THREATENED LABOR LEADER NOT INTERESTED IN GOC

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 000800 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2019 TAGS: CO KJUS SUBJECT: THREATENED LABOR LEADER NOT INTERESTED IN GOC PROTECTION REF: A. BOGOTA 736 ¶B. 08 BOGOTA 1199 ¶C. 08 BOGOTA 1095 SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) Labor researcher Lina Paola Malagon Diaz, author of a report cited in testimony before the U.S. Congress, told us she received a death threat from a group calling itself the "Capital Block of the Black Eagles." Malagon said that she has refused GOC offers of added security (bodyguards and armored vehicles). Instead, she told Ministry of Interior and Justice (MOIJ) officials that she wants "political" protection in the form of President Uribe's public recognition of the importance of labor union and human rights work. Malagon is considering leaving Colombia for a short period. Labor rights activist Jose Luciano Sanin, who began receiving threats after his testimony before the U.S. Congress was criticized by President Uribe, told us he and other colleagues at the National Union School are "considering" joining the MOIJ protection program. End Summary LABOR EXPERT MALAGON TARGETED -------------- ¶2. (C) Lina Paola Malagon Diaz, a long-time labor researcher at the human rights organization Colombian Commission of Jurists (CCJ),received a threatening fax on March 2 from a group calling itself the Capital Block of the Black Eagles ("Bloque Capital Aguilas Negras"). Unlike the more general threats allegedly sent to human rights groups and some embassies by the same group in March 2008, (Refs B and C),the fax included Malagon's address, phone number, and the name and location of an acquaintance. The fax instructed her to leave Bogota or be killed. Citing the fax's details, Malagon speculated that the threats could have come from an un-sanctioned military intelligence unit. REFUSES PHYSICAL, CALLS FOR POLITICAL, PROTECTION -------------- ¶3. (C) Malagon and CCJ Director Gustavo Gallon told us that they were not interested in enhanced security from the GOC's protection program. Instead of physical protection, they called for "political" protection. They said that President Uribe and other GOC officials should change their rhetoric and publicly acknowledge the value of labor unions and human rights defenders. We encouraged both Sanin and Malagon to accept physical protection from the GOC program. MOIJ ENCOURAGING ACCEPTANCE -------------- ¶4. (C) Maria Paola Quintero, Director of International Affairs in the MOIJ's protection program, told us March 3 that her office had offered full security packages (including bodyguards and armored vehicles) to threatened CCJ personnel in mid February. Quintero said that when the MOIJ learned of the specific threat directed at Malagon, they called her on March 3 to reiterate the offer. Quintero told us that she and Ministry officials are concerned by the CCJ's rejection of their offer, adding that MOIJ is anxious to meet its obligation to provide security. MALAGON MAY LEAVE COUNTRY -------------- ¶5. (C) Malagon told us she is sleeping in a different house every night and that she is considering taking part in a two-month AFL-CIO union training program outside Colombia. Rhett Doumitt, Andean Region Representative of the AFL-CIO Solidarity Center, said the Solidarity Center is anxious to assist Malagon. He also privately added that he believes the fax is intended as a scare tactic only, but acknowledged that rejecting added GOC security is risky. SANIN AND UNION SCHOOL CONSIDERING PROTECTION -------------- ¶6. (C) Sanin, the Director of the National Union School (ENS) (and Malagon's romantic partner),told us he began receiving threats after his testimony on the labor situation to the U.S. Congress was criticized by President Uribe (Ref A). On March 4, Sanin told us that he and his ENS colleagues are weighing the pros and cons of accepting Ministry of Interior and Justice (MOIJ) offers of added protection; they have not yet decided. The ENS previously accepted from the GOC limited physical protection for their offices, including hardened doors and blast protected windows.