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Concerns: Assassination of trade unionist in Colombia
NOW FINISHED
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Name:
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Organisation:
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Email address:
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Please type your email message here, or adapt this one:
Mr President, I am writing this letter to you in order to express its concern and to condemn the assassination of LEONIDAS GOMEZ ROZO, a leader of the National Union of Colombian Bank Employees (UNEB). Leonidas Gómez Rozo disappeared on 5 March. On 8 March, his disappearance was reported to the authorities, and later that same day, he was found by his family and his friends brutally assassinated in his Bogota home. Leonidas Gómez Rozo worked at CITIBANK and was a member of the National CITIBANK Committee in UNEB. He was also a member of the CUT (Unitarian Confederation of Colombian Workers) national education group. He was a member of the leadership of the Alternative Democratic Pole in one of the constituencies and a CUT candidate in the Bogota district of Cundinamarca for an election due to take place on 30 May next. His assassination took place at a time when emails had been sent to various civil society and human rights organisations warning them of an increased danger for the 'members of the families of leaders opposed to the government'. The UNEB trade union leaders face constant threats from the Águilas Negras paramilitary group (Black Eagles) who continue to commit all manner of crimes. This assassination is just the latest in a long chain of murders that have claimed the lives of trade union leaders in Colombia and adds to a reign of violence. It is important therefore that all the social actors should help bring about peace, find out who is behind these repeated acts of violence, and put an end to the continuing wave of terror that is sweeping over the country. It is our sad duty to have to point out that in spite of repeated complaints filed with the International Labour Organisation and other UN agencies regarding similar cases, the Colombian government still refuses to ensure the security of labour leaders and find the perpetrators of these actions. Mr President, we ask your government once again to take the necessary measures to ensure that a full inquiry is carried out into the event that has claimed the life of Leonidas Gómez Rozo. Mr President, I reaffirm my rejection of all forms of violence from whatever source.
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