Guatemalan Trade Union Leader Murdered

Brussels, 15 September 2011 (ITUC OnLine): The ITUC has called on Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom to launch an immediate and full investigation into the murder of Byron Arrega, leader of the Administrative Workers' Union at the property registry in Quetzaltenango. Arrega was assassinated as he got into his car on the morning of 13 September.

The union was at the forefront of a campaign to force the resignation of the Registrar General of Quetzaltenango, due to his complicity in violations of workers' Rights.

"The tragic loss of Byron Arrega, yet another appalling murder of a Guatemalan trade unionist, must not go unpunished. The authorities must find and prosecute those responsable, and protect trade unionists and others who are risking their lives to defend fundamental human rights," said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow.

Letter to President Colom: http://www.ituc-csi.org/IMG/pdf/Protesta_asesinato_trabajador_de_la_salud_set.pdf

The ITUC represents 175 million workers in 151 countries and territories and has 305 national affiliates.

http://www.ituc-csi.org and http://www.youtube.com/ITUCCSI

ENDS

© Scoop Media