Standing Ovation for Unionist Facing Assassination

There was high emotion after a speech by Berenice Celeyta, of SINTAMCALI union, Colombia, as she recieved a standing ovation that lasted 10 minutes for her talk about the deadly struggle she and her collegues face against the State and paramilitary armies in her country. Her Union is leading the fight against privatisation of public services, for which 8 members have been assassinated, 3 exiled, and several abducted and detained, under the guise of anti-terrorism operations. Recently they uncovered secret documents of the Columbian army which showed plans for the assassination of the past and present presidents of SINTRAMCALI, and herself, the head of Human Rights in the union. The three now fear for their lives, and sleep in different beds each night. But she will not give up, she says, until the rich natural resources of her country are taken back from international corporations, and used for the benefit of the poor of Colombia. A member of the Colombian Solidarity campaign had tears in his eyes when he said, "this might probably be her last speech." Such courage to look death straight in the face should be an inspiration to us all to stand firm beside the people in the front line of the war against capitalism and war against want. We can do more and must do more. We must make sacrifices too.

Katherine Haywood