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International labor delegation release audit findings in Mexico City and call on government to drop all charges pending against Napoleón Gómez Urrutia, general secretary of the National Union of Mine and Metalworkers (SNTMMSRM)

An independent audit of a $55 million fund owned by the National Miners’ and Metalworkers’ Union (SNTMMSRM) in Mexico shows all funds are accounted for, exonerating SNTMMSRM general secretary Napoleón Gómez Urrutia of all charges of theft or misappropriation of funds.

The audit was commissioned by the IMF and conducted by Horwath Berney Audit S.A. in Geneva, Switzerland.

Representatives from the SNTMMSRM, United Steel Workers, AFL-CIO and the IMF held a press conference in Mexico City announcing the audit findings and calling on the government to:

• immediately release all frozen accounts belonging to Gómez and the union;

• drop all charges still pending against Gómez;

•  prosecute in a court of law, immediately and transparently, all those responsible in the corruption of documents and facts; and

•  investigate Grupo Mexico’s involvement in the recent murder of Reinaldo Hernandez González, a miner and SNTMMSRM member.

Documents including the auditors’ report, an Executive Summary of the audit report, and a statement signed by 18 members of the IMF Executive Committee were delivered to Mexican President Felipe Calderón and the governors of two Mexican states where charges against Gómez are still pending. Solidarity actions in front of Mexican embassies throughout Latin America are scheduled to take place on September 5.

The audit is in response to a government investigation into illegal use of union funds. In February and March 2006, the Mexican government used falsified documents to charge Gómez with embezzling an unspecified amount from the $55 million fund owned by the union. The government removed Gómez from his position as general secretary, imposed an appointed replacement, and seized all personal assets and those of the SNTMMSRM. To date, accounts remain frozen and charges are still pending against Gómez at the state level. However, similar charges filed in federal court against Gómez have been dropped.

Attached:

Audit report, produced by Horwath Berney Audit S.A.

IMF Executive Summary of audit