Political Action

Repression of Colombian labour leader and PSAC National Convention guest speaker

Maria Clara Baquero Sarmiento, President of the Trade Union of Public Servants of the Ministry of Defence, Military Forces and National Police (ASODEFENSA) in Colombia, inspired delegates at our last National Convention in April in Montreal. Her courage and commitment to labour rights reflected in her presentation as she spoke about the dangerous conditions under which labour activists in Colombia have to work.

Maria Clara, herself, was a victim of labour repression when she was shot and left for dead in a ditch allegedly by members of a paramilitary group. Her son also received death threats, but has been denied protection by the government. More recently, on May 7, 2003, her daughter’s bedroom window was shattered by bullets fired from outside while her daughter was alone at home. Fortunately no one was hurt.

The attacks were an apparent attempt to suppress Maria Clara’s freedom of expression and association. While the Colombian government has given her body guards for protection, her children have not, and no arrests have been made in the attacks.

In the interest of international labour solidarity and the respect for human rights, we urge all our members to write to the President of Colombia and other Colombian government officials. You may cut and paste the sample letter below or write your own letter and send it to one or all of the following addresses:

Álvaro Uribe Vélez
Presidente de la Republica
Calle 7, No 6-54
Bogotá, D.C.
Fax: +57 1 3375890
E-mail: auribe@presidencia.gov.co

Luis Camilo Osorio Isaza
Fiscal General de la Nación (Attorney General)
Diagonal 22 B No 52-01, Edificio C, Piso 4
Bogotá, D.C.
Fax: +57 1 5702000, Ext. 2017
Email: contacto@fiscalia.gov.co

Martha Lucia Ramírez de Rincón
Ministra de Defensa Nacional
Carrera 52, Avenida El Dorado CAN
Bogotá, D.C.
Fax: +57 1 2660193
Email: siden@mindefensa.gov.co

[SAMPLE LETTER]

Dear _________________,

In our common respect for human and labour rights, I appeal to you to intervene in the case of Maria Clara Baquero Sarmiento, President of the Trade Union of Public Servants of the Ministry of Defence, Military Forces and National Police (ASODEFENSA), and her family.

On May 7, 2003, Ms. Sarmiento’s daughter was alone in their home when her bedroom window was shattered by bullets fired from outside. Fortunately, no one was injured. Ms. Sarmiento sent you a letter requesting your intervention in light of this most recent attack. We believe you are already aware of two other incidents in 1998 and 1999. In one incident, Ms. Sarmiento’s son, who has been denied government protection, was threatened and in the other, Ms. Sarmiento was shot and nearly killed.

It appears that the attacks were motivated by the same intent: to stop Ms. Sarmiento in the exercise of her freedom of expression and association. This would be a direct violation of your Constitution and the International Labour Organization’s Convention no. C87, concerning Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize, which Colombia ratified in 1976.

I am greatly concerned about her case and the overall dire conditions of labour organizations and their members in your country. A report from the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions lists, in 2002 alone, a shocking number of assassinations, death threats, disappearances and torture of labour activists in Colombia.

It is this concern that motivated me to write this appeal to you. I respectfully ask that you do whatever means are at your disposal to provide protection for Ms. Sarmiento’s children, to investigate the attacks against her and her family and to address the overall labour situation in Colombia.

Sincerely,