Shine Light on Colombian Repression

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Unions in Colombia, unions in the United States, human rights activists—they all opposed the Colombia Free Trade Agreement. And remarkably, on April 10 the U.S. House of Representatives responded and blocked the deal. Though the pact is not dead yet, the victory was unions’ first against a long string of free trade treaties.

Building on that victory, supporters of human rights in Colombia are planning a session of the Permanent People’s Tribunal for July 21-23 in Bogota. At the tribunal, evidence will be presented against multinational corporations that have injured the Colombian people, among them Coca-Cola (where eight workers have been murdered), Occidental Petroleum, and Chiquita (which admitted to arming paramilitaries to clear an area the company wanted for banana cultivation).

Colombia is the most dangerous place in the world today for unionists, with 17 assassinated in the first quarter of 2008, a rate of more than one per week.

During the July tribunal, supporters will also protest at the headquarters of Chiquita in Cincinnati, Coke in Atlanta, and Occidental in Los Angeles. The boycott of Coke is still on! To get involved, contact the Colombia Support Network online or at 608/257-8753.