Occidental Petroleum on Trial in Colombia Tribunal: Steelworkers Demand Justice for Trade Union Murd

[Judi Lynn]

Occidental Petroleum on Trial in Colombia Tribunal: Steelworkers Demand Justice for Trade Union Murders of Union Leaders

July 18, 2008 12:00 PM EDT


A demonstration is being held outside of the Occidental Petroleum headquarters on July 22 to highlight a public hearing in Bogota by a people's tribunal that's hearing charges of murders and death threats against union leaders involving the company's alleged complicity.

Democratic congressional leaders have been holding up approval of the U.S. -- Colombia Free Trade Agreement, pending more evidence by Colombia's government for the arrest and conviction of paramilitaries and others behind the killings of outspoken union leaders in that country.

Occidental Petroleum and other multinational corporations operating in Colombia are being judged by a Popular Peoples' Tribunal -- "Tribunal Permanente de los Pueblos (TPP) -- taking place in Bogota, July 22-23. The tribunal will expose these corporations for their alleged participation in illegal actions aimed at silencing labor unionists and community activists - and in some cases leading to murder with impunity.

Occidental Petroleum's presence and support for the armed forces in Arauca has helped to fuel and exacerbate the civil war in that region. The company reportedly financed the Colombian '18th Army Brigade,' which has committed numerous atrocities, including the August 2004 murder of three union leaders in cold blood.

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