Sent: Friday, September 10, 2004
Subject: Antwort: Invitación

Dear colleague Fachal,

I would first like to apologize for the delay in responding to your letter.

This summer has been extremely busy because of labor issues in Germany and contract negotiations which lasted through August. Happily we were successful in saving 10.000 workplaces and secured a good contract for our workers.

Now back to normal work, I can again approach international issues. Unfortunately, I must inform you that I am unable to accept your invitation. I am very aware of the situation in Argentina, where thousands of citizens dissappeared in the past. They were victims of a criminal regime, its helpers and abettors.

The implications that Daimler-Benz was at that time actively involved in these disappearances concerns me. I wanted that the truth about the alleged violations of human rights by Mercedes-Benz Argentina be brought to light. For this reason I requested an independent examination by an impartial commission.

Together with Amnesty International we determined that Prof. Tomuschat was a highly qualified professional in the field of International Law and Human Rights, and greatly respected for his objectivity in such sensitive matters. He chaired the examination commission responsible for finding the facts behind this issue. His appointment had been accepted by all parties.

The results were presented in December 2003. The commission found no evidence of participation by the company in the disappearance of works councillors or union activists, that had legal merit.
In fact the report confirms the deeds that were committed in Argentina. It stresses that the disappearances of more than 30.000 men and woman during the time of the military junta, counts among the most cruel violations of human rights ever.

I do not see, at this time, how a new examination could lead to other results, than those obtained by Prof. Tomuschat and his commission. I support the idea of a commemorative plate. Its installation depends of course, on the approval by the current workforce and works council at
Gonzales Catan. Unfortunately, I do not have information on their attitude for the plan.

I would be grateful if you could establish contact with the works council. Valter Sanches, our Brazilian member of the DaimlerChrysler World Employee Committee would also be ready to receive information. In case the workers support the plan for a commemorative plate, I would
not hesitate to ask the Board of Management for their support.

Kind regards, Erich Klemm

18.06.2004 10:23
Thema: Invitación

Colleague Klemm:

The reason why I am writing to you is to invite you to come to Argentina to establish contact with the missing workers colleagues and relatives; as it was decided during the stock holders meeting that took place in April. I would appreciate if you could take this invitation into account and confirm your visit, in order to make the arrangements.

I also want to inform you that this week a letter was sent to Daimler Chrysler Argentina asking for permission to fix a commemorative plaque.

Sincerely,
Eduardo Antonio Fachal