The new US air base in Palanquero will “expand expeditionary warfare capability” and “improve global reach” for “conducting full spectrum operations,” according to a newly disclosed Pentagon budget document. The Air Force document describes South America as “a critical sub region of our hemisphere where security and stability is under constant threat from narcotics funded terrorist insurgencies, anti-US governments, endemic poverty and recurring natural disasters.” The document flatly contradicts well-publicized claims by US Ambassador William Brownfield that soldiers based in Colombia will “never, never, never” participate in armed operations, and that the base agreement doesn’t allow operations outside Colombian territory.

While the US Embassy in Bogota said the agreement enters into force immediately , a Colombian court ruling “broad and unbalanced” in favor of the United States and is not based on any previous treaty, and so must be reviewed by the Colombian Congress and Constitutional Court. The agreement puts no limits on the number of US personnel to be deployed in Colombia nor on the number of military bases they will use.

In addition,-seven European organizations today called on President Obama to reconsider the agreement for the Pentagon to use seven military bases in Colombia, and urged the president to prioritize human rights in US relations with Colombia. “The militarization of Colombia,” the groups wrote, “will lead to an increase in internal destabilization, will involve even more of the civilian population in the war, increasing the violations of human rights and strengthening the resurgence of the paramilitary groups and the receding guerrilla groups.”

“This agreement extends an alliance with a murderous military, reinforces arbitrary executive power in Colombia, and is openly unconstitutional. Progressives in Congress should immediately call hearings to review and revoke the agreement,” said John Lindsay-Poland, co-director of the Fellowship of Reconciliation Latin America Program.

“There is no guarantee that Colombian territory would not be used by the US to launch military operations into third countries,” added Susana Pimiento, the Fellowship of Reconciliation Colombia Representative. “Such a condition would severely impact Colombian relations with its neighbors and the international community in general.”

Last August 31st, Jairo del Rio, the president of SINTRATUCAR (the Tenaris workers’ union) and member of the Socialist Workers Party (PST-Colombia) received the following death threat:

“Mr. Jairo del Rio. We want to make it clear which are the objectives of the union organization you lead since you are getting into trouble, making denounces that are not convenient. we remember you that in this country guerrilla communists like you and your group die fast so do not interfere in what is not your business. we remember you that you have a beautiful family that you should take care, even more with a pregnant wife that leaves home everyday at 5h30 to take your son to school. it would be very harmful if something happens to them because of you. the guerrila in this country will be terminated because it will and the guerrillamen like you as well. Take care of you and of yours.”

The day after, the Union Vice-President, Deivis Blanco, also received a similar death threat message.

Tenaris is a leading global supplier of steel tubes for the world’s energy industry. It has plants in several countries, among them Colombia (called Tubos del Caribe), Argentina and Italy.

In Colombia, every day more union leaders are threatened with death. More than 40 unionists have been killed this year. Behind these threats are businessmen in alliance with the political establishment and hired paramilitary groups, who carry out these threats. Unionists under threat are forced to flee the cities they live in. Those who don’t leave often begin receiving new threats or are killed immediately.

For the transnational companies, to be perceived by the public as involved in massacres and assassinations of Colombian union leaders represents an important political problem. That is why, in some cases, they are forced to make public statements that they are not behind the threats and to step back.

This time, facing threats, the Union is pushing for work stoppages of a few hours, depending upon the response of their worker base. No matter what, we understand that International Solidarity is essential.

Sintratucar, the Tenaris workers’ Union, despite having formed only recently, has transformed itself into a vanguard organization in the city of Cartagena, pushing forward the unionization of other sections as well. For this reason, attacking this Union will have repercussions in the Labor Movement.

We call on all persons, union organizations and democratic groups to demand that Tenaris Tubos del Caribe Ltda and that the Colombian government give full protection of union activity. Alvaro Uribe, the Colombian President, claims that all protection for unions is guaranteed but the reality on the ground clearly demonstrates the opposite.

For the right to live! For Union rights! Support the Struggle of Colombian Unionists!

Send emails to:
Mr Rubén Fidalgo, General Manager, Tubos del Caribe – Tenaris S.A., rfidalgo@tenaris.com

Copy:
Álvaro Uribe Vélez, President of Colombia, auribe@presidncia.gov.co
Fabio Valencia Cosio, Minister for Justice, ministro@minjusticia.gov.co
Wolmar Antonio Pérez, Public Defender, defensoria@defensoria.org.co
SINTRATUCAR, sintratucar@gmail.com
PST, pstcolombia@yahoo.com