NELSON BERRIO REYES
Permanent Assemblymember of the Civil Society for Peace
During the 36 days of the strike, the oil workers, affiliated with the union USO of Colombia, displayed great strength and creativity in preventing EcoPetrol from being eliminated by the erratic policies of the current government. This workers' resistance, first seen in Barrancabermeja, very quickly awakened sympathy and solidarity within the social sectors. The student protests, the forums held in different cities of the country and the May 18th national general strike against the ALCA and the FTAA were, to a great extent, encouraged by the example of the strikers who demonstrated that, even in the most adverse situations, it is possible to rise up and fight.
Continue reading "A political and democratic strike" »
WILSON ALFONSO BORJA DÍAZ
Council Representative
Beyond the various news items and the secrecy surrounding the negotiations of the Free Trade of the Americas [FTAA, but TLC in Colombia] in Cartagena, there are unreported facts that are highly worrisome for the country.
First of all: in Colombia it is not possible to be question sensitive subjects like the country's trade policy. The events in Cartegena demonstrate this clearly. Members of the government’s cabinet, such as the Minister of Defense, are labelling FTAA opponents as "cave dwellers."
Continue reading "FTAA with the USA: beginning of the end?" »
THE AGENDA OF THE NEGOTIATION BETWEEN THE COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT AND THE PARAMILITARIES
by ALEJANDRO ANGULO
General Director of CINEP
The state of dialogue and negotiation with AUC is accurately summarized in two question by El Nuevo Siglo (May 27, 2004): "Is the state prepared to confront a challenge of these dimensions?... How can 5,000 combatants be reintegrated this year?" And the newspaper responds accurately. "What happened with the demobilization of the 'Nutibara Boss' (900 paramilitaries supposedly reintroduced six months ago in MedellÌn) seems to demonstrate that this is not possible... The same national authorities, as well as those of MedellÌn and Antioquia, admit non-compliance in matters of use and capacity of the ex-combatants. Denunciations persist surrounding the 'resurrection' of militias that were supposedly deactivated. The competition for financing this entire process continues between regional and central governments.
Continue reading "The agenda of the negotiations with the paramilitaries" »
IVÁN CEPEDA CASTRO
The National Meeting of the Victims of Crime and Human Rights Violations met in Bogotá, May 28-29, 2004. The event brought together people from various sectors who had been affected by the processes of persecution and extermination. Attending the conference were leaders from communities in diverse regions of the country, representing victims of criminal action by the state and paramilitary groups; delegates from organizations of farmers, the indigenous, and Afro-Colombians in areas of "security zones"; relatives of the disappeared and members of associations for the displaced; human rights organizations from these regions; as well as spokespeople from political and union organizations which have been subject to campaigns of systemic elimination.
Continue reading "A Movement for Peace, Justice and Reparations" »
