MPs, Union Leaders, Lawyers, Call on FCO to Speak Out on Colombia’s Political Prisoners
Justice For Colombia News |
on: Tuesday, 17 March 2009
Over 60 British union leaders, MPs, lawyers, Labour Party figures, academics and others who have visited political prisoners held in appalling conditions in Colombia's jails have called on British Foreign Office Minister Gillian Merron to speak out about their situation. Ms Merron recently told Parliament that she was aware of 'allegations' that there were political prisoners in Colombia but those that signed an open letter to her say "We can assure you from personal experience that these are more than 'allegations' – they are real and very credible cases of people being jailed for their opposition to the Colombian regime."
To follow is the full text of the letter and the names of those who signed it. When Ms Merron replies Justice for Colombia will post her response on this site.
Rt Hon Gillian Merron MP
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
King Charles Street, London
SW1A 2AH
16th March 2009
Dear Ms Merron,
We write in relation to your recent statement in Parliament that you are concerned by "allegations" that people are being jailed for long periods in Colombia because of their political views. Given that this is the first time that the FCO have acknowledged that there may be political prisoners in Colombia we cautiously welcome that statement.
We have all been to Colombia, visited prisons and spoken with trade unionists, human rights defenders and other civil society activists that were being held without having been convicted of any crime whatsoever.
It was clear to all of us that the Colombian regime regularly jails their political opponents only to release them without charge many months, or sometimes years, later. On many occasions the detentions are targeted at key individuals in trade unions and other organisations in order to weaken those organisations. We believe that this victimisation occurs with sufficient frequency to be described as systematic.
We can assure you from personal experience that these are more than 'allegations' – they are real and very credible cases of people being jailed for their opposition to the Colombian regime. Therefore, a further statement from you clarifying the FCO's position and recognising the reality of this situation would be extremely welcome.
Yours sincerely,
Richard Ascough, Southern Region Secretary, GMB trade union
Adrian Askew, General Secretary, Connect trade union
Phil Authers, Prospect trade union
Adam Baird, Researcher, Peace Studies Department, Bradford University
Sharon Banga, Thompsons Solicitors
Jerry Bartlett, Deputy General Secretary, NASUWT trade union
Mary Bousted, General Secretary, Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL)
Colin Burgon, Labour MP
Richard Burgon, Thompsons Solicitors
Gail Cartmail, Assistant General Secretary, Unite the Union
Katy Clark, Labour MP
Jeremy Corbyn, Labour MP
Liam Craig-Best, Justice for Colombia
Katherine Craig, Christian Khan Solicitors and Vice Chair of the Haldane Society
Maire Daley, National Executive Committee Member, University and College Union (UCU)
Gareth Davies, President, Community trade union
Jeremy Dear, General Secretary, National Union of Journalists (NUJ)
Gerry Doherty, General Secretary, TSSA trade union
John Drake, Southwest Region Secretary, Fire Brigades Union (FBU)
Simon Dubbins, Director of International Relations, Unite the Union
Matt Dykes, Policy Officer, Southern and Eastern Region TUC
Andy Frampton, South East Region Secretary, Unite the Union
Brian Garvey, Past President, NASUWT trade union
Sam Green, Photographer
Tom Harrison, Principal Executive Committee Member, ACCORD trade union
Natalie Jacottet, Researcher, Communication Workers Union (CWU)
Steve Jones, National Executive Committee Member, Communication Workers Union (CWU)
Tom Jones, Director of Policy and Public Affairs, Thompsons Solicitors
Malcolm Keight, Head of Higher Education, University and College Union (UCU)
Mariela Kohon, Justice for Colombia
Sally Kosky, National Officer, Unite the Union
Hugh Lanning, Deputy General Secretary, Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS)
Anne McCormack, Northwest Deputy Regional Convenor, UNISON trade union
Clare Mellor, Partner, Thompsons Solicitors
June Minnery, National Executive Committee Member, GMB trade union
Ivan Monckton, National Executive Committee Member, Unite the Union
Judy Moorhouse OBE, National Executive Committee Member, National Union of Teachers (NUT)
Pablo Navarrete, Phd Student, Peace Studies Department, Bradford University
Julia Neal, National Executive Committee Member, Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL)
Marianne Owens, Revenue & Customs Executive, Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS)
Mark Plumb, National Executive Committee Member, Unite the Union
Krupa Raithatha, USDAW trade union
Ellie Reeves, Labour Party National Executive Committee
Andy Richards, Wales Region Secretary, Unite the Union
Ben Richards, International Officer, Unite the Union
Ian Richards, CYWU section National Committee Member, Unite the Union
Mick Rix, National Officer, GMB trade union
Dr Angela Roger, Honorary Secretary, University and College Union Scotland (UCU)
Jessie Russel, National Executive Committee Member, UNISON trade union
Geoffrey Shears, Chief Executive Officer, Thompsons Solicitors
Jackie Simpkins, Trades Union Officer, War on Want
Fiona Smith, National Executive Committee Member, UNISON trade union
Cath Speight, Chair of the Labour Party National Executive Committee
Pat Stuart, National Executive Committee Member, Unite the Union
Chris Tansley, National Executive Committee Member, UNISON trade union
Enrico Tortolano, Research and Policy Officer, Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS)
Howard Turner, National Executive Committee Member, Unite the Union
Linda Webb-Thornton, Local Government Service Group Executive, UNISON trade union
Mick Whelan, District Organiser, ASLEF trade union
Mel Whitter, Regional Organiser, Unite the Union
