Dec 5, 1996, Isidro Segundo Gil was assasinated at the bottling plant in Carepa. {A chilling description of Gil's assassination, based on eyewitness accounts, is the centerpiece of a lawsuit filed in Miami in July 2001 against Coca-Cola, Panamerican Beverages (the largest soft drink bottler in Latin America) and Bebidas y Alimentos (a bottler owned by Richard Kirby of Key Biscayne, Fla., which operates the plant in which Gil was killed.... http://www.killercoke.org/} The murder took place inside the bottling factory of Coca Cola and was perpetrated by paramilitary groups. Luis Aldorfo Companera had to leave the union at this time because his life was threatened. he now has asylum here in the U.S, lives in Chicago and cannot return for fear he will lose his life. And on that same day they burned down the local union hall.
Dec 6, 1996. The very next day, the paramilitiaries entered the factory, rounded up workers and told them to leave the union or face assassination. 48 members had to flee that area because of the events of that day. In that fashion, they basically wiped out that local.
That same year, 5 members of the union were arrested and jaioled on terrorism charges. It seemed that these were claims of terrorism against coca cola. They spent 6 months in jail before they were released and declared innocent by the courts. But the coca cola company was asking that they receive 20 years in prison and 500 million dollars in colombian currency as fines.
And in that same time-frame in a town nearby, another union worker was kidnapped by paramilitary groups. He was driven around the city blindfolded to a distant location. When the blindfold was removed he was showed pictures in a newspaper of a protest outside a coca cola plant and was told that if these continues they would take his life. And there are over 65 union members who have received death threats from these same paramilitary groups. Our union has denounced these actions to the Colombian government, filed complaints, and has asked for justice to come to the perpetrators of these actions. To this day no investigation has happened, not a single person has been arrested/detained in connection with these incidents. No action has been taken; These events were the impetus for our launching of this international campaign to take this issue out past the borders of Colombia. Last year there were 3 unveilings of this campaign to get the word out about the criminal activities of Coca Cola to destroy union organizing in Colombia. - July 22, 2002: The 1st place this campaign went public was in Atlanta, because this is the headquarters of coca cola. The significance of this day is that at the World Social Forum it was decided that this would be the day to commemorate assassinations of multiple union members in Colombia.
- Oct 10, 2002: The campaign then went to the EU Capital in Brussels, Belgium
- Dec 5, 2002: In Bogota, Colombia, this was the commemoration of the 6th year since the first assassination and first major attack of the paramilitaries.
These events were organized by over 60 organizations that all helped bring them together and these groups also brought forth statements denouncing the actions of coca cola. There were 2 very clear demands that came our of these unveilings that now form the basis of our worldwide campaign against coca cola. We call for: - An International Boycott against all coca cola products in every part of the world. There is a sign on petition for people to sign that will be presented to Coke upon Juan Carlos' return to Colombia.
- Divestments: All who hold stock or do business with coca cola should withdraw their money from this company.
These form the 2 avenues of pressure on this giant multinational corporation to hold them accountable for their human rights abuses. In addition, we want to know who was the master-mind of these intimidation tactics, who is coordinating and carrying these out. We want to bring these people to justice & get accountability from coca cola. "When we talk about getting Reparations, we are talking about the surviving family members and organizations, in this case the unions, who have suffered so much under these intimidation tactics." And to that end, at the Oct 11th unveiling, there were laid out specific reparations we want to see from them. These not only included the above 2 demands, and announcing that the workers have submitted a civil suit against coca cola in Florida based on a long-standing U.S. law called the Alien Torts Claim Act passed by Congress in 1789 [that the Bush administration is trying to get rid of, said a member of the audience]. There are 4 bases for this civil suit: - The murder of union leaders
- The jailing of union members for 6 months
- The kidnappings
- The continuing death threats against Juan Carlos Galvis, tonight's speaker
On March 31st 2003, this civil case was recognized by the courts. In response Coca Cola has filed a countersuit in Colombia, through bottling company there that is a subsidiary of theirs. The demand Coca Cola is making of the union is that in a public forum, the union must declare that Coca Cola was in no way involved with the events that took place, along with a 500 million dollar fine for defamation. It was our hope that by pursuing the above 3 tactics, that Coca Cola would back off their policies of consistent human rights violations in Colombia. This past August 22nd, 2003, there was an attempt on the Juan Carlos' life in his hometown. He relates how 2 men on a motorcycle pulled up next to him, and repeatedly fired shots into the car that he was driving. "Thru sheer luck I escaped without injury." So the following September 9th holiday, where we in Colombia celebrate Human Rights, was the day Coca Cola shut down 9 plants in Colombia. They rounded up the workers in these plants, and put them into hotels that were guarded so that no union reps were allowed to talk with these workers about what was going on. Each worker was pressured to renoune their union as a way to break the unions in their factories... They made the workers renounce their unions under threat of being fired. 400 lost their jobs as a result of the events on this day. For those that resisted the pressure to leave, the companies they work for have requested authorization to fire 200 more workers. All actions that happened on that day are in complete and flagrant violation of Colombian Labor Law; Their only goal was to break the union. On that list of 200 workers who did not wald away quietlly are a great number of union activists and leaders. The next day the son of a union leader was kidnapped at 11 a.m. and tortured. While his son was being tortured, they called the union leader and told him to leave the city or he'f be assassinated. The son was released at 4 p.m., in serious condietion, recognized & brought to police. 2 wks later on Sept 26th, their house was the target of a paramilitary attack. This family had to leave the area, with the help of his fellow workers. These workers requested that the company continue to pay some of his wages so that he and his family would have a way to survive in a different location with no means of employment or housing for months. The response was that there would be no compensation while he was not working. It's important to understand the lack of compassion for this man with a family moving elsewhere with no support. It is so important to sign the petitions we have placed on your seats that we will present to Coca Cola and to also keep checking our site for updates and widely disseminating the info from the website www.killercoke.org. It's incredibly important that this information gets widely disseminated because we are at risk of having our union totally eliminated in Colombia. We are also asking for solidarity on an economic level, so we can continue to produce all the propaganda materials we need to get the word out.
