Forwarded message:
Date: Fri, 30 Sep 94 12:30 EDT
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Christian Task Force on Central America BC)
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: urgent action
September 29, 1994.
----------------------------------------------------------URGENT
ACTION GUATEMALA URGENT ACTION GUATEMALA URGENT.
COCA COLA TRADE UNION LEADER DIES FROM STAB WOUNDS
Dear Friends,
On September 12, we issued a request for urgent action about Rene
Cabrera Estrada, Finance Secretary of STECSA-Coca Cola Union in
Guatemala City.
On August 31st 1994, Rene Cabrera took part in a demonstration in
Guatemala City protesting the extremely violent eviction of
peasants occupying the Hacienda San Juan del Horizonte where
Efrain Recinos Gomez and Basilio Guzman were killed, and Diego
Orozco, a trade union leader, was tortured and murdered. Moments
afterwards, as he left for home, Rene Cabrera was stabbed
repeatedly by two unknown men in Guatemala City. He was in
critical condition for 4 weeks. RENE DIED TODAY AT 1 a.m.
According to Amnesty International, UNSITRAGUA believes the attack
was politically motivated, as he was not robbed and because two
men on a motorcycle followed the ambulance taking him to hospital.
-On April 5 1980, Manuel Lopez Balam, another trade union leader
at the Coca Cola union, was stabbed. No one was brought to justice
for the crime.
- The murder of Rene is within the context of increased violent
repression against Guatemalan trade unionists. - As in numerous
cases, Guatemalan military and civil authorities will affirm that
the crime is part of common criminality.
RECOMMENDED ACTION.
Please write to the U. S. Embassy and to Coca Cola Corporation in
Atlanta - expressing your concern for the brutal repression
against trade unionists in Guatemala. - Since Coca Cola
Corporation is U.S.- based, request that the United States
Embassy, as well as the Guatemalan Army and President launch a
full and independent investigation of the murder of Rene Cabrera
Estrada. The powerful perpetrators of this crime need to be
brought to justice.
- asking that due to the cruel history of killings and
disappearances of trade unionists from the Coca Cola bottling
plant through the last 15 years, the corporation in Atlanta take
appropriate measures to investigate and protect the workers at the
different plants in Guatemala
-and asking that the rights of workers to form a union and have
freedom of expression be fully respected.
Appeals to:
Ambassador Marilyn McAphee U.S. Embassy.. Ave. Reforma 7-01, zona
10. Guatemala City. Fax # 011- 50 22- 31 88 45.
Mr. Roberto Goyzueta Chairperson- Coca Cola Corporation. P.O. Box
Drawer 1734, Atlanta, Georgia
U.S.A. 30301.
Fax # 1- 404- 676 - 3559.
