s working conditions or protect the environment is a never a crime”.
“We call on Coca Cola to state their support for workers rights and condemn threats against trade union activists in their home country.” Andrew Dettmer.
Contact
Duban Velez via Lucho Riquelme 0400 914 944
Supporting Organisations
AMWU, ACF, FoE, LASNET,
add your name or your organisation at LASNET.
Thanks to everyone for your extraordinary support and commitment.
Send your support and copies of your messages to LASNET
Send your message and letters of concern to:
The Attorney General’s Office
Emails: contacto@fiscalia.gov.co
denuncias@fiscalia.gov.co
President Alvaro Uribe
Email: auribe@presidencia.gov.co
Interamerican Commission for Human Rights
Email: cidhoea@oas.org.com
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Email: oacnudh@hchr.org.co
Colombian Embassy in Australia
His Excellency Mr Diego Betancourt
Postal Embassy of Republic of Colombia
PO Box 227 Civic Square Postshop City ACT 2608
Email: Embassyofcolombia@bigpond.com
ecanberra@cancilleria.gov.au
PRESS RELEASE
Many safe returns: Australian groups unite in a call for the safety of visiting trade union representative
Australian trade unions, civil society and solidarity groups have called on the Colombian government to take urgent action to protect the safety and human rights of a visiting Colombian trade union official when he returns home.
The call follows a death threat made to the Colombian office of Sinaltrainal, the National Workers Union of Food Industry of Colombia. The threat targeted Sinaltrainal President Luis Javier Correa Suarez and is believed to be linked to a protracted industrial dispute with Coca-Cola and the current tour of Australia by the leader of Sinaltrainal’s Medellin branch, Duban Velez.
Duban Velez is in Australia representing Sinaltrainal and the wider Colombian Trade Union Confederation (Antioquia) speaking out against the treatment of Coca-Cola workers in Colombia. Yesterday he also attended the annual meeting of BHP Billiton to highlight concerns over the treatment of workers at the world’s largest mining company’s Cerrejon coal mine and the forced relocation of Indigenous communities.
Violence and intimidation of trade union and labour rights activists is common in Colombia with 31 organisers murdered already in 2009 and around 4000 in the past decade. Duban Velez has been raising this issue in his meetings with trade unionists and supporters in Australia and now faces the very real threat of this on his return home.
“We expect Duban to have a safe return to Colombia and that the Government will respect Duban’s right to be a union organiser and his human rights, especially his right to live safely and without fear of violence,” Andrew Dettmer President of the Queensland Labor Party.
“In Australia we have the right to use our basic human rights. This also means we have a responsibility to support others who do not enjoy this level of safety. Acting to improve people’s working conditions or protect the environment is a never a crime”.
“We call on Coca Cola to state their support for workers rights and condemn threats against trade union activists in their home country.” Andrew Dettmer.
Contact
Duban Velez via Lucho Riquelme 0400 914 944
Supporting Organisations
AMWU, ACF, FoE, LASNET,
add your name or your organisation at LASNET.
Thanks to everyone for your extraordinary support and commitment.
Send your support and copies of your messages to LASNET
Send your message and letters of concern to:
The Attorney General’s Office
Emails: contacto@fiscalia.gov.co
denuncias@fiscalia.gov.co
President Alvaro Uribe
Email: auribe@presidencia.gov.co
Interamerican Commission for Human Rights
Email: cidhoea@oas.org.com
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Email: oacnudh@hchr.org.co
Colombian Embassy in Australia
His Excellency Mr Diego Betancourt
Postal Embassy of Republic of Colombia
PO Box 227 Civic Square Postshop City ACT 2608
Email: Embassyofcolombia@bigpond.com
ecanberra@cancilleria.gov.au
Death threat to the National President of Sinaltrainal- Colombia
Our comrades from Sinaltrainal, National Workers Union of Food Industry of Colombia are calling on all the union members to be aware and to strengthen the security measures of the union leaders, and to denounce any situation of insecurity that we face. The end of the year season celebrations are coming and the terrorist ruling class and the multinationals can take advantage of this situation and are a threat to our families and us. – Edgar Paez (International liaison officer for Sinaltrainal)
Death threat to the National President
On the 24th of November Luis Javier Correra Suarez the National president of Sinaltrainal, received a death threat on his mobile phone from the following number 312 8160930 the person who called identified himself as Arnoldo Jimenez. The Colombian ministry of justice gave that phone to him as part of the security protection system that is provided to unionists by the ministry.
The man who called himself Arnoldo said, “ You have up to the 22nd of December to resign from the union as President. There’s not going to be a second call.”
Javier replied, “Why, what is this about?”
The same man said, “Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about.” And then hang up the telephone.
Another call was made to the Sinaltrainal office; the person who made that call said to someone in the office “Javier must take care of his life”.
A fax was also sent to the Sinaltrainal office on the 20th of November, later a man called the office to confirm the contents of the fax. He didn’t identify himself for security reasons the fax said “Coca Cola has a very close relationship and influence with the Government and with Alvaro Uribe family, (the Colombian President).“
The Union have been denouncing the commercial agreement between the transnational Coca Cola and the Uribe family. These death threats were received after a few days of the Interamerican commission of human rights, where they confirm that they will expand the security measures for Sinaltrainal members. At the same time that we are in a collective conflict with the Coca Cola company who havn't signed the collective agreement we have been working on to provide better working conditions for workers with Coca Cola in Colombia.
We demand to the authorities in Colombia to investigate and bring to justice all those responsible for these threats and to give guarantees to the rights of association, the right for union organising and to the life and integrity of Sinatraianal members and their families.
We call to the international community to increase the solidarity and take any action to avoid and stop the crimes against the union movement and the communities in Colombia.
National Committee
Sinaltrainal- Colombia
Death threat to the National President
On the 24th of November Luis Javier Correra Suarez the National president of Sinaltrainal, received a death threat on his mobile phone from the following number 312 8160930 the person who called identified himself as Arnoldo Jimenez. The Colombian ministry of justice gave that phone to him as part of the security protection system that is provided to unionists by the ministry.
