Sr. Presidente
Sr. Juan Manuel Santos
President of Colombia
Sr. Fiscal
Sr. Eduardo Montealegre
Attorney General of Colombia
Dear Sirs:
We are outraged to learn of the attempted assassination of Alexander Castro, a leader of the Petroleum Workers Union (USO) in Barrancabermeja, Santander Department, site of the largest oil refinery in Colombia.
On September 13, a group of armed men intercepted the vehicle used by Castro while he was driving to a meeting with workers from the Erazo Valencia oil company. The men shot six times at his vehicle. Fortunately, because he was traveling in a bullet-proof car, he escaped unharmed.
USO had advised Ecopetrol, the national oil company which contracts with Erazo Valencia, that paramilitaries were present in the area, but the company took no appropriate action to ensure the safety of the workers.
USO trade unionists have been repeatedly threatened and have been the victims of extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances committed by paramilitary forces, at times acting in collusion with the government security forces. Alexander Castro had already survived two previous assassination attempts. In both cases, those responsible were never located by authorities.
A press release from USO states that other union members, including Rodolfo Vecino and Jhon Alexander Rodríguez, have received death threats this month.
In light of these threats, we strongly urge that you:
protect USO members who are being threatened, in accordance with their wishes
ensure the free exercise of the rights of freedom of association
take measures to dismantle paramilitaries and other criminal groups who are victimizing labor leaders
We look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Brian J. Stefan Szittai and Christine Stonebraker-Martínez
Co-coordinators
