Exploited Labor: News & Updates

A national strike by a teachers' union leads to death threats and assassinations of two of its members. Both of the assassination victims belonged to unions affiliated with FECODE, the Colombia Federation of Educators. Byron Revelo Insuasty, member of the SIMANA teachers union in Nariño Department, was disappeared on November 13. His body was found in a morgue in Tumaco on November 22. Douglas Cortés Mosquera, member of the SER teachers union in Risaraldo Department, was also killed on November 22. These killings follow death threats (in the form of funeral wreaths) against all fifteen members of the FECODE Executive Committee that were sent to the home of the FECODE secretary of legal affairs on October 26. The threats came just days after FECODE was involved in the National Strike protests against government reforms that would weaken collective bargaining and the right to strike. We are urging that officials in Colombia: 1) investigate the assassinations of Byron Revel Insuasty and Dougals Cortés Mosquera, publish the results, and bring those responsible to justice; 2) investigate the threats against all 15 members of the FECODE Executive Committee

Two agricultural union members were assassinated within ten days of each other in Cauca Department. FENSUAGRO (Federación Nacional Sindical Unitaria Agropecuaria) members: 18-year-old Jayder Quintana (October 3) and Nelson Ramos Barrera (October 13). In addition to his membership in the agricultural union federation FENSUAGRO, Jayder Quintana also belonged to the peasant farmers association ANZORC (Asociación Nacional de Zonas de Reserva Campesina). Nelson Ramos Barrera, who was killed in front of his family, belonged to the Municipal Peasant Workers Association of Piamonte (ASIMTRACAMPIC), an affiliate of FENSUAGRO. Because of its work coordinating crop substitution programs and defending protected biodiversity zones, ASIMTRACAMPIC members have been deemed military targets by armed groups operating in the area. We are urging that authorities in Colombia: 1) carry out transparent and thorough investigations into the assassinations of Jayder Quintana and Nelson Ramos Barrera, publish the results, and bring the perpetrators to justice; 2) provide protection measures to members of ASIMTRACAMPIC and FENSUAGRO in Cauca, in strict accordance with the wishes of their local leaders; 3) demilitarize the rural areas of Cauca because of the military’s complicity in the armed violence, forced displacement, and targeting of rural social leaders