ALCA Protest Cartegena
PROTEST AGAINST THE FREE TRADE OF THE AMERICAS AGREEMENT AND IN DEFENCE OF NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY

Around 3pm, the participants were exercising their constitutional right to demonstrate in the streets of Cartagena, when they were brutally injured by members of the Anti Riot Squad.
Since last Monday, various social, popular, workers and student sectors and organisations that have analysed the implications of the treaty had made it publicly known they would gather in the city to exercise the right for all the people to freely express themselves against decisions that affect the country socially, economically and politically. However, the national and local government declared the actions to be illegal and despatched a contingent of 2,000 police officers, reinforced by personnel from the Atlantic, Sucre and Bogotá commands, the Security Service DAS, the national Army and the Attrorney General [Fiscalia], treating the spontaneous demonstration of the community as if it were war.
Likewise, member of congress ALEXANDER LOPEZ MAYA, GUSTAVO PETRO, WILSON BORJA, VENUS ALVEIRO SILVA, PIEDAD CORDOBA, Senator JORGE ENRIQUE ROBLEDO and the Ex Mayor of Cartagena, BERNARDO HOYOS, were victims of state repression, whose political authority, as members of Parliament, were disregarded by the authorities.
This aggression left more than one hundred injured, including women and children, who needed urgent medical attention due to acute asphyxiation and pulmonary damage. More than 50 people were detained, including various students from the Atlantic University. To date, 22 people are still in detention, despite irrefutable proof of abuse by the authorities.
It is important to note that this has occurred despite an agreement with the authorities that the march would progress peacefully.

In respect of the above, we ask as a matter of urgency that:
You demand the immediate release of the 22 participants in the Cartagena march still detained with the aim of suppressing all form of protest.
Demand that the Colombian government and competent authorities respect and guarantee the exercise of legal and constitutional rights of Colombian citizens, including the defence of the detainees, the right to Life, freedom of assembly, security of the person, freedom of expression, freedom of information, opinion and protest.
Demand that the Colombian government adheres to all international treaties and conventions to which is a party.
Notify the United Nations, the Organisation of American States, the diplomatic corps in Colombia, the International Labour Organisation, in order to guarantee the human rights of the Colombian people.
Demand that the Colombian government explains its reasons for the systematic persecution of trade unions, popular, peasant and student organisations.
Association for Social Action Research NOMADESC, Union of University Workers of Colombia SINTRAUNICOLCali, Municipal Workers Union SINTRAEMCALI, Colombian Oil Workers Union USO, Association for Intergrated Social Development ECATE
CUT - VALLE DEL CAUCA, Corporation of Professional Community Services SEMBRAR, Colombia Miners Union SINTRAMINERCOL, The Student Movements of the Valle del Cauca and Nariño, Foundation for Solidarity with Political Prisoners, Valle del Cauca, Sintramunicipio Bugalagrande, Sintramunicipio Yumbo, Sintramunicipio Dagua, Sintrametal Yumbo

- posted by 1984 @ 6:14 pm (0) comments

 
Police Aggression Against Students During Demonstrations of Solidarity with Sectors in Conflic
6th of May 2004, Cali, Colombia.

The Union of University Workers SINTRAUNICOL, the students of the University of Valle, The Association for Social Action Research NOMADESC and the participating organisations in the “National and International Campaign Against Privatisation, Corruption and the Criminalisation of Social Protest: FORBIDDEN TO FORGET” and “SO THAT THE UNIVERSITY CAN LIVE IN COLOMBIA” denounce before the National and International Community the arbitrary detention of four students of the University of Valle and the aggressive use of force by officers form the Mobile Anti [civil] Disturbance Squadron (ESMAD) during demonstrations at the University of Valle on May, 6th 2004.

On Wednesday the 5th of May SINTRAUNICOL held a public meeting within the university with an attendance of some three thousand students and staff in solidarity with and in recognition of the following:

The ongoing strike called by the Colombian Oil Workers Union USO on 22nd of April in response to threatened privatisation of the industry. The strike has been declared illegal by the Government and up to the present date 53 workers dismissed for union activism.

The restructuring of the National Apprenticeship Scheme (SENA) resulting in higher costs, fewer teachers, more students and greater involvement of the private sector. Public protests against the restructuring have been met with police brutality and arbitrary detentions across the country and members of the Union SINDESENA have been dismissed.

The situation faced by the workers of EMCALI due to renewed pressure for privatisation and liquidation of assents and the threats to leaders and activists of SINTRAEMCALI. Specifically the excessive use of force by state law enforcement agencies (ESMAD, PM) including the employment of acrimonious gases and firearms against workers on Tuesday the 5th of May at the EMCALI Water and Sewerage Plant, Kr 15, Calle 59.

