Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BOGOTA3049
2009-09-24 16:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:
MURDERS OF UNIONISTS DROP AS PROSECUTIONS INCREASE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0006 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHBO #3049/01 2671625 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 241625Z SEP 09 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0078 INFO RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL RHMFISS/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/FBI WASHINGTON DC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0029 RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHINGTON DC RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0029 RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 0029 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 003049
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
USTR FOR EISSENSTAT AND HARMAN
DOL FOR ZOLLNER AND QUINTANA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/09/24
TAGS: ELAB EAID ETRD PGOV PHUM PREL PTER USTR CO
SUBJECT: MURDERS OF UNIONISTS DROP AS PROSECUTIONS INCREASE
REF: 2008 BOGOTA 0937
CLASSIFIED BY: Mark A. Wells, Political Counselor; REASON: 1.4(B),
(D)
SUMMARY
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 003049
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
USTR FOR EISSENSTAT AND HARMAN
DOL FOR ZOLLNER AND QUINTANA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/09/24
TAGS: ELAB EAID ETRD PGOV PHUM PREL PTER USTR CO
SUBJECT: MURDERS OF UNIONISTS DROP AS PROSECUTIONS INCREASE
REF: 2008 BOGOTA 0937
CLASSIFIED BY: Mark A. Wells, Political Counselor; REASON: 1.4(B),
(D)
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (SBU) The number of trade unionist killings to date in 2009 is
24, 47% less than the same period in 2008. The Prosecutor
General's Labor Crimes Sub-Unit has racked up 44 convictions in
2009 against perpetrators of violence against unionists. The
majority of Colombian unionists work in the public sector; half of
those are teachers and/or school administrators. Teachers
represent the largest share of murdered unionists in Colombia. End
Summary.
HOMICIDES OF UNIONISTS IN 2009
--------------
2. (C) The National Union School (ENS) reports 24 cases of murdered
unionists so far in 2009. According to the Ministry of Social
Protection, the number is 22. (Note: ENS includes in its
statistics a broader spectrum of labor activist groups that are not
registered as unions, including peasant leaders, family members of
unionists, and members of any organization that has a "union-like"
structure. End Note.) ENS statistics show a 74% decrease in
murdered unionists from 2002 (186) to 2008 (49). If this trend
holds, Colombia appears to be on track in 2009 for a significant
year-on-year decrease of 40% or more in murdered unionists.
LABOR SUB-UNIT CONTINUES TO PRODUCE RESULTS
--------------
3. (SBU) The Prosecutor General's Office Labor Sub-Unit has
obtained 44 convictions so far in 2009 - two of these going back to
the late 1990s. This brings the total number of convictions since
2000 to 213, 162 (76%) of which were obtained by the Labor
Sub-Unit, which was established in October 2006. These convictions
translate into sentences against 312 individuals, 188 of which are
currently in jail.
4. (SBU) The Labor Sub-Unit also developed a "priority list" of 185
labor cases (two were since removed because they were unrelated to
unions members) to pursue, in accordance with the Tripartite
Agreement among the GOC, organized labor, and the private sector.
(Note: Some unions today question the usefulness of this priority
list, saying it has not produced more or faster prosecutions
compared to non-prioritized cases. End Note.) From the priority
list, the Sub-Unit has obtained 56 convictions involving 72
individuals. The Labor Sub-Unit has a staff of 116: 19
prosecutors, 19 assistant prosecutors and 78 investigators. It is
handling a total of 1,343 labor-crime cases associated with 1,579
victims. Of the assigned cases, 675 are for homicides (885
victims) and 299 cases are for threats. Many of these cases are
reflected in ILO case 1787. Sixty-six of the assigned cases are
being pursued under the new accusatory system (reftel).
THE STATE OF COLOMBIAN UNIONS
--------------
5. (SBU) Colombia has a workforce of 18.4 million according to the
latest measurements by the National Administrative Department of
Statistics (DANE). Some 814,556 workers (4.4% of the total) are
unionized, according to National Union School (ENS) Director Jose
Luciano Sanin. Unionized workers as a percentage of the workforce
have fallen steadily from a peak of around 13% in 1965. The
majority (58%) of Colombian workers work in the informal,
non-regulated, sector. Of the 7.7 million workers in the formal
sector, organized labor represents 10.5%.
