=================================
``They want to leave us without a
pension and privatize everything
at the municipality,'' Gilberto
Tovar said from his cross.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tuesday, 28 April 1998


Colombians Protest Pension Changes
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CARTAGO, Colombia -- Protesting what they call an unjust move to cheat 
them of their pensions, three muncipal workers nailed themselves to 
wooden crosses in a western Colombian city. 

As they bit down on cloth, supporters drove six-inch nails into the men's 
hands on Monday.

The three vowed to remain on the crosses until the mayor agrees not to 
forcibly retire 150 fellow municipal workers in this city 130 miles west of 
Bogota.

``We will remain here until we get tired, until they get tired, but we will 
not get down, no matter what it costs us,'' Mario Moreno Jaramillo said 
Tuesday.

Jaramillo's cross, like those of his fellow protesters, was tilted backward 
to avoid serious injury. The hands and feet of the men were supported, and 
physicians monitored their condition. 

The protesters say the mayor of this city of 115,000 people reneged on an 
agreement his predecessor made with them three months ago. 

``They want to leave us without a pension and privatize everything at the 
municipality,'' Gilberto Tovar said from his cross. 

The interim mayor, Mario Patino, called the protest an unlawful ``suicide 
attempt.''

Copyright 1998 The Associated Press