Date: Thu, 14 Feb Campaign STOP IMPUNITY in Colbombia 1 of 2 February 13, 2002 Bogotá, Colombia I would like to extend warm greetings from the Coca-Cola workers of Colombia, members of the Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Industria de Alimentos (National Food Industry Workers Union) SINALTRAINAL. A few months ago we had the opportunity to present a proposal against impunity in Colombia. Called “Stop Impunity: Colombia Demands Justice”, this proposal was discussed in a number of European countries, in the USA and in Canada. This is part of an ongoing campaign, which has included the organization of International Tribunals against the massacres committed in Santo Domingo, Arauca and Barrancabermeja, Santander, as well as the International Humanitarian Caravan in the south of Bolivar. We have recently filed a lawsuit against Coca-Cola in a US Federal Court, and are launching a Public Hearing to expose the abuses committed by this multinational against its workers and the people of Colombia. We need your support to carry out this Hearing, and ask you to officially endorse this campaign (see attached documents). We ask that you continue to support us in our fight against globalization and the humanitarian catastrophe that is occurring in Colombia. If possible, please indicate in your response the manner in which you can best lend your support. Please send your replies and comments to: english@contraimpunidad.org or audpubcoka@hotmail.com. In solidarity, Edgar Páez International Representative SINALTRAINAL-Colombia HECTOR DANIEL USECHE BERON PUBLIC HEARING “STOP IMPUNITY: SINALTRAINAL DEMANDS JUSTICE” 1. HISTORY AND NATURE OF HEARING The HECTOR DANIEL USECHE BERON PUBLIC HEARING, “STOP IMPUNITY: SINALTRAINAL DEMANDS JUSTICE”, is an expression of the ongoing struggle of the workers of the Colombian National Food Industry Worker’s Union (SINALTRAINAL). It is a struggle against the devastating effects of state-sponsored terrorism and the policies of transnational corporations, which have translated into policies of forced displacement, repression, assassination and violation of the political, economic, social, and cultural rights of Colombian workers. SINALTRAINAL has been the victim of a systematic campaign of destruction, which has seen the assassination of 14 union leaders (7 from Coca-Cola), death threats, forced displacements, the incarceration of workers and union leaders on trumped-up charges, the raiding of union offices, cooperatives and homes of union members, union de-certification, extortion and kidnapping of union members in order to force them to renounce their right to association, and the violation of collective agreements. As well, hundreds of workers have been fired from their jobs over the past 10 years. As a result, SINALTRAINAL has seen its membership decrease by over 50%. The Colombian state has been an accomplice to the actions of the transnational corporations, by neither investigating nor punishing those responsible for carrying out these crimes. It continues to promote policies that accentuate terror and hunger, by privatizing public sector companies, creating “free-trade” zones, criminalizing any protest movement, and imposing Plan Colombia, which is escalating the civil war and eliminating popular organizations. In response to popular demands for justice, the Colombian state has replied with a blanket policy of impunity. As part of the National and International Campaign, “Stop Impunity: Colombia Demands Justice”, the Public Hearing seeks to sensitize popular organizations and international public opinion to the destruction of the social fabric caused by these grave human rights violations. With this goal in mind, we seek to build a social movement against impunity, to bring to justice those responsible for these atrocities, and to demand reparations for the victims of these crimes. The Hearing also seeks to create mechanisms that will offer protection, support, accompaniment and solidarity for SINALTRAINAL workers and other Colombian victims, with the goal of protecting their right to organize and their right to a life with dignity. International support is key to this effort, as we are well aware of the tremendous risks involved, given the dirty war being carried out in Colombia. We demand that the Colombian state assume responsibility for the disappearances, assassinations, threats and repression carried out against the workers of SINALTRAINAL and their families. Working together with other organizations, we wish to confront the fear, helplessness and terror generated by transnational corporations, Colombian monopolies and the Colombian state. We intend to confront the persecution, repression and extermination campaign carried out against SINALTRAINAL, and join in the struggle against impunity and for a political solution to the crisis in Colombia, as part of the National and International Campaign, “Stop Impunity: Colombia Demands Justice”. We are counting on support from all sectors victimized by the neo-liberal model of globalization, which is leading to further impunity, poverty, misery and worsening of social problems. 