6. (SBU) Sanin said that 52% (423,570) of Colombian union members
work in the public sector; 220,000 are members of the Colombian
Federation of Educators (FECODE),Colombia's largest union. The
second largest union is the National Association of Hospital
Workers (ANTHOC),with 20,224 members. The third largest is the
National Union of Agriculture Industry Workers (SINTRAINAGRO),with
18,597 members. Sanin said that a significant number of murdered
unionists are teachers or school administrators affiliated to
FECODE: 41% (20 of 49) in 2008; 37% (9 of 24) so far in 2009.
BROWNFIELD
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
USTR FOR EISSENSTAT AND HARMAN
DOL FOR ZOLLNER AND QUINTANA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/09/24
TAGS: ELAB EAID ETRD PGOV PHUM PREL PTER USTR CO
SUBJECT: MURDERS OF UNIONISTS DROP AS PROSECUTIONS INCREASE
REF: 2008 BOGOTA 0937
CLASSIFIED BY: Mark A. Wells, Political Counselor; REASON: 1.4(B),
(D)
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (SBU) The number of trade unionist killings to date in 2009 is
24, 47% less than the same period in 2008. The Prosecutor
General's Labor Crimes Sub-Unit has racked up 44 convictions in
2009 against perpetrators of violence against unionists. The
majority of Colombian unionists work in the public sector; half of
those are teachers and/or school administrators. Teachers
represent the largest share of murdered unionists in Colombia. End
Summary.
HOMICIDES OF UNIONISTS IN 2009
--------------
2. (C) The National Union School (ENS) reports 24 cases of murdered
unionists so far in 2009. According to the Ministry of Social
Protection, the number is 22. (Note: ENS includes in its
statistics a broader spectrum of labor activist groups that are not
registered as unions, including peasant leaders, family members of
unionists, and members of any organization that has a "union-like"
structure. End Note.) ENS statistics show a 74% decrease in
murdered unionists from 2002 (186) to 2008 (49). If this trend
holds, Colombia appears to be on track in 2009 for a significant
year-on-year decrease of 40% or more in murdered unionists.
LABOR SUB-UNIT CONTINUES TO PRODUCE RESULTS
--------------
3. (SBU) The Prosecutor General's Office Labor Sub-Unit has
obtained 44 convictions so far in 2009 - two of these going back to
the late 1990s. This brings the total number of convictions since
2000 to 213, 162 (76%) of which were obtained by the Labor
Sub-Unit, which was established in October 2006. These convictions
translate into sentences against 312 individuals, 188 of which are
currently in jail.
4. (SBU) The Labor Sub-Unit also developed a "priority list" of 185
labor cases (two were since removed because they were unrelated to
unions members) to pursue, in accordance with the Tripartite
Agreement among the GOC, organized labor, and the private sector.
(Note: Some unions today question the usefulness of this priority
list, saying it has not produced more or faster prosecutions
compared to non-prioritized cases. End Note.) From the priority
list, the Sub-Unit has obtained 56 convictions involving 72
individuals. The Labor Sub-Unit has a staff of 116: 19
prosecutors, 19 assistant prosecutors and 78 investigators. It is
handling a total of 1,343 labor-crime cases associated with 1,579
victims. Of the assigned cases, 675 are for homicides (885
victims) and 299 cases are for threats. Many of these cases are
reflected in ILO case 1787. Sixty-six of the assigned cases are
being pursued under the new accusatory system (reftel).
THE STATE OF COLOMBIAN UNIONS
--------------
5. (SBU) Colombia has a workforce of 18.4 million according to the
latest measurements by the National Administrative Department of
Statistics (DANE). Some 814,556 workers (4.4% of the total) are
unionized, according to National Union School (ENS) Director Jose
Luciano Sanin. Unionized workers as a percentage of the workforce
have fallen steadily from a peak of around 13% in 1965. The
majority (58%) of Colombian workers work in the informal,
non-regulated, sector. Of the 7.7 million workers in the formal
sector, organized labor represents 10.5%.
6. (SBU) Sanin said that 52% (423,570) of Colombian union members
work in the public sector; 220,000 are members of the Colombian
Federation of Educators (FECODE),Colombia's largest union. The
second largest union is the National Association of Hospital
Workers (ANTHOC),with 20,224 members. The third largest is the
National Union of Agriculture Industry Workers (SINTRAINAGRO),with
18,597 members. Sanin said that a significant number of murdered
unionists are teachers or school administrators affiliated to
FECODE: 41% (20 of 49) in 2008; 37% (9 of 24) so far in 2009.
BROWNFIELD