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