Human Rights Group Condemns Probe into Murder of Teamster Organizer Soto

Human Rights Group Condemns Probe into Murder of Teamster Organizer Soto

Union Calls For Independent Inquiry, Access To Investigative Files

November 4, 2005

(Washington, D.C.) - A noted human rights group in El Salvador, IDHUCA, has blasted the lack of a serious investigation into the murder of Teamster organizer Jose Gilberto Soto, who was gunned down November 5, 2004.

IDHUCA, the Human Rights Institute of the Central American University, cited demonstrated incompetence by the police and the Attorney General of El Salvador in public oversight of the investigation. They also decried the Salvadoran government's use of "confidential sources," a practice that has long been condemned by a broad range of international human rights organizations.

Tomorrow marks one year since Soto was shot in the back while visiting his hometown of Usulutan, El Salvador. He was in Central America to further Teamster efforts to organize port drivers in the United States and was scheduled to meet with Central American trade union leaders and port drivers.

"The Teamsters are not going to stand by idly," said Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President. "We are hiring an independent investigator to do a thorough investigation free from political influence."

The Teamsters have learned that Salvadoran authorities have requested the assistance of the FBI, which has not contacted the Teamsters to learn about Soto's work and possible motives for the killing.

"We join IDHUCA in demanding that the Office of the Human Rights Ombudsman of El Salvador, IDHUCA, the Soto family and our independent investigators have access to the investigative files," Hoffa said.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents more than 1.4 million hardworking women and men throughout the United States and Canada.