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Despite the reservations of native Columbians, Prime Minister Harper
and his government, today (Saturday, November 22nd) passed the Free
Trade Agreement with Columbia, in support of lame-duck President Bush
who advocated for the agreement with Columbia.
During the recent U.S. Presidential race, Democrats voiced their
objections to the Free Trade Agreement citing that Columbia has an
abysmal record when it comes to human rights.
Since his election in 2002, President Alvaro Uribe, "has been regarded
as President George W. Bush's main ally in Latina America." Under
President Bill Clinton, Plan Columbia was launched to fight the drug
trade and rebels, who were accused of having ties to the drug trade.
According to former local Columbians, President Uribe, with military
support, has made himself the only president of choice when it comes to
elections. "It has become an actual crime to oppose the President and
our children are being 'recruited' into armed groups. Families are
uprooted and their lands are taken. Women, who had their own homes, are
now working as servants and must often root through garbage for food for
their families." Sources confirm that much of the economy is controlled
by drug lords and the government under Uribe and that there are 'death
squads' who decide who is to ... disappear.
Apparently, Uribe has also admitted to close ties with Republican, John
McCain. He also discussed the free-trade agreement between Columbia and
the United States with Vice-President, Joe Biden, however, the
Democratic Congress refused to condone it because of human rights
issues. (next column)
13/01/2009 04:22 PM |
(continued)
"There are several armed factions," say former Columbian
residents. "Groups called para-militaries are nothing more than death
squads and are known as "Black Eagles'. Then, there are the guerilla
forces that are also divided into numerous sub-groups. There are also
militia groups in urban and rural areas that are connected with these
armed groups and who act as intelligence informers on friends and
neighbours."
According to the Columbians, now Canadian citizens, "Over the past five
years, at least, there has been a disappearance of many people. Very
young people been tricked into thinking that are being taken to other
areas where there are jobs ... they are never seen by their families
again."
They have seen their families murdered, their sons disappear and they
have had to escape a regime that has no respect for human rights. Even
now, they hesitate to speak about their lives in the country in which
they were born.
And yet, Canada's own Prime Minister, Steven Harper, has pushed through
this 'Free Trade' agreement standing behind President Bush, whose time
in office is limited, even though the people of Columbia do not want it.
Why?
For a lead-in article
click here
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