Colombian Army Attacks Striking BP Workers

[Angry Dragon]

I do not know if this was posted before.

http://upsidedownworld.org/main/colombia-archives-61/2524-colombian-army-attacks-striking-bp-workers

Colombian Army Attacks Striking BP Workers
Written by Claire Hall, Espacio Bristol-Colombia
Friday, 04 June 2010 13:08


A five month long mobilisation against BP in the Casanare region of Colombia has escalated after the Colombian army entered the BP installations with force this week and confronted workers who have been peacefully occupying BP installations since May 23 to protest BP´s failure to conclude negotiations with the workers and community.

At midday on Wednesday a heavily armed commando group of the National Colombian Army leapt over the security fence of the Tauramena Central Processing Facility and subjected the group of workers to physical and verbal aggression. Oscar Garcia, of the National Oil Workers Union said “this war-like handling of a group of workers is an excessive use of force and treats a labour conflict as though it were an issue of public order. This shows how BP is bent on war against workers who are only demanding that their fundamental rights be respected.”

The calm response by the striking workers brought the situation temporarily under control but the army remains present and tensions are high. Colombia continues to have the highest level of trade union murders in the world with 17 trade unionists murdered so far this year.

snip

“Despite BP´s misinformation campaign we are determined and united and we will keep resisting with dignity," said Ramiro. "And if we can unite with people from the USA we will be even stronger and achieve much more.”


edit to add link

[Catherina]

1. They're using US troops here to suppress the workers calling it *security*

Anderson Cooper reported on this yesterday.

These corporations are monsters.

[EFerrari]

3. Exactly. When we give "military aid" to Latin American countries

it's used for counter insurgency, i.e., to repress working people.

[annm4peace]

2. shameful