NUPGE mourns assassinated Columbia union leader

NUPGE mourns assassinated Colombia union leader

"These acts must not go without a response." - James Clancy

Ottawa - The National Union mourns the loss of Carlos Alberto Chicaiza Betancourt, an executive board member of the Colombian public sector union SINTRAEMSIRVA, who was assassinated on April 15.

SINTRAEMSIRVA represents municipal workers and is an affiliate to the Public Services International.

"Our comrades in the PSI inform us that Carlos was a dedicated and principled trade unionist," says National Union president James Clancy. "This is a horrible loss for Colombia's trade union movement and also a loss for the future of Colombia."

Carlos had spent more than 16 years as a union activist. He had served as president, vice-president and publicity secretary while employed at Cali's municipal services company. Carlos was a well-known advocate for public services and a vocal opponent of government attempts to privatize it.

On April 15 in Cali he was killed on a street corner by a hired gunman who fired five shots at him, two of which struck him in the head. The killing occurred just 24 hours after an attack on SINTRAMETAL trade union leader Edgar Perea, also in Cali.

"These acts must not go without a response from the government," says Clancy. "The Uribe government must take all necessary steps to investigate the assassination of Carlos Alberto Chicaiza and also provide guarantees for the life and security of all trade union leaders in Colombia."

Letter from James Clancy to President Uribe

April 28, 2004

Dr. Alvaro Uribe Velez
President of the Republic of Colombia
Bogotá, COLOMBIA

Dear President Uribe,

I am writing on behalf of the National Union of Public and General Employees (Canada) to express our outrage at the assassination of Carlos Alberto Chicaiza Betancourt. Carlos Alberto was a member of the Executive Board of the Colombian trade union SINTRAEMSIRVA and, as such, affiliated with the Public Services International, to which NUPGE is also an affiliate.

We are informed that Carlos was assassinated on April 15, 2004, in Cali,
Colombia, by a hired killer who, on the corner of Carrera 1 with 70th
Street, fired 5 shots at him, two directly in the head. This assassination
took place 24 hours after the attack on the SINTRAMETAL trade union leader, Edgar Perea, in the same city of Cali.

The National Union urges your government to conduct a thorough investigation into the assassination of Carlos Alberto Chicaiza. We also call on you to take all necessary steps to guarantee the life and security of trade union leaders in your country. In particular, with regards to the members of the two PSI affiliates based in Cali, SINTRAEMSIRVA and SINTRAEMCALI.

We will be closely watching your government's response to this assassination and the steps that your government takes to guarantee the democratic exercise of trade union functions by SINTRAEMSIRVA and SINTRAEMCALI, and indeed all trade unions in Colombia.

Yours sincerely,

(original signed by)

James Clancy
National President

cc: National Executive Board
Public Services International
Bill Graham, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Canada