Justice for Colombia

Prospect has condemned comments made by Foreign Office minister Kim Howells about the non-governmental organisation Justice for Colombia, to which it is affiliated, and said he should withdraw them at once and issue a public apology.

Justice for Colombia (JFC) campaigns for human rights, workers' rights and the search for peace with social justice in Colombia.

Established in 2002 by a group of British trade unionists, JFC was created in response to the appalling human rights crisis in Colombia - and particularly the abuses committed against trade unionists. In that year alone, 184 trade unionists were assassinated and Colombia remains the most dangerous place in the world to be a trade unionist.

Howells told the Western Mail in March 2008 that "Justice for Colombia ... supports Farc, a band of gangsters and drug smugglers."

Prospect said this unfounded allegation puts in severe danger those colleagues in Colombia who work on JFC projects, primarily trade unionists and human rights defenders.

Prospect's letter to the Foreign Secretary

20 March 2008

Dear Foreign Secretary

I write to express my astonishment and anger at the statement made to the Western Mail newspaper by Foreign Office Minister Kim Howells in relation to the trade union backed campaign ‘Justice for Colombia' (JFC), in which he accuses that campaign of supporting the FARC guerrilla group in Colombia.

His utterly unfounded allegation puts in severe danger those colleagues in Colombia who work on JFC projects, primarily trade unionists and human rights defenders.

As I am sure you are aware, senior Colombian Government officials regularly accuse trade unionists of having links to the guerrillas and this is one of the single biggest factors in the ongoing violence against the Colombian trade union movement. I myself have visited Colombia as part of a JFC delegation and saw the effects of this for myself. The reckless comments made by Dr Howells will also clearly put future British trade union delegations in danger too.

For some years Prospect has supported JFC. Last year we hosted a major event for them that included the participation of the head of the Catholic Church in Colombia, the General Secretary of the Colombian Liberal Party and family members of FARC kidnap victims among others. We will continue to support the vital work that they are doing.

Dr Howells' comments, which I unreservedly condemn, are irresponsible and show a complete lack of understanding of the situation in Colombia. He should be instructed to withdraw them at once and issue a public apology.

I look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely
Paul Noon
General Secretary