Colombian Trade Unionists Assassinated Between January 1st and October 23rd 2000
In June 2000 a human rights emergency was declared by the largest labour federation in Colombia, the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores de Colombia (CUT), due to the large increase in crimes against trade unionists and CUT members in particular.
Although the Colombian state and President Andres Pastrana were notified of this human rights emergency they did not assume responsibility or effect any policies to protect Colombian trade unionists. This continues to be the case today.
One can see from the statistics below that the situation for union activists and workers affiliated to the CUT is extremely severe. However, the statistics are almost certainly not complete as various disappeared people who are probably actually victims of assassinations have been left out. Gilberto Agudelo Martinez, for example, the national president of the University Workers Union of Colombia, was taken by paramilitaries on April 7th 2000 and has still not been found.
The numerous trade unionists that have had to flee their homes and become internal refugees or have been forced to flee the country and become external political refugees are also missing from the statistics.
Source: Director of the CUT Human Rights Department - Jesus Antonio Gonzalez Luna
Note: Paramilitaries linked to the Colombian army were responsible for all of the assassinations on this list without exception.
1. Jorge Andres Rios Zapata, Member of the Antioqui Teachers Union (FECODE) Assassinated January 5th 2000 in Medellin, Antioquia
2. German Valderrama, Member of the Caqueta Teachers Union (FECODE). Assassinated January 15th 2000 in Florencia, Caqueta
3. Guillermo Adolfo Para Lopez, Member of the Antioquia Teachers Union (FECODE). Kidnapped, tortured and then assassinated January 24th 2000 in Savannas, Antioquia
4. Jesus Orlando Garcia, President of the Bugalagrande Municipal Workers Union. Assassinated January 31st 2000 in Bugalagrande, Valle
5. Danilo Francisco Maestre Montero, Member of the Cesar Teachers Union. (FECODE). Assassinated February 3rd 2000 in Atanquez, Cesar
6. Marelvis Esther Solano Romero, Member of the Cesar Teachers Union (FECODE). Assassinated February 12th 2000 in Codazzi, Cesar
7. Dario de Jesus Agudelo Bohorquez, Member of the Antioquia Teachers Union (FECODE). Assassinated March 6th 2000 in Chigorodo, Antioquia
8. Ivan Francisco Hoyos, Member of the Directive of the Electricity Workers Union (SINTRAELECOL). Attacked March 15th and died of injuries on March 18th 2000 in Cartagena, Bolivar.
9. Victor Alfonso Velez Sanchez, Member of the Cordoba Teachers Union (FECODE). Assassinated March 28th 2000 in El Brow, Antioquia
10. Jose Atanacio Fernandez Quinonez, Member of the Department of Antioquia Workers Union (SINTRADEPARTAMENTO). Assassinated March 29th 2000 in San Rafael, Antioquia.
11. Dairon de Jesus Borja, Member of the Antioquia Teachers Union (FECODE) Assassinated April 1st 2000 in Dabeiba, Antioquia
12. Luis Arcadio Rios Munoz, Member of the Electricity Workers Union (SINTRAELECOL). Assassinated April 2nd 2000 in San Carlos, Antioquia
13. Margarita Maria Pulgarin Trujillo, Member of the National Union of Judicial Workers (ASONAL) . Assassinated April 3rd 2000 in Medellin, Antioquia
14. Islem Quintero, General Secretary of the Telecommunication Workers Union Kidnapped and then assassinated April 6th 2000 in Pereira, Risaralda.
15. Cesar Wilson Cortes, Member of the Electricity Workers Union (SINTRAELECOL). Assassinated during an attack on a group of four trade unionists on April 8th 2000 in Trinidad, Casanare. Two were killed and two injured.
16. Romulo Gamboa, Member of the Electricity Workers Union (SINTRAELECOL) Assassinated during an attack on a group of four trade unionists on April 8th 2000 in Trinidad, Casanare. Two were killed and two injured.
