Article: "Bush Urges Approval of Free - Trade Pact". Doesn't mention Colombia's ties to Death Squads

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"President Bush called on Congress Wednesday to approve a free-trade agreement with Colombia, saying ''it is very important for this nation to stand with democracies.''

Standing on the White House lawn with visiting Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, Bush called the pact with Colombia, Peru and Panama ''good for the United States, good for job creators, farmers, workers, good for Colombia.''

Bush said votes in Congress on such trade treaties ''are more than just trade votes. They are signals to South America that we stand with nations that are willing to make hard decisions on behalf of the people.''"

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Bush-Colombia.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

What the article doesn't mention is that Uribe is currently embroiled in a scandal where his administration has been tied to right wing death squads and Colombia is a human rights and labor rights activists have had a thing for turning up dead.

"A Colombian human rights advocate who had denounced right-wing paramilitary violence was gunned down and killed on Monday, a sign that militia terror continues despite a deal meant to disband the illegal groups.

Judith Vergara, 32, was targeted by pistol-wielding assassins on the bus she was riding to her office at the Corporation for Peace and Social Development, known as Corpades, in the northern city of Medellin.

Police said they had no suspects."

From "Colombian rights activist assassinated in Medellin"
24 Apr 2007
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N23346616.htm

"Zully Codina was a mother, veteran hospital worker and union activist. The last role was the one that cost Codina her life at the hands of paramilitary death squads, whose records show they collaborated with the country's intelligence service to liquidate her and other union activists.

Codina was killed on Nov. 11, 2003, when a gunman pumped three bullets into her head moments after she kissed her family goodbye and walked out of her Santa Marta home.

Her murder remains unsolved, as do those of the vast majority of the 400 union members killed since President Alvaro Uribe took office in 2002.

"For me, her death has been irreparable," said Rafael Sanchez, Codina's husband."

From "Unionists' murders cloud Colombia"
12 Apr 2007
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/news/archives/international/2007412/106936.htm

Congress, do not approve the 'free trade act' with Colombia!