Murder Of Colombia Trade Union Leader Condemned

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Scoop Independent News (N.Z.)

Murder Of Colombia Trade Union Leader Condemned
Wednesday, 30 January 2008, 9:27 am

Colombia: ITUC Condemns Murder of Trade Union Leader
Brussels, 29 January 2008: The ITUC has protested to Colombian President Álvaro Uribe over the murder of prison officers' trade union leader Yebraín Suárez at his home on 28 January. 32 year-old Suárez was shot in the doorway of his house by killers who were waiting for him on his return from work. The ITUC has joined its affiliate the CGT Colombia in calling for the government to take immediate action to investigate the crime and bring the murderers to justice.

"Colombia has a long and appalling record as the most dangerous place on earth for trade unionists, with dozens of killings taking place each year. Only a tiny fraction of these have been investigated properly. The government must fulfill its responsibility to protect trade unionists and end the culture of impunity which has reigned for so long", said ITUC General Secretary Guy Ryder.

Despite recent optimistic statements by Colombian Vice-President Francisco Santos and other government officials, Colombian trade unionists still carry out their legitimate trade union activities at constant risk to their lives, on top of serious deficiencies in the country's labour laws which impose major restrictions on trade union rights.





Read more: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0801/S00296.htm

[jeanruss]

1. Mark Penn

Doesn't Mark Penn support the people who have been threatening unions in Columbia?

[Judi Lynn]

2. Absolutely! I heard that Uribe had hired his agency last year to try to put the FTA over on Congress

What a damned shame.

Took a quick look for more in google:

A large amount of the Colombian population does not want the FTA to pass. Their contention is that the FTA only helps the rich and elite and hurts labor. Indeed the over 50% of Colombians living below the poverty level has not changed since Uribe took office. Two employees of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Human Rights recently wrote an article titled, “U.S. aid Exacerbates Abuse in Colombia.” Walter Molano, head of research at BCP securities in his recent writing concluded that Colombia’s monetary policies seems to benefit a very small percentage of their population and specifically those medium manufacturers in Uribe’s home area.

Now Colombia seems to be trying their old trick again. In 1991 over three-quarter of Americans believed the Colombian government corrupt. The country then paid $3.1 million in commissions to an American PR Sawyer/Miller to change their image and the perception of the American people. It was done with what many claim to be manipulative techniques and half-truths. The changed perception paved the way for the billions in U.S. money with a push from President Clinton. A trade magazine when commenting about the American PR firm’s involvement stated, “With their eye on the prize, truth and honesty are no where in site.” Bush continued it with at one point $98 million of the Plan Colombia money earmarked for protection of the Occidental Petroleum pipeline. All other companies seem to have to pay for their protection. The insult is that in 2006 the CEO of Occidental made over $400 million. Next month Colombia is presenting the “Colombia is Passion” award to Bill Clinton in New York City. Also Colombia has hired the American PR firm of Burson-Marsteller to “educate the American congress and others about Colombia.” Mark Penn, Hillary Clinton’s chief strategist heads that company. The South American country is also paying Washington lobby group Glover Park Group $40,000 a month. That group is packed with Clintonites including former Clinton spokesman Joe Lockhart. Hopefully our congress members will be able to see through the charade.

http://blog.aflcio.org/2007/05/02/no-trade-deal-with-a-corrupt-regime

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Nonetheless, the campaign to award Colombia with a free trade deal is being led by "the public-relations firm of Burson-Marsteller, headed by former Clinton pollster Mark Penn, who is also a top adviser to Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign." Penn's "firm has set up a campaign-style operation to respond immediately to any critical news about Colombia."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-sirota/secret-trade-deal-can-th_b_51291.html

[Judi Lynn]

3. More, from the W.S.J.:Uribe Administration, Seeking US Trade Pact, Lobbies Hard to Overcome Scandal

Uribe Administration, Seeking U.S. Trade Pact, Lobbies Hard to Overcome Scandal Allegations
By BOB DAVIS
The Wall Street Journal, June 4, 2007



~snip~
While the current ambassador, Ms. Barco, says she regularly confers with Mr. Moreno, now president of the Inter-American Development Bank, the Colombians have turned to Democratic lobbyists with strong ties to President Clinton to put together strategy.
The team includes the public-relations firm of Burson-Marsteller, headed by former Clinton pollster Mark Penn, who is also a top adviser to Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. The firm has set up a campaign-style operation to respond immediately to any critical news about Colombia.
Glover Park Group, which includes former Clinton White House spokesman Joe Lockhart and lobbyist Susan Brophy, works on Capitol Hill with the lobbying firm of Johnson, Madigan, Peck, Boland & Stewart Inc., including Republican Peter Madigan and another Clinton-administration lobbyist, William Danvers.
A business coalition, headed by Caterpillar Inc, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Citigroup Inc., is making lobbying calls and is planning an advertising campaign to push the trade deal.
Colombia spends about $100,000 a month for outside lobbyists. One big focus is to figure out ways to influence Rep. Charles Rangel (D., N.Y.), who heads the Ways and Means Committee, which handles trade legislation. The Colombians lobby the Congressional Black Caucus, which includes Mr. Rangel, and make sure black Colombian lawmakers and Colombian union leaders join delegations that meet with U.S. lawmakers.
"I'd be using every hook and angle," says Rep. Joseph Crowley, a New York Democrat who backs Colombia's efforts.
Sometimes the lobbying backfires. At a Congressional dinner last month, President Uribe lashed out at a Humans Rights Watch official, José Miguel Vivanco, who challenged Mr. Uribe's rosy picture of improving security for union members. "You're biased to the guerrillas and everyone in Colombia thinks that," Mr. Uribe lectured, according to a number of people at the session. Mr. Vivanco said the exchange showed how Mr. Uribe practices "intimidation." Ms. Barco, the ambassador, dismisses the incident as a "heated" discussion.

More:
http://colhrnet.igc.org/newitems/June07/Uribe_in_DC_0604.html