17. Alberto Alvarez, Member of the Cordoba Teachers Union (FECODE)Assassinated April 8th 2000 in Monteria, Cordoba.
18. Jesus Maria Cuellar, Member of the Caqueta Teachers Union (FECODE). Assassinated April 13th 2000 in Florencia, Caqueta
19. James Antonio Perez Chima, Member of the University Professors Union (ASPU). Assassinated whilst driving his car by two men on motorbikes on April 17th 2000 in Monteria, Cordoba
20. Gerardo Raigoza, Member of the Risaralda Teachers Union (FECODE). Disappeared on April 19th and found assassinated on April 24th 2000 in Pereira, Risaralda
21. Juan Castulo Jimenez Gutierrez, Member of the Antioquia Teachers Union (FECODE). Assassinated April 26th 2000 in El Union, Antioquia
22. Esneda de la Mercedes Holguin, Member of the Antioquia Teachers Union (FECODE). Assassinated April 27th 2000 in Uramite, Antioquia
23. Milton Canas, Member of the Petrol Workers Union (USO). Assassinated April 27th 2000 in Barrancabermeja, Santander
24. Humberto Guerrero Porras, Member of the Petrol Workers Union (USO). Assassinated April 27th 2000 in Barrancabermeja, Santander
25. Gloria Nubia Uran Lezcano, Member of the Antioquia Teachers Union (FECODE). Assassinated May 2nd 2000 in San Antonio, Betulia, Antioquia
26. Jesus Ramiro Zapata, Member of the Antioquia Teachers Union (FECODE) and regional human rights coordinator. Assassinated May 3rd 2000 in Medellin, Antioquia
27. Gustave Enrique Gomez, Member of the Antioquia Teachers Union (FECODE). Assassinated May 9th 2000 in Maceo, Antioquia
28. Jesus Antonio Marin, Member of the Antioquia Teachers Union (FECODE). Assassinated May 11th 2000 in San Francisco, Antioquia
29. Carmen Emilia Rivas, President of the Cartago Clinic and Hospital Workers Union. (ANTHOC) Assassinated by men on motorbikes as she entered the hospital where she worked in Cartago, Valle de Cauca on May 17th 2000
30. Omar Dario Rodriguez Zuleta, Member of the National Union of Food Workers (SINALTRANAL). Assassinated on May 21st 2000 in Bugalagrande, Valle de Cauca
31. Nelson Arturo Romero Romero, Member of the Directive of the Meta Teachers Union (FECODE). Assassinated on June 1st 2000 in Villavicencio, Meta
32. Abel Maria Sanchez Salazar, Member of the Caqueta Teachers Union (FECODE) Assassinated June 2nd 2000 in Florencia, Caqueta
33. Jaime Enrique Barrera, Member of the Antioquia Teachers Union (FECODE). Assassinated June 11th 2000 in Anza, Antioquia
34. Hector Acuna, President of the Barrancabermeja Motor Workers Union (UNIMOTOR). Assassinated June 12th 2000 in Barrancabermeja, Santander
35. Gildardo Uribe, Member of the Directive of the Public and Municipal Workers Union of Antioquia (SINTRAOFAN). Assassinated June 12th 2000 in Vegachi, Antioquia
36. Candelaria Florez. Assassinated June 17th 2000 in Monteria, Cordoba
37. Santander Florez .Assassinated June 17th 2000 in Monteria, Cordoba
38. Edgar Marino Pereira Galvis, Member of the Clinic and Hospital Workers Union (ANTHOC). Assassinated June 25th 2000 in Villavicencio, Meta
39. Elizabeth Canos Cano, Member of the Public Health Workers Union (SINTRAIS). Assassinated July 10th 2000 in Barrancabermeja, Santander
40. Diego Fernando Gomez, Member of the Public Health Workers Union (SINTRAIS) Assassinated July 13th 2000 in Barrancabermeja, Santander
41. Arelis Castillo Colorado, Member of the Antioquia Teachers Union (FECODE). Assassinated July 28th 2000 in Caucasia, Antioquia
42. Javier Carbono Maldonado, General Secretary of the Magdalena Electricity Workers Union (SINTRAELECOL). Assassinated late July 2000
43. Luis Rodrigo Restrepo Gomez, Vice President of the Antioquia Teachers Union (FECODE). Assassinated August 2nd in Medellin, Antioquia
44. Bacilides Quiroga, Member of the Bugalagrande Municipal Workers Union. Taken from his home In Bugalagrande, Valle del Cauca on August 1st and found dead with signs of torture on August 2nd 2000
45. Carmen Emilio Sanchez Coronel, Official Delegate of the Norte de Santander Teachers Union (FECODE). Stopped at a military roadblock on August 5th 2000 in Sardinata, Norte de Santander where he was assassinated along with seven other people whose names appeared on a list.