The judicial reforms proposed by the Uribe Government which attempt to severely limit the role of the Constitutional Court, an essential branch of the democratic system and also those which would enable the president to be elected for a second term. The introduction and use of “anti terrorism” law to castigate members of trade unions and social movements

The systematic repression of social leaders, trade unionists and students, including specifically the death threats which exist against ALEXANDER LOPEZ, Member of Parliament for the Valle region, WILSON ARIAS, member of the SINDESENA directive committee and EDGAR PEREA, Vice-president of SINTRAMETAL the last two assassination attempts against whom have ended in the death of his brother RAÚL PEREA and his bodyguard and popular community leader JESÚS ALEXANDER HERNÁNDEZ.


In response to this wave of privatisation and state violence in repression of unionism and social protest underlined by judicial reform, and in solidarity with those worst affected, the Students and staff of the University of Valle held a demonstration at the University. It began at 11 am with a road blockage outside the University Pasoancho entrance. Within fifteen minutes a large police contingent arrived comprised of officers from the Anti [civil] Disturbance Squadron (ESMAD) and Military police (PM). The police drove the students into the University Campus with tear gas where they held their ground behind the entrance Gates. Two police riot vehicles equipped with water cannons and tear gas were positioned in the road between the University entrance and Unicentro Shopping centre. One was use as a shield behind which police fired tear gas (no. 24027) and the other was used in various failed attempts to penetrate the university gates using water cannons. The demonstration continued for some five hours inside the Campus grounds into which the police repeatedly fired tear gas and shouted insults at the students holding the gates. The road remained closed until 5pm.

Four students WILSON HURTADO VALENCIA, CARLOS ANDRÉS RESTREPO, CRISTIAN ROCHA, JOSE LUIS RODRIGUE were detained inside police riot vehicle no. 24027 and later in a Cevrolet Sprint with number plates CLK 393 with darkened windows possibly belonging to the National Inteligence Services (Sijin).

CRISTIAN ROCHA y JOSE LUIS RODRIGUEZ were accused with with carrying gas grenades of the type used by police during the demonstration and almost impossible for members of civil society to get hold of.

WILSON HURTADO VALENCIA a seventeen year old topography student from the Faculty of Engineering was detained while leaving the University on his bike. A successful youth football player who has represented the region in National tournaments, he was on his way to an arranged practise of the university team. He was spat on and beaten by police inside the riot vehicle before transferred to the Limonar police station. Later at the request of Human Rights organisations and Unions that he be released in veiw of the fact that he is legal minor police responded in veiw the fact that he was carrying a change of clothes (his football kit) this was sufficent evidence that he was anctive partiipant in the demonstartion. It is necessary for participants to over their faces during demonstrations due to the persecution of politically active students by law enforcement agencies in Colombia and hence in such situations carrying a change of clothing can be arrestable offence. Wilson was released the following day at mid-day, legal processes continue against him.

CARLOS ANDRÉS RESTREPO, CRISTIAN ROCHA, JOSE LUIS RODRIGUEZ were transferred to the Sijin where they currently remain detained.

In view of the gross violations of National and international law committed on the part of State law enforcement agencies we urgently demand:

That the Valle Regional Government order the public law enforcement agencies to cease the abuse of their functions and in doing so to respect the legal right to assembly and protest in view of the social conditions and conflicts confronting out city.

That the Colombian government provide guarantees for the safety and security of Colombian students and workers.

The respect of the fundamental constitutional rights to life, security, liberty of opinion, information, assembly, social protest and the right to form labour unions and as such that the Colombian Government comply with international agreements it has signed committing to respect of the above.

That the Colombian Government make a declaration before the United Nations, the Organisation of American Status, The Diplomatic Bodies seated in Colombia and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) so as to guarantee the protection of the human rights of the leaders and activists of social movements.

Union of University Workers of Colombia SINTRAUNICOL
Association for Social Action Research NOMADESC
Cali Municiple Workers Union SINTRAEMCALI
Colombian Oil Workers Union USO
Association for Intergrated Social Development ECATE
CUT - VALLE DEL CAUCA
Corporation of Professional Community Services SEMBRAR
Colombia Miners Union SINTRAMINERCOL
The Student Movements of the Valle del Cauca and Nariño
Foundation for Solidarity with Political Prisoners, Valle del Cauca
Sintramunicipio Bugalagrande
Sintramunicipio Yumbo
Sintramunicipio Dagua
Sintrametal Yumbo
Inner City Youth and Art Organisations
UK Colombia Solidarity Campaign

- posted by 1984 @ 8:42 pm (0) comments

 
S.O.S SINTRAEMCALI:
URGENT ACTION

ONCE AGAIN EMCALI WORKERS FALL
VICTIM TO BRUTAL ASSAULT BY STATE
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

5th of May 2004, Cali, Colombia.