2. WHAT IS THE PUBLIC HEARING? Crimes committed by Coca-Cola and the Colombian state against workers, SINALTRAINAL, and the environment, have remained in total impunity. The Colombian judiciary has neither investigated nor punished those responsible for these crimes, allowing these repressive policies to quash dreams of building a more just society. As we no longer believe in the impartiality nor the objectivity of the Colombian justice system, we are calling upon international public opinion so that these crimes be judged and sentences pronounced. OBJECTIVES · Define the responsibility of Coca-Cola and the Colombian state in the systematic human rights violations of Colombian workers, as evidenced by assassinations, jailings, forced displacement, threats, firings, violations of national and international agreements, and environmental degradation. · The Public Hearing must lead Coca-Cola and the Colombian state to desist from its campaign of persecution, criminalization and extermination of Colombian workers and SINALTRAINAL. They must commit to respecting human rights and the environment, as defined by international agreements. · Participants in the Hearing will analyze the crimes and issue a political declaration. They will also organize and carry out solidarity actions that arise as result of the final declaration. · The Hearing will strengthen the struggle against impunity and the movement against globalization. · We strive to link up with the international community in order to publicize the systematic repression against Colombian social movements, as well as similar cases happening in other countries. · Build solidarity from trade unions, peasants, human rights organizations and international public opinion. · Demand that Coca-Cola and the Colombian state agree to the SINALTRAINAL proposal for reparations for crime victims. 3. HOW WILL THE HEARING BE CARRIED OUT? The Hearing will be divided into 3 sessions: · The 1st session will be held on July 22, 2002 in Atlanta, USA. · The 2nd session will be held on October 12, 2002 in Brussels, Belgium. · The 3rd session will be held on December 5, 2002 in Bogota, Colombia. Participants will be well-known personalities and representatives of organizations from different countries, who will guarantee the impartiality of the investigation and its final declaration. SINALTRAINAL will document the most significant crimes and human rights violations committed against Colombian workers and the union. Participants will be presented with testimonial, legal and documentary evidence. 4. ORGANIZATIONAL ASPECTS To ensure the objectivity and success of the Hearing, five working groups have been established: a. Investigative Team: responsible for the documentation of cases to be presented at the different sessions. This team will compile the testimonial, legal and documentary evidence. b. Political Work Team: responsible for relations with Colombian and international organizations, informing them and gathering their support for the Hearing. c. Publicity Team: responsible for communication, publicity and dissemination of the Hearing and its conclusions. d. Fundraising Team: responsible for coordinating all financial aspects of the Hearing. e. International Work Team: responsible for establishing and maintaining relations with different organizations and individuals in various countries that will work with the Public Hearing. 5. HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT THE HEARING: There are many different ways you can support the Public Hearing: · Become an official endorser (either individually or your organization) of the Hearing by completing the attached endorsement form. · Letting other individuals or organizations know about the Hearing. · Forming support teams in different countries in order to publicize the Hearing. · Making a financial contribution to the Hearing. · Participating in the sessions of the Hearing, and working to carry out its conclusions. INFORMATION AND SOLIDARITY WITH THE HEARING Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Industria de Alimentos SINALTRAINAL Carrera 15 No. 35-18. Telephone: 2 45 53 25 and 2 32 46 26. Bogota, Colombia E-mail: english@contraimpunidad.org audpubcoka@hotmail.com Bogota, Colombia February 8 de 2002 ======================================================= STOP IMPUNITY: COLOMBIA DEMANDS JUSTICE PERMANENT NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN Organizational Endorsement Name of your Organization as you wish it to be listed: ________________________________________________________________________ Acronym (if applicable) of your Organization: ________________________________ Organization’s main area of focus (please select one only): _____Local _____Regional _____National _____International Type of Organization or principal field of action (please select one only): _____Human Rights _____Religious _____Local Concerns _____Civic _____Peace & Justice _____University _____Women _____Business _____Union/Labor _____Environment _______________Other (please specify) Name & Title of Person Authorized to represent your Organization in Campaign: _________________________________________________________________ Your Name: ____________________________________________________________ Address: _______________________________________________________________ City: ___________________________ State/Province: _________________________ Zip/Postal Code: ________________ Country: ______________________________ E-mail: _________________________________________________________________ Phone (with area code): ____________________________________________________ Fax (with area code): ______________________________________________________ Do you wish to receive bi-monthly e-mail updates? _____Yes _____No Can we count on you to respond to action requests (write a letter to an official or organize a workshop or participate in protests, etc.)? _____Yes _____No Individual Endorsement Your Name: ____________________________________________________________ Address: _______________________________________________________________ City: ___________________________ State/Province: _________________________ Zip/Postal Code: ________________ Country: ______________________________ E-mail: _________________________________________________________________ Phone (with area code): ____________________________________________________ Fax (with area code): ______________________________________________________ Do you wish to receive bi-monthly e-mail updates? _____Yes _____No Can we count on you to respond to action requests (write a letter to an official or organize a workshop or participate in protests, etc.)? _____Yes _____No *********************************************************************************