Interim Report - Report No 214, March 1982

Case No 1076 (Bolivia (Plurinational State of)) - Complaint date: 27-AUG-81 - Closed

1. 487. The complaints are contained in communications from the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), the Trade Union Federation of Bolivian Miners (FSTMB), the. World Confederation of Labour (WCL), the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) and the Bolivian Workers' Central (COB) dated 27 August, 10 and 14 September, 22 October and 23 August 1981, respectively. The COB sent further information in communications of 31 August and 19 October 1981, and the WFTU in communications of 30 September and 23 October 1981. The Government replied in a communication of 15 January 1982.
2. 488. Bolivia 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. The complainants' allegations

1. 489. The complainants allege that Julio Cossío Meruvia, Secretary-General of the Joint Trade Union of Mineworkers of Catavi, died on 17 August 1981 in a clinic in Oruro, as a result of the brutal tortures inflicted on him to the point of leaving him in a coma by paramilitary forces of the special security service in the military headquarters of Uncia. The complainants state that Julio Cossío Meruvia had been arrested on 8 August 1981 and that his only "crime" was to have been elected leader by the working class and to have represented it worthily.
2. 490. The complainants also allege that Edgardo Vázquez Ursula Goyzueta, members of the executive Committee of the Bolivian Central of Workers (COB), were arrested by pare-military forces on 28 August 1981 in the region of 71 Alto and charged by the Government with terrorism, which means that their lives are in danger. The complainants draw attention, moreover, to the imprisonment of Dionisio Huayrapaco, a peasant leader and member of the executive Committee of the COB, as well as of the miners Raimundo Paredes, Abraham Sales, Antonio Saravia, Humberto Blanco, José Fernando Espinoza, Carlos Gonzalez, Roberto Calasich, Roberto Quisbert Navia, Victor Peralta Rios, Ricardo Garcia Camacho, Andrés Mamani and Lorenzo Oropeda, all imprisoned for their participation in the strikes which took place at the beginning of August 1981.
3. 491. Finally, the complainants allege that Guido Arze, Relations Secretary of the Central of Departmental Workers of Santa Cruz, was detained by the police on 2 September 1981, which they consider to constitute a violation of the ILO Conventions.

B. The Government's reply

1. 492. The Government states in its communication of 15 January 1982 that, according to information provided by the ministry of the Interior, the former leaders Guido Arze and Edgardo Vázquez are at liberty and that Ursula Goyzueta has never been detained.

C. The Committee's conclusions

1. 493. The Committee takes note of the complainants' allegations and the Government's reply, in particular the letter's statement that Ursula Goyzueta, a member of the executive Committee of the COB, has never been detained.
2. 494. The Committee also notes the Government's statement that the trade union leaders Guido Arze and Edgardo Vázquez are at liberty. In this respect, the Committee notes that while it could be inferred from the tenor of the Government's reply that the trade union leaders mentioned had in fact been detained, the complainants have not emphasised the existence of specific anti-trade union reasons for the detentions in question. In these circumstances, the Committee can only recall generally in the absence of details on this question that the detention of trade union leaders, trade unionists or workers for activities related to the exercise of trade union rights is contrary to the principles of freedom of association.
3. 495. The Committee notes further that the Government has not replied to the other allegations (the death of the trade union leader, Julio Cossio Meruvia, as a result of torture inflicted during his detention; the detention of the peasant leader of the COB, Dionisio Huaynapaco, and of the miners Raimundo Paredes, Abraham Salas, Antonio Saravia, Humberto Blanco, José Fernando Espinoza, Carlos González, Roberto Calasich, Roberto Quisbert Navia, Victor Peralta Rio, Ricardo Garcia Camacho, Andrés Mamani and Lorenzo Oropeda, for their participation in the strikes that took place at the beginning of August 1981). Consequently, the Committee in view of the serious nature of these allegations, urges the Government to send its observations promptly on these matters.

The Committee's recommendations

1. 496. In these circumstances, the Committee recommends the Governing Body to approve this interim report, in particular the following conclusions:
   • (a) With regard to the detention of the trade union leaden, Ursula Goyzueta, the Committee notes that, according to the Government, she was never detained.
   • (b) Concerning the detention of the trade union leaders Guido Arze and Edgardo Vázquez, the Committee takes note of the Government's statement that they are at liberty, and recalls generally, it the absence of specific details as to the reasons for the arrests, that the detention of trade union leaders, trade unionists or workers for activities relating to the exercise f trade union rights is contrary to the principles of freedom of association.
   • (c) Regarding the other allegations (death of the trade union leader, Julio Cossio Meruvia, as a result of torture inflicted during his detention; the detention of the peasant leader of the COB, Dionisio Huaynapaco, and of the miners Raimundo Paredes, Abraham Salas, Antonio Saravia, Humberto Blanco, José Fernando Espinoza, Carlos González, Roberto Calasich, Roberto Quisbert Navia, Victor Peralta Rios, Ricardo Garcia Camacho, Andrés Mamani and Lorenzo Oropeda, for their participation in the strikes that took place at the beginning of August 1981), the Committee, in view of the serious nature of these allegations, urges the Government to send its observations promptly.