Brussels, 28 October 2009: The ITUC deplores and has strongly condemned the killing of trade union leader Víctor Gálvez, who was riddled with bullets by an unknown assailant as he left work on 25 October 2009.

Gálvez was a community leader and a member of the natural resources protection and resistance front, FRENA, affiliated to the national front for the defence of public services and natural resources, FNL, which is part of the Guatemalan labour, indigenous and campesino movement, MSICG.

Gálvez was also fighting against continued consumer abuse by DEOCSA and DEORSA, subsidiaries of the Spanish multinational Unión Fenosa. In June of this year, Gálvez and three other colleagues had been beaten and threatened with death whilst demonstrating in front of the national electricity institute, INDE.

In a letter to the Guatemalan authorities, the ITUC urged President Colom to take urgent measures to ensure that those responsible, at every level, for the killing of Víctor Gálvez be identified, arrested, tried and sentenced.

"Over a year and a half ago, at the inauguration of the ITUC conference against impunity in Guatemala, President Colom expressed his political will and commitment to fight for social justice and genuine rule of law, and an end to impunity in Guatemala," said ITUC General Secretary Guy Ryder. "The trade union movement is still waiting to see these commitments fulfilled."

The ITUC represents 170 million workers in 158 countries and territories and has 316 national affiliates. http://www.youtube.com/ITUCCSI

For more information, please contact the ITUC Press Department on: +32 2 224 0204 or +32 476 621 018.

Photo: Edgarin