The man who called himself Arnoldo said, “ You have up to the 22nd of December to resign from the union as President. There’s not going to be a second call.”
Javier replied, “Why, what is this about?”
The same man said, “Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about.” And then hang up the telephone.
Another call was made to the Sinaltrainal office; the person who made that call said to someone in the office “Javier must take care of his life”.
A fax was also sent to the Sinaltrainal office on the 20th of November, later a man called the office to confirm the contents of the fax. He didn’t identify himself for security reasons the fax said “Coca Cola has a very close relationship and influence with the Government and with Alvaro Uribe family, (the Colombian President).“
The Union have been denouncing the commercial agreement between the transnational Coca Cola and the Uribe family. These death threats were received after a few days of the Interamerican commission of human rights, where they confirm that they will expand the security measures for Sinaltrainal members. At the same time that we are in a collective conflict with the Coca Cola company who havn't signed the collective agreement we have been working on to provide better working conditions for workers with Coca Cola in Colombia.
We demand to the authorities in Colombia to investigate and bring to justice all those responsible for these threats and to give guarantees to the rights of association, the right for union organising and to the life and integrity of Sinatraianal members and their families.
We call to the international community to increase the solidarity and take any action to avoid and stop the crimes against the union movement and the communities in Colombia.
National Committee
Sinaltrainal- Colombia
FoE Media release on BHP in Colombia
BHP called to account in Colombia
Duban Velez is hoping for a safe return to his home in Colombia after he attended the BHP annual Shareholders meeting today. Duban Velez from the Colombian Trade Union Confederation in Antioquia today question BHP Billiton over the treatment of workers at the Cerrejon Coal mine and over the forced relocation of Indigenous communities.
Read More and Download the press release here
Duban Velez is hoping for a safe return to his home in Colombia after he attended the BHP annual Shareholders meeting today. Duban Velez from the Colombian Trade Union Confederation in Antioquia today question BHP Billiton over the treatment of workers at the Cerrejon Coal mine and over the forced relocation of Indigenous communities.
Read More and Download the press release here
Colombia Trade Unionist in NT News
Northern Territory News
*Activists to put BHP in spotlight*
Publication: Northern Territory News (25,Thu 26 Nov 2009)
Section: Business
Keywords: *Olympic (1),Dam (1),uranium (1)*
------------------------------------------------------------------------
BRISBANE: The displacement of villages in Colombia, the destruction of sacred Aboriginal sites, human rights abuses and health concerns are the ugly side of BHP Billiton, environmental and human rights activists say.
As shareholders and the company's leaders prepare for BHP Billiton's annual general meeting in Brisbane today, Friends Of The Earth Australia has launched an alternative annual report, BHP Billiton -- Undermining the future.
The report contains case studies of the company's mining activities which the activists say are contrary to its sustainable development policy.
The National Union of Food Industry Workers of Colombia president Duban Antonio Velez Mejia is in Brisbane ahead of the AGM to highlight human rights issues for workers and villagers affected by BHP Billiton.
``Hundreds of communities have been displaced because of mines in my country,'' he said.
``A worker with BHP only gets between $3 and $4 an hour and some contract workers get less than $3 an hour.''
He said mining had caused a lot of sickness in Colombian communities.
Indigenous elder Eileen Wingfield, from the Kokatha people in Coober Pedy, South Australia, said the *Olympic* *Dam* *uranium* mine had destroyed her community.
``Many are sick, they are dying. Our ancestors were healthy ... but since BHP opened this mine everything has been bad,'' Ms Wingfield said.
Her daughter Rebecca Wingfield said sacred cultural sites had been damaged and elders have been deceived by ``cheeky'' tactics, such as paying tribes for access to the land.
She will raise this issue at today's AGM.
Friends Of The Earth Australia spokeswoman Mia Pepper said shareholders had the power to influence BHP Billiton.
``Shareholders should be asking how BHP Billiton is making their profits,'' Ms Pepper said. ``(Their profits) are not as valuable as someone's right to a life.''
*Activists to put BHP in spotlight*
Publication: Northern Territory News (25,Thu 26 Nov 2009)
Section: Business
Keywords: *Olympic (1),Dam (1),uranium (1)*
------------------------------------------------------------------------
BRISBANE: The displacement of villages in Colombia, the destruction of sacred Aboriginal sites, human rights abuses and health concerns are the ugly side of BHP Billiton, environmental and human rights activists say.
As shareholders and the company's leaders prepare for BHP Billiton's annual general meeting in Brisbane today, Friends Of The Earth Australia has launched an alternative annual report, BHP Billiton -- Undermining the future.
The report contains case studies of the company's mining activities which the activists say are contrary to its sustainable development policy.
The National Union of Food Industry Workers of Colombia president Duban Antonio Velez Mejia is in Brisbane ahead of the AGM to highlight human rights issues for workers and villagers affected by BHP Billiton.
``Hundreds of communities have been displaced because of mines in my country,'' he said.
``A worker with BHP only gets between $3 and $4 an hour and some contract workers get less than $3 an hour.''
He said mining had caused a lot of sickness in Colombian communities.
Indigenous elder Eileen Wingfield, from the Kokatha people in Coober Pedy, South Australia, said the *Olympic* *Dam* *uranium* mine had destroyed her community.
``Many are sick, they are dying. Our ancestors were healthy ... but since BHP opened this mine everything has been bad,'' Ms Wingfield said.
Her daughter Rebecca Wingfield said sacred cultural sites had been damaged and elders have been deceived by ``cheeky'' tactics, such as paying tribes for access to the land.
She will raise this issue at today's AGM.
Friends Of The Earth Australia spokeswoman Mia Pepper said shareholders had the power to influence BHP Billiton.
``Shareholders should be asking how BHP Billiton is making their profits,'' Ms Pepper said. ``(Their profits) are not as valuable as someone's right to a life.''
