URGENT ACTION

TRADE UNIONISTS UNFAIRLY IMPRISONED

Trade unionists Pedro Condori Laurente and Claudio Boza Huanhayo have been in prison since 9 and 23 September respectively, on an unfounded charge of murder. Amnesty International believes they are in prison solely because they are defending human rights.

Pedro Condori is the Secretary General of the Casapalca Mine Workers Union. Claudio Boza is the union's Secretary for Security and Hygiene. The two men have been charged withthe murder (homicidio culposo) of a police officer during a miners strike on 24 November 2008 in Huarochirí province, Lima department, in central Peru. The miners were demanding better working conditions. During the protest, demonstrators threw rocks down from a hillside to blockade a public road below. One of the rocks hit a police officer and killed him. However, there is no evidence to support the charges brought against the two trade unionists. According to the men's lawyers, they were in Lima at the time in a meeting with government officials from the Ministry of Labour and representatives of the mining company.

Pedro Condori and Claudio Boza are held in Aucallama prison in the province of Huaral, also in Lima department. Both men are being represented by lawyers from the human rights organization Asociación por la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos(APRODEH) and have appealed against the detention order. They expect a ruling by the end of January.

Amnesty International believes the charges against the men are unsubstantiated and that they are being detained solely for being leaders of a trade union that is claiming respect for the mining workers’ human rights.

PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in Spanish or your own language:

• Pointing out that there is no evidence to link Pedro Condori Laurente or Claudio Boza Huanhayo to the 24 November murder of the police officer, and demanding that the authorities either substantiate the charges with solid evidence or release them immediately and unconditionally;

• Expressing concern that according to APRODEH, the two men were in a meeting with government officials at the time of the police officer's death, and that they appear to have been detained solely because they are trade unionists demanding better working conditions for miners in Huarochiri province;

• Urging the authorities not to subject those who defend human rights to criminal investigations based on unfounded allegations, as their work is protected by international human rights law;

• Condemning the killing of the police officer and calling for this death to be fully investigated and those responsible brought to justice.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 26 FEBRUARY 2010 TO: