FARC murder Colombian farmers' leader

by Enduser Fri Aug 26, 2005 18:16

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/07/319958.html

Suggested here that it was carried out by the AUC....

by imc Fri Aug 26, 2005 19:18

graphic

by tom Sat Aug 27, 2005 13:47

LASC heaped slander on Dublin coca cola workers earlier this year implying that ,by refusing to lend credibility to LASC's ridiculous "Boycott Coke" Campaign , coke workers were somehow complicit in the murder of Colombian trade unionists.
What evidence is there that this activists was murdered by Farc ?

by iosaf Sat Aug 27, 2005 16:00

To be honest not many people in Ireland know their way round Colombian armed factions and they almost always say FARC coz its the only one they know. There are though many people who murder trade unionists in Colombia. & very little truth comes out.
I've C&Pd material published relating to the death which is now being published in Colombia and via the Colombian support network in the UK:
Neither AUC nor FARC have admitted it.
& mainstream Colombian media aren't carrying the story.
*****************************************************

The National Agrarian Co-ordination (CNA) and the undersigned organisations report to national and international public opinion the assassination of
JOSE TRINIDAD TORRES MUNOZ, who was a member of the CNA national committee, and activist in several local community organisations.

Campesino Leader Assassinated in Catatumbo, Norte de Santander.

FACTS:

In the morning of 26 July 2005, as he was returning to the town of Ocana in
Norte de Santander, after carrying out his role in defence of Campesino
communities, JOSE TRINIDAD TORRES MUNOZ was shot dead by a masked man in the
municipality of Teorama.

We ask that social organisations around the world immediately write to the
Colombian authorities, demanding that they fully investigate this crime and
bring those responsible to justice.

We also ask that the government investigate if the allegedly demobilised
Catatumbo Block of the AUC paramilitaries was involved in this killing.

Please send messages to the following (sample letter below):

President Alvaro Uribe Velez: [email protected] 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

Vice President Francisco Santos: [email protected]
Ministry of Defence: [email protected]
Attorney General's Office: [email protected]
Colombian embassy in the UK: [email protected]

Dear Sir,

I am writing to express my outrage at yet another murder of a social
activist in Colombia. I urge the Colombian authorities to immediately
investigate the facts surrounding the killing of JOSE TRINIDAD TORRES MUNOZ,
and to do all in its power to bring those responsible to justice. I am
particularly concerned by the possibility that those responsible for Jose
Trinidad’s death belonged to the Catatumbo block of the AUC paramilitaries,
who are supposed to have demobilised in November 2004. According to the Vice
Presidents Human Rights Obsevatory, this block of the AUC is responsible for
more than 3,000 violent deaths, 200 disappearances and 40,000 forced
displacements.

I also urge the Colombian state to refrain from any activity that endangers
the lives of other members of the Coordinador Nacional Agrario (CNA) in
Norte de Santander and the rest of the country.

Yours sincerely

COORDINADOR NACIONAL AGRARIO C.N.A:
- Comité de Integración Social del Catatumbo CISCA
- Federación Agrominera del Sur de Bolívar FEDEAGROMISBOL
- Comité de Integración del Macizo Colombiano CIMA.
- Asociación Departamental de Usuarios Campesinos de Arauca ADUC.
- Asociación de Pequeños y Medianos Agricultores del Tolima ASOPEMA.
- Asociación Campesina del Centro del Valle ACACEVA
- Asociación Campesina de Antioquia ACA.
- Coordinador Nacional Agrario Regional Nariño C.N.A NARIÑO
- Asociación Cafetera de Anserma Caldas ASOCAFAM.
- Asociación de Mercados Campesinos del Atlántico ASOMECA.
- Campesinos Organizados de Mistrató Risaralda. C.O.M.
- Asociación Vía Sumapáz Cundinamarca.
- Asociación de Productores Orgánicos del Huila.
- Asociación de Campesinos del Naya.

Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Industria de Alimentos
SINALTRAINAL.
Corporación para la Educación e Investigación Popular CED-INS.
Corporación SEMBRAR
Proceso de Comunidades Negras P.C.N.
COMPA COLOMBIA.

http://colombia.indymedia.org/news/2005/07/28743_comment.php#28806
http://www.colombiasolidarity.org.uk/
*******************************************************

by Dan Sun Aug 28, 2005 17:28

No, Tom, they didn't. An article posted on Indymedia and the LASC website by Gearoid O'Loinsigh noted the striking contrast between the vigorous campaign against the Coke boycott launched by SIPTU officials, chiefly Ann Speed and Jack McGinley, and their passive acceptance of the shut-down of the Naas Rd plant. This contrast gave the lie to their original claim to be concerned about defending Irish jobs; when a real threat to Irish jobs came along, they did nothing.

