Colombia: Third Education Trade Unionist Assassinated

International Trade Union Confederation

ITUC OnLine

Colombia: Third Education Trade Unionist Assassinated in 2011

Brussels, 15 February 2011 (ITUC OnLine): The ITUC, together with its Colombian affiliates CUT, CGT and CTC, has firmly condemned the murder of Carlos Alberto Ayala, director of the Caucasia Rural Education Institute and a member of the Putumayo Teachers' Association, ASEP. The teacher was killed by gunmen who laid in wait for him as he made his way home on 5 February.

"This endless wave of murders against teachers is unacceptable," said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow. "The Colombian authorities have a duty to protect their people and their workers, and, above all, to bring an end to impunity."

In a letter http://www.ituc-csi.org/colombia-tercer-sindicalista.html to the Colombian authorities, the ITUC, along with its affiliated organisations, called on the authorities to take immediate steps to identify all those involved in the murder of Carlos Alberto Ayala and to bring them to justice.

The national, regional and international trade union movements have once again joined with the three Colombian trade union centres, CUT, CGT and CTC, in reiterating their unwavering condemnation of the relentless attacks on the Colombian trade union movement, including the constant intimidation, harassment, persecution and murder of union leaders and members, in blatant violation of the core ILO Conventions ratified by Colombia.

A high-level mission of the ILO is visiting Colombia this week to examine at first hand the human rights situation and respect for core conventions.

ENDS

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