Colombia: a trade unionist murdered on 27 September

The ITUC has strongly condemned the murder of Fernando Flórez, Transport Secretary of CTC-Valle, an affiliate of the ITUC and TUCA. According to The ITUC, the Colombian government must take immediate measures to stop the violence in Colombia and to launch an exhaustive investigation around the assassination of the trade unionist.

Fernando Flórez Viveros, President of the Expreso Palmira trade union, a FESINUVALC affiliate, and Transport Secretary of the CTC Valle branch affiliated to the ITUC and TUCA, was murdered in his home in Cali City, on the 27 September.

According to the information received by the ITUC, this attack demonstrates once again that the lives of Colombian trade unionists remain under constant threat.

In a letter sent to the Colombian authorities, the ITUC is urging the Colombian President to take all the necessary measures to stop impunity and to launch an investigation in order to bring to justice those responsible for this brutal murder.

It is the government’s primary responsibility to safeguard the lives and the physical integrity of all Colombian citizens in accordance with the international human rights treaties ratified by Colombia.

“Once again a trade unionist died because of his legitimate role of defending workers’ rights. True justice is needed in Colombia without any delay,” said Sharan Burrow, ITUC General Secretary.

To show your solidarity, you can take action on http://act.equaltimes.org/florez and tell the Colombian government to investigate the brutal murder of Fernando Flórez.