From coca-cola.support@na.ko.com Mon Oct 20 16:20:04 2003 Return-path: Envelope-to: vtamara@localhost Delivery-date: Mon, 20 Oct 2003 16:20:04 +0200 Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1] ident=root) by wimsey.informatik.uni-kl.de with esmtp (Exim 3.34 #1 (OpenBSD)) id 1ABatA-0004PG-00 for ; Mon, 20 Oct 2003 16:20:04 +0200 X-Original-To: vtamara@christie.informatik.uni-kl.de Delivered-To: vtamara@christie.informatik.uni-kl.de Received: from christie.informatik.uni-kl.de [192.168.16.25] by localhost with POP3 (fetchmail-6.2.0) for vtamara@localhost (single-drop); Mon, 20 Oct 2003 16:20:04 +0200 (CEST) Received: from informatik.uni-kl.de (gateway1-theorie.informatik.uni-kl.de [192.168.16.254]) by christie.informatik.uni-kl.de (Postfix) with ESMTP id 057F53052703 for ; Mon, 20 Oct 2003 15:45:54 +0200 (CEST) Received: from mailinf.rhrk.uni-kl.de ([131.246.137.54]) by gateway1-theorie.informatik.uni-kl.de with ESMTP id <119047>; Mon, 20 Oct 2003 15:45:46 +0200 Received: from uni-kl.de (mail.uni-kl.de [131.246.137.52]) by mailinf.rhrk.uni-kl.de (8.12.6/8.12.6) with ESMTP id h9KDjiuj010522 for ; Mon, 20 Oct 2003 14:45:44 +0100 (WEST) Received: from mailgate2.uni-kl.de (mailgate2.uni-kl.de [131.246.120.7]) by uni-kl.de (8.12.8/8.12.8) with ESMTP id h9KDjif6007652 for ; Mon, 20 Oct 2003 15:45:44 +0200 (MET DST) Received: from na.ko.com (imkomail2.ko.com [205.160.52.27]) by mailgate2.uni-kl.de (8.12.7/8.12.7) with ESMTP id h9KDjfTg007564 for ; Mon, 20 Oct 2003 15:45:42 +0200 Received: from ([205.160.52.31]) by komail2.na.ko.com with ESMTP ; Mon, 20 Oct 2003 09:45:21 -0400 (EDT) Received: from na.ko.com ([151.162.236.151]) by ATLD02.ATL.KO.COM (Lotus Domino Release 5.0.10) with ESMTP id 2003102009451986:3206 ; Mon, 20 Oct 2003 09:45:19 -0400 MIME-Version: 1.0 Date: 20 Oct 2003 09:45:19 -0400 From: "Coca-Cola Support" Reply-To: "Coca-Cola Support" Subject: RE: Coca-Cola Web Form To: vtamara@informatik.uni-kl.de X-Mailer: Siebel 7.0.4.10 [14071] LANG_INDEPENDENT X-MIMETrack: Itemize by SMTP Server on ATLD02/DATA/NA/TCCC(Release 5.0.10 |March 22, 2002) at 10/20/2003 09:45:19 AM, Serialize by Router on ATLG05/GTY/NA/TCCC(Release 5.0.10 |March 22, 2002) at 10/20/2003 09:45:21 AM, Serialize complete at 10/20/2003 09:45:21 AM Message-ID: Content-Transfer-Encoding: Quoted-Printable Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252" X-UIDL: /F;!!f!K"!Z58"!KVe!! Status: RO Content-Length: 7985 Lines: 159 Thank you very much for your recent message. We always appreciate having = the opportunity for direct dialogue with our friends and consumers on = issues of concern about our business. This response is only a part of = that interaction and we encourage your continued dialogue with us on these = and other issues about Coca-Cola. Before I address the specific concerns raised in your message, please = understand that The Coca-Cola Company runs its business by a set of = principles that are based on a commitment to human rights and the rights = of our workers. These principles emanate from our core value to treat each = individual with dignity, fairness and respect. Your message raises concerns about anti-union behavior in Colombia. It is = very important to us that people know that we respect and value all our = associates, both unionized and non-unionized alike. The Coca-Cola bottlers = in Colombia have extensive, normal relations with multiple labor unions. = Elsewhere in Latin America, more than half of the employees of Coca-Cola = bottlers are represented by various labor unions. You also mention allegations of labor rights abuses specific to Colombia. = The allegations charge that our Company is somehow responsible for the = murder and torture of union members. These allegations are both untrue and = deeply offensive. Let me first reiterate what we all know to be a painful truth. Colombia = can be a dangerous place for anyone who lives and works there. The murder = rate in Colombia is thirteen times higher than in the U.S. The Colombian = Minister of Defense reported that nearly 200 Colombian policemen were = murdered during the first six months of 2001 and that approximately 1,700 = kidnappings occurred during that same period. Amnesty International = estimated that at least 147 union activists were killed from January 2000 = through March 2001 =BF almost 10 murders per month. These tragic human rights violations that occur in Colombia are, of course,= completely unacceptable under any circumstances. When we learned of plaintiffs=BF lawsuit and its allegations about our = Company and two of our Colombian bottlers, we launched an in-depth, = comprehensive review of the allegations. This review failed to reveal ANY = evidence supporting the allegations. The charges seem calculated for = public relations shock value and made in the hope of furthering political = and social objectives having nothing to do with the beverage industry in = Colombia, or even with the specific allegations underlying the complaint. More specifically, while some of the incidents cited in the lawsuit = allegations have clearly occurred and reflect the tragic and violent = reality confronting