Coca Cola & Sinaltrainal: First Time In Public Debate
Rome, 13 December 2003
In the context of the "ANOTHER ECONOMY" event organised by Rome's Mayor and others, the Colombian trade union SINALTRAINAL and COCA COLA COMPANY met each other for the first time, so that the multinational could respond publicly to its alleged crimes in the South America country that have given rise to a Worldwide Campaign against the US corporation's policies.
After four years of campaigning, with strong pressure in different cities of the world from social organisations, as well as human rights, religious and black groups, Coca Cola has finally responded to the charges of human rights violations of its workers by participating in an event whose theme was "Corporate Social Responsibility".
Coke was asked to respond [account] for the 9 assassinations, the kidnnappings, the tortures and the permanent persecution carried out by the paramilitary organisation Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia against the workers and their family members; a situation which has led to the serious weakening of the union to the benefit of the corporation.
In the face of these accusations the multinational corporation, represented by Mr. Nicola Raffa, Director of External Relations for Coca Cola Italia Ltd., evaded the charges against it and the relations between the leadership of Coca Cola in Colombia with the paramilitary groups; a fact that was denounced by Cambio magazine (No. 296 of December 1996) and by the international magazine of the Swedish unions.
The multinational based its defence on press communiques by the Intrenational Union of Foodworkers and by Sinaltrainbec (a Colombian union that was destroyed recently by the same corporation). Coca Cola hid behind the impunity of the Colombian justice system which, as stated in reports by the UN High Comissioner and NGOs, provides guarantees for perpetrators of human rights violations. This show us that the corporation is not using its own elements of defence but on the contrary, as was said in this important event, it refers to those others who contribute to keeping its crimes under impunity.
The corporation affirmed that it has a code of conduct that should be implemented by all the entities that in one way or another use its brand. This confirms that Coca Cola is indeed responsible for all the acts committed against its workers in whatever part of the world.
The corporation's representative did not know how to justify the multinational's permanent violation of the workers rights, the contamination of the environment and the robbing of water that was exposed by the other speaker at the event.
This clear demonstration of culpability allows us to continue protesting Coke's crimes and fighting for truth and justice for our peoples.
SINALTRAINAL-Colombia
REBOC, Rete di Boicottaggio della Coca Cola [Boycott Coca Cola Network].
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