A good reason to oppose U.S.-Colombia trade agreement

cyberhog

The U.S. simply cannot overlook this issue.

One of the most vocal members of the U.S. Congress opposing the pending Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has spoken out again against the violence in Colombia.

Representative George Miller, the senior Democrat of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, argued that it is the job of the elected leaders in the United States to ensure "that those who receive trade preferences respect essential democratic rights." He expressed concern about the high levels of violence against unionists.

"Death squads are unleashed against union activists and union rights leaders and defenders. Union leaders are gunned down in broad daylight."

Miller added, "This isn't yesterday's news, the intimidation and violence continue to this day. There have been 47 confirmed killings of unionists in Colombia this year. Last year 90 unionists were murdered worldwide, 49 of them in Colombia. Colombian unionists face the highest rates of murder anywhere in the world."

http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/17646-colombian-unionists-gunned-down-in-broad-daylight-us-representative.html

Now I wonder if our Chavez bashers will pull their hair out over this? Rhetorical question. Of course they won't, they couldn't care less about the rights and lives of trade unionists.

Francisco Ramirez Cuellar, the president of trade union Sintraminercol-Funtraenergetica, rejected the notion of human rights progress in Colombia.

He said the situation has deteriorated, but a manipulation of the figures allows the government to present a hollow picture of progress.

He told Colombia Reports: “Twenty five years ago when there were 14% of workers affiliated to trade unions, on average a trade unionist was murdered every three days.

“Although the number of deaths has 'fallen' in comparison ... the government does not make note of the fact that the rate of unionization has fallen to 3.9%."

He said the fact 51 unionists were killed last year, equivalent to about one every week, signifies that, in reality, "the situation now is much more serious than before".


...

Santos and Obama signed a labour deal on April 6 that set out preconditions before the FTA can pass. These included the protection of trade unionists and other threatened members of society, such as teachers.

With most Republicans in the US Congress favouring the FTA, the agreement has appeared to make significant progress towards its passage.

http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/47954

Well if the FTA passes this year I think it will be obvious to everyone that Republicans have no interest in the rights of regular people.

imme

Colombia = Santos
Venezuela = Chavez

Chavez is the guy in Venezuela, not in Colombia OP.

It's shocking if trade unionists are being murdered simply for trying to organise. It's shocking that it happens in other countries as well, Cambodia among them.


Here's some more

http://www.tuc.org.uk/international/tuc-19640-f0.cfm

Overheal

We trade with shady figures all the time though don't we? China isn't exactly a shining example of Democracy.

cyberhog

imme wrote: »

Colombia = Santos
Venezuela = Chavez

Chavez is the guy in Venezuela, not in Colombia OP.

It seems, you did not get my point. To be clear, my beef is with Republicans that continually foam at the mouth over Chavez but remain conspicuously silent when Colombian unionists are "gunned down in broad daylight" by right-wing groups. They demonise any government that helps the poor, the workers, and the indigenous people at the expense of the wealthy and yet believe the most dangerous nation in the world to be a union member should be rewarded with trade benefits. They are the most sickening people on the face of the earth.

matthew8

cyberhog wrote: »

It seems, you did not get my point. To be clear, my beef is with Republicans that continually foam at the mouth over Chavez but remain conspicuously silent when Colombian unionists are "gunned down in broad daylight" by right-wing groups. They demonise any government that helps the poor, the workers, and the indigenous people at the expense of the wealthy and yet believe the most dangerous nation in the world to be a union member should be rewarded with trade benefits. They are the most sickening people on the face of the earth.

The dems are far worse. They pretend to help the poor.

southsiderosie

cyberhog wrote: »

Now I wonder if our Chavez bashers will pull their hair out over this? Rhetorical question. Of course they won't, they couldn't care less about the rights and lives of trade unionists.

Republicans hate unions in the US, what makes you think they would care about them abroad?

cyberhog wrote: »

Well if the FTA passes this year I think it will be obvious to everyone that Republicans have no interest in the rights of regular people.

That's been obvious for quite some time, again in the US more so than anywhere else.

cyberhog wrote: »

It seems, you did not get my point. To be clear, my beef is with Republicans that continually foam at the mouth over Chavez but remain conspicuously silent when Colombian unionists are "gunned down in broad daylight" by right-wing groups. They demonise any government that helps the poor, the workers, and the indigenous people at the expense of the wealthy and yet believe the most dangerous nation in the world to be a union member should be rewarded with trade benefits. They are the most sickening people on the face of the earth.

Because the US does not particularly care about human rights when it comes down to business. Rights-related trade embargoes often have more to do with domestic politics than justice; hence why Americans can do business in China and not Cuba. Colombia is no different in this regard.

cyberhog

southsiderosie wrote: »

Republicans hate unions in the US, what makes you think they would care about them abroad?

huh? you just seem to be arguing against me with my own point.

southsiderosie wrote: »

Because the US does not particularly care about human rights when it comes down to business.

Again that was the point I was making. I don't see why you feel the need to explain my own POV to me?

cyberhog

matthew8 wrote: »

The dems are far worse.

I don't see any Republicans speaking out against the violence in Colombia.

southsiderosie

cyberhog wrote: »

huh? you just seem to be arguing against me with my own point.




Again that was the point I was making. I don't see why you feel the need to explain my own POV to me?

I guess I don't see the point of this thread other than to take a pop at the US since everything you've posted is patently obvious.

matthew8

cyberhog wrote: »

I don't see any Republicans speaking out against the violence in Colombia.

drone attacks....

cyberhog

southsiderosie wrote: »

I guess I don't see the point of this thread other than to take a pop at the US since everything you've posted is patently obvious.

Don't assume that everyone will have knowledge of something that is patently obvious to you. I'm sure there are plenty of people that are unaware the Colombian government are manipulating figures and that the violence against unionists is in fact getting worse.

southsiderosie

cyberhog wrote: »

Don't assume that everyone will have knowledge of something that is patently obvious to you. I'm sure there are plenty of people that are unaware the Colombian government are manipulating figures and that the violence against unionists is in fact getting worse.

Your post seemed designed less to highlight an issue and more to rail against the Congress/GOP, and from that perspective, I'm not sure why any of us would be surprised that the situation of trade unionists - or human rights in general - would be their particular concern when negotiating trade agreements.

cyberhog

southsiderosie wrote: »

Your post seemed designed less to highlight an issue and more to rail against the Congress/GOP,

I think perhaps you're being a bit too sensitive to criticism of the GOP. It makes no sense to talk of the deplorable issues surrounding the passage of the FTA without reference to the people pushing to get it passed regardless. The two are intertwined. The GOP's behaviour is contrary to what is expected from elected leaders and they should be strongly condemned for their failure to recognise the high levels of violence againts unionists.

matthew8

cyberhog wrote: »

I think perhaps you're being a bit too sensitive to criticism of the GOP. It makes no sense to talk of the deplorable issues surrounding the passage of the FTA without reference to the people pushing to get it passed regardless. The two are intertwined. The GOP's behaviour is contrary to what is expected from elected leaders and they should be strongly condemned for their failure to recognise the high levels of violence againts unionists.

I don't whine when Obama gets friendly with the Saudis, though maybe I ought to...

cyberhog

matthew8 wrote: »

I don't whine when Obama gets friendly with the Saudis, though maybe I ought to...

Whine all you want, it's no skin off my nose.

Overheal

matthew8 wrote: »

I don't whine when Obama gets friendly with the Saudis, though maybe I ought to...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nan2PC_-rxk

http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/god-and-country/2009/09/01/the-mind-behind-obamas-ramadan-dinner-george-w-bush