Agricultural Trade Unionist Slain in Colombia

Another Colombian trade unionist was murdered, continuing a trend that labels the South American country as one of the worst in the world with respect to trade union rights and human rights.

Jesús Marino Mosquera, an activist in the rural workers’ agricultural union of SINTRAINAGRO, was murdered last month while returning home from the farm that he worked at in Carepa, Urabá state. He served as a union representative for SINTRAINAGRO on a joint labour-management committee for the past 12 years.

Following the mid-October assassination, two members of the union’s national executive received death threats. On 26 October, masked gunmen broke into the home of one of those members, Medardo Cuesta, who was not there, and left a death note for him.

SINTRAINAGRO, an affiliate of the International Union of Food Workers’ (IUF), and of the Colombian national labour centre CUT have denounced the murder and death threats, and have called on the government to provide all necessary protective measures for SINTRAINAGRO officers and members.

Far more trade unionists are murdered in Colombia each year than in any other country in the world. Last year, the count was listed at 70, although it is believed another 25 trade union leaders were victims of death squads.

The IUF provides further information on this latest instance of trade union killings in Colombia, as well as a link to send a message of protest to the government on its website. To get there, click here.