As indicated in the last edition of the Journal I will be part of a Justice for Colombia (JFC) delegation to Colombia to examine the political climate in that country particularly in relation to the murder and disappearance of trade union leaders.
Over 500 trade unionists have been killed since President Uribe was elected five years ago and the Colombian army continues to work with paramilitary death squads with impunity.
The visit by the delegation will provide an opportunity for for trade union leaders and politicians to see for themselves what is really going on at ground level, to lobby Colombian Ministers and to seek to establish trade union links.
In addition to myself the delegation will consist of ;
Richard Ascough, GMB Southern Region Secretary & Chair of South East TULO
Keren Bender, Vice -President of Community
Colin Burgon, Labour MP for Elmet
Katy Clark, Labour MP for North Ayrshire & Arran
Mike Griffiths, Chair of the Labour Party NEC and Amicus political officer
Billy Hayes, CWU General secretary
Richard Howitt, Labour MEP for east of England & Labour's Foreign Affairs Spokesperson in the European Parliament
Tom Jones, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Thompsons Solicitors
Hugh Lanning, PCS Deputy General Secretary
Tony Lloyd, Labour MP for Manchester Central & Chair of the PLP
Ellie Reeves, Labour Party NEC Member and Solicitor at OH Parsons
Andy Richards, TGWU Wales Region Secretary
Chris Tansley, Chair of Unison General Political Fund
In addition we will be accompanied by JFC staff Mariela Kohon and Liam Craig-Best who will serve as guides and interpreters. We will be met at Bogota airport by a former JFC staff member, Adam Baird, who will also assist and the delegation will also be accompanied by a photographer, Sam Green.
The delegation leaves Heathrow very early on the morning of Saturday 25th August via Madrid for Bogota and is due to return mid-morning on 2nd September.
A very full and detailed itinery has been put together but for security reasons I have been asked not to divulge exactly which locations the delegations will be visiting and when those visits will occur. It is the intention, however, that I will post a daily blog on the delegations activities, time and technology permitting.
I can however indicate that the current schedule anticipates meetings with trade union leaders, all of the main political parties and President Uribe and his Vice-President and Foreign Minister. Further meetings have been arranged with the Minister of Defence, the Head of Police and the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.
There will be two excursions outside of Bogota including meetings with representatives of agriculture workers, with victims of human rights abuses and with people living in shantytowns having been forced to flee their homes.
A visit to a woman's prison including meetings with imprisoned trade unionists and other political prisoners to hear their stories and see the conditions in which they are held has also been arranged.
All in all it looks like a very full and interesting programme and, whilst there are clearly some dangers involved, I am very much looking forward to the trip, to expanding my knowledge on the situation and to writing this blog which hopefully will keep you up to date in more or less real time on the activities of the delegation.
Watch this space!
