Colombia
24.02.03
Urgent Interventions
Colombia: attack against workers by the army
Case COL 240203. ESCR
Use of Force/ Arrests/Violations of trade union and labour rights
The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Colombia.
Brief description of the situation
The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores de Colombia (CUT), a member of the OMCT network, of the attack launched by the Colombian army on February 21st 2003 against the workers of ECOPETROL (Empresa Colombiana de Petroleros), in Barrancabermeja, Departement of Santander in Colombia.
According to the information received, on February 21st 2003 the army entered the premises of the ECOPETROL refinery in Barrancabermeja following instructions of the President of ECOPETROL Mr. Isaac Yanovich and brutally repressed the workers. It is reported that the following nine persons have been wounded in the operation, including fractures to the skull, the jaw, the arm and the collon-bone, due to shootings and the use of butts of guns and bayonets:
- Carlos Antonio Madero
- Carlos Ramírez
- Orlando Saenz
- William Ariza
- Martín Emilio Rondón
- Richard Díaz
- Alexander Torres
- Pedro Zambrano
- Dario Barrera
Moreover, according to the information received, the following nine persons have also been arrested in the operation:
- Eliécer Ortiz
- Jose Leonidas Mantilla
- Ezequiel Benitez
- Ciro Pinzón
- Ardulfo Díaz
- Jorge Munera
- Hector Salazar
- Eloy Martínez
- Ramón Gómez
Background information
The intervention by the Colombian Army occurs against the background of a labour dispute opposing the direction of ECOPETROL with its workers, including workers who are affiliated with the Oil Workers Union (USO). This intervention also reportedly occurs in the context of an ongoing campaign of persecution and harassment against the members of USO by paramilitary groups.
According to the information received, the intervention of the Colombian Army on February 21st 2003 has been preceded by the revocation, on December 31st 2002, of the Labour Agreement by ECOPETROL’s executive, leading to a conflict between the ECOPETROL’s executive and employees.
Action requested
Please write to the authorities in Colombia urging them to:
i. take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of the afore-mentioned persons;
ii. order the immediate release of the afore-mentioned persons in the absence of valid legal charges or, if such charges exist, bring them before an impartial and competent tribunal and guarantee their procedural rights at all times;
iii. guarantee an immediate investigation into the circumstances of these events, identify those responsible, bring them before a civil competent and impartial tribunal and apply the penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions provided by law;
iv. guarantee adequate reparation to all injured people;
v. guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms, including economic, social and cultural rights throughout the country in accordance with international human rights standards.
Adresses
S. E ALVARO URIBE VELEZ, Presidente de la República, Carrera 8 n. 7-26 Palacio de Nariño, Santa Fe de Bogotá, Fax (571 ) 286 74 34 - 286, 68 42 -284 21 86, email : auribe@presidencia.gov.co
S. E FERNANDO LONDOÑO HOYOS, Ministro del Interior y Justicia, Carrera 8 # 8-09 – Bogotá, Fax: 0057-1-286.80.25
MARTHA LUCÍA RAMÍREZ DE RINCÓN, Ministra de la Defensa, Avenida El Dorado con Carrera 52 CAN Santa Fe de Bogotá, Telex: 42411 INPRE CO; 44561 CFAC CO Tel-fax: +57.1.222.1874
EDUARDO CIFUENTES MUÑOZ, Defensoría del Pueblo, Calle 55 n. 10-32 Santa Fe de Bogotá, Fax: +57.1.346.1225
FRANCISCO SANTOS, Vicepresidente de la República, Consejería Presidencial de Derechos Humanos, Calle 7 No 6-54 Piso 3, Santa Fe de Bogotá, D. C., Telefax: +57.1.337.1351
Gral (RE) TEODORO CAMPO, Director General Policía Nacional, Santafé de Bogotá, Fax: +57.1.428.7634 - +57.1.315.9527
LUIS CARLOS RESTREPO, Alto Comisionado para la Paz Fax: +57.1.560.9946
Please also write to the embassies of Colombia in your respective country.