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Question & Answer:
Q: Connection between Coca Cola and the Paramilitaries... What else do paramilitaries do? Who organizes and trains them?
A: The entire dirty war is being directed by the government and paramilitary corporations in Colombia, and fundamentally the drive behind that is to create the conditions they need to create to establish their economic control, to pave the way for trade agreements, they have to do away w/ social/trade organizations that would resist that kind of capitalist domination.
The Paramilitaries in Colombia are an extension of the government, to really try to wipe out these civil society/socially responsible organizations. They have been growing in strength and numbers through American foreign policy and the funding of Plan Colombia.
They are organized and trained through the Colombian Military. They paramilitaries can do things the military can't do. Thhey carry out this dirty war while maintaining an image of being separate from the government. So they are trained by the Military. The question then of course is, who trains the Military? The military leaders are trained by the U.S. School of the Americas. I personally have no knowledge of any direct association between the CIA and the military. [audience comment: There has been a connection made between the CIA and the fumigations being carried out by DynCorp] Q: Are these kinds of human rights abuses being carried out by Coke in other countries?
A: During the unveiling of this campaign, and communication with other union leaders around the world, it became apparent that there have been human rights violations of this sort, committed by Coca Cola all over the world. Examples include: - In Iran and Turkey, CC was a major player in undermining the entire labor movement.
- In India, there are many examples of Coke entering communities, appropriating fresh water sources, and then prohibiting the people from having access to these water sources.
- In 1984, Guatemalan Labor Leader(s?) murder was also connected to Coca Cola.
- CC was active in all of the anti-revolutionary movements that took place in Guatemala, Nicaragua, and El Salvador. CC was also a very active player in the industry-driven nationwide strikes in Venezuala intended to oust Chavez.
- Not to mention the systemic racial discrimination carried out here in the U.S. against vistims of AIDES in Africa. These are just a nubmer of the many skeletons in Coke's closet they've never been held accountable for.
And we want to draw a line in Colombia. We're setting up a boycott, ro really expose Coke and their history. So at this point, Colombia is in a state of actual crisis. This is being directed toware all unions, students, etc. There is a policy in the administration to wipe out these voices of dissent. Q:What about the role of the FARC/EZLN - are they helping the people or hurting them?
A: The armed struggle is not something that we as social organizations share in Colombia, but there are aspects of it that we respect. So there are actually very important elemts the armed insurgence is addressing. There is also an awareness of the need for negotiated agreement where all affected parties sit at a table equally represented to discuss the real issues at the root of the conflict. But that resolution to this conflict is far off, because the government doesn't want to talk about the issues at hand with the people of Colombia. The government demands that the armed revolutionaries put down their guns, but they are unwilling to address the conditions of violence, and the guns simply reproduce themselves. We need to address the socio-political issues before this struggle will ever be near ending. Q:What is the impact of the working class on the civilian population?
A: The level of violence is making it essential for civil organizations to wald together in unity to try to address the crisis that is taking place. Tbut the response & rise of left-leaning policical groups is not limited to Latin America; There is an international resistance to the economic globalization policies. It is essential to have and build this international support. So it is important to support the World Social Forum, along with the International Peace Movement. Otherwise we will continue on this trajectory where w spread misery & poverty and a few get ever richer on the backs of the many. Q:What kinds of support have you recieved from unions in the U.S.?
