IAC report #1 on Coca Cola Tribunal in Colombia—Protest in Bogota
Posted 12/5/02
A delegation of nearly 30 people from the United States joined other internationalists and over 500 Colombian workers to protest at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota Dec. 5. The date is the sixth anniversary of the murder of union organizers at the Coca-Cola plant.
Photo credit: Steven Gillis
Participants described the atmosphere as “tense.” This is understandable in a country where in the year 2000 alone, 129 unionists were murdered. The Colombian SINALTRAINAL, the United Steel Workers and the International Labor Fund have a case being heard in U.S. courts Dec. 5 accusing Coca Cola of using paramilitary death squads to intimidate and assassinate union organizers.
Just the day before U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell was in Bogota pledging additional U.S. military aid in an attempt to repress an armed liberation struggle in the countryside. The U.S. has more troops in Colombia now than it did in Central America during the civil war in El Salvador.
Most of the U.S. delegation had arrived late the night before. Over 20 came with the group from the International Action Center. All were there in solidarity with the Colombian workers and to participate in an International Tribunal from Dec. 5-7.
IAC organizer Teresa Gutierrez described the demonstration: “The people chanted in Spanish, ‘Who assassinates? Coca Cola!’ and ‘Long live working-class unity!’ They were really pleased there was such a strong show of international support.”
Gutierrez said the tribunal was set to open in the National University, but the government closed it down for the day. “SINALTRAINAL, a major national union in Colombia that represents food and service workers, and the other unionists holding the tribunal are well organized. They moved the tribunal to another setting. But the students are also organized. They held a protest and forced the government to reopen the school.”
Union workers told members of the U.S. delegation of one time when 200 Colombian troops came into the Coca Cola plant, attacked the union leaders, handcuffed them, beat them and jailed them for six months. They told the union leaders that if they confessed to being “terrorists” -- that is, with sympathizing with the FARC or ELN guerrilla movements – they would let them out earlier. They refused. The union continued the struggle and won the workers’ release, said Gutierrez.
SINALTRAINAL, the umbrella union CUT (United Central of Colombian Workers) and the Campaign Against Impunity are sponsoring the tribunal.
The International Action Center and the Committee for a New Colombia have organized a delegation of 22 people, and the Committee for Social Justice in Colombia has also organized a delegation of six people to participate in the hearings. People who are interested can send messages of solidarity to the tribunal at the following email: sinaltrainaldinal@hotmai.com, audpubcoka@hotmail.com, iacenter@action-mail.org.
Messages in Spanish or English will be accepted.
For press information in the United States call Tony Murphy at 212-633-6646.
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