JESÚS ALEXANDER HERNANDEZ Assassinated
2nd May 2004, Cali, Colombia.

URGENT ACTION: Cali Union Bodyguard Assassinated

We denounce the assassination of security escort JESÚS ALEXANDER HERNANDEZ assigned to protect union leader EDGAR PEREA, of the Metal Workers Union, Yumbo, Colombia (Sintrametal Yumbo).

We appeal to the International Community for an immediate end to the brutal
wave of violence sweeping through the city of Cali and demand the necessary
and sufficient mechanisms to guarantee the security and integrity of union
leaders and their families.

The Events

JESÚS ALEXANDER HERNANDEZ, had only just been contracted as a department of Security Administration (DAS) escort and was recognised as a natural community leader in the San Luis neighbourhood. He left EDGAR PEREA at his residence around six in the evening and left on foot towards his home half a block away. The two men had just returned from a social activity in the San Luis neighbourhood in which EDGAR PEREA had been named president of the Committee of Communal Action.

This attack occurs just eighteen days after the attempted assassination of EDGAR PEREA in which his brother RAÚL PEREA ZUÑIGA was killed (14.04.04) and nineteen days after the assassination of CARLOS ALBERTO CHICAIZA (15.04.04) Union leader in EMSIRVA which handles municipal cleaning services. It occurs one just day after the strong show of strength and solidarity by civil society for the labour movement which ended in police brutality injuring twenty during May Demonstrations in Cali.

Of serious concern is that the residence of EDGAR PEREA was under constant
surveillance by a yellow public taxi (Chevitaxi) with number plate VBQ 147
which was reported to the Metropolitan police by telephone who responded
that the numbers corresponded to no such vehicle. In light of the this and this
assasination attempt we demand the reinforcement of the security program
protecting EDGAR PEREA to include the provision of a vehicle with darkened
glass windows and three escorts, one to replace JESÚS ALEXANDER HERNANDEZ and two more to be allocated with light personal firearms. This application has been brought before the National Authorities responsible for the security and protection of the Union Leader.

We Urgently demand:

A rapid and thorough investigation to bring to justice the material and
intellectual authors of the human rights abuses against participant in the May
Day demonstrations

That the Colombian Government and appropriate authorities provides sufficient
guarantees for the respect of constitutional human rights such as the right to life, security, freedom of opinion, information, assembly, protest and the right to form trade unions.

That the Colombian Government explain the reasons for the ongoing and systematic persecution of trade union leaders in Colombia.
- posted by 1984 @ 8:36 am