The president of one of Colombia’s largest unions on Sunday survived an assassination attempt in the country’s third largest city, Cali.
According to Colombia’s Interior Ministry, Luis Miguel Morantes, the president of Colombia’s confederation of workers (CTC), and Adolfo Devia Paz were the victims of a failed assassination attempt. According to a press release from the interior ministry, the union heads survived thanks to quick reactions from their armored guards.
“None were injured and they [security guards] were able to repel the attack,” said the ministry. The vehicle assigned to the union president, however, was “hit by two guns,” according to the press release.
The Colombian government condemned the attack and again promised that protecting union members was a top priority.
“We ask for guarantees from the national government and a true protection for union members and leaders,” read a CTC press release.
The lack of safety for unionists in Colombia has been a hot-button issue. The free-trade agreements with the European Union and the United States initially stalled due to the deteriorating security situation for union members and human rights workers in Colombia.
At the end of January, the United Workers of Colombia (CUT) was declared a “military target” by the drug trafficking group, Los Rastrojos. According to the union, 17 members were killed in 2012.
MORE: Colombia’s biggest union a military target
Sources
- Dirigente sindical sale ileso tras sufrir un atentado en Cali (El Espectador)
- La CTC Condena el attentado contra Sindicalistas (Comunicado de prensa)
