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The Peruvian Government has expelled Orhan Akman, a German union organizer who is responsible for UNI Americas in the above country, and prohibited him from reentering the country, in an action that constitutes a violation of individual and collective rights. 

Akman, who has supported unionization and collective bargaining along with UNI Americas affiliates in Peru, has been accused by the Interior Ministry of "disrupting public order, tranquility, and social peace" for participating of peaceful demonstrations with workers of Cencosud in June and October 2015. 

The Migration Services Management argued that these facts "had been corroborated by certified reports issued by the PNP [Peruvian National Police] Precinct of San Antonio Miraflores."  Yet, no alleged piece of evidence proving that Akman had disrupted public order, as the accusation against him claims, could be found at the above precinct.  

In light of all this, we consider this decision made without proof or prior notice to the accused to be in violation of the right of defense and that it affects the constitutional and human right embodied by the presumption of innocence. 

We also express our concern about the physical integrity of Orhan Akman, who was tailed and photographed and who was also threatened by a security chief who works at Cencosud.  Similarly, another UNI Americas staff member who advises the union of this company in Peru was intercepted and questioned for more than one hour by police when he was leaving the country after triggering "a red code" at airport security. 

The situation we are experiencing shows how companies can exert pressure on governments to limit the free exercise of international solidarity, unionization, and to persecute those who advocate the human and union rights of men and women workers. 

Adriana Rosenzvaig, regional secretary of UNI Americas, emphasized the role UNI Americas has been playing in Peru.  "The work of UNI Americas in Peru in no way disrupts social peace, but to the contrary, it contributes to building more integrated democracies in which men and women workers can enjoy their rights fully."  "We have contacted Peruvian President Ollanta Humala and other organizations to denounce this situation that affects a member of our staff who is also a member of Ver.di, the largest German union.

UNI Global Union, the CGTP [General Confederation of Peruvian Workers], and other national and international organizations will take every action that might be necessary to avoid such a negative precedent for international union organizations and human rights organizations.