Colombia: A dangerous place for trade unionists

AI INDEX: AMR 23/023/2004 30 April 2004
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

Media Advisory

AI Index: AMR 23/023/2004 (Public)
News Service No: 106
30 April 2004

Embargo Date: 30 April 2004 00:01 GMT


Colombia: A dangerous place for trade unionists

Colombia is the most dangerous country in the world to be a trade unionist. At least 80 trade unionists were killed or "disappeared" in 2003. The vast majority of human rights abuses against trade unionists were attributed to the security forces and paramilitary allies, although guerrilla forces were also held responsible for many abuses. Death threats against trade unionists almost doubled and impunity in cases of human rights violations against trade unionists is almost guaranteed.

On 20 April 2004, Gabriel Remolina, the President of the Bucaramanga Branch of SINALTRAINAL and his partner, Fanny Robles, were killed by unidentified gunmen. Concern for the security of trade unionists in Colombia is heightened, not only by these latest killings, but by the on-going failure to bring to justice those who kill and threaten trade unionists.

Amnesty International is concerned that the Colombian Government has failed to ensure substantive improvement in the security situation faced by trade unionists.
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http://news.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAMR230232004


Colombian Pres. Alvarao Uribe and _Bush.

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U.S. Said to Hamper Colombia Rebels War

By KIM HOUSEGO
Associated Press Writer

April 29, 2004, 9:11 PM EDT


BOGOTA, Colombia -- U.S. troops advising Colombia in its war against rebels and paramilitary forces are hampered by Congress' cap on the number of American soldiers, a senior U.S. military commander asserted Thursday.

U.S. Army Gen. James Hill, the commander of U.S. military operations in Latin America, said Washington's ability to provide advice and training as Colombia carries out offensives against the insurgent groups has been hurt by Congress' stipulation that no more than 400 U.S. troops and 400 American contractors can be in this Andean country at one time.

President Bush has asked the U.S. Congress to allow up to 800 U.S. military personnel and 600 U.S. citizen civilian contractors to help Colombian government forces.

"I've been unable, because of the cap, to keep up with the ability to give them planning assistance and other support, especially logistics ... to help them run a larger campaign," Hill, commander of the Miami-based U.S. Southern Command, told a news conference at the U.S. Embassy.
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http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-colombia-us-troops,0,3706225.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines

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