SSP Research, Policy & Media Unit
Press Release: 12/09/05
The 4 suspended Scottish Socialist Party MSP’s, Carolyn Leckie, Frances Curran, Rosie Kane and Colin Fox, today pledged to devote their time and energies into building support for international solidarity with Colombian trade unionists who are the subject of a campaign of murder and intimidation by death squads working in co-operation with multi national corporations.
The latest to be murdered is Luciano Enrique Romero Molina a 47 year old father of 4 children.
Speaking on behalf of the 4 suspended MSP’s, Carolyn Leckie said;
“We have been suspended from the Scottish Parliament for a month and during this time we will focus on a number of campaigns that need urgent assistance such as the plight of trade unionists in Colombia.
“The murder of Luciano Enrique Romero Molina is an absolute outrage and further evidence that there is a co-ordinated campaign of assassination and terror against the trade union movement in Colombia.
“I would implore trade unionists in Scotland to follow the requests of Sinaltrainal and protest in the strongest possible terms to the Colombian government.
“These workers are in mortal danger, international solidarity could be the difference between life and death for them.”
[ends]
Message from Colombian trade union Sinaltrainal:
SINALTRAINAL LEADER LUCIANO ENRIQUE ROMERO MOLINA ASSASSINATED
It is with deep pain that we inform you of the death of comrade LUCIANO ENRIQUE ROMERO MOLINA, a leader of SINALTRANAL who was assassinated in the
city of Valledupar, Cesar. Luciano was seen alive at approximately 9pm on 10 September, then on the morning of 11 September his dead body was found tied up, tortured and with 40 knife wounds. He was living under the PROTECTIVE MEASURES scheme of the Inter-American Human Rights Commission of the Organisation of American States.
LUCIANO was 47 years old. He leaves 4 children and his partner Ledys Mendoza.
He had worked for 20 years at NESTLÉ - Cicolac in Valledupar. He was sacked
from there 22 October 2002, for a supposed cease of [work] activities that was declared illegal by the Ministry of Social Protection. There is a demand for comrade Luciano Romero’s reinstatement in process through the First Labour Court of the Valledupar Circuit. The demand is against NESTLE DE COLOMBIA S.A., CICOLAC LTDA. and DAIRY PARTENS AMERICAS MANOFACTURING COLOMBIA LTDA. “DPA COLOMBIA LIMITADA”.
LUCIANO was an outstanding leader of SINALTRAINAL and currently was our representative on the Foundation Committee of Solidarity with Political Prisoners [Fundación Comité de Solidaridad con los Presos Políticos -FCSPP] from where he carried out activities of solidarity and humanitarian assistance for the detainees.
Due to death threats he had to leave Valledupar on different occasions.
From the end of 2004 he stayed several months in Gijón, Spain in a protection and solidarity programme; and he had returned to Colombia at the beginning of this year.
We repudiate this horrendous murder that adds LUCIANO ENRIQUE ROMERO MOLINA to the interminable list of assassinated union leaders in Colombia, [carried
out] within the strategy of State Terrorism and through the persecution unleashed by the corporations to exterminate the trade union movement.
We condemn once again the government of Álvaro Uribe Vélez and his deceitful “peace process” with the paramilitary groups, which as we see continue massacring the unarmed population, with their crimes protected by total impunity thanks to the “Justice and Peace Law”.
We ask you to send a note of protest to / Les pedimos enviar notas de protesta:
Álvaro Uribe Vélez
Presidente de la República de Colombia
auribe@presidencia.gov.co; dh@presidencia.gov.co
[OR to better send e-mail to Uribe login to http://www.presidencia.gov.co and click on ESCRIBALE AL PRESIDENTE at the bottom of the page]
Vicepresidente Francisco Santos
fsantos@presidencia.gov.co
Dr. Carlos Franco,
Director del Programa Presidencial de Derechos Humanos y de Derecho Internacional Humanitario.
cefranco@presidencia.gov.co
Fiscal General de la Nación
Dr. Mario Iguarán Arana
contacto@fiscalia.gov.co; denuncie@fiscalia.gov.co;
webmaster@fiscalia.gov.co
Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos
cidhoea@oas.org
With a copy to / con copia a
sinaltrainal@sinaltrainal.org
A great embrace and thanks for your solidarity / Un gran abrazo y gracias
por su solidaridad,
EDGAR PAEZ M.
National Leadership / Dirección Nacional
SINALTRAINAL - Colombia
