Our Web hacked again, we must be very good on our Solidarity work, that brought the attention of a bunch of idiots and people with little brain,,,we been activated our blog (http://latinamericansolidarity.blogspot.com/) and wordpress (http://latinamericansolidarity.wordpress.com) meantime our web is fixed by the server...keep going in our struggle for a better word...c u all soon
Cheers
Latin American Solidarity Network (LASNET)
Monday 11 July 2011
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.''
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