We denounce the serious death threat against the close relatives of SINTRAEMCALI President LUIS ['LUCHO'] HERNANDEZ MONRROY. This is an attempt to intimidate one of the most outstanding trade union leaders in the country, one who has publicly confronted the current government's privatisation policy. Luis has denounced the assaults on SINTRAEMCALI workers and shown his disagreement with the labour and Operations Adjustment Programme applied to EMCALI EICE ESP, because of its clear intention to favour the national and international banks and injure the rights of the entire Cali community.

The Events

1. At approximately 11:15 a.m. on 29 June 2004, an individual riding a high calibre motorcycle drew up opposite the house of LUIS HERNANDEZ's mother. Carrying a communication radio in his hand, he approached a family member and told them "go and tell that son of a bitch LUIS HERNANDEZ that if we can't do it with him we are going to carry it out against all of you".

2. On Saturday 19 June 2004, an individual - unidentified but with a clear 'paisa' [Antioquean] accent - made several phone calls to the home of LUIS HERNANDEZ asking for him. The caller was told that LUIS was not there and was asked who was calling and would they like to leave a message, to no answer. This happened at 11:45 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Then at 6:00 p.m. the same man, by this time a recognised voice and accent, asked: "where is LUCHO?", (attempting to put on a familiar tone) and continued: Who is answering? Pass me to the wife. The person answering told him not them and hung up. A few minutes later a woman, whose voice was unknown, called and asked for the wife of LUIS HERNANDEZ in her own name. After being rebuffed she said loudly, "tell all those sons of bitches not to deny it as we already know all their movements".

3.- At approximately 3:00 p.m. on Sunday 20 June 2004 the man with the paisa accent called again saying "Tell them not to hide, we've get them watched".

4.- In the face of this situation the president of SINTRAEMCALI, had to move home once again, as he has already done three times this year. He had to do without his personal bodyguards so that they could accompany his wife and children. And Luis had to cancel an international tour that was starting on 22 June 2004.

We ask you to demand that the Colombian government and competent authorities:
Provide immediate guarantees protect the physical integrity of LUIS HERNANDEZ MONRROY, president of SINTRAMCALI and the members of his family.
Respect all the constitutional rights, such as the right to life, security, freedom of opinion, information, mobilisation, trade union organisation and protest of SINTRAEMCALI workers, and in particular its leaders.
Explain the reasons for the systematic and permanent persecution of SINTRAEMCALI.
Provide sufficient and necessary guarantees to safeguard the physical and psychological integrity of the WORKERS OF EMCALI EICE ESP, SINTRAEMCALI.
Carry out an exhaustive and prompt investigation to punish the intellectual and material authors of the threats against LUIS HERNANDEZ AND HIS FAMILY.

Asociaci?n Para la Investigaci?n y Acci?n Social NOMADESC
Sindicato de Trabajadores de Las Empresas Municipales de Cali SINTRAEMCALI
Sindicato De Los Trabajadores Universitarios De Colombia SINTRAUNICOL
La Uni?n Sindical Obrera USO
Asociaci?n para el Desarrollo Social Integral ECATE
Central Unitaria De Los Trabajadores CUT - VALLE DEL CAUCA
Corporaci?n Servicios Profesionales Comunitarios SEMBRAR
Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Miner?a en Colombia SINTRAMINERCOL
Movimiento Estudiantil del Valle del Cauca y Nari?o
Fundaci?n Comité De Solidaridad Con Presos Pol?ticos Seccional Valle del Cauca
Sintramunicipio Bugalagrande
Sintramunicipio Yumbo
Sintramunicipio Dagua
Sintrametal Yumbo
Organizaciones Barriales Juveniles Art?sticas y Populares de Santiago de Cali
Please send communication to / Favor enviar comunicaciones a:

DIRECCIONES
Presidencia de la Rep?blica
Dr. ?lvaro Uribe Vélez,
Cra. 8 No..7-26, Palacio de Nari?o,
Santa fe de Bogot?.
Fax: (+57 1) 566.20.71
E-mail: auribe@presidencia.gov.co ;

[to send e-mail to Uribe login to http://www.presidencia.gov.co and click on ESCRIBALE AL PRESIDENTE at the bottom of the page. Para enviar correo al Sr Presidente, dirmjase a la pagina Web:http://www.presidencia.gov.co y haga clic en ESCRIBALE AL PRESIDENTE ubicado en la parte inferior, al final de la pagina.]

Vicepresidencia de la Rep?blica
Dr. Francisco Santos
E-mail:fsantos@presidencia.gov.co

Ministerio de Defensa Nacional
Dr. Jorge Alberto Uribe
El Dorado con Carrera. 52 CAN,
Santa fe de Bogot?.
Fax: (+57 1)222.18.74
E-mail: siden@mindefensa.gov.co, infprotocol@mindefensa.gov.co, mdn@cable.net.co,

Procuradur?a General de la Naci?n
Dr. Edgardo José Maya Villaz?n
Carrera 5 No. 15-80
Santa Fe de Bogot?.
Fax: (+57 1)342.97.23
E-mail: reygon@procuraduria.gov.co; anticorrupcion@presidencia.gov.co

Programa Presidencial de Derechos Humanos y de Derecho Internacional Humanitario.
Dr. Carlos Franco
Calle 7 N° 5-54
TEL: (+571) 336.03.11
FAX: (+57 1) 337.46.67
E- mail: cefranco@presidencia.gov.co
E-mail: fibarra@presidencia.gov.co

Fiscal?a General de la Naci?n
Dr. Luis Camilo Osorio
Diagonal 22 B No.52-01
Santa fe de Bogot?.
Fax: (+571) 570 20 00
E-mail: contacto@fiscalia.gov.co; denuncie@fiscalia.gov.co

Unidad de Derechos Humanos y de Derecho Internacional Humanitario
E - mail: elbsilva@fiscalia.gov.co

Defensor?a del Pueblo
Dr. Volmar Antonio Pérez Ortiz.
Calle 55 No. 10-32
Santa Fe de Bogot?.
Fax: (+571) 640 04 91
E-mail:secretaria_privada@hotmail.com

Misi?n Permanente de Colombia ante las Naciones Unidas en Ginebra.
Chemin du Champ d'Anier 17-19, 1209 Ginebra.
FAX: (+4122)791.07.87; (+4122)798.45.55
E-mail mission.colombia@ties.itu.int
With copies to:

Asociaci?n para la Investigaci?n y Acci?n Social Nomadesc
Calle 18 No 6-54 Cali Valle del Cauca Colombia E-mail Nomadesc @ latinmail.com

Campa?a "Prohibido Olvidar" E-mail dhprohibidolvidar@yahoo.com
And, in the UK, to:

Colombian Embassy (UK): mail@colombianembassy.co.uk

With a copy to the Colombia Solidarity Campaign at colombia_sc@hotmail.com