Death Threats

Death threats are the most commonly reported form of anti-union violence in Colombia, with over 4,277 documented cases in the last two decades (as of August 2009). Union members report receiving threats by phone, in person, or in written form. The following are a few examples of death threats received by Colombian trade unionists.

Note: some of the following threats contain offensive language and may not be appropriate for all readers.

On March 2, 2009, Lina Paola Malagon Díaz, a lawyer with the Colombian Commission of Jurists, received this fax signed by the Black Eagles paramilitary group. Malagón Díaz produced a report about impunity and trade union rights violations in Colombia, which was presented at a February 2009 U.S. Congressional Hearing:

After brief intelligence work we have found you, guerilla whore that works defending unionists. At last we have found you and your job. And we are looking for your house and for your family. You are declared a military target for your links to urban militias of the FARC, your company the Colombian Commission of Jurists is filled with communist combatants. We have sent into exile the SOBs of the national... we have not forgotten about Cristian and tell him on our behalf that the Capital Bloc of the AUC Black Eagles reaches all the way to Argentina and does not forgive...

We know your routes, we know who you associate with and now where you work and your schedule. 

This is the first, the only and the last warning: Either you leave or we kill you bitch. We give you 1 day to leave Bogota and never return. We will proceed immediately. Your cellular, ### ####### is wire-tapped and we will have access to your conversations and your contacts.

Your apartment is being watched on 123 Street, Apt.45.  It isn't worth hiding.
Rest in peace Lina Paola Malogon Diaz

Capital Bloc Black Eagles 

June 18th, 2008. This excerpt comes from a threat received in Barrancabermeja:

OUR ORGANIZATION IS NOT WILLING TO PERMIT THE ENTRY OF THESE GUERRILLAS OR THEIR SUPPORTER, WHO HAVE DARED TO AGAIN STEP FOOT INTO OUR BARRANCABERMEJA.

THEREFORE WE DENOUNCE THE UNION ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE ADECO AND USO, NGOS LIKE THE OFP, CREDHOS, ACVC, AND ASODESAMUBA THAT ARE FULL OF REVOLUTIONARY UNIONISTS AND SUPPORTERS OF THE GUERRILLA...

On May 1, 2008, the following death threat was found at the home of José Domingo Flórez, a Coca Cola bottling factory employee and Sinaltrainal union leader:

AGUILAS NEGRAS (Black Eagles)
FAN (Black Eagle Fronts / Brigades)

THE BLACK EAGLE BRIGADES THAT HAVE INFLUENCE IN THE METRO-POLITAN AREA OF BUCARAMANGA AND SURROUNDING MUNICIPALITIES

DECLARE:

THAT THE FARC GUERRILLA MEMBERS JOSE DOMINGO FLOREZ AND LUIS EDUARDO GARCIA, 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. WE DO NOT WANT TO SEE THEM IN OUR REGION. THE POLICIES OF OUR PRESIDENT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED --IF NECESSARY, OVER THE SPILLED BLOOD OF THEIR FAMILIES, AND SINCE HE HAS NOT LEARNED THE LESSON FROM WHAT HAPPENED TO JOSE DOMINGO'S BASTARD SON, ANDRES DAMIAN FLOREZ, HE SHOULD BE CAREFUL BECAUSE WE BROKE THAT SOB, WE BEAT THE HELL OUT OF HIM. THERE'S ALREADY A DETACHMENT OF MEN WHO WILL CARRY OUT OUR ORDERS AND WILL CLEAN OUT THESE SONS OF BITCHES CAMOUFLAGED AS GUERRILLAS. WATCH OUT YOU PIECE OF SHIT BASTARDS. YOU DIDN'T THINK THAT YOU WERE A MILITARY TARGET. WELL NOW YOU ARE GOING TO BELIEVE IT WITH THE DEATH OF DOMINGO FLOREZ' BASTARD SON. HE THINKS HE'S REALLY MACHO, THE FAT SOB, WITH HIS GUERRILLA BUDDY LUIS EDUARDO GARCIA. HE'S GOING TO DIE.

THE NEW GENERATION BLACK EAGLES OF SANTANDER

On April 22nd, 2008, the following death threat was left at the Santander office of the CUT, Colombia's largest trade union central.

The Front of the Aguilas Negras that Operates in the Metropolitan Area of

Bucaramanga and Surrounding Municipalities

Declare:

That the FARC and ELN guerrillas that are camouflaged in unions and terrorist NGO’s that are opposed to the Free Trade Agreement and the policies of our president Alvaro Uribe Velez will be executed if they continue with these policies. We don’t want marches mourning the dead, nor for May 1st. We don’t want to see them in our region. The policies of our president will be enforced, even if blood is shed. There is already a detachment of men ready to comply with our orders, and all of you that serve the guerillas will be wiped out.

The following have been declared military targets:

DAVIS FLOREZ, JAVIER CORREA, ALFREDO VALDIVIESO, JUAN JAIMES, RAFAEL OVALLE, MARTHA DIAZ, MIGUEL CONDE, MAURICIO MARTINEZ, NORMA (ALIAS LA PROFE) JOSE BAUTISTA (ALIAS CHURCO) CAROLINA RUBIO, MARIA CARDONA, NICANOR ARCINIEGAS,PABLO VARGAS, GABRIEL PRINCIPE, FERNANDO PORRAS TERESA BAEZ …….

The New Generation of Aguilas Negras of SANTANDER April 18, 2008