WHEREAS, according to Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the U.S. State Department Country Report on human rights in Colombia, the vast majority of these trade union assassinations are being carried out by right-wing paramilitaries closely aligned with the Colombian military.

WHEREAS, in recent months, the Colombian military itself has engaged in direct assaults and assassinations of trade unionists, most notably of three trade union leaders in Saravena, Arauca in August of 2004.

WHEREAS, the U.S., and to a lesser extent other countries, are supplying the Colombian military with billions of dollars of assistance as well as hundreds of military advisers,

WHEREAS, the international labor movement has for many years petitioned the ILO to open a Commission of Inquiry into Colombia’s abysmal labor rights situation, and whereas the ILO has denied this petition year after year,

BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that the IMF, its affiliates and affiliate members take the following actions to show solidarity with the labor movement of Colombia:

• Make a concerted effort to vocally and publicly oppose those countries, particularly the United States, that continue to provide military aid to Colombia and lobby public officials to discontinue such aid;

• Redouble efforts to prevail upon the ILO to open a Commission of Inquiry on the labor rights situation in Colombia.

• Organize an IMF delegation to Colombia to investigate the attacks against unionists in that country and to bear witness to the attacks against the union movement;

• Provide material support to trade unions in Colombia, particularly for the purpose of helping preserve the lives of trade union leaders.