Question at BHP-Billiton Annual General Meeting
Question Presented at BHP-Billiton Shareholders Annual General Meeting
Thursday November 26 in Brisbane
Dear Chairman and Shareholders
My name is DUBAN VELEZ MEJIA, Colombian worker, member of the Colombian Trade Union Confederation in Antioquía and Sinaltrainal President in Medellin, and I am here on behalf of the Colombian workers. Our main problems are the coal mine at Cerrejon in la Guajira and ferronickel mine Cerromatoso (Montelibano Córdoba) 99.8% owned by BHP-Billiton.
I hope that you can improve our understanding of the company policies regarding the following
The global laws such as Global Compact that is certified in the ISO 8.000 in the subject of Social Responsibility guarantee the well-being and fair treatment of the workers, indigenous communities and the environment where the Company operates.
These formal requirements are fulfilled by BHP Billiton. It appears as simply a standardized requirement. But it seems you wish to create unlimited profit, paying only lip service to these agreements.
The treatment received by the workers and different indigenous communities in Colombia by the Company or its satellite branches is the complete opposite of the intention of these agreements like the Global Compact.
BHP-Billiton signs agreements with governments. We believe that BHP benefits form the internal conflict in Colombia, becoming an accomplice of the humanitarian tragedy that we are going through.
We call upon the shareholders meeting here to acknowledge the reality of what goes on in Colombia, hoping that steps will be taken to change the policies of misery generated in the communities.
Hoping that you will take notice of our concerns and not wait until we are forced to campaign in order to get justice, by incurring compensation and fines.
Beside the social problems we have big risks to our environment. At Cerrejon, BHP wants to re-route the river 17 kilometres to bring it close to the mine so the water can be used. Below the mine the water quality will be poor; it may endanger community water supplies, agriculture and fisheries downstream. These are the livings of the people downstream.
What is the Ethical, moral or judicial end of the agreements by BHP?
In Colombia, wherever BHP has a presence, hunger and lack of shelter prevails. The local people are losing?
We demand Health, education, employment with liveable conditions and a living wage, rather than generating inhumane situations of poverty. That obstructs the dignified development of our people. The abyss that increases every day between the rich and the poor will doom our future generations.
Thanks
Thursday November 26 in Brisbane
Dear Chairman and Shareholders
My name is DUBAN VELEZ MEJIA, Colombian worker, member of the Colombian Trade Union Confederation in Antioquía and Sinaltrainal President in Medellin, and I am here on behalf of the Colombian workers. Our main problems are the coal mine at Cerrejon in la Guajira and ferronickel mine Cerromatoso (Montelibano Córdoba) 99.8% owned by BHP-Billiton.
I hope that you can improve our understanding of the company policies regarding the following
The global laws such as Global Compact that is certified in the ISO 8.000 in the subject of Social Responsibility guarantee the well-being and fair treatment of the workers, indigenous communities and the environment where the Company operates.
These formal requirements are fulfilled by BHP Billiton. It appears as simply a standardized requirement. But it seems you wish to create unlimited profit, paying only lip service to these agreements.
The treatment received by the workers and different indigenous communities in Colombia by the Company or its satellite branches is the complete opposite of the intention of these agreements like the Global Compact.
BHP-Billiton signs agreements with governments. We believe that BHP benefits form the internal conflict in Colombia, becoming an accomplice of the humanitarian tragedy that we are going through.
We call upon the shareholders meeting here to acknowledge the reality of what goes on in Colombia, hoping that steps will be taken to change the policies of misery generated in the communities.
Hoping that you will take notice of our concerns and not wait until we are forced to campaign in order to get justice, by incurring compensation and fines.
Beside the social problems we have big risks to our environment. At Cerrejon, BHP wants to re-route the river 17 kilometres to bring it close to the mine so the water can be used. Below the mine the water quality will be poor; it may endanger community water supplies, agriculture and fisheries downstream. These are the livings of the people downstream.
What is the Ethical, moral or judicial end of the agreements by BHP?
In Colombia, wherever BHP has a presence, hunger and lack of shelter prevails. The local people are losing?
We demand Health, education, employment with liveable conditions and a living wage, rather than generating inhumane situations of poverty. That obstructs the dignified development of our people. The abyss that increases every day between the rich and the poor will doom our future generations.
Thanks
Reasolutions Latin American Emergency Meeting, Sydney
The attendance to the Latin American Emergency Meeting, Sydney 21 November 2009
Agreed on:
The forces of capitalism have impinged on the world an ecological and social catastrophy at unprecedented levels. Environmental degradation, extinction of species, plunder, forced displacement, making lives more precarious than ever, cultural subjugation, violence, impunity, exclusion, mutilation and death are the signs of a system that denies the dignity and life. They are signs of a system that has gone into crisis, and which will hit (others) very hard in order to avoid its demise.
They are the signs of the unsustainability of a ‘civilising’ model that proclaims democracy while suffocating democracy where it does actually flourish. This model proclaims to embody liberty, while repressing even the smallest traces of dissent and protest. It discriminates peoples and depletes our fragile environment, in the name of science.
Capitalism is in crisis, but it hasn’t been defeated yet. It remakes and reinvents itself in search for its survival. It organizes its fury against peoples who are undisciplined, rebellious and not submissive. It incessantly tries to recolonize, subdue and control them.
It uses the market, the financial system, the economic projects, mass media communications and weapons, to achieve its own continuation; it seeks territorial dominance as an instrument of political control; and expands its military power, will all the possible brutality, to discipline or impede the peoples’ liberation. Capitalism today, hegemonised by United States, is living in a process of decay and illegitimacy, yet it continues to be powerful, not only in economic and military spheres but also the ideological. To achieve this, the cultural industry is here to convert the capitalist vision of the world in universal common sense.
Latin America is the vital space for the recomposition of the United States’ hegemony. With its Geostrategical megaprojects such as the IIRSA, the Mesoamerican Project (previously PPP), the Mexico Plan, and the Colombia Plan, it has been forming an anti-insurgency block, which are major points of contention, in the midst of the advances in social transformation processes that are flourishing today in Our America. Chile, as a paradigm of the neoliberal model, and Mexico, Colombia and Peru which have constituted into pillars of anti-insurgent blocks, and its peoples suffer the rigour of the dirty war, and the criminalization of all forms of organization or social protest.
