Unionist Freed, More Killed

Despite Requests for Govt Help, Paras Kill Union Leader

On Apr. 12, rightwing paramilitaries murdered union leaders Hernan de Jesus Ortiz and Jose Robeiro Pineda while they were eating dinner at a restaurant in Aranzazu municipality, Caldas department. Ortiz was vice president of the United Teachers of Caldas (EDUCAL), a leader of the Colombian Teachers Federation (FECODE) and on the board of directors of the Unitary Workers Federation (CUT). He was also in charge of the Permanent Human Rights Committee (CPDH) in Caldas and was an active member of the CUT's National Human Rights Team. Pineda was a union activist and a former leader of the Union of Electricity Industry Workers of Colombia (SINTRAELECOL), a CUT affiliate. Ortiz had repeatedly sought help from the Interior Ministry's special protection program for union leaders after his name appeared on a list of activists declared military targets by the AUC; the government never responded to his requests. [CUT message 4/14/02 via colombia.indymedia.org]

Indigenous Leader Murdered by Sicarios

Two hired killers on a motorcycle shot to death Embera Chami leader Maria Fabiola Largo Cano on Apr. 10 while she participated in a community training in Sipirra, a community of the Canamomo- Lomaprieta indigenous reservation in the municipality of Riosucio, Caldas department. Largo Cano was a former governor of the Nuestra Senora de la Montana reservation in Riosucio who ran for mayor of Riosucio in 2000. Another indigenous leader, a former governor of the Nuestra Senora Candelaria de la Montana reservation, was seriously wounded in the same Apr. 10 attack. Rightwing paramilitaries have repeatedly threatened local indigenous leaders and have murdered six residents of the Canamomo-Lomaprieta reservation in the past month. [Message posted on Colombia Indymedia 4/13/02]

Barrancabermeja Activist Killed by Paras

On Apr. 8, paramilitaries dragged activist Diofanol Sierra Vargas from her home in the city of Barrancabermeja, Santander department. Her body was found the next day; she had been shot at close range in the back and head. Sierra was responsible for cultural promotions for the Popular Women's Organization (OFP) and was a local leader of the National Union of Food Industry Workers (SINALTRAINAL).

Another Activist in Cimitarra River Valley Killed

According to an Apr. 7 message from the Campesino Association of the Cimitarra River Valley (ACVC), local activist Nelsy Gabriela Cuesta Cordoba was abducted by paramilitaries on Apr. 4 in Yondo municipality, Antioquia department; her body was found in the Magdalena river on Apr. 6. Cuesta was president of the community action committee in the village of Puerto Matilde, working on local projects such as health promotion and aqueduct construction.

Another Unionist Killed, One Abducted

On Apr. 5, unionist Oscar Alfonso Jurado, leader of the Yumbo branch of the chemical industry workers union SINTRAQUIM, was shot dead while on his way to work in the city of Cali, Valle department. Also on Apr. 5, unionist and social activist Arturo Vasquez Galeno was abducted by paramilitaries while on his way home from work in Abejorral, Antioquia department. [Agencia de Noticias Nueva Colombia (ANNCOL) 4/12/02] From the Weekly News Update on the Americas (ISSN 1084-922X), published by the Nicaragua Solidarity Network of Greater New York, 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012, 212-674-9499, wnu@igc.org.