CARMEN MAYUSA

That this House notes that Colombia remains the most dangerous place in the world to be a trade unionist; further notes that Carmen Mayusa from the Colombian health workers union ANTHOC has been detained since 11th May 2006 and is still awaiting trial; further notes that Carmen Mayusa was arrested for involvement with campaigns against the privatisation of the Colombian health service and for the human rights of trade unionists; is concerned that Carmen Mayusa is just one of many trade unionists held without trial in Colombian prisons; further notes that often such trade unionists are kept in custody for more than a year before they are released without trial or receive lengthy prison sentences; and calls on the Government to make urgent representations to the Colombian authorities to ensure that Carmen Mayusa and all other trade unionists incarcerated for trade union activity are released immediately and that the continued harassment of Colombian trade unionists ceases.