all who live in Colombia today, the allegations about = the Company=BFs involvement in those incidents are false. Lest there be the slightest misunderstanding, The Coca-Cola Company and = its bottling partners have not in any way engaged or conspired with any = terrorist factions in Colombia, whether paramilitary or guerrilla, in = order to suppress union activity or harm any individual, and have not = knowingly granted members of those factions free access to any Company = facilities. The notion that The Coca-Cola Company or its bottler partners = does or could control the acts of terrorists and outlaws flies in the face = of reality. Neither The Coca-Cola Company nor its bottler partners on their own have = committed or directed abuses against Colombia=BFs trade unionists. We and = our Colombian bottlers vigorously condemn all forms of violence and the = unwarranted use of force against workers in the workplace or elsewhere. We are not alone in claiming our innocence. In fact, the Colombian = justice system has concluded twice that there is no evidence connecting = the Coca-Cola bottler that had employed Isidro Segundo Gil to violence = against its employees or unions: - In April 1997, a Colombian judge, Carlos Alberto = Forero Garc=EDa, who heard a civil suit filed by union activists, found no = evidence that any executive of the Coca-Cola bottler Bebidas y Alimentos = de Urab=E1 had violated the union activists=BF rights. - In April 2001, the Colombia Attorney General closed a criminal = investigation into the 1996 slaying of Mr. Gil at the bottler's plant and = found no evidence of any wrongdoing by anyone employed by Bebidas y = Alimentos de Urab=E1, including Ariosto Mosquera. These facts are contrary to reports you have probably read claiming that = the Colombian government has not responded to union appeals for a swift = investigation into the union's complaints. You should also be aware that = three managers at the plant in Uraba were slain in the '90's and the = owner's sister-in-law kidnapped. We are proud of our operations in Colombia and will continue to respect = Colombia=BFs people and institutions. We believe a higher, more stable = employment rate in Colombia makes the country less fertile ground for = political violence and unrest. Our system has provided Colombia with = thousands of direct and indirect jobs and has done this while maintaining = extensive and normal relations with multiple labor unions. Indeed, in light of the dangerous situation in many regions of Colombia, = our bottler partners have taken several measures to increase security and = protection for all of their employees, especially, union members. For = example, based on particular individual needs, employees have been offered = relocation to other cities, personal loans for home security improvements, = alternative transportation to and from work, and work shift and position = rotation. In several cases, the bottler has assisted and supported union = leaders in their requests to the authorities for personal security. I appreciate your concerns on businesses operating ethically, and, = specifically, the interest you show for Coca-Cola. I hope that this = information I am sharing with you will help dissipate any doubts you may = have had about the way we at The Coca-Cola Company do business. These are complex times, and I hope you recognize that many high profile = companies with well known brands can become the target of unfounded = charges calculated to obtain widespread media visibility and further = political agendas. Again, I appreciate you contacting us for direct dialogue on your concerns.= Best regards, Elizabeth The Coca-Cola Company [THREAD ID:1-4Y3RRQ] -----Original Message----- From: vtamara@informatik.uni-kl.de Sent: 10/19/2003 10:21:01 AM To: "Coca-Cola Support" Subject: Coca-Cola Web Form On 30 Sept 2003 you (Elizabeth) sent me contact information of Coca-Cola de Colombia and Coca-Cola FEMSA. Thank you. I have two question for Panamco regarding the lawsuit of Sinaltrainal; given that Coca-Cola FEMSA bought Panamco (according to [2]) I already wrote my questions in [5]. Since Coca-Cola Company is owner of 39.6% of Coca-Cola FEMSA (according to [1]), in my humble opinion the questions are also relevant for you. I would like to confirm information from [3] and [4]: * On Dec 5, 1996 did paramilitars entered the Coca-Cola bottling plant in Carepa (operated by Panamco) and killed Isidro Gil=3F * Did the International Red Cross facilitated a meeting between Panamco and the paramilitar leader Carlos Casta=F1o on August 15 1998=3F Best regards. A colombian who wishes the peace of God. Vladimir T=E1mara Pati=F1o [1] http://www.cocacola-femsa.com.mx/ireye/ir=5Fsite.= zhtml=3Fticker=3D21256&script=3D2100&layout=3D8 [2] http://www.cocacola-femsa.com.mx/ireye/ir=5Fsite.= zhtml=3Fticker=3D21256&script=3D0&layout=3D10&item=5Fid=3D'http://femsa.= panamco.com' [3] http://www.post-gazette.com/World/20030429colombia0429p2.asp, [4] http://www.nodo50.org/forosocial/colombia46.htm [5] http://www.cocacola-femsa.com.mx/ireye/ir=5Fsite.= zhtml=3Fticker=3D21256&script=3D2300&layout=3D8