AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH INTERNATIONAL LABOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L GUATEMALA 000130 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CEN AND DRL/ILCSR DOL FOR CROMERO, PCHURCH, LBUFFO E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/06/2018 TAGS: ELAB KCRM PHUM KJUS KDEM PGOV GT SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH INTERNATIONAL LABOR DELEGATION REF: A. GUATEMALA 117 ¶B. 07 GUATEMALA 115 ¶C. 07 GUATEMALA 2172 Classified By: Ambassador James Derham for reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Ambassador met with an international labor delegation representing various local and regional labor organizations on January 28 during its third mission to Guatemala. The delegation expressed concern over the lack of progress in the investigation of the January 2007 murder of labor union leader Pedro Zamora, continuing threats against other union leaders, and the preliminary conclusion of government authorities that the murder was not related to union activities. The Ambassador highlighted Embassy's ongoing engagement in support of human and labor rights, and urged the delegation to bring the Zamora case to the attention of CICIG Commissioner Castresana to investigate as an emblematic case. End Summary. ¶2. (U) On January 28, Ambassador and Labor Officer met with an international labor delegation during its third mission to Guatemala following the January 2007 murder of Pedro Zamora, Secretary General of the Dock Workers Union of Puerto Quetzal SIPDIS (STEPQ) (ref B). The delegation of approximately 20 members included representatives of STEPQ, AFL-CIO, the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF),the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and labor organizations based in Mexico, Central America, South America, Europe, and the U.S. The delegation visited Guatemala to follow up on the Zamora case and to attend a three-day international conference on the role of labor unions in the fight against impunity (ref A). ¶3. (C) The delegation, funded by ITF and its affiliates, expressed concern over impunity, particularly the lack of progress on the Zamora case on the one-year anniversary of his death, and continuing threats against other STEPQ leaders. It also expressed concern over the preliminary conclusion of the Attorney General's Office that the murder was not related to union activities, a conclusion it viewed as improbable given the continuing threats against other STEPQ leaders, as well as letters from Zamora between October 2006 and January 2007 regarding death threats. The delegation warned that such a conclusion in the Zamora case, as well as in the SITRABI case (ref C),puts labor leaders at risk. STEPQ Secretary General Julio Zamora, Pedro's brother, noted his family's vulnerability and voiced concern for their personal security. (Note: Two days later, on January 30, prior to his presentation at the international labor conference in Guatemala City, he allegedly received an anonymous death threat by cell phone. A week earlier, Pedro Zamora's sister-in-law was reportedly intimidated and threatened by unidentified individuals who drove by her home. End note.) ¶4. (U) Delegation head Stuart Howard, ITF Assistant Secretary General, viewed the problem of impunity on labor rights as worse in Guatemala than in other countries in the region. He stressed the need to strengthen civil society and to seek ways to best assist local affiliates. AFL-CIO Solidarity Center Executive Director Ellie Larson asserted that threats against labor leaders and unions in Guatemala were especially blatant and aggressive, and that the Solidarity Center considers Guatemala one of the most dangerous countries in the hemisphere for unionists. ¶5. (C) The Ambassador urged the delegation not to overestimate the potential for change. He noted that Qoverestimate the potential for change. He noted that although the new government is more sympathetic than the previous government to civil society and labor unions, there has been little change so far in key government institutions. The court system and the leadership of the Attorney General's Office remain the same. ¶6. (C) With regard to impunity, the Ambassador stressed that Guatemala is a very violent country with a tremendous impunity problem that is not limited to the Zamora case. Clarification is difficult in almost every case, and it is not uncommon for wanted suspects, even well-known, high-level officials, to elude authorities and escape justice. ¶7. (C) The Ambassador highlighted Embassy action on the Zamora case. He noted that the Embassy has insisted on a thorough, prompt, and impartial investigation, and continues to press authorities to bring to justice those responsible for Zamora's death and the killings of other labor leaders. The Ambassador said he had spoken with Attorney General Florido and other senior-level government officials to reiterate Embassy's interest in the case. He had also raised the issue of the plan to modernize Puerto Quetzal with former President Berger and former Presidential Commissioner for Competitiveness Miguel Fernandez, who indicated that it was not a contentious issue. (Note: According to the union, the port modernization plan was the source of many disputes between the union and management, and signing of the collective bargaining agreement was conditioned on the union signing off on the plan. After several negotiations, the condition was removed from the re-negotiated collective bargaining agreement. End note.) ¶8. (U) The Ambassador stressed that the Embassy had pressed hard for establishment of the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG),an independent UN-led commission to combat organized crime and other illegal clandestine groups operating in Guatemala. The USG has also committed substantial funds for CAFTA-DR labor capacity building in Guatemala and the region. ¶9. (C) The Ambassador encouraged the delegation to keep the pressure on the authorities and to send a letter to CICIG Commissioner Castresana to bring the Zamora case to his attention as an emblematic, priority case for investigation. He expressed Embassy's commitment to raise the case with new Minister of Government Gomez and Attorney General Florido, and to urge them to enforce the arrest warrants for the two suspects who remain at large. ¶10. (C) The leaders of the labor delegation met with President Colom on January 29 (ref A). Delegation head Stuart Howard subsequently told the Ambassador that Colom was sympathetic to their concerns about the Zamora case and committed to follow up. In particular, Colom said he would pressure the police and Attorney General's Office to execute the outstanding orders to arrest the two identified suspects in the case. Howard welcomed Colom's comments but noted, of course, that the delegation would be interested in concrete actions, not just words, and would continue to monitor the case closely. Derham