Last year 9 million tons of coal were produced there and Drummond plans to expand operations significantly. The company retains one large underground mine in Jefferson County, Alabama, employing 500 workers. The UMWA's prayers and condolences go out to the families, friends, and co-workers of Brothers Lorcarno and Orcasita, and we offer our full support and solidarity to the Colombia mine workers union. But a press release issued by the UMWA reports that some of the gunmen were dressed in military uniforms, commonly sported by paramilitaries. Paramilitary groups in Colombia, according to Reuters, have grown ninefold to 8,000 troops in eight years.
Some activists accuse the Colombia government of having ties, which they deny.
Nearly eight months ago 700,000 working people in Colombia staged a 24-hour national strike against government austerity moves, a 20 percent unemployment rate, and the military expansion.