The article by G'OL did not say anything critical about the workers in the Naas Rd plant; in fact it sympathised with them for losing their jobs and asserted that they had been let down by their union officials.

It was, however, critical of those officials, and rightly so. They went to Colombia and threatened to launch an international campaign against SINALTRAINAL if they did not end the call for a boycott (needless to say, they then denied having said anything of the sort - they were urged to contact SINALTRAINAL, from whom this account of the meeting had come. SINALTRAINAL have not received any correspondence from SIPTU challenging their version of events). This came after many months of campaigning against the boycott in Ireland.

It's one thing to decline to support a campaign; it's quite another thing to actively campaign against a group of trade unionists facing threats and violence. At various points, SIPTU officials have claimed that they object only to the tactic of a boycott. However, they haven't come forward with any alternative proposals for solidarity action with SINALTRAINAL.

You describe the boycott as "ridiculous" and claim that it is LASC's campaign. In fact, the boycott call was initiated two years ago after international hearings in Colombia, the United States and Belgium. SINALTRAINAL were given the full support of the CUT. I was in Colombia a couple of months ago; every social organisation we met supported the boycott (posters and stickers for the campaign can be seen in every union HQ, community centre, student centre etc).

They supported the boycott, both because they believe it is the only way for Coke trade unionists to get justice, and because it has highlighted the bigger picture in Colombia, helping not just SINALTRAINAL, but every social organisation and activist. They certainly don't consider it "ridiculous". Maybe you can explain why the Colombians are wrong in their views about Colombia, while people on the other side of the world know better.

As regards this particular story, I can't say who was responsible - I'm based in Dublin now, not Bogota. But FARC have killed social leaders in the past (in Arauca, for example, they killed three North American Indian activists who were helping an indigenous tribe to campaign against the activities of Occidental Petroleum - FARC had a protection deal with Occidental). So it's not beyond the realms of possibility, anyway.

by Gearoid Mon Aug 29, 2005 17:38

Initial reports in teh media blamed the AUC. It would seem logical. However, one month has elapsed and the people of the area have collected evidence which points to the FARC. The FARC have not denied this yet and in fact the petition of the organisations Trino worked with is that the FARC own up or deny it.

by native Mon Aug 29, 2005 22:52

Murder in Colombia
American Indians seek to avenge the murder of one of their leaders by leftist rebels.

-

by native Mon Aug 29, 2005 22:54

.

by SFwatch Tue Aug 30, 2005 07:44

Lets set the record straight, Anne Speed (Sinn Fein and SIPTU bureaucrat)did not support the boycott of Coke. She campaigned in UCD for Coke with some workers on Coke time during the referendum for the SU to boycott Coke. Ann Speed cares little for the Colombian Trade Unionists being murdered by Coke. All she cares about is keeping onside with Coke management.

by Sherlock Holmes Tue Aug 30, 2005 09:37

Ann Speed doesn't support the boycott but Sinn Fein do. Several motions in support of the boycott were voted for at the Ard Fheis. SF watch is probably a trot who doesn't understand dissenting views within a political party, they actually probably don't even understand political views other than their leaderships. Ann Speed is an embarrassment at this stage, but I still haven't met a decent SIPTU official.

by tom/anton Tue Aug 30, 2005 14:29

Dan
You wrote
“The article by G'OL did not say anything critical about the workers in the Naas Rd plant; in fact it sympathised with them for losing their jobs and asserted that they had been let down by their union officials.”

This is the headline of GOL’s article .

“Coke Workers Repaid For Loyalty To Company “

I can’t take that to mean anything other than that coke workers were company loyalists who , by getting the sack , were getting their just deserts . How would you read it yourself Dan?

I don’t know who killed this man , but ,if Lasc says that FARC were responsible , I’m inclined to doubt it. It’s a wonder they didn’t blame it on Anne Speed.
Below are some of the slurs that lasc and their supporters threw at coke workers who had the temerity to visit UCDand Trinity last year to actively oppose the Coke boycott campaign . (collected by “smart alec”) see link :
http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=69627&search_text=coca%20cola

Facts
by UCD Student Thursday, Apr 28 2005, 7:32pm
I discussed the issue of Colombian workers with some of them last year in UCD and they are rotten scabby f**kers.

Congrats to Trinity College Students
by University College Student Friday, Feb 27 2004, 12:02pm
It's disgraceful that SF's "SIPTU" scabs leafleted Trinity College
Will we see Ann Speed and her scab cronies leafleting USI Congress?

put issue to your members
by UCDSU member Thursday, Feb 12 2004, 6:14pm

The SIPTU shop stewards are not acting in the interests of their members, rather they are acting in the interests of their employers (Coca Cola) and their political party (Sinn Féin).

You may be funded by Coca Cola- students are not and there have to be limits on expenditure.