46. Robert Canarte, Member of the Bugalagrande Municipal Workers Union .Found dead on August 14th 2000 in Galicia, Valle del Cauca after having been disappeared by paramilitaries two weeks before.
47. Ancizar Mendez Velez. Assassinated August 15th 2000 in Attack, Tolima
48. Ruben Dario Guerrero Cuentas, Member of the Directive of the Tax and Excise Workers Union (SINTRADIAN). Found dead with signs of torture on August 20th 2000 in Guacamayal, Magdalena after having been disappeared by paramilitaries ten days before.
49. Henry Ordonez, Member of the Meta Teachers Union (FECODE). Assassinated August 22nd 2000 in Puerto Rico, Meta
50. Leonardo Betancourt Mendez, Member of the Risaralda Teachers Union (FECODE). Assassinated August 22nd 2000 in Dosquebradas, Risaralda
51. Sergio Uribe Zuluaga, Member of the Antioquia Teachers Union (FECODE). Assassinated August 25th 2000 in Medellin, Antioquia
52. Luis Mesa, Member of the University Professors Union (ASPU). Assassinated on August 26th 2000 in Barranquilla, Atlantico.
53. Moises Sanjuan, Official Representative of an Insurance Workers Union. Assassinated August 29th 2000 in Cucuta, Norte de Santander
54. Hernando Cuartos Agudelo, Member of the National Union of Food Workers (SINALTRAINAL). Assassinated September 1st 2000 in Dosquebradas, Risaralda
55. Gil Bernardo Olachica, Member of the Santander Teachers Union (FECODE) Assassinated September 2nd 2000 in Barrancabermeja, Santander
56. William Iguaran Cottes, Member of the University Workers Union (SINTRAUNICOL). Assassinated September 11th 2000 in Monteria, Cordoba
57. Efrain Becerra, Member of the University Workers Union (SINTRAUNICOL) Assassinated September 12th in Bogota
58. Omar Noguera, Member of the Cali Municipal Workers Union (SINTRAEMCALI) Attacked on September 19th whilst accompanying the union's General Secretary, Ricardo Herrera. Noguera died of his injuries on September 22nd 2000
59. Rosalba Calderon Chavez, Member of the Clinic and Hospital Workers Union Assassinated October 3rd 2000 in Ocana, Norte de Santander
60. Reinaldo Acosta Celemin, Vice President of the Valle del Cauca Public Service Workers Union. Assassinated October 3rd 2000 in Buga, Valle de Cauca
61. Alfredo Castro, Member of the University Professors Union (ASPU). Assassinated October 5th 2000 in Barranquilla, Atlantico
62. Melsy? Member of the Antioquia Teachers Union (FECODE). Assassinated October 23rd 2000 in Copacabana, Antioquia
Other Individuals Assassinated this year by Paramilitary Death Squads Linked to the Colombian Military
1. Demetrio Playonero, a displaced person and human rights leader, was murdered, by paramilitaries, on March 31 2000. After shooting him in the head in front of his wife at his farm outside Yondó, Antioquia, the gunmen breakfasted, then stole the farm's cattle.
2.Government prosecutor Margarita María Pulgarín Trujillo, part of a team developing cases linking paramilitaries to the army and regional drug traffickers, was murdered in Medellín on April 3 2000, apparently because of her work. Several of her colleagues had already fled Colombia because of death threats from a gang of hired killers known as "La Terraza," a group closely allied to national paramilitary leader Carlos Castaño.
3.On May 3. 2000, Jesús Ramiro Zapata, the only surviving member of the Segovia Human Rights Committee, was killed by paramilitaries near Segovia, Antioquia.
4.On July 11 2000, Elizabeth Cañas - whose son and brother had been seized by paramilitaries in 1998 and have yet to be found - was shot and killed in Barrancabermeja. Cañas was a member of the Association of Family Members of the Detained and Disappeared (Asociación de Familiares de Detenidos Desaparecidos -Colombia, ASFADDES).
5.Most recently, Angel Quintero and Claudia Patricia Monsalve, also members of ASFADDES, were forcibly disappeared on October 6 2000 and remain missing.
Electronic Edition by Nizkor International Human Rights Team 15nov00
Published online by Equipo Nizkor and Derechos Human Rights