Facing the advance of the democrative transformative governments, the imperial resorts to violence and to divide and rule tactics on our peoples, their attempts to reestablish and re-test their domination over our continent is evident in the military coup in Honduras which engages the appetite of the reactionary neoliberal sectors. The US military bases in Colombian lands are simply the manifestation of its concurrent attempt to reestablish the violence in the continent.
It is because of this that from Sydney Australia, through the Latin American Emergency Meeting realized today 21 November, the attendants and other invited persons, we call out to unite our support efforts, and in united solidarity, to put aside our little differences and particular interests that uses the Latin American popular and indigenous struggles, dilute and hurt the solidarity with our peoples, we call on ourselves to struggle, resist, work in solidarity and to act together on the great defiances that our poor peoples and those of us who come from our brown America in the struggles and resistance.
The people united, will never be defeated!!
Here by country:
On Honduras, we just finished the meeting with the Honduras coalition, we agreed to suggest for Honduras resolutions the following:
1. Strong resolution condemning the failure of the dialoge/negotiation in Honduras and the US intromission.
2. To oppose to the coming elections and to support the mobilisations for a new constitution
3. To organise a human rights delegation to Honduras
4. To organise a national visit of a Frente representative to Australia Feb-March 2010
5. To invite an Indigenous representative from Honduras to the international indigenous solidarity gathering April 2010 in Alice Spring, more info www.latinlasnet.org
6. To write an statement in support of the resistance front in Honduras
On Colombia:
1. To reject the seven US military bases in Colombia and their military and civil personnel, already approved by the USA and Colombian Governments.
This agreement will generate and promote war, violence and repression in Latin America to those who oppose US intervention in the region, especially those who are fighting for better living conditions: unionists, indigenous people, and the majority of social and popular sectors. The militarisation of the region will not help to achieve peace; the only way we can have peace is by solving the problems that cause misery, dispossession and inequality upon our peoples.
More info: www.latinlasnet.org
2. To support the Boycott against the Coca Cola company called by Sinaltrainal in Colombia and the Latin American Solidarity Network (LASNET) in Australia.
The multinational Coca Cola does not respect workers rights, and is responsible for the repression and killing of union leaders in Colombia and other countries around the world. We need to demand that this multinational stop damaging the environment and making huge profits through the exploitation of workers, with low salaries and unsafe working conditions.
3. To reject the behaviour of BHP-Billiton in Colombia. This multinational is responsible for the displacement of indigenous communities which continue to be affected by the implementation of new megaprojects in their territories, destroying their customs, world vision and their life. And in addition to this, there are violations of workers’ rights, showed by the low salaries and unsafe working conditions.
4. To support/endorse a union and social activist delegation to visit Colombia around July 22, 2010 – the date which marks activities against multinationals plunder and exploitation in Colombia. This delegation will be coordinated by LASNET and supporters in Austalia.
5.For Democracy in Colombia Freedom for all Political prisoners in Colombia.
On Mapuche People:
1. To condem the violence and repression against Mapuche people by the Chilean government.
2. To demand the Chilean State to stop using the Anti-terrorist law against Mapuche activists, at the moment 18 mapuche activists are in trial on Terrorist charges.
3. To demand the release of Mapuche political Prisoners, 50 at this moment
4. To demand the Chilean Government reparation and compensation for the families of the 5 Mapuche activist killed by the police during the last two years.
5. To support the campaign for a Mapuche Community Radio in indigenous land.
More info: www.latinlasnet.org
6. To support/endorse the International Indigenous Solidarity Gathering "for self determination, autonomy, land and Culture"organised by LASNET and Mapuche communities in Temulemu south of Chile during November 2010. more info www.latinlasnet.org
7. To demand the Chilean State a full reparation to Pascual Pichun (Mapuche leader) for the false accusations of terrorist and 5 year and a half of injust imprisoment using the anti- terrorist law.
Agreed on:
The forces of capitalism have impinged on the world an ecological and social catastrophy at unprecedented levels. Environmental degradation, extinction of species, plunder, forced displacement, making lives more precarious than ever, cultural subjugation, violence, impunity, exclusion, mutilation and death are the signs of a system that denies the dignity and life. They are signs of a system that has gone into crisis, and which will hit (others) very hard in order to avoid its demise.
They are the signs of the unsustainability of a ‘civilising’ model that proclaims democracy while suffocating democracy where it does actually flourish. This model proclaims to embody liberty, while repressing even the smallest traces of dissent and protest. It discriminates peoples and depletes our fragile environment, in the name of science.
Capitalism is in crisis, but it hasn’t been defeated yet. It remakes and reinvents itself in search for its survival. It organizes its fury against peoples who are undisciplined, rebellious and not submissive. It incessantly tries to recolonize, subdue and control them.
It uses the market, the financial system, the economic projects, mass media communications and weapons, to achieve its own continuation; it seeks territorial dominance as an instrument of political control; and expands its military power, will all the possible brutality, to discipline or impede the peoples’ liberation. Capitalism today, hegemonised by United States, is living in a process of decay and illegitimacy, yet it continues to be powerful, not only in economic and military spheres but also the ideological. To achieve this, the cultural industry is here to convert the capitalist vision of the world in universal common sense.
Latin America is the vital space for the recomposition of the United States’ hegemony. With its Geostrategical megaprojects such as the IIRSA, the Mesoamerican Project (previously PPP), the Mexico Plan, and the Colombia Plan, it has been forming an anti-insurgency block, which are major points of contention, in the midst of the advances in social transformation processes that are flourishing today in Our America. Chile, as a paradigm of the neoliberal model, and Mexico, Colombia and Peru which have constituted into pillars of anti-insurgent blocks, and its peoples suffer the rigour of the dirty war, and the criminalization of all forms of organization or social protest.
