16 December, 2010In a definitive court ruling, the General Secretary of the Mexican Miners' Union is cleared of sham money laundering charges in Mexico. Unions around the world to participate in global action in February 2011 demanding the Mexican government stop its violations of the right to freedom of association.
MEXICO: A federal tribunal on December 15 definitively absolved Napoleon Gomez Urrutia of a charge filed by the Attorney General's Office for alleged money laundering.
La Jornada in Mexico reports that the resolution of the First Collegiate Tribunal for Criminal Matters, based in Mexico City, cannot be appealed by federal prosecutors, so that once the decision is notified to the Ministry officials, the agency must dismiss the charge.
Various prosecutors in the country have filed eight charges against Gomez Urrutia in the past four years, of which only one now remains in force, with Gomez Urrutia still facing an arrest warrant for an alleged banking offense.
Since 2006 the Mexican government has systematically and repeatedly violated Mexican law and international standards in an attempt to crush the National Miners' and Metalworkers' Union of Mexico (SNTMMSRM). Gomez Urrutia, the union's democratically elected General Secretary, has been forced to lead the union from exile in Canada as the Mexican Government continues its sham legal processes against him.
In February 2011, the International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF), International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM), International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) and UNI Global Union are taking joint action around the globe demanding the Mexican government stop its violations of the right to freedom of association.
To join the action and find out more go to: www.imfmetal.org/mexico2011