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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
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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

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