Facing the advance of the democrative transformative governments, the imperial resorts to violence and to divide and rule tactics on our peoples, their attempts to reestablish and re-test their domination over our continent is evident in the military coup in Honduras which engages the appetite of the reactionary neoliberal sectors. The US military bases in Colombian lands are simply the manifestation of its concurrent attempt to reestablish the violence in the continent.
It is because of this that from Sydney Australia, through the Latin American Emergency Meeting realized today 21 November, the attendants and other invited persons, we call out to unite our support efforts, and in united solidarity, to put aside our little differences and particular interests that uses the Latin American popular and indigenous struggles, dilute and hurt the solidarity with our peoples, we call on ourselves to struggle, resist, work in solidarity and to act together on the great defiances that our poor peoples and those of us who come from our brown America in the struggles and resistance.
The people united, will never be defeated!!
Here by country:
On Honduras, we just finished the meeting with the Honduras coalition, we agreed to suggest for Honduras resolutions the following:
1. Strong resolution condemning the failure of the dialoge/negotiation in Honduras and the US intromission.
2. To oppose to the coming elections and to support the mobilisations for a new constitution
3. To organise a human rights delegation to Honduras
4. To organise a national visit of a Frente representative to Australia Feb-March 2010
5. To invite an Indigenous representative from Honduras to the international indigenous solidarity gathering April 2010 in Alice Spring, more info www.latinlasnet.org
6. To write an statement in support of the resistance front in Honduras
On Colombia:
1. To reject the seven US military bases in Colombia and their military and civil personnel, already approved by the USA and Colombian Governments.
This agreement will generate and promote war, violence and repression in Latin America to those who oppose US intervention in the region, especially those who are fighting for better living conditions: unionists, indigenous people, and the majority of social and popular sectors. The militarisation of the region will not help to achieve peace; the only way we can have peace is by solving the problems that cause misery, dispossession and inequality upon our peoples.
More info: www.latinlasnet.org
2. To support the Boycott against the Coca Cola company called by Sinaltrainal in Colombia and the Latin American Solidarity Network (LASNET) in Australia.
The multinational Coca Cola does not respect workers rights, and is responsible for the repression and killing of union leaders in Colombia and other countries around the world. We need to demand that this multinational stop damaging the environment and making huge profits through the exploitation of workers, with low salaries and unsafe working conditions.
3. To reject the behaviour of BHP-Billiton in Colombia. This multinational is responsible for the displacement of indigenous communities which continue to be affected by the implementation of new megaprojects in their territories, destroying their customs, world vision and their life. And in addition to this, there are violations of workers’ rights, showed by the low salaries and unsafe working conditions.
4. To support/endorse a union and social activist delegation to visit Colombia around July 22, 2010 – the date which marks activities against multinationals plunder and exploitation in Colombia. This delegation will be coordinated by LASNET and supporters in Austalia.
5.For Democracy in Colombia Freedom for all Political prisoners in Colombia.
On Mapuche People:
1. To condem the violence and repression against Mapuche people by the Chilean government.
2. To demand the Chilean State to stop using the Anti-terrorist law against Mapuche activists, at the moment 18 mapuche activists are in trial on Terrorist charges.
3. To demand the release of Mapuche political Prisoners, 50 at this moment
4. To demand the Chilean Government reparation and compensation for the families of the 5 Mapuche activist killed by the police during the last two years.
5. To support the campaign for a Mapuche Community Radio in indigenous land.
More info: www.latinlasnet.org
6. To support/endorse the International Indigenous Solidarity Gathering "for self determination, autonomy, land and Culture"organised by LASNET and Mapuche communities in Temulemu south of Chile during November 2010. more info www.latinlasnet.org
7. To demand the Chilean State a full reparation to Pascual Pichun (Mapuche leader) for the false accusations of terrorist and 5 year and a half of injust imprisoment using the anti- terrorist law.
FINAL DECLARATION MILITARY COUP IN HONDURAS
TAKEN At LATIN AMERICA EMERGENCY MEETING Sydney November 21, 2009
FIRSTLY: On 28 June 2009, the Democratic Institutions and the most basic and fundamental rights of the Honduran people were violated and made vulnerable, as a product of a destructive and widely denounced military coup regime headed by ROBERTO MICHELETTI, the Honduran oligarchy and with the complete support and backing by the most recalcitrant and right-wing of both Latin America and the United States of North America respectively.
SECONDLY: The lies and delay tactics to avoid at all costs to have the people’s democratically elected president – MANUEL ZELAYA ROSALES-, restituted urgently to his role; these lies and tactics, have been fully revealed before the national and international public opinion, affirming that all the negotiations for the ‘restitution’ of MANUEL ZELAYA promoted by the actual government of the North American president – BARACK OBAMA, and OSCAR ARIAS, Costa Rican President, always did have an interventionist focus and intention, and of complete support for the executors of the military coup.
THIRDLY: The actions and diligences undertaken by the Organisation of American States (OAS); given the consequent effects on the rest of the hemisphere and particularly on Central America that the beginning of the political crisis in Honduras posed, OAS tried to impose urgent measures of pressure against the regime, but through the chosen process they gave the space and time to allow the US government to create conditions for proposals that are favourable to Micheletti, and to avoid at all costs for Manuel Zelaya’s return to Honduras as his return would allow him to struggle with the people for his restitution. It remains demonstrated once again, that both the UN and the OAS when they intervene in any conflict within their jurisdiction and under the pressure of the international right wing forces, their actions, diligences, resolutions and special envoys always lack the moral, political and juridical authority from the beginning to the end, remain subordinated, in this case, by the US imperialists.
FOURTHLY: We admire and congratulate all the Honduran people that, with a high civic and patriotic spirit of non-violent struggle, has known intelligently to, in any part of the Honduran territory, stand up against and continue despite the brutalities of the massive repressive under the military dictatorship rule of the ROBERTO MICHELETTI coup regime; this non-violent struggle has had a high social cost in deaths, forced disappearances, imprisonment, tortures, and the permanent violations to the individual and social guarantees of the Honduran people.
