Protect Colombian Union Leaders' Lives

Protect Colombian Union Leaders' Lives - Act Now!

For the past decade, Colombia has been the most dangerous nation in the world to be a union leader. Since 1986, nearly 4,000 union leaders have been killed. This year, 44 Colombian union leaders have been assassinated and many more have detained on false charges.

Miguel Fernandez, a Colombian union leader who traveled to the U.S. for six months last year in order to protect his life, has returned to Colombia and has now been charged with "fabricating" death threats against himself and his family. We need you to fax the Colombian government to help protect his life and liberty. Another organizer, José Vicente Otero, remains in jail.

Colombian Trade Unionists, including Hector Giraldo, the Secretary Treasurer of the Public Sector Union of Medellin (who participated in the same AFL-CIO protection program in 2003), have repeatedly said that "those letters, faxes, and calls make the difference between life and death". Please do your part to act in solidarity with our Colombian brothers and sisters.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Protect Organizers Miguel Fernandez & Jose Vicente

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

It is with utmost urgency that our organization seeks the protection and well being of our colleague, Mr. Miguel Alberto Fernandez Orozco, President of the CUT in Cauca (a Colombian labor federation) who was held under false charges in the state of Cauca last week. We also ask that you investigate the charges against Jose Vicente Otero, and release him from jail.

Mr. Fernandez was a most valued member of our union movement when he was in the United States during 2004. Colombia continues to be the most dangerous country in the world for union activists. Since 1986, nearly 4,000 union leaders have been killed. During this year alone, 44 Colombian union leaders have been assassinated and many more have detained on false charges.

Mr. Fernandez was granted temporary asylum in the United States due to the threats he received because of his union activity, but more importantly because of the failure of the Colombian government to protect his well being. The purpose of the program, affiliated with a United States' labor federation, the AFL-CIO, was to allow leaders like Mr. Fernandez to continue their union work from abroad. Mr. Fernandez did not seek asylum in the United States, and upon his return to Colombia, he received numerous death threats and at least one against his family.

We denounce the unjustified detention of Mr. Fernandez on November 1st, as well as previous methods of intimidation and harassment that he and his colleagues have faced in direct retaliation for their union organizing work. We understand that Mr. Fernandez has been released "conditionally" and we urge you to do all you can to facilitate in having the dubious charges the Colombian government has brought against Mr. Fernandez dropped and to help put an end his persecution for his organizing work.

I will be closely monitoring the situation and I expect that human rights, political rights, and the freedom to engage in union activity be respected in Colombia. I fully expect you to use all available diplomatic and political channels to ensure that Mr. Fernandez and Mr. Vicente are safe and able to return to their organizing work.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
November 16, 2005

Background Information

Miguel Fernandez, president of a Colombian union federation in the state of Cauca, traveled to the U.S. in 2004 for six months through the AFL-CIO's Solidarity Center in an effort to protect his life. Upon his return to Colombia, Miguel received numerous death threats, and on November 1st he was arrested. The case against him basically charges that he "fabricated" the threats against himself and his family in order to get asylum in the U.S.

Although the immediate goal of Miguel's release from prison has been met, we understand the threat that Miguel and his work poses to the Colombian status quo and that future threats, detentions and potentially worse actions may be taken against him. Therefore, we are writing to ask you to take immediate action today to protect the well being of Brother Miguel Fernandez and to express your solidarity with the Colombian labor movement.

During his stay in Boston, Brother Fernandez worked as an organizer with SEIU 615, and participated in many local union solidarity marches, rallies, and events. Miguel worked closely with Jobs with Justice and the American Friends Service Committee on public education forums regarding the union movement in Colombia. Mr. Fernandez worked with and was supported by groups including: Amnesty International, Centro Presente, the Committee for International Solidarity with the People of El Salvador, Colombia Vive, Cultural Survival, Massachusetts Global Action, Oxfam of America, the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, and several labor unions. Miguel also spoke about Plan Colombia and the FTAA at several venues, including: the Harvard Trade Union Program, the Labor Studies Centers at University of Massachusetts Lowell and Boston, Mt. Holyoke University, Northeastern University, and Tufts University. Additionally, Brother Fernandez met with members of our congressional delegation.

Upon his return to Colombia, Miguel received numerous death threats and at least one against his family. This did not stop Miguel from continuing his trade union work because he knew he could count on the numerous colleagues and friends he made during his time in the United States. This is why we are calling upon you today.

On Miguel's request, and due to recent developments in his case, we ask that you please be sure to include the following in your letter:

The disastrous situation of human rights for trade unionists in Colombia
Miguel came here as part of a protection program because of the danger to his life, the purpose of the program being to allow him to continue his work from here
He did not ask for asylum here but returned to Colombia in order to continue his union/social movement work there

Colombian Trade Unionists, including Hector Giraldo the Secretary Treasurer of the Public Sector Union of Medellin (who participated in the same AFL-CIO protection program in 2003), have repeatedly said that “those letters, faxes, and calls make the difference between life and death”. Please do your part to act in solidarity with our Colombian brothers and sisters.