The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has written to the Colombian embassy in London after new threats purporting to be from paramilitaries targeted several opposition politicians as well as activists and trade unionists.
Among those named in the threats were opposition senators Iván Cepeda, Victoria Sandino, María José Pizarro and Carlos Antonio Lozada, who have all met with TUC members on JFC delegations to Colombia and, in the case of Cepeda and Sandino, on visits to Britain.
The TUC letter, signed by its General Secretary, Frances O’Grady, called on the Colombian government to ensure security for trade unionists, with Colombia continuing to be the world’s deadliest country for labour organising. At least 22 trade unionists were murdered between March 2020 and April 2021.
A number of human rights organisations were also targeted in the threats, including MOVICE, ANDAS and the José Alvear Restrepo lawyers collective, each of which has previously engaged in advocacy work with JFC.
You can download or read the TUC letter via the link below.