FIFTHLY: On 29 November 2009 the elections including to elect the president and vice-president of Honduras will be held, openly and shamelessly endorsed by the OBAMA government, the said electoral event will be completely illegal and unconstitutional in virtue of that Manuel Zelaya has not been restituted as the legitimate president of the nation, which was the first point within the agreement mediated by Oscar Arias, supported by the international community, and respectively demanded for by the OAS.
SIXTH: The negotiator sent at the last minute by OBAMA to Honduras to persuade and convince Zelaya to form a government of unity CRAIG KELLY, he always had the intention of manipulating the situation in favour of the regime by starting or forming a government of national unity, but, under the leadership of Micheletti; Manuel Zelaya immediately rejected this perverse and anti-democratic proposal. It is under this panorama that Zelaya denounced the entire negotiation process as nullified and declared he would not accept restitution if it is only to legitimize the process. He condemns and declares illegitimate the election scheduled for 29 November 2009.
FOLLOWING AND DUE TO THE ABOVE, THIS CONFERENCE CELEBRATED IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 21 NOVEMBER 2009
CONDEMNS:
1.The military coup against the democratic and progressive government of MANUEL ZELAYA ROSALES which took place 28 June 2009
2.On 28 June 2009, a government/regime in Honduras installed itself, it is illegitimate, antidemocratic, and of a fascist court, which is its fundamental base for maintaining in power the constant human rights violations against the people of Honduras.
3.Deplores and condemns the manipulation, trickery, and delay tactics of the interventionism of the actual US government of BARACK OBAMA, supporting the coup regime decidedly and openly.
4.Condemns the attitude of the US government in ENDORSING the electoral process that will take place on 29 November; demonstrating itself under the watch of the international community that their national security policy and intention to continue making Latin America Washington’s backyard, this harmful policy has been applied in Honduras by use of double standards and double discourse.
DECLARES:
IN RECOGNIT ION OF WHICH THIS CONFERENCE IN AUSTRALIA IS HELD IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF HONDURAS, WE SEEK FOR THE ACTUAL PRESIDENT MANUEL ZELAYA ROSALES TO CONTINUE IN HIS CONSTITUTIONAL POSITION AND ACT IN FAVOUR OF CONSTITUTIONALITY, DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN HONDURAS; PROMISING TO REALISE CAMPAIGNS, SUPPORT ACTIVITIES AND TO CONTINUE DENOUNCING, SO THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONDURAS ONE DAY IN THE NEAR FUTURE, ACHIEVES ITS FINAL OBJECTIVES CONSISTENT WITH THE FORMATION OF A FREE, SOVEREIGN, INDEPENDENT NATION, WITHOUT INTERVENTIONS OF ANY NATURE.
PARTICIPANTS AND SIGNATORIES OF THE DECLARATION:
•SANTIAGO REYES, Representative of the Resistance Front against the military coup in Honduras and permanent member of the Latinamerican Social Forum in Australia.
•ROSIE WONG, Human rights activist and recently visited Honduras.
•DR. PETER ROSS, Senior Lecturer of the School of Latin American Studies in the University of New South Wales, Australia.
•KYLIE BENTON-CONNEL, Activist from Friends of the Earth Sydney
•PASCUAL PICHUN, leader of the Mapuche People, Chile.
•DUBAN VELEZ, union leader of Colombia.
ORGANIZERS AND SIGNATURES OF THE DECLARATION:
•Latin American Solidarity Network-LASNET
•Australia Honduras Solidarity Coalition.
•Friends of the Earth-Sydney.
•Search Foundation.
•Latin America Social Forum.
•Latin American Indigenous Campaign, Friends of the Earth-Melbourne.
•Chilean Popular & Indigenous Solidarity Network
•Colombia Demands Justice Campaign.
Read, ratified, approved, and signed this present FINAL DECLARATION, by the persons participating in this conference, organizers, and public attendants, 21 NOVEMBER 2009 in the suburb of MARRICKVILLE, Sydney AUSTRALIA, at 6 o’clock in the afternoon.
FIRSTLY: On 28 June 2009, the Democratic Institutions and the most basic and fundamental rights of the Honduran people were violated and made vulnerable, as a product of a destructive and widely denounced military coup regime headed by ROBERTO MICHELETTI, the Honduran oligarchy and with the complete support and backing by the most recalcitrant and right-wing of both Latin America and the United States of North America respectively.
SECONDLY: The lies and delay tactics to avoid at all costs to have the people’s democratically elected president – MANUEL ZELAYA ROSALES-, restituted urgently to his role; these lies and tactics, have been fully revealed before the national and international public opinion, affirming that all the negotiations for the ‘restitution’ of MANUEL ZELAYA promoted by the actual government of the North American president – BARACK OBAMA, and OSCAR ARIAS, Costa Rican President, always did have an interventionist focus and intention, and of complete support for the executors of the military coup.
THIRDLY: The actions and diligences undertaken by the Organisation of American States (OAS); given the consequent effects on the rest of the hemisphere and particularly on Central America that the beginning of the political crisis in Honduras posed, OAS tried to impose urgent measures of pressure against the regime, but through the chosen process they gave the space and time to allow the US government to create conditions for proposals that are favourable to Micheletti, and to avoid at all costs for Manuel Zelaya’s return to Honduras as his return would allow him to struggle with the people for his restitution. It remains demonstrated once again, that both the UN and the OAS when they intervene in any conflict within their jurisdiction and under the pressure of the international right wing forces, their actions, diligences, resolutions and special envoys always lack the moral, political and juridical authority from the beginning to the end, remain subordinated, in this case, by the US imperialists.
FOURTHLY: We admire and congratulate all the Honduran people that, with a high civic and patriotic spirit of non-violent struggle, has known intelligently to, in any part of the Honduran territory, stand up against and continue despite the brutalities of the massive repressive under the military dictatorship rule of the ROBERTO MICHELETTI coup regime; this non-violent struggle has had a high social cost in deaths, forced disappearances, imprisonment, tortures, and the permanent violations to the individual and social guarantees of the Honduran people.
