Definitive Report - Report No 217, June 1982

Case No 1105 (Colombia) - Complaint date: 11-JAN-82 - Closed

1. 61. The Committee examined this case at its meeting in February 1982 and submitted an interim report to the Governing Body.
2. 62. The Committee subsequently received a communication from the Government dated 18 February 1982.
3. 63. Colombia has ratified the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87), and the Right to organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98).

A. Previous examination of the case

1. 64. The complainant alleged the murder of Luis Javier Cifuentes, trade union leader of the Colombian Tobacco Company, and accused the Government of being responsible. The Government replied that the competent authorities had already commenced an inquiry into the death of Luis Javier Cifuentes, which seemed to have occurred in the course of acts committed in the context of the situation of growing insecurity which had been brought about in the city of Medellin by subversive groups and common law delinquents. Not having at its disposal sufficient elements to enable it to reach any conclusion on the allegation, the Committee urged the Government to inform it of the results of the inquiry.

B. The Government's reply

1. 65. In its communication dated 18 February 1982, the Government states that the death of Luis Javier Cifuentes was connected with his involvement with subversive groups which have recently been terrorising Medellin and adds that he left the trade union of the Colombian Tobacco company over a year ago.

C. The Committee's conclusions

1. 66. The Committee notes that, according to the Government, the death of Luis Javier Cifuentes is connected with his involvement in subversive groups and that the deceased left the trade union of the Colombian Tobacco Company over a year ago.
2. 67. The Committee observes, furthermore, that in submitting the complaint the complainant did net at any point indicate that the death of Luis Javier Cifuentes was connected with his presumed trade union status or activities and supplied no details as to the circumstances in which he met his death.
3. 68. Not having at its disposal sufficient elements to enable it to conclude that the death of Mr. Cifuentes is connected with the exercise of trade union rights, and bearing in mind in particular -he Government's statement that the deceased left the trade union of the Colombian Tobacco Company over a year before he met his death, -he Committee considers that this case does not call for further examination.

The Committee's recommendations

1. 69. In these circumstances, the Committee recommends the Governing Body to decide that the case does not call for further examination.