Members of the Cali Municipal Workers Union SINTRAEMCALI, The Association for Social Action Research, NOMADESC and participating organisations in the “National and International Campaign against Privatisation, Corruption and the Criminalisation of Social Protest: FORBIDDEN TO FORGET” denounce before the National and International Community the brutal acts of police violence against workers at the EMCALI water and sewerage plant on the 5th of May 2004.

The Acts

Part of the agreement to the saving of EMCALI EICE ESP was the commitment to the Collective Convention, a participatory decision making assembly in which the workers and union are included. Yesterday it was handed over to the executive Committee excluding workers and the union. In response to the exclusion from the official process and aware of the direction in which the company will go without their input workers assembled at the water and sewerage plant on the Kr 15, Calle 59 at approximately 8.00am, Tuesday the 5th of May. They arrived both ready to work but also with the objective of analysing the implications of the hand-over of the Collective Convention and the loss of rights associated with it that have been achieved through long and arduous struggle.

Almost as soon as it had begun the open assembly was met with considerable contingent of the state law enforcement agencies comprising of members of the Mobile Anti (civil) Disturbance Squadron (ESMAD) and Military Police Force (PM). Officers rushed the workers in military fashion. Firearms were repeatedly unloaded at the crowd and into the streets generating an atmosphere of chaos and terrorising local residents including women children and old people of the Nueva Base Neighborhood. Bombs containing tear and pepper gas and a substance which causes itching and painful irritation of the skin (possibly Picana) were also employed similar to those employed on May Day. Shotguns were also used spraying small ball bearings into the crowd and injuring various workers including GUSTAVO TACUMA who was attacked in front of Public Ministry Officials who had arrived at the request of the workers in response to the police aggression to act as witnesses to the human rights abuses.

Members of the special police forces ESMAD and Military Police with no judicial warrant attempted to enter the building illegally by forced entry through the adjoining residential apartments of the Nueva Base. The attempt failed.

Most seriously, in the middle of the physical attacks and with out any explanation a Cali Metropolitan Police vehicle was positioned next to the plant from which the young occupants shouted insults at the workers. Simultaneously an explosion was set off by the ESMAD force leaving a number of the occupants of the vehicle wounded. According to the Police the vehicle was transporting young people with behavioral problems to a juvenile detention centre. The police superintendent in charge claimed in an abusive and defamatory statement that EMCALI workers had attacked the police transport vehicle that had been passing through area on routine business.


In view of the gross violations of National and international law committed on the part of State law enforcement agencies we urgently demand:

• That the Colombian government provide guarantees for the safety and security of Colombian Workers

• The respect of the fundamental constitutional rights to life, security, liberty of opinion, information, assembly, social protest and the right to form labour unions and as such that the Colombian Government comply with international agreements it has signed committing to respect of the above.

• That the Colombian Government make a declaration before the United Nations, the Organisation of American Status, The Diplomatic Bodies seated in Colombia and the International Organisation of Work so as to guarantee the protection of the human rights of the leaders and activists of SINTRAEMCALI.

• That the Colombian Government explain the reasons for the ongoing and systematic persecution of Union Leaders and activists in the Vale del Cauca.


Asociación Para la Investigación y Acción Social
NOMADESC
Sindicato de Trabajadores de Las Empresas Municipales de Cali
SINTRAEMCALI
Sindicato De Los Trabajadores Universitarios De Colombia
SINTRAUNICOL
La Unión Sindical Obrera
USO
Asociación para el Desarrollo Social Integral
ECATE
Central Unitaria De Los Trabajadores
CUT - VALLE DEL CAUCA
Corporación Servicios Profesionales Comunitarios
SEMBRAR
Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Minería en Colombia
SINTRAMINERCOL
Movimiento Estudiantil del Valle del Cauca y Nariño
Fundación Comité De Solidaridad Con Presos Políticos Seccional Valle del Cauca
Sintramunicipio Bugalagrande
Sintramunicipio Yumbo
Sintramunicipio Dagua
Sintrametal Yumbo
Organizaciones Barriales Juveniles Artísticas y
Populares de Santiago de Cali


- posted by 1984 @ 11:29 pm (0) comments