FIFTHLY: On 29 November 2009 the elections including to elect the president and vice-president of Honduras will be held, openly and shamelessly endorsed by the OBAMA government, the said electoral event will be completely illegal and unconstitutional in virtue of that Manuel Zelaya has not been restituted as the legitimate president of the nation, which was the first point within the agreement mediated by Oscar Arias, supported by the international community, and respectively demanded for by the OAS.
SIXTH: The negotiator sent at the last minute by OBAMA to Honduras to persuade and convince Zelaya to form a government of unity CRAIG KELLY, he always had the intention of manipulating the situation in favour of the regime by starting or forming a government of national unity, but, under the leadership of Micheletti; Manuel Zelaya immediately rejected this perverse and anti-democratic proposal. It is under this panorama that Zelaya denounced the entire negotiation process as nullified and declared he would not accept restitution if it is only to legitimize the process. He condemns and declares illegitimate the election scheduled for 29 November 2009.
FOLLOWING AND DUE TO THE ABOVE, THIS CONFERENCE CELEBRATED IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 21 NOVEMBER 2009
CONDEMNS:
1.The military coup against the democratic and progressive government of MANUEL ZELAYA ROSALES which took place 28 June 2009
2.On 28 June 2009, a government/regime in Honduras installed itself, it is illegitimate, antidemocratic, and of a fascist court, which is its fundamental base for maintaining in power the constant human rights violations against the people of Honduras.
3.Deplores and condemns the manipulation, trickery, and delay tactics of the interventionism of the actual US government of BARACK OBAMA, supporting the coup regime decidedly and openly.
4.Condemns the attitude of the US government in ENDORSING the electoral process that will take place on 29 November; demonstrating itself under the watch of the international community that their national security policy and intention to continue making Latin America Washington’s backyard, this harmful policy has been applied in Honduras by use of double standards and double discourse.
DECLARES:
IN RECOGNIT ION OF WHICH THIS CONFERENCE IN AUSTRALIA IS HELD IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF HONDURAS, WE SEEK FOR THE ACTUAL PRESIDENT MANUEL ZELAYA ROSALES TO CONTINUE IN HIS CONSTITUTIONAL POSITION AND ACT IN FAVOUR OF CONSTITUTIONALITY, DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN HONDURAS; PROMISING TO REALISE CAMPAIGNS, SUPPORT ACTIVITIES AND TO CONTINUE DENOUNCING, SO THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONDURAS ONE DAY IN THE NEAR FUTURE, ACHIEVES ITS FINAL OBJECTIVES CONSISTENT WITH THE FORMATION OF A FREE, SOVEREIGN, INDEPENDENT NATION, WITHOUT INTERVENTIONS OF ANY NATURE.
PARTICIPANTS AND SIGNATORIES OF THE DECLARATION:
•SANTIAGO REYES, Representative of the Resistance Front against the military coup in Honduras and permanent member of the Latinamerican Social Forum in Australia.
•ROSIE WONG, Human rights activist and recently visited Honduras.
•DR. PETER ROSS, Senior Lecturer of the School of Latin American Studies in the University of New South Wales, Australia.
•KYLIE BENTON-CONNEL, Activist from Friends of the Earth Sydney
•PASCUAL PICHUN, leader of the Mapuche People, Chile.
•DUBAN VELEZ, union leader of Colombia.
ORGANIZERS AND SIGNATURES OF THE DECLARATION:
•Latin American Solidarity Network-LASNET
•Australia Honduras Solidarity Coalition.
•Friends of the Earth-Sydney.
•Search Foundation.
•Latin America Social Forum.
•Latin American Indigenous Campaign, Friends of the Earth-Melbourne.
•Chilean Popular & Indigenous Solidarity Network
•Colombia Demands Justice Campaign.
Read, ratified, approved, and signed this present FINAL DECLARATION, by the persons participating in this conference, organizers, and public attendants, 21 NOVEMBER 2009 in the suburb of MARRICKVILLE, Sydney AUSTRALIA, at 6 o’clock in the afternoon.
Thursday 26 November 2009
Third Latin American and Asia Pacific Solidarity Gathering
the Third Latin American and Asia Pacific Solidarity Gathering held last October 23-25 in Melbourne - Australia, attended during those day by various activist from different social sectors and international speakers from Mapuche People and Colombia Trade Union movement. We shared histories, struggles and experiences and resistances of our different struggles and confirmed to continue the journey of searching for alternatives and proposals that confront the struggles faced by our comrades around the world. The long struggles against injustices, inhumane conditions and discrimination. The never ending struggles to resist the capitalist neoliberal hegemony that we face in our daily lives.
The main resolutions of the Gathering were:
1. Reaffirm Latin American Solidarity (LASNET)’s commitment to support Indigenous and grassroots social movements in Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region. We will continue to work towards strengthening links with the peoples of Honduras, Colombia, Chile, Brazil, Bolivia and the whole Latin America peoples in the front line against neoliberal and militarist policies, And increase our work and support with peoples from Bounganville, West Papua, Indonesia, Aotearoa, the Pacific Islands, Tamil communities and Indigenous Australia.
2. LASNET will organise with other solidarity and indigenous groups and International Indigenous Solidarity Gathering in Alice Spring 9-10 April 2010.
3. Send a communiqué from the Solidarity Gathering to all the social movements and networks denouncing Multi-Nationals and their actions against workers and indigenous communities throughout the world.
4. Reinitiate the Campaign to boycott Coca-Cola and its products and against BHP-Billiton through the Colombia Demands Justice Campaign.
5. LASNET will organise an Australian Unions Delegation to Colombia to make concrete connections with Unions there.
6. A proposal to commence a Campaign to assist Pascual Pichun’s (Mapuche Leader/Lonko) community in Southern Chile.
7. LASNET will organise an Australian Delegation of Indigenous representatives and Social activists to Chile in November 2010 to attend a Solidarity Gathering there on Mapuche land.
