US Labor Education in the Americas Project
Proyecto de Solidaridad Laboral en Las Américas

Another Del Monte Banana Unionist Killed in Guatemala; 7th Murdered in 10 Months

The slow-moving massacre of the largest private sector union in Guatemala took another life on February 5 when Miguel Angel González Ramírez, a member of the Izabal banana workers' union, was shot while he was holding his son. Six other current or former members of the union, SITRABI, were murdered in 2011. No one has been arrested for any of these murders. Inexplicably, on the same day that González was killed the Guatemalan government informed SITRABI General Secretary Noe Ramirez that it was ending his 24-hour security protection.

Guatemalan unions are demanding the resumption of security protection for Noe Ramirez, SITRABI General Secretary, and the investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the assassination of Miguel Angel González Ramírez. Contact Guatemalan authorities to demand (1) an end to violence against SITRABI and other Guatemalan trade unions and (2) that those responsible for the violence are brought to justice.

Subject:

Your Letter:

Ministro Héctor Mauricio López Bonilla
Ministerio de Gobernacion
6av. 13-71, Zona 1 
Guatemala City, Guatemala

Fiscal General Lic. Claudia Paz
Ministerio Público 
15 Ave. 15-16, Zona 1
Guatemala City, Guatemala

Dear Minister López and Fiscal General Paz:

Please accept this letter from the U.S. expressing grave concern about worker rights, violence, and impunity in Guatemala.

I have learned that yet another Guatemalan trade unionist was murdered with the February 5 killing of Miguel Angel González Ramírez.  His murder is reportedly the 7th SITRABI banana union member murdered in less than a year.  I understand that no one has been arrested or jailed for any of these murders.

Inexplicably, the Ministry of Gobernación has just removed security protection for the General Secretary of the union, Noe Ramirez, whose brother, another union official, was murdered in 2007.  As you know, his case is included in the pending Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) labor complaint filed with the U.S. government by SITRABI and other Guatemalan trade unions.

I respectfully urge that security protection for Mr. Ramirez be restored as quickly as possible and that those responsible for the murder of Mr. González and all other SITRABI banana union members murdered since 2007 be brought to justice.

As Guatemala exports most of its bananas to the U.S., it is important to me to know that the basic rights of workers in Guatemala are respected and that violence and impunity ends.  We also hope that your new government can move quickly to satisfactorily address all worker rights issues raised in the CAFTA labor complaint.

Thank you for your consideration of my views.

Sincerely,

cc:	Labor Minister Carlos Contreras
	Minister of Economy Sergio de la Torre