Bettercoal rejects death threats against social leaders in Colombia

Published on May 14, 2019

Bettercoal rejects the recent death threats against social leaders in Colombia made by Águilas Negras (Black Eagles). Bettercoal and its Members were informed by trade union leaders in Colombia as well as by Drummond that death threats had been made against employees and union leaders at a time when the company has begun negotiations with the unions. We would like to reiterate that we strongly condemn these threats. We have been made aware that the President’s Human Rights Office, the Cesar Police and the Criminal Investigation Unit have been contacted and will be carrying out investigations.

We call upon the Colombian authorities to take these threats seriously and do everything in their power to find the perpetrators as well as keep those targeted and their families safe. In 2016, the peace accord between FARC, and the Colombian government promised a new era of peace but in the last two years, over 450 activists and human rights defenders have been murdered, according to Defensoría del Pueblo de Colombia Carlos Alfonso Negret. We urge the Colombian authorities to continue actively supporting the peace process.

We also ask mining companies to continue joining efforts “[…] for the development of actions and mechanism around the protection and respect of people’s physical integrety, with special emphasis on social leaders and human rights defenders […]” as stated in the joint declaration signed 7 June 2018.