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Ask Colombian President to Intervene to Save Lives of Missing Trade Unionists(Posted Oct 10, 2003) The United Steelworkers of America (USWA) has called on U.S. and Colombian officials to take immediate action to locate Colombian workers David Vergara and Seth Cure and return them to their families. On September 29, 2003, Vergara and Cure, officials of the mining union SINTRAMIENERGETICA, disappeared from their abandoned vehicles en route to a meeting to discuss upcoming labor contract negotiations with the Drummond Company. The clothes and personal effects of Messrs. Vergara and Cure were discovered with their vehicle, and combined with intelligence gleaned by SINTTRAMIENERGETICA, which has worked closely with the USWA, has led to the conclusion that the two men are alive and in the custody of armed groups. In a letter to Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, USWA President Leo W. Gerard noted with alarm that quick action of Colombian officials is necessary to save the men's lives. Gerard's letter noted that the forceful abduction of Vergara and Cure "is tragically reminiscent of the forced capture and subsequent murders of Valmore Locarna, Victor Orcasita and Gustavo Soler - all employees of Drummond and officials of SINTRAMIENERGETICA." Locarno, Orcasita and Soler were murdered in 2001 by paramilitaries who forcefully removed them from buses taking them home from their work at the La Loma Drummond mines to their homes. The paramilitaries then murdered these individuals. Colombia - by far the most dangerous country in the world for labor activists. It holds the record for the murders of trade union activists. #### SAMPLE LETTER ### October 10, 2003 Presidente de la República de Colombia Dr. Alvaro Uribe Velez c/o Embassy of Colombia Washington, D.C. By Fax: (202) 232-8643 Re: Forced Disappearance of David Vergara & Seth Cure Excelentísimo Sr. Presidente: I am writing to express my alarm and grave concern upon hearing today of the forced disappearances, and possible murder, of David Vergara and Seth Cure. Srs. Vergara and Cure are employees of the Drummond Company in Colombia and are members of the mining union, SINTRAMIENERGETICA. On September 29, 2003, Srs. Vergara and Cure were apparently abducted from the vehicle they were driving from Barranquilla to Valledupar where they were to meet with fellow union officials in preparation for upcoming contract negotiations. The clothing and personal effects of Srs. Vergara and Cure were found with their vehicle, but Srs. Vergara and Cure have not been seen since September 29, and they never showed up for their union meeting. This disturbing event is tragically reminiscent of the forced capture, and subsequent murders, of Valmore Locarna, Victor Orcasita and Gustavo Soler -- all employees of Drummond and officials of SINTRAMIENERGETICA. We implore you to investigate this crime immediately and to try to locate Srs. Vergara and Cure. It is our understanding that the mining union federation, FUNTRAENERGETICA, has already petitioned the Colombian Ministry of the Interior to investigate this crime, but as yet to no avail. In the event Srs. Vergara and Cure are still alive, your quick action is needed to save their lives. Thank you. Sincerely yours, cc: Colin Powell, U.S. Secretary of State (By Fax 202 647-1722) Email to: Campaign for Labor Rights: clr@clrlabor.org For further information: www.uswa.org and www.chicagoans.net |
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