Colombian president clashes with NDP, Bloc MPs

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Toronto Sun

Colombian president clashes with NDP, Bloc MPs
By Jennifer Ditchburn, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Last Updated: 11th June 2009, 3:44pm

OTTAWA — The president of Colombia clashed with NDP and Bloc Quebecois MPs, who questioned the South American country’s human-rights record.

Alvaro Uribe lived up to his reputation for passionate outbursts, occasionally raising his voice and waving an arm when responding to tough questions Thursday at the House of Commons trade committee.

It was the first time the committee heard evidence from a head of state. Uribe is appealing to the committee to approve a proposed trade deal between Canada and Colombia.

“I have the right to reply,” Uribe said loudly as New Democrat MP Peter Julian attempted to move from one question to the next.

“I want Mr. Julian to look at me,” he exclaimed at another point, when the MP appeared to be reading his notes.

Julian pressed Uribe on his denunciations of well-known groups, such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, for saying there are still widespread abuses by the Colombian military and government officials.



Read more: http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2009/06/11/9767256.html

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On edit, contributing photos:

More:
http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2009/06/11/9767256.html

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http://3.bp.blogspot.com.nyud.net:8090/_7Se7iswAanA/SW9x22fauNI/AAAAAAAAFOo/I_BvrfmRte0/s320/uribe_bush.jpg
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe

[Judi Lynn]

1. LABOUR: Colombia Still Undisputed Leader in Trade Unionist Murders

LABOUR: Colombia Still Undisputed Leader in Trade Unionist Murders
By Gustavo Capdevila

GENEVA, Jun 10 (IPS) - Colombia has long been the world leader in murders of trade unionists – a dubious distinction that it seems in no danger of losing, according to a new report by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).

In 2008, 76 trade unionists were killed worldwide for defending workers’ rights, according to this year’s Annual Survey of Trade Union Rights Violations, which details abuses of workers rights in 143 countries.

That total is smaller than the figure for 2007, when 91 labour activists were slain around the world.

But in Colombia, 49 were murdered last year, 10 more than in 2007, "despite assurances by the administration of Colombian President Álvaro Uribe that the situation was improving," says ITUC.

"I submit that there has not been, that there is not and that there never will be real progress in this case unless and until the impunity crisis is directly, authentically and honestly resolved," said Stanley Gacek, representative of the AFL-CIO federation of labour organisations in the United States.

"That means: 1)Effective convictions of all the intellectual, as well as the material, authors of the violence; 2) Achieving the investigative prosecutorial and judicial capacity to do so; and 3) Insuring that the terms of the convictions are significant and durable," said the U.S. union leader.

http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=47171

[troubledamerican]

2. Uribe = Pinochet with p.r.

[David__77]

3. The only two parties in parliament worth anything.

Liberals and Conservatives are both useless.

[bemildred]

4. Uribe up for an Oscar in 2010.

Jack Nicholson stands in awe.

[New Dawn]

5. The right-wing dictator, Uribe, murders trade-unionists.

Meanwhile, Washington solidly supports him.