TUC 2015: Trumped-up charges: A tool of repression in Colombia
TUC 2015: Trumped-up charges: A tool of repression in Colombia
Sep Sunday 13th 2015
Political prisoner and trade unionist HUBER BALLESTEROS highlights the Colombian regime’s brutal suppression of any form of dissent
THE Colombian government has introduced laws and ratified international conventions of the United Nations, the Organisation of American States and the International Labour Organisation.
The commitments made to these multilateral institutions would make one think that in our country the state defends human rights and guarantees the right of workers to organise in a trade union — but the reality is very different.
That thousands of trade union leaders have been assassinated and thousands exiled and imprisoned exposes the systematic repression that the state metes out to any organisation which dares to oppose its policies.
It is in this scenario of repression of the trade union movement that I was arrested on August 25 2013 on the day I was in Bogota approaching the government to negotiate the list of demands presented by agricultural organisations which at the time had been on a national strike since August 19 of that year.
More:
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-338c-TUC-2015-Trumped-up-charges-A-tool-of-repression-in-Colombia#.VfS5WORRGbw
• Huber Ballesteros is a political prisoner, member of the national executive committee of the CUT (Colombian Trades Union Congress) and the Executive of FENSUAGRO Agricultural Workers’ Union, member of the leadership of the Patriotic March (opposition movement).
• For more information on the campaign to free Huber visit www.justiceforcolombia.org.
