Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2002
Urgent Action: Another Pipeline Worker Kidnapped

KIDNAPPING OF ANOTHER PIPELINE COMRADE
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We had still not recovered from the assassinations of Aury Sara and
Rafael Jaimes, and the kidnapping of Gilberto Torres, when during the
night hours of Tuesday 30th July our comrade GONZALO RAMÍREZ TRIANA, a
member of the pipeline section of the union, was kidnapped by a group of
unknown persons on his way from Villeta [Pumping] Station to his place
of residence. 

Comrade RAMÍREZ TRIANA has worked for the state oil corporation
Ecopetrol for 31 years. He is 57 years old, and is married with three
children. His current position within Ecopetrol is an Operator of Fluid
Transport. He has been a distinguished member of our union. 

Besides rejecting and condemning this atrocious kidnapping USO demand of
his captors that they immediately return Gonzalo safe and sound
immediately to his home. We vehemently oppose this inhumane practice,
that has been imposed on the social organisations of Colombia and of
which USO has newly become a victim. With all our moral authority we
insist that the way out of the current conflict in Colombia is not
through war but through a negotiated political solution. We insist on
respect for the right to life, and on democratic and trade union
freedoms. The use of dialogue as the method to settle our controversies
would be welcomed by the whole of Colombian society. 

We demand of the civilian and military authorities that they guarantee
the immediate return of Gonzalo safe and sound. We call on the national
and international community, non-governmental organisations and trade
unions to mobilise the fullest solidarity for USO. 

We express our message of solidarity and support to Gonzalo's wife,
children and other family members at this time. 

NATIONAL COMMITTEE 
USO, OIL INDUSTRY UNITED WORKERS UNION 
Barrancabermeja, 1st August 2002


RECOMMENDED ACTION - SEND PROTESTS / ENVIAR MENSAJES
----------------------------------------------------
Your message should urge the Colombian authorities to ascertain
Gonzalo's whereabouts and negotiate his release. 

Noting the shocking fact that over 100 trade unionists have been
assassinated in Colombia this year, and that those responsible for the
assassinations and kidnappings have not been brought to justice. 

ANDRES PASTRANA ARANGO Presidente de Colombia 
E-mail, rdh@presidencia.gov.co

ANGELINO GARZON Ministro de Trabajo - Colombia 
E-mail, despachomt@mintrabajo.gov.co 

FOR THOSE IN THE UK:
The British Foreign Office:
E-mail: Dennis Macshane: macshaned@parliament.uk
Jeremy Hobbs: jeremy.hobbs@fco.gov.uk
Jack McIver: Jack.McIver@fco.gov.uk

His Excellency Dr Victor G Ricardo, Embassy of Colombia, Flat 3a, 3 Hans
Crescent, London SW1X OLN. Fax: 020 7581 1829
Email: mail@colombianembassy.co.

with copies to: 
USO <usocol@col1.telecom.com.co>;
CUT <cutcol@col3.telecom.com.co>;
Colombia Solidarity Campaign <colombia_sc@hotmail.com>;
National and International Campaign Against Privatisation, Corruption
and the Criminalisation of Social Protest <dhintegralsuroc@yahoo.com>

JOIN PICKET
-----------
5pm-7pm Wednesday 7th August
Colombian Embassy, 3 Hans Crescent, Knightsbridge (back of Harrods),
London SW1

called by Colombia Solidarity Campaign, Colombian Refugee Association
and LASO Collective and US intervention in Colombia
on the day that Uribe Velez is installed as Colombia's new President.


SECUESTRADO OTRO COMPAÑERO DEL OLEODUCTO
----------------------------------------
No acabamos de reponernos de los asesinatos de Aury Sara, Rafael Jaimes
y el secuestro de Gilberto Torres, cuando el pasado martes 30 de julio
en las horas de la noche fue secuestrado por un grupo de desconocidos,
el compañero GONZALO RAMÍREZ TRIANA, afiliado a la Subdirectiva Unica
del Oleoducto (SUO), en el trayecto de la Estación de Villeta a su lugar
de residencia.

El compañero RAMÍREZ TRIANA trabaja en nuestra empresa hace 31 años,
tiene 57 años de edad, casado con tres hijos, su cargo actual en
Ecopetrol es el de Operador de Transportes de Fluidos, y se ha
distinguido por estar al lado de nuestra Organización sindical.

La USO además de rechazar y condenar este atroz secuestro le exige a sus
captores lo regresen sano y salvo de manera inmediata al seno de su
hogar.

Nos oponemos con vehemencia a esta práctica inhumana, que se viene
imponiendo a las organizaciones sociales en Colombia y de la cual la USO
es nuevamente víctima. Con la autoridad moral que nos asiste, insistimos
en que la salida al actual conflicto en Colombia, no es la guerra sino
la solución política negociada. El respeto al derecho a la vida, a las
libertades democráticas, sindicales, y la utilización del diálogo como
método para dirimir nuestras controversias, deben ser costumbres
acogidas por el conjunto de la sociedad colombiana. 

Exigimos a las autoridades civiles y militares garanticen el regreso
inmediato de Gonzalo sano y salvo. Llamamos a la comunidad nacional e
internacional, organizaciones no gubernamentales sociales y sindicales,
para que rodeen a la USO de la mas amplia solidaridad. 

A la esposa, hijos y demás familiares les expresamos nuestro mensaje
solidario y de apoyo.

JUNTA DIRECTIVA NACIONAL 
UNION SINDICAL OBRERA DE LA INDUSTRIA DEL PETROLEO - USO-
Barrancabermeja, 1 de agosto de 2002

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