Holiday Card Action 2007

COLOMBIA – Martha Cecilia Díaz Suárez

Trade unionists in Colombia are at grave risk of human rights abuses. They are frequently labeled as subversive by the security forces and paramilitaries, and such criticisms are often followed by death threats, harassment, torture or death.

Unknown assailants abducted Martha Cecilia Díaz Suárez, president of the public services workers union (Association of Departmental Workers?-ASTDEMP), on August 15, 2006 in Bucaramanga. They accused her of being a guerrilla, beat her, and demanded information about local officials of the Trade Union Congress (CUT). They showed her photographs of herself participating in a CUT demonstration the previous week. They also showed her a photograph of one her daughters and told her that they had killed her. The abduction of Martha Cecilia Díaz followed death threats received by ASTDEMP and another trade union in March 2006. In September 2006 the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights called on the Colombian government to take measures to protect Martha Cecilia Díaz and other ASTDEMP officials. In March 2007 private security guards foiled an attempted attack on Martha Cecilia Díaz by unidentified gunmen.

Previous efforts by the Colombian government to protect trade unionists have failed to effectively guarantee their safety or that of their families. Colombian authorities must act decisively to end the impunity which protects the vast majority of those responsible for the threats and attacks.

Please send cards of support to:

Martha Cecilia Díaz Suárez
ASTDEMP
Calle 42, No 14-09, Oficina 21
Bucaramanga, Santander
COLOMBIA