The Colombia Solidarity Campaign strongly denounces the events of Friday, January 31st in London, England, and calls on trade unionists, human rights workers, and individuals to send messages of concern.

The Events

1. At 4.00am on Friday 31st of January Andy Higginbottom, Coordinator of the Colombia Solidarity Campaign left his house to travel to Bogota, Colombia. He had been invited to Cali, Colombia, as a representative of the Colombia Solidarity Campaign to accompany SINTRAEMCALI workers in their recent conflict with the Colombian government over the possible ‘privatisation’ of the Municipal Enterprises of Cali (EMCALI EICE).

2. At about 4.30am his wife received a phonecall. The caller asked “Is this Andy’s house”, and when she replied “Yes”, the caller (a male) said “Andy will die soon”. About 5 minutes later the same caller rang back and said “We’re going to get Andy”.

5. She has reported the events to the police, who are investigating the source of the call.

6. It should be noted that Andy Higginbottom and the Colombia Solidarity Campaign had organised a picket outside the Colombian Embassy in Knightsbridge, London on Wednesday, January the 29th. At this event Andy Higginbottom spoke with the an embassy assistant, and informed her that two members of the Colombia Solidarity Campaign would be going to Cali. The following day he emailed the assistant with details of the flight arrangements and passport details.

7. SINTRAEMCALI, is the Municipal Workers Trade Union of the Public Enterprises of Cali, which represents workers in the state owned provider of electricity, water and telecommunication in Cali, Colombia. It has been engaged in several years of resistance to Colombian government attempts to privatise the company. During that period 8 members of the union have been assassinated, many displaced from the city and country, and many other have received death threats by mail and telephone.

8. The Colombia Solidarity Campaign is a human rights and solidarity organisation which works with Colombian trade union and social organisations to promote respect for human rights, and peace based on social justice.

Action:
1) Please send letters, faxes, and emails calling on the Colombian Government to safeguard the Human Rights of Andy Higginbottom and other members of the Colombian Solidarity Campaign present in Colombia, and all those individuals and organisations involved in the defence of EMCALI EICE who are exercising their internationally ratified human rights of collective organisation, right to assembly, and freedom of thought.

Send urgent messages of protest to:

Presidente de la Republica de Colombia
Dr. Alvaro Uribe Velez
Palacio de Narino, Carrera 8 No.7-26 Santafe de Bogota, COLOMBIA
Fax: 00 57 1 286 74 34/286,68 42/284 21 86
E-mail:  auribe@presidencia.gov.co;  rdh@presidencia.gov.co

Vicepresidente de la Republica de Colombia
Francisco Santos Consejeria Presidential de Derechos Humanos
Calle 7, No 654, Piso 3 Santafe de Bogota, COLOMBIA
Fax: 00 57 1 337 1351
E-mail:  mdn@cable.net.co;  infprotocol@mindefensa.gov.co;  siden@mindefensa.gov.co

Ministro del Interior y Justicia
Fernando Londono Hoyos Ministerio del Interior y Justicia
Palacio Echeverry, Carrera 8a, No.8-09, piso 2o., Santafe de Bogota, Colombia
Fax:00 57 1 286 8025
E-mail:  mininterior@myrealbox.com;

With Copies to:

British Consulate, Cali, Colombia  britaincali@uniweb.net.co

British Embassy, Bogota  Political.Bogot@fco.gov.uk

Colombian Embassy (UK):  mail@colombianembassy.co.uk

Bill Rammell MP Under Secretary of State Foreign Office  james.morrison@fco.gov.uk

CUT Human Rights Department:  derechoshumanos@cut.org.co

Colombia Solidarity Campaign (UK)  colombia_sc@hotmail.com