House members pressure Colombia over violence

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN1524932920080416?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews&rpc=22&sp=true

Tue Apr 15, 2008 8:15pm EDT

By Hugh Bronstein

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia's government is indirectly encouraging attacks against labor leaders by allowing a presidential adviser to link the victims to leftist rebels, says a letter signed by 63 members of U.S. Congress.

The protest reinforces opposition to a free trade deal bottled up by U.S. House leaders concerned about human rights abuses in the Andean country.

Jose Obdulio Gaviria, adviser to conservative President Alvaro Uribe, has come under fire from the opposition for suggesting a March 6 rally against right-wing violence was organized by guerrillas fighting a decades-old insurrection.

"Gaviria's remarks contribute to the threatening climate in which the physical safety and work of a broad spectrum of human rights defenders, trade unionists and civic leaders have been put at risk," says the letter, released on Tuesday and signed by 62 Democrats and one Republican.

Four union members were assassinated around the time of the march, according to human rights groups, while dozens more were targets of threats and nonfatal attacks.

"Those who committed these crimes must be prosecuted," the letter says. "We urge you to reject statements made by Mr. Gaviria and reaffirm your government's commitment to the protection of human rights defenders."

FULL story at link.