Big Jump in Murders of Colombian Workers in 2008

According to a report released this spring by the Escuela Nacional Sindical, Colombia's leading source for data on anti-union violence, there was a notable increase in murders of trade union members in early 2008.

Between January 1st and March 31st of this year, 17 trade unionists were murdered in Colombia, showing a significant increase over the 10 murdered in the same period of 2007.

The Colombian government has characterized this upswing as a "statistical blip" in an attempt to draw attention away from the murders. By the end of April, however, a total of 23 union members had been murdered. If assassinations continued at this rate, the 2008 body count could almost double the 39 killed in 2007.

Of the 17 trade unionists killed in the first quarter, nine were killed in March. This is due in part to the high levels of violence in response to the March 6th protests against military and paramilitary violence. At least four trade unionists were killed in connection to their participation in the protest.

On May 1st, 2008, a Coca-Cola worker and leader of the SINALTRAINAL union found a threat in his home that challenged his union's opposition to the FTA. The threat stated that he and a colleague were "camouflaged in the terrorist union SINALTRAINAL, who are against the FTA and the policies of our President Alvaro Uribe Velez, will be executed if they continue to oppose these policies... The policies of our president will be implemented--if neccessary over the spilled blood of your families." It was signed by the New Generation Black Eagles of Santander.

Continuing violence against trade unionists has been a key reason that Congress has not scheduled a vote on the Free Trade Agreement with Colombia. The rise in 2008 murders comes at an awkward time for pro-FTA forces trying to secure a vote this year.

Paramilitary Bosses Extradited

President Uribe unexpectedly extradited 14 paramilitary leaders to the United States in mid-May, raising questions about the continuation of legal proceedings and reparations for victims in Colombia. They were extradited under narco-trafficking charges, prohibiting the US government from trying them for the many human rights abuses they had previously admitted to, including massacres, homicides, and mass displacements. How the Colombian government will deal with existing sentences and uncompleted legal processes remains to be seen.

No Vote on New Colombia Aid Bill Likely

Congress has begun work on a new foreign aid appropriations bill, but will probably not bring it up for a vote until 2009. Last year's bill shifted a large portion of aid away from Colombia's military, leaving almost of for economic and social aid.