Assassination of Union leader Pedro Antonio Garcia

On behalf the TUC, British workers and the 6.2 million members in our affiliated unions I write to deplore the killing of a fifth trade unionist and the attempted murder of a sixth in the space of three and a half months in Guatemala.

Mr Pedro Antonio Garcia was a leader of the Malacatan Municipal Workers union which is affiliated to the Confederation of Trade Union Unity of Guatemala. He was killed following his work organising colleagues to protest against the non-payment of salaries by his municipality in January.

His murder follows closely the attempted murder of Mr Abel Barsilai Giron Roldan a member of the Zaragoza municipal workers union. A senior member of the Zaragoza municipal council, Hector Marroquin, fired 13 shots at Mr Roldan but fortunately missed. The reported response of the local police commander that 'firing a weapon is not a crime' shows yet again the overwhelming culture of impunity that surrounds those who attack trade unionists in your country

These attacks form the most blatant aspect of a far wider policy which seems designed to destroy any form of independent trade union organisation and meaningful social dialogue in Guatemala. A report detailing the escalation of attacks from 2005 to 2010 has been produced and can be found at http://www.ituc-csi.org/guatemala-el-costo-de-la-libertad,5011.html?lang=fr

I would again like to remind you that we have not received any response to our letters of 21/11/09 and 10/12/09 and 10.01.10 and would reiterate our request to meet with you to discuss our concerns. In this regard I will be contacting the relevant officials at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to see if a meeting can be facilitated.

Yours sincerely

BRENDAN BARBER

General Secretary