Colombia: Murders of Teachers Continue into 2011

[Judi Lynn]

Colombia: Murders of Teachers Continue into 2011

24 January 2011: The International Trade Union Confederation has reiterated its support for its affiliated organisations in Colombia and has strongly condemned the murder, on 10 January, of Manuel Esteban Tejada, a teacher at the "Palma Soriana" education centre, affiliated to the teachers’ association of Córdoba, ADEMACOR.

According to the latest figures received by the ITUC, 25 out of the 46 trade unionists assassinated in 2010 were teachers. The ITUC has joined with CUT, the Colombian trade union centre, and ADEMACOR in demanding that the relevant ministries and authorities – departmental, municipal and national – ensure the launch of an immediate and exhaustive investigation into this crime, to identify those responsible at every level.

"It is inadmissible that the majority of the crimes and offences in Colombia go unpunished," said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow, "Impunity is a scourge that we all have a duty to fight."

In a letterto President Santos, the ITUC called on the Colombian authorities, and particularly the vice president of the Republic, who publicly pledged to support the defence of human rights, to take every action necessary, without delay, to ensure that the investigation is conclusive and that those responsible are punished with the full force of the law, thus breaking the circle of impunity in Colombia.

http://www.ituc-csi.org/colombia-murders-of-teachers.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&lang=en

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Google translation of article written in Spanish:

Paramilitaries killed in Cordoba to the teacher and unionist Esteban Manuel Tejeda
United Workers for Sunday, Jan. 23, 2011 at 9:41 a.m.
[e-mail] + (57) (1) 3237550 Calle 35 # 7-25 flat 9, Bogotá DC

Continuing murders of teachers in Cordoba in 2011

The Confederation of Workers of Colombia - CUT, through the Department of Human Rights and Solidarity, the vile assassination of Manuel Esteban Tejada, who was a teacher of School "Palma Soriano, in the municipality of Planeta Rica, Department of Córdoba.

Member of the Association of Teachers of Córdoba - ADEMACOR, was killed on Jan. 10, was 6:00 am when gunmen arrived at their place of residence and handed shots.

CUT rejects this new crime, with which continues in 2011, the wave of assassinations of Colombian teachers, also denounced that in 2010 union members were killed 46, among which are 25 teachers.

We urge the Ministry of Interior and Justice, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social Protection, Attorney General's Office, Ombudsman, General Prosecutor's Office, Vice-President (Program and IHL), Inter-American Commission Human Rights, European Parliament, United Nations and regional authorities, municipal and national agencies, appropriate actions are implemented to find those responsible for the murder of our comrade, so like most, do not go unpunished.

We send our heartfelt message of condolences to the family, friends, and co-Manuel Esteban, and invite them to hold high the banner of the struggle to defend the right to life and respect for human rights of Colombians.

Tarcisio Mora Godoy
President

Domingo Tovar Arrieta
Secretary General

LUIS ALBERTO VANEGAS Z.
Department Director Human Rights and Solidarity

http://colombia.indymedia.org/news/2011/01/120296.php