September 16th, 2010

In the morning of September 14th, the Comission of Justicia y Paz, an organization defending human rights, was informed that a concerted plan had been set up against them a few weeks ago. Stalking, telephone and electronic interceptions, the use of a smear campaign, a judiciary set-up and eventual attacks against life and physical integrity of members are part of the plan. This operation is settled in order to harm these human rights defenders: ABILO PEÑA, DANILO RUEDA and ALBERTO FRANCO.

Unfortunately, on Monday 19th April, Liberals sided in one bloc with the Conservatives and voted in favor of the C-2 draft law on the implementation of the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and Colombia (CCFTA). Therefore, the draft went through the stage of second reading and is now sent back before the Standing Committee on International Trade. Obviously, PASC keeps on opposing the CCFTA. We will keep you informed on the future developments on this crucial issue, and thank everyone who has been involved in putting pressure on their MP against the agreement.

On February 10, Paramilitaries assassinated two miners from FEDEAGROMISBOL. The Southern Bolivar Agricultural – Mining Federation is a coalition of peasant farming and mining communities in Southern Bolivar province. CPT Colombia has accompanied FEDEAGROMISBOL since the assassination of Alejandro Uribe Chacón in 2006. These communities continue in their nonviolent struggle for the right to their land and dignity. The information below is the public denouncement of the assassination of their two members.

The organizations, signed below, publicly denounce the following event:

Call/send letters urging government and MPs to oppose the ratificacion of Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement currently being debated in House of Commons. Instead, demand that the Canadian government pressure Colombian authorities to put an effective end to widespread paramilitary threats against trade union and social movement activists.