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12 August, 2005ICEM News release No. 91/1998
Thousands of Colombian trade unionists and other social activists have been murdered in recent years. Many others have been seriously assaulted and so, in some cases, have their families.
Meeting in Cork, Ireland, today, the leaders of some 9 million energy workers worldwide called for a full and impartial investigation of the killings. They also decided that an international trade union mission should visit Colombia to seek out the true facts.
Powering Up, the world energy conference of the 20-million-strong International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers’ Unions (ICEM), has just ended in Cork.
Delegates unanimously adopted a resolution which:
Demands that the Colombian government and other authorities take urgent steps to safeguard the free exercise of trade union activity in Colombia and to depenalise social protest.
Calls for the sending of an ICEM mission to Colombia, in order both to meet representatives of the Colombian trade union movement and to discuss with the Colombian authorities the problems facing trade unions in the Colombian energy sector.
Demands the immediate release of trade union leaders currently in detention and a full, rapid and impartial investigation of the many murders perpetrated against leaders of trade unions, native peoples and peasants and of social organisations.
Confirms that the ICEM will continue to assist the Colombian trade union movement to conduct its activities in areas where transnational corporations, in association with the military and the paramilitaries, are impeding such activities.
Meeting in Cork, Ireland, today, the leaders of some 9 million energy workers worldwide called for a full and impartial investigation of the killings. They also decided that an international trade union mission should visit Colombia to seek out the true facts.
Powering Up, the world energy conference of the 20-million-strong International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers’ Unions (ICEM), has just ended in Cork.
Delegates unanimously adopted a resolution which:
Demands that the Colombian government and other authorities take urgent steps to safeguard the free exercise of trade union activity in Colombia and to depenalise social protest.
Calls for the sending of an ICEM mission to Colombia, in order both to meet representatives of the Colombian trade union movement and to discuss with the Colombian authorities the problems facing trade unions in the Colombian energy sector.
Demands the immediate release of trade union leaders currently in detention and a full, rapid and impartial investigation of the many murders perpetrated against leaders of trade unions, native peoples and peasants and of social organisations.
Confirms that the ICEM will continue to assist the Colombian trade union movement to conduct its activities in areas where transnational corporations, in association with the military and the paramilitaries, are impeding such activities.