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Summary of 13th and 16th July statements

Through its Human Rights Department, the Colombian United Workers Federation "CUT" denounces:

THREATS

· On 7th July JOSÉ RODRIGO OROZCO received death threats. He is a member of the Regional Executive Committee of CUT - CAUCA, and has on repeated occasions been threatened with death by telephone calls to the union headquarters in the City of Popayán, Cauca Departament.

· On 9th July 2001, at 8:30 am a telephone call was received at the "Little Camp" Childrens Home located in the city of Barranquilla, Atlántico Departament; showing that the callers knew all the details of the meeting of the Executive Committee of the Union of Childrens Home Workers of Colombia -SINTRAHOINCOL- and that they would be entering into the meeting to assassinate them.

KIDNAPPING

· On 1st July 2001, teacher CRISTINA ECHEVERRI PÉREZ was kidnapped in the vicinity of the City of Manizales, Caldas Department. She works at Manizales University and at Santa Inés College; and is a member of United Educators of Caldas - EDUCAL - CUT. Up to now she is disappeared, and that is why a "White March" will take place in Manizales on 16th July to demand  the release of our comrade and to make an URGENT call to save her life and personal integrity, and that she be returned safe and sound as quickly as possible to her family and comrades.

ASSASSINATIONS

· On 10th July 2001, JAIRO DOMÍNGUEZ was found dead with three shots to his head in the vicinity of the El Cairo Cement Corporation, in an area known as "La Acequia", in the Municipality of Montebello, Antioquia Departament. The comrade had been abducted on 3rd July 2001, on the road from Santa Bárbara to the El Cairo cement factory. He was a member of the Santa Bárbara branch of SUTIMAC-CUT, the United Building Materials Industrial Workers.

· On 11th July 2001 MIGUEL IGNACIO LORA MENDEZ was assassinated. The act was committed by a group of killers in the City of Montería, Córdoba Departament.  The comrade was in the company of his wife CLEMENCIA DEL CARMEN BURGOS, who was seriously wounded. The couple worked in the Córdoba Prosecutors Office and are members of the National Association of Officers and Employees of the Justice Branch - ASONAL - CUT.

· On 12th July 2001 JAMES URBANO was assassinated in the Municipality of Jamundí, Valle del Cauca Departament. The comrade was a leader  of the Valle Workers Union, and affiliate of the General Confederation of Democratic Workers - CGTD.

· On13th July 2001, SAUL ALBERTO COLPAS CASTRO was assassinated at 10.30pm by six bullets in the Puerto Giraldo district of Ponedera municipality, Atlántico Departament. The comrade was President of the Atlántico Department Farm Workers Union SINTRAGRICOLAS, affiliated to the United Agricultural Workers Federation FENSUAAGRO, and a former secretary for Peasant Affairs for the Atlántico section of the CUT.

The above incidents demonstrate the absence of guarantees for trade union work in Colombia, and clearly underline the lack of any real commitment by the government to value and respect human rights. The lack of interest by the government to implement effective policies to meet this situation shows the State does not want to stop the barbarity and the increasing dirty war against Trade Union and Social Leaders, and Defenders of Human Rights, which has left 69 trade unionists assassinated so far in 2001.

HUMAN RIGHTS DEPARTAMENT, CUT