A: Much of my travel expense this time has been paid for by the Steelworker's union, the rest with passing the hat at speaking engagements like this one. The ILWU also has to be recognized for it's very strong positions of support they have taken. I'm here on this tour to engage unions to support us in this struggle for justice. Q: Is there a way through elections to change the present policies?
A: There is no viable opposition party in Colombia; Even within the liberal party there've been fracturing of more progressive ideologies. So even that hasn't been seen as a real viable alternative to the current situation. So there really isn't a democracy in Colombia, when you look at the fact that it's own laws are being violated by the gov't regularly. We're at a point where the paramilitary presence has grown enormously, and they are influencing the way people vote. In the town where Juan lives, the mayor has to consult with the paramilitaries before making decisions, to be sure they will sign off on whatever he does... Q: Are you afraid to go back to your home in Colombia? Are you afraid of what Coca Cola will do if they find out you have been here?
A: Yes, of course I am afraid, but I and everyone in my family is also aware of our responsibilities to our people. So I will return, and yes, I am well aware of the risks involved. Coca Cola is very well aware of the fact that I am here, and exactly what I am doing here. We are protected because we are speaking out and because of the International presence and awareness of what is going on in Colombia. So this whole process of a boycott and an international boycott will actually protect us in Colombia. So any participation or protest you here can bring to bear is what keeps us alive & able to continue organizing in Colombia. They must feel there is international pressure.
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From the website:
Killer Coke's Casualties:
Listed below are union leaders at Coca-Cola's Colombian bottling plants who have been murdered. Hundreds of other Coke workers have been tortured, kidnapped and/or illegally detained by violent paramilitaries, often working closely with plant managements.
Date Name Coca-Cola Plant
- 1989 Avelino Chicanoy Pasto
- 4/8/94 Jose ElaseasarMancoDavid Carepa
- 4/20/94 Luis Enrique Giraldo Arango Carepa
- 4/23/95 Luis Enrique Gomez Garado Carepa
- 12/5/96 Isidro Segundo Gil Carepa
- 12/26/96 Jose Librado Herrera Osorio Carepa
- 6/21/2001 Oscar Dario Soto Polo Monteria
- 8/31/2002 Adolfo de Jesus Munera Lopez Baranquilla
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There will be a Delegation to Colombia January 15-27, 2004. This is being coordinated through Witness For Peace Columbia has endured almost four decades of brutal armed conflict between the national army, leftist guerrilla movements, and right-wing paramilitary forces. overwhelmingly, the victims of this conflict have been civilians. Into this situation, the U.S. Congress has sent over $2 billion in mostly miltary aid to fight the "war on drugs" or as it is now called, "the War on terrorism." the Colombian people need your support.
The issues: - Labor Leaders Assassinated
- Human rights workers and church leaders at risk
On this Delegation: - talk with labor leaders, church and human rights organizers.
- Hear testimonies of displaced people and others directly affected by the conflict.
- Travel to areas ouside of Bogoa to see first-hand the impact of UlS. assistance.
- Talk with union organizers about the violence they face.
- Lern about economic roots of Colombia's conflict.
Applications Due by Nov 1, 2003 with a $100 deposit. Cost: $1400 plus airfare. This includes all meals, accomodations, facilitation, translation, and trasportation in Colomia. Your fee also covers briefing materials and extensive training in Miami. Financial Assistance: Scholarship funds are limited, but fundraising consultaion is avbailable. Past delegates have a very successful track record of raising the needed funds. For and application and more information contact:
Witness For Peace Southeast
1105 Sapling Pace Ralegh, NC 27615
(919) 856-9468 CITCA@bellsouth.net (Witness for Peace is a politically independent grassroots organization. We are people committed to nonviolence and led by faith and conscience. Our mission is to support peace, justice and sustainable economies in the Americas by changing U.S. policies and corporate practices that contribute to poverty and oppression in Latin America and the Caribbean we stand wtih people who seek justice.)
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> CBLOC is sponsoring another speaking event Monday November 10th at 7 pm, when a Salvadoran Electrical union worker will speak in Portland. Details, as they appear on the flyer for this event, are as follows: ON THE ROAD OF RESISTANCE: THE SALVADORAN STRUGGLE AGAINST "FREE TRADE" Salvadoran Electrical union worker to speak in Portland!!!
Monday November 10 @ 7 pm
SEIU Local 49 (3536 SE 26th Ave.) Come hear about the struggles and victories of the Salvadoran people. how they've succeeded in stopping privatization, and continue to fight against CAFTA, the FTAA and other "free trade" agreements. Discov er how the people have succeeded in building true alternatives! Sara Quintanilla is an elecrtical worker and Secretary General of her union local. She was fired by the Salvadoran gov ernment for her involvement with the union. $3.00 at the door (nobody turned away)
Call CBLOC for more information (503) 236-7916
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spencerlewis388@hotmail.com