If you would like to be involved in any of this main campaigns for 2010, don't hesitate to contact any of us by e-mail to: lasnet.latinosolidarity@gmail.com or calling
Lucho Riquelme 0400 914 944,
Rodrigo Rojas 0414 970 418,
Marisol Salinas 0413 597 315,
Juliet Armatolos 0423 911 338 or
Sue Leigh 0466 480 331
Any support or contribution to LASNET Campaigns are very welcome, please send your donation to LASNET, P.O. Box 813, North Melbourne, VIC. 3051. Or make direct deposit to our account; name LASNET BSB 633-000 A/C 133147793.
The struggles continues!
Latin American Solidarity Network (LASNET),
for now: http://latinamericansolidarity.blogspot.com/
lasnet@latinlasnet.org, www.latinamericansoldaritynetwork.org (what went wrong?)
Building Solidarity with Latin America
Building Bridges… Organising Globally…
The Power of Grassroots/Community
Organisations
The main resolutions of the Gathering were:
1. Reaffirm Latin American Solidarity (LASNET)’s commitment to support Indigenous and grassroots social movements in Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region. We will continue to work towards strengthening links with the peoples of Honduras, Colombia, Chile, Brazil, Bolivia and the whole Latin America peoples in the front line against neoliberal and militarist policies, And increase our work and support with peoples from Bounganville, West Papua, Indonesia, Aotearoa, the Pacific Islands, Tamil communities and Indigenous Australia.
2. LASNET will organise with other solidarity and indigenous groups and International Indigenous Solidarity Gathering in Alice Spring 9-10 April 2010.
3. Send a communiqué from the Solidarity Gathering to all the social movements and networks denouncing Multi-Nationals and their actions against workers and indigenous communities throughout the world.
4. Reinitiate the Campaign to boycott Coca-Cola and its products and against BHP-Billiton through the Colombia Demands Justice Campaign.
5. LASNET will organise an Australian Unions Delegation to Colombia to make concrete connections with Unions there.
6. A proposal to commence a Campaign to assist Pascual Pichun’s (Mapuche Leader/Lonko) community in Southern Chile.
7. LASNET will organise an Australian Delegation of Indigenous representatives and Social activists to Chile in November 2010 to attend a Solidarity Gathering there on Mapuche land.
If you would like to be involved in any of this main campaigns for 2010, don't hesitate to contact any of us by e-mail to: lasnet.latinosolidarity@gmail.com or calling
Lucho Riquelme 0400 914 944,
Rodrigo Rojas 0414 970 418,
Marisol Salinas 0413 597 315,
Juliet Armatolos 0423 911 338 or
Sue Leigh 0466 480 331
Any support or contribution to LASNET Campaigns are very welcome, please send your donation to LASNET, P.O. Box 813, North Melbourne, VIC. 3051. Or make direct deposit to our account; name LASNET BSB 633-000 A/C 133147793.
The struggles continues!
Latin American Solidarity Network (LASNET),
for now: http://latinamericansolidarity.blogspot.com/
lasnet@latinlasnet.org, www.latinamericansoldaritynetwork.org (what went wrong?)
Building Solidarity with Latin America
Building Bridges… Organising Globally…
The Power of Grassroots/Community
Organisations
What went wrong?
Dear friends and supporters,
Due to damages caused since last Friday Nov. 20 to our web page www.latinlasnet.org, its alias www.latinamericansolidaritynetwork.org, and our e-mail lasnet@latinlasnet.org, we don't know what happened, if its was hacked or damage by someone...the server still is looking about what went wrong.
We apologies to all our members, friends, comrades and supporters for any inconvenient, we had missed a lot of time for spread our activities and our solidarity work and its latest development with international visitors Pascual Pichún from Mapuche indigenous communities in Chile and DubánVélez from Sinaltrainal (national food union) and CUT Antioquia from Colombia.
We hope that with this blog we can update everyone and give and initial idea of what been going on during last weeks, mainly the Melbourne Third Latin American & Asia Pacific Solidarity Gathering Resolutions, the Sydney Latin American Emergency Meeting Resolutions and Colombia Trade Union Dubán Vélez participation in the BHP-Billiton Shareholders general meeting held in Brisbane on Thursday Nov. 26.
Any urgent communication please write to lasnet.latinosolidarity@gmail.com or call 0400 914 944
We are expecting, fingers cross, that our web page and e-mail will be working very soon...and again we apologies to all that people that have been calling us and all the e-mails sending and received back. If there are still urgent matters please send it again to lasnet.latinosolidarity@gmail.com
receive our greetings and take care
Latin American Solidarity Network (LASNET)
Building Solidarity with Latin America
Building Bridges… Organising Globally…
The Power of Grassroots/Community Organisations
Due to damages caused since last Friday Nov. 20 to our web page www.latinlasnet.org, its alias www.latinamericansolidaritynetwork.org, and our e-mail lasnet@latinlasnet.org, we don't know what happened, if its was hacked or damage by someone...the server still is looking about what went wrong.
We apologies to all our members, friends, comrades and supporters for any inconvenient, we had missed a lot of time for spread our activities and our solidarity work and its latest development with international visitors Pascual Pichún from Mapuche indigenous communities in Chile and DubánVélez from Sinaltrainal (national food union) and CUT Antioquia from Colombia.
We hope that with this blog we can update everyone and give and initial idea of what been going on during last weeks, mainly the Melbourne Third Latin American & Asia Pacific Solidarity Gathering Resolutions, the Sydney Latin American Emergency Meeting Resolutions and Colombia Trade Union Dubán Vélez participation in the BHP-Billiton Shareholders general meeting held in Brisbane on Thursday Nov. 26.
Any urgent communication please write to lasnet.latinosolidarity@gmail.com or call 0400 914 944
We are expecting, fingers cross, that our web page and e-mail will be working very soon...and again we apologies to all that people that have been calling us and all the e-mails sending and received back. If there are still urgent matters please send it again to lasnet.latinosolidarity@gmail.com
receive our greetings and take care
Latin American Solidarity Network (LASNET)
Building Solidarity with Latin America
Building Bridges… Organising Globally…
The Power of Grassroots/Community Organisations
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