Canada Should Put Democracy Before Free Trade in Colombia, Say Returned Observers

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Council of Canadians

February 18, 2010
1:37 PM
Canada Should Put Democracy Before Free Trade in Colombia, Say Returned Observers

OTTAWA - February 18 - An international mission returned from Colombia this week, after spending 10 days investigating pre electoral conditions in the lead up to the congressional elections on March 14. The mission was coordinated by the San Francisco based human rights organization Global Exchange in collaboration with the Misión de Observación Electoral (MOE), a Colombian civil society organization that has been working to promote democracy in Colombia through electoral observation and analysis. Canadian members of the mission are available for comment on their findings.

The international mission included 22 representatives from the United States, the European Union, Mexico, Panama, Australia, and from Canada, Barbara Wood, member of CUPE 1004; Ricardo Miranda, President, CUPE local 4095; and Carleen Pickard, Director of Organizing, Council of Canadians.

The mission spoke with hundreds of Colombians from diverse sectors including government authorities, political candidates and their party representatives and members of civil society including indigenous people, Afro-Colombian communities, human rights groups, displaced people and the media.

"Under President Alvaro Uribe's watch, more than two million people have been displaced from their resource rich territories, while thousands of trade unionists, peasants, indigenous peoples, Afro-Colombians and activists have been killed by the state and affiliated paramilitary organizations," says Wood. "At the same time, the government is mired in corruption, electoral fraud and complicity with drug lords and death squad leaders."


Read more: http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2010/02/18-7

[HeresyLives]

1. Hah! Not with Harper in there it won't.

[dipsydoodle]

2. Indeed

:thumbsup:

[Spazito]

3. Totally agree! n/t