Geneva, February 24, 2003
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply
Use of Force/ Arrests/Violations of trade union and labour rights
The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Colombia.
Brief description of the situation
The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores de Colombia (CUT), a member of the OMCT network, of the attack launched by the Colombian army on February 21st 2003 against the workers of ECOPETROL (Empresa Colombiana de Petroleros), in Barrancabermeja, Departement of Santander in Colombia.
According to the information received, on February 21st 2003 the army entered the premises of the ECOPETROL refinery in Barrancabermeja following instructions of the President of ECOPETROL Mr. Isaac Yanovich and brutally repressed the workers. It is reported that the following nine persons have been wounded in the operation, including fractures to the skull, the jaw, the arm and the collon-bone, due to shootings and the use of butts of guns and bayonets:
- Carlos Antonio Madero
- Carlos Ramírez
- Orlando Saenz
- William Ariza
- Martín Emilio Rondón
- Richard Díaz
- Alexander Torres
- Pedro Zambrano
- Dario Barrera
Moreover, according to the information received, the following nine persons have also been arrested in the operation:
- Eliécer Ortiz
- Jose Leonidas Mantilla
- Ezequiel Benitez
- Ciro Pinzón
- Ardulfo Díaz
- Jorge Munera
- Hector Salazar
- Eloy Martínez
- Ramón Gómez
Background information
The intervention by the Colombian Army occurs against the background of a labour dispute opposing the direction of ECOPETROL with its workers, including workers who are affiliated with the Oil Workers Union (USO). This intervention also reportedly occurs in the context of an ongoing campaign of persecution and harassment against the members of USO by paramilitary groups.
According to the information received, the intervention of the Colombian Army on February 21st 2003 has been preceded by the revocation, on December 31st 2002, of the Labour Agreement by ECOPETROL’s executive, leading to a conflict between the ECOPETROL’s executive and employees.
Action requested
Please write to the authorities in Colombia urging them to:
i. take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of the afore-mentioned persons;
ii. order the immediate release of the afore-mentioned persons in the absence of valid legal charges or, if such charges exist, bring them before an impartial and competent tribunal and guarantee their procedural rights at all times;
iii. guarantee an immediate investigation into the circumstances of these events, identify those responsible, bring them before a civil competent and impartial tribunal and apply the penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions provided by law;
iv. guarantee adequate reparation to all injured people;
v. guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms, including economic, social and cultural rights throughout the country in accordance with international human rights standards.
Adresses
S. E ALVARO URIBE VELEZ, Presidente de la República, Carrera 8 n. 7-26 Palacio de Nariño, Santa Fe de Bogotá, Fax (571 ) 286 74 34 - 286, 68 42 -284 21 86, email : auribe@presidencia.gov.co
S. E FERNANDO LONDOÑO HOYOS, Ministro del Interior y Justicia, Carrera 8 # 8-09 – Bogotá, Fax: 0057-1-286.80.25
MARTHA LUCÍA RAMÍREZ DE RINCÓN, Ministra de la Defensa, Avenida El Dorado con Carrera 52 CAN Santa Fe de Bogotá, Telex: 42411 INPRE CO; 44561 CFAC CO Tel-fax: +57.1.222.1874
EDUARDO CIFUENTES MUÑOZ, Defensoría del Pueblo, Calle 55 n. 10-32 Santa Fe de Bogotá, Fax: +57.1.346.1225
FRANCISCO SANTOS, Vicepresidente de la República, Consejería Presidencial de Derechos Humanos, Calle 7 No 6-54 Piso 3, Santa Fe de Bogotá, D. C., Telefax: +57.1.337.1351
Gral (RE) TEODORO CAMPO, Director General Policía Nacional, Santafé de Bogotá, Fax: +57.1.428.7634 - +57.1.315.9527
LUIS CARLOS RESTREPO, Alto Comisionado para la Paz Fax: +57.1.560.9946
Please also write to the embassies of Colombia in your respective country.
Geneva, February 24, 2003
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply