Clarkson faces more criticism over comments

The Top Gear presenter triggered a massive public outcry last week when he goaded striking public servants on national television, saying they should be murdered in front of their families.

"I would have them all shot," he told the One Show's hosts.

"I would take them outside and execute them in front of their families.

"I mean how dare they go on strike when they have these gilt-edged pensions that are going to be guaranteed, while the rest of us have to work for a living."

The BBC has received a whopping 21,000 complaints over the outburst.

But visiting Colombian trade unionist Rosalba Gaviria said on Saturday that she had a special message for Mr Clarkson.

Speaking at the TUC's Latin America conference, Ms Gaviria invited the millionaire broadcaster to visit her homeland and see what trade unions had to deal with.

An organiser for agricultural workers' union Fensuagro, Ms Gaviria was released from a Colombian jail in June after two years' imprisonment without trial for "rebellion."

Many union activists had been "disappeared," tortured and killed for fighting the same battles as British unions, she said.

"We face assassination, imprisonment and harassment just for carrying on our struggle, for trade unions and students to be able to do that."

It was important for people in the media and the international community to visit Colombia and understand their plight, she said - especially given Britain's involvement with Colombian free trade agreements and military aid.

TUC chairwoman Frances O'Grady backed Ms Gaviria's call, saying Mr Clarkson's comments were "no laughing matter for anyone who knows anything about the history of our movement."

Colombia was still the most dangerous country in the world for trade unionists, Ms O'Grady said, noting that Colombian military and clandestine death squads had murdered at least 186 trade unionists between 2007 and 2010, with a further 30 killed between January and May this year - "and virtually no-one - no-one - is ever brought to justice for these crimes."

She said it was vital that Britain's trade unions and groups such as Justice For Colombia should continue to expose the Colombian government's crimes, on the principle that "an injury to one is an injury to all."