These people also tresspassed on the property of the University.....They had no business on campus.

These people are scabs that are doing the disgusting work of Coca Cola.

Meeting with Speed and co
by Dan - UCDSU Friday, Feb 13 2004, 4:17pm
[email protected]
We regard ….. the shop stewards ….. as errand-boys for Coke management, not legitimate workers' representatives.

A few points and Questions for Ann Speed
by Arts Student - UCDSU member Monday, Dec 15 2003, 4:13pm

4. Yellow Union. ….I also wonder if those shop stewards were paid by Coca Cola on the mornings they stood outside Belfield and Earlsfort Terrace? Will those shop stewards now be earmarked for promotion for their loyalty to the company?

On the Referendum and "SIPTU's" interferance
by UCDSU and SIPTU member Friday, Nov 21 2003, 12:34am
Just because they are workers we shouldn't believe this shite they are peddling about Union rights. Not all workers act in the interests of their own class. There are things called scabs and black-legs.

by scab hater Friday, Nov 21 2003, 12:46am
I am a UCD student

Spin from Coca Cola
by I hate fleming the spinmaster Sunday, Nov 23 2003, 2:01am
Lets face it. They are a YELLOW Union in Coca Cola. They were PAID AGENTS of Coca Cola who were (ab)using their Union membership to put on the false spin of loosing jobs. It is disgusting the way these Coca Cola agents acted, and it's horrid that they claim to be trade unionists.
----------------------------------------------------

LASC supporters accused anybody who thought Coke workers had the right to oppose the boycott campaign either of being in the pay of coca cola or of being a trade union bureaucrat . I said before that the campaign was ridiculous , maybe that's not fully accurate. It didn't start off being ridiculous - just naive, only becoming ridiculous when it started attacking the Naas Rd coke workers as scabs . It turned into a disgrace when the redundancies were announced and GOL thought that would be just the right time to put the boot in .

by Boycotter Tue Aug 30, 2005 14:40

Vitriolic stupidity of non-smart alec
by R. Isible Wednesday, Jun 1 2005, 9:11am

Repeating that the workers (soon to be ex-workers thanks to SIPTUs ineffective, non-representation of their interests) have been called scabs is not true. Specifically, and only, as proven by the quotes above, the SIPTU bureaucrats were called scabs. As you say, it's all written down here clearly and the only person calling the workers scabs or dupes or whatever are the people like you who are supposedly defending them. Just as the people that supposedly defend and represent them are actually doing the work for company management instead of for their union members. Out of interest, does anyone know the politicial affilitations of the other SIPTU reps that tried to intimidate the UCD campaigners?

by Gearoid O Loingsigh Tue Aug 30, 2005 16:55

In reply to Tom [allegation as to Toms identity removed. Ed]). The people who blame the FARC for the murder of Trino are the people of the area of Catatumbo in northern Colombia, not Lasc not anybody else. You seem unable to believe that people in Colombia can actually have opinions of their own and are not being manipulated by the groups in Europe.

That you can't accept that Coke have murdered people is now par for the course to which you have added that you don't believe anyone who claims that one or other group murdered anyone. If you are not willing to be specific in pointing the finger it is because you have no interest in laying the blame at anyone's doorstep.

Sympathy for Coke and the FARC, well that's a good one, but never any sympathy for the victims.

by tom/anton Tue Aug 30, 2005 18:49

No Gearoid you misunderstand me . I do believe that people from Colombia and people from the Naas Rd can have ideas of their own . It’s you and Lasc that I don’t believe because I know you write things that are not true. Maybe FARC did murder Trino maybe they didn’t :I don’t know – that’s why I’m “not willing to be specific in pointing the finger”. One thing I do know for sure is that my name is not [original allegation removed - ed.] . I also know that I’m not a trade union bureaucrat and that I have never taken a bribe from the evil Coca Cola corporation – things that I have been accused of in past threads by hysterical LASC supporters . So , until I hear from an independent , rational source that FARC was the guilty party ,I will reserve judgement and urge others to do the same.

by Gearoid O Loingsigh Thu Sep 01, 2005 17:05

So Tom or what ever your name is, the Colombian organisations that signed the article (do note that Lasc is not one of them as it is not a source for the article) are not credible organisations. We take our lead from organisations on the ground in Colombia and I have always been open in that. Who do you take your lead from? If it is not a State secret.

Still you seem unwilling to believe that the victims i.e. Sinaltrainal who have come to Ireland to STate their case first hand so as people like you can challenge them in debate .

Trino never came and now he never will but you are willing to doubt the word of his people and give the murderers the benefit of the doubt.

so Tom why have you never challenged Sinaltrainal in their four visits to Ireland to date?

Afraid or is tthat you know the speak teh truth and have the courage of your "convictions"