The Colombian government is attempting to break the month-long strike at Ecopetrol, the national oil company, by using military force.

The strike began on April 7, after 17 months of negotiations. The strikers are trying to stop the privatisation of the company.

According to the Brussels-based global union federation ICEM, Colombian troops have now been placed in and around Ecopetrol's petroleum facilities.

This follows the arrest of some 100 members and leaders of the oil workers’ union USO — as well as death threats made against USO members and supporters.

Ecopetrol has already sacked 288 workers for taking part in the strike, including nearly 30 USO leaders.

The international labour movement is calling upon all of us to send a loud and clear message to Colombian President Uribe that this is the time for dialogue — not repression.

[To help, visit < http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-A HREF="mailto:bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=29"><bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=29>]

From Green Left Weekly, June 2, 2004.
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