Threats against banana workers in Guatemala continue

Posted to the IUF website 01-Nov-2001

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The struggle of the banana workers� union SITRABI, which began in September 1999 with the illegal dismissal of 900 plantation workers and came to an uncertain end in March 2001 with the sentencing of most of those responsible for violence against the union in the aftermath of those dismissals, continues in the wake of fresh threats against the union leadership.

The mother of Enrique Villeda, one of the union leaders whose security was endangered and was therefore relocated to the United States, received an anonymous phone call on September 23 informing her that her son had been killed in Los Angeles and that his death was linked to the fact that he continued to do trade union work.

We are pleased to inform you that Enrique is alive and well in Los Angeles. This message caused great anguish to members of the family in both Guatemala and the US, and was clearly intended to threaten and intimidate SITRABI and its current leadership.

You are urgently requested to send messages of support and solidarity to SITRABI in their ongoing struggle for rights and dignity on behalf of its members, and protest messages to the government of Guatemala reminding it of its responsibility to protect its citizens and demanding an investigation into this most recent act of intimidation against SITRABI and its members. We enclose copies of our own letters, which contain the necessary contact details.

Please send copies of your messages to the IUF secretariat. We will keep you informed of any developments.