Yadid Córdoba, the 43 years partner of Ferrominera del Orinoco secretary-general, Rubén González, recounted how life has changed for the entire family after security forces locked up the union leader and began harassing his children and in-laws, even affecting the couple’s grandchildren.
The secretary-general of the Ferrominera del Orinoco Labor Union has been under arrest for two and a half years. The case of Rubén González illustrates the paradox of the Chavista governments, which claim to be in favor of the workers but remain hostile to the union movement’s struggle for better collective benefits and wages.
Not only the 61-year.old ironworker has seen his human rights violated and been put behind bars for protesting against the policies of President Nicolás Maduro, his family has also been the target of the Government’s repressive bodies, as recounted by his wife, Yadid Córdoba, who has witnessed her husband’s struggle for more than 43 years an details the difficulties and persecution that her family has experienced during the time González has been behind bars.
No consideration for Rubén’s family
“They took him prisoner, but they attacked all my children. My eldest daughter had her house raided, her husband and my son have an arrest warrant; they were fired from their jobs and left with no income. It has been difficult for them, the company even stopped paying the children’s school tuition, they did not have the slightest consideration, two of them lost the school year, ” says Yadid Córdoba in an interview with TalCual.
The coronavirus emergency worsened Rubén’s situation
On November 29, 2018, Rubén González was detained by officers from the General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence at a checkpoint in the city of Anaco, Anzoátegui. Although he is a civilian, he was tried by the Fifteenth Military Court of Control in Maturín, Monagas, and sentenced to five years and nine months in prison.
At the time of his arrest, González was returning from a demonstration in Caracas against the breach of collective contracts and salary scales. He was imprisoned even though his sentence was less than eight years.
No communication with Rubén
-What was the situation before the pandemic?
“We traveled to see him during the weekend visits. We saw him the weekend before the quarantine started and he was not feeling well. He had the flu and fever. Then we lost communication with him because he does not have a phone. On April 15, we had contact with him again when the assistant to the prison director called us to talk about his health condition and asked us to contact a medical center in Maturín so they could take him because they have not the means to provide medical assistance, ”said Yadid Córdoba.
“We spoke to some friends and he was admitted at the Maturín Clinical Center, where his blood pressure returned to normal levels. They received him in the afternoon and discharged him at night, they gave him treatment for a urine infection, they performed an MRI and detected a congenital problem in his kidneys that causes those urinary tract infections. “
Rubén’s health condition worsens
Rubén González’s health has worsened. Due to his age, he must keep a proper diet, eat healthy, and exercise, but in confinement, he leads a sedentary life and does not eat properly. This brings problems such as infections that cause hypertensive crises.
According to Mrs. González, “the doctor said Rubén must undergo surgery to correct the problem; Otherwise, complications will continue to occur.”
A whole family affected
– What is family life like now? How did it change after the arrest of Rubén González?
-It is complicated, he is very important to us. He is the one to sing happy birthday to each of our 12 grandchildren. He watches over all his children, he has coffee every day at his eldest son’s house. One of his granddaughters was diagnosed with emotional vitiligo eight months after he was imprisoned. Rubén used to visit her every morning and his absence has greatly affected her, she had to be taken to psychological therapy.
“The mother of one of our grandchildren received a call from school saying that the boy was acting differently, he looked thoughtful and worried. She was asked if something was happening at home. She explained the situation and the child was taken to the psychologist. The change was noticeable because he is an extroverted child. “
A complex situation to understand
“The child asks me how long Grandpa is going to be away and when he will come back, and I worry. Another granddaughter experiences depressive crises, she cries for everything; She did not want to go to school. It has been very difficult because Rubén is always present, he always visits or phones his children. “.
Yadid Córdoba recounts that they have to travel 250 kilometers, three and a half hours by car, and many times they can’t take the whole family. They go in turns. One of their grandchildren took a baseball glove and ball to the visit and wanted to play with Rubén. He also asked his grandfather why he works so far now. We have not told him that he is in jail because people are supposed to be in jail when they do something wrong. It would be difficult to understand. “
Even friends are harrassed
“It has also been difficult for grown grandchildren. One of them went into a depressive crisis, ran a razor through her hair, and does not want to go to her university anymore. She does know the situation, she is 19 years old. In the first months, she and her mother wanted to leave the country but they could not; Their house was raided, they lived apart for a while, they stayed with me and the other children stayed with the maternal grandmother. ”
Rubén González’s wife said that their neighbors care for the safety of her family. “Whenever the police drive around our house late at night, the neighbors warn us to be careful and to avoid being taken by the Bureau for Scientific, Criminal and Forensic Investigations (CICPC) or the Anti Extortion and Kidnapping National Command (Conas). Some neighbors have been threatened, persecuted, or harassed. All of this has affected the family. ”
The struggle goes on
With great confidence and faith in God, Yadid Córdoba claims they are still fighting. “The constant worries have also complicated my husband’s health; I have had to control my blood pressure, it is something that worries everyone, he has not been able to receive treatment, ” she says.
-What do the lawyers say? How is the appeal process going?
-They appealed and the hearing was set for the end of March, but it was later suspended due to the quarantine, and we have no further news on when it is going to resume. We try to keep in touch with the journalists to continue asking the government for my husband’s freedom.
A horrific situation
– How do you reflect on your husband’s arrest by a government of a president who calls himself a laborer?
-My husband has been active in labor unions for 28 years. It is the second time he is imprisoned by the Government, both Chávez and Maduro. We say to everyone that this is an anti-worker government that has destroyed the country. How does a government that attacks a union leader who defends the rights of workers and their work benefits care for the people?
“We cannot be in favor of a government that has destroyed the country and done this to my husband and children. Why did they have to attack them? His children, their jobs, it is something horrific. It is more than persecution against my husband but against the whole family and those close to the family, who have been told to stop giving statements because they are going to be taken, prisoner. I cannot say anything good about a government that treats its people this way. ”
A mission
-What message do you send to the working leaders who see the case of Rubén and your family?
-My message for those leaders is to not get tired of fighting, the truth prevails over the lie. God has given a promise to those who fight and stay true, and God fulfills his promises. Although we are living the opposite and believe that it is not worth it, it is worth fighting for the truth. God is going to reward us in due course. We all must go through a desert to reach the promised land; No leader has ever reached the top without stumbling and overcoming obstacles. Obstacles and threats must be overcome to finally bring peace to the people. If they get tired, who will care for the people? That is our mission, do not abandon us, my family is not going to give up, it is a mission that we have on earth.
