On Saturday the 1st of March 2003, calls were made to the home of SINTRAEMCALI executive ROBINSON MASSO, but nobody spoke.

Today, 3rd of March, 2003, at 2:30 p.m. the trade union delegate MARTHA CECILIA GOMEZ, received another call from an unidentified individual, this time at her workplace, who stated that "YOU ARE GOING TO DIE".

At 9:00 a.m. a call was made to the SINTRAEMCALI switchboard asking for the Press Office. GIOVANNY SERRANO a journalist answered and the individual asked " Who is that, the fat one, the journalist?" He replied yes, and the caller said, "tell the leadership of the union we are going to kill them all". He then hung up.

At 11:00 a.m. a new call was received stating similar threats.

At 3:00 p.m. another call was received in the Press Office, and another individual - different from the earlier caller - called and stated "You don't believe us so we are going to send you a little evidence." At that moment one of the leaders of the union OSCAR FIGUEROA PACHONGO, entered the office and was passed the phone as the caller stated "Listen you son of a bitch FATTY what I am saying is serious" Oscar replied, "Please respect the press office". And the man replied "All the more reason, so that I can tell you what is going to happen to all you sons of bitches." The trade union leader then asked who was speaking, and the caller then replied, "Who are you?" The union leader then replied "I am OSCAR FIGUEROA" and the individual replied " Ah, the fiscal (lawyer), listen this is for you and all you sons of bitches, we are going to kill you all, and this time its serious. ".

Today, 3rd of March, 2003, at 8:30am, a call was made to the wife of trade union leader ROBINSÓN MASSO, Mrs. MARTHA BIBIANA GIRALDO in which the caller stated, "Nobody will be saved".

RECENT BACKGROUND

It is important to note that one week after the death threats received against ALEXANDER LÓPEZ MAYA and his family, February 23rd, there has still been no response from the government to provide the necessary measures to protect them.

All this takes place at a time when there is a fierce debate between the National Government and the administration of EMCALI E.I.C.E. E.S.P, related to the process of liquidation of the company which began on the 23rd of January, 2003 when the Superintendent of Public Services announced resolution 000141 and was made public on the 27th of January through the mass media.

On the 14th of February 2003, CONSUELO OSPINA, EMCALI EICE accountant, announced that under pressure from the Superintendent of Public Services she was told to change some of the statistics in her report, which would justify the "Technical Bankruptcy" of the company. Initially she told SINTRAEMCALI about this situation and later on withdrew her statement after being pressured by the National Government.

Nomadesc (Association for Social Action and Research), the Trade Union of the Municipal Enterprises of Cali, Sintraemcali and other organisations belonging to the National and International Human Rights Campaign Against Privatisation, Corruption and the Criminalisation of Social Protest, denounce to the International and National Community the serious events which worsen the situation of persecution against leaders of SINTRAEMCALI.

With the present urgent action we wish to highlight how the security situation for SINTRAEMCALI workers, leaders and their families and advisors has radically worsened in the last week, with at least ten threatening calls. For that reason a Contingency Plan is needed urgently to guarantee our right to life, work, and trade union and social liberties ratified in the National Constitution and in pacts and conventions signed by the Colombian State.


WE ASK YOU TO DEMAND TRADE UNION GUARANTEES FROM COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT URIBE

That SUFFICIENT AND NECESSARY measures are taken urgently.

Furthermore that any violation against any worker, trade union leader, their families, legal advisors, press office, human rights department, financial department or an attack on the headquarters of the trade union is the direct responsibility of the head of state, President ALVARO URIBE VELEZ.

PLEASE SEND LETTERS TO:

Presidente de la Republica de Colombia
Dr. ALVARO URIBE VELEZ
Palacio de Nariño, 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
Dr. FRANCISCO SANTOS
Conserjería Presidencial 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
Dr. FERNANDO LONDOÑO HOYOS
Ministerio del Interior y Justicia
Palacio Echeverri, Carrera 8a, No.8-09, piso 2o., Santafe de Bogota, Colombia
Fax: 00 57 1 286 8025 E-mail:  mininterior@myrealbox.com;

Programa de Protección del Ministerio del Interior
Dr. RAFAEL BUSTAMANTE Dr. CARMEN MARIA LASSO Tel: 5662477 0 5662478
E-mail:  dhasesoresdir@cable.net.co

Procurador General de la Nación
Dr. EDGARDO JOSE MAYA VILLAZON
Carrera 5. 15-80, Santa Fe de Bogota
Fax: (+57 1) 284 0472;(+57 1) 342 97 23;
E-mail:  reygon@procuraduria.gov.co

Fiscal General de la Nación
Dr. LUIS CAMILO OSORIO
Diagonal 22 B. 52-01, Santa Fe de Bogota.
Fax: (+57 1) 570 20 08 ; (+57 1) 570 20 00;
E-mail:  contacto@fiscalia.gov.com;  denuncie@fiscalia.gov.co;  webmaster@fiscalia.gov.co

Defensor del PuebloDR LUIS EDUARDO CIFUENTES
Calle 55 No. 10-32 Santa Fe de Bogotá
Fax: (+57 1) 346 12 25
E-mail:  secretaria_privada@hotmail.com;  ecifuentes@col1.telecom.com.co

with copies to

 colombia_sc@hotmail.com
and
 dhintegralsuroc@yahoo.com