U.S. Labor Education in the Americas Project (LEAP) has organized a trade union sign-on letter this year that focuses on U.S. aid to Colombia and the Andean Free Trade Agreement (AFTA). The letter which includes signers from the Teamsters Union, the AFL- CIO, and the SEIU, explains to Congress the dangers of being a trade unionist in a country where there has been over 2,220 assassinations of union leaders since 1991. LEAP asserts that the blame for the lack of safety lies both with the paramilitaries as well as government offices. An excerpt from the letter reads, ?Escuela Nacional Sindical (ENS), the National Labor School in Colombia, a well- respected NGO, has found that paramilitary groups are responsible for the greatest number of violations (49%) against Colombian trade unionists, with Colombian state entities a close second (43%), in cases where the assailants were known?. In addition to labor violations, the signers also are upset with the Colombian government for failure to properly prosecute those responsible for the attacks and murders of trade unionists. Citing information from the Vice President of Colombia, the letter states that less than 1% of such murders ever resulted in jail time for those accused.

In order to remedy the situation, LEAP and the signers state that, ?we believe that the U.S. should sharply cut back its massive aid to the Colombian military and should not approve a free trade agreement with a country that fails to prosecute those who murder trade unionists?. AFTA, the proposed free trade agreement that they are referring to is largely opposed in Colombian civil society. The adoption of AFTA would only require the Colombian government to enforce the labor laws that are already in place, thus the U.S. would lose its power to use trade policy to positively effect Colombian labor laws.

The issue of a decrease of military aid is stressed throughout the letter. Currently the majority of U.S. aid to Colombia goes toward funding military and police programs, many of which are accused of both human and labor rights violations. The unions that have signed on represent 6.5 million voters and taxpayers, who they say don?t want to fund programs that participate in union-busting and violence towards workers. They ask instead that aid be funneled toward social and economic programs that will strengthen the rule of law and protect trade unionists.

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An amendment to the Foreign Operations Appropriation Bill is due to go the floor of the House today, June 9th. The amendment which was co- sponsored by Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Jim Leach (R- IA), asks that $30 million be taken from aerial fumigation of drug crops in Colombia and transferred to the Emergency Relief Migration Account (ERMA). This account allows the U.S. to quickly give aid to humanitarian crisis and refugees around the world. Human rights advocates believe that the increase in aid is desperately needed, especially after the past year when we saw disasters like earthquakes in Pakistan, hurricanes in the Caribbean, and refugees fleeing from violence in Colombia, Darfur, and other areas in Africa. Supporters of the amendment believe that the U.S. should put humanitarian aid as a higher priority in order to increase the goodwill abroad.

The message that supporters have been conveying to Congress has been one of both human rights and money management. Many analysts believe that aerial fumigation of drug crops in Colombia has done little to lessen the amount of drugs on the streets. In addition, fumigation destroys food crops as well the coca plant, which pushes poor farmers and many Afro-Colombian and indigenous communities further into crisis. Callers have been telling their representatives that they want their tax dollars better spent, and not wasted on a failing program.

The amendment has garnered support from human rights organizations across the globe. Both Africa Action, and the One Campaign, sent out an action alerts for people to call congress people to urge them to support the amendment. The debate this afternoon is schedule to last one hour. Many hope that this debate will bring the realities of the effects of U.S. foreign policy on people abroad to the forefront of law-makers consciousness.

To read the action alert for the McGovern Amendment click here

Afro-Colombian Grassroots Leaders Delegation June 19-22 Twelve Afro-Colombian leaders from the grassroots movement and peace communities will ocme together to develop a platform of international solidarity that addresses the human rights crisis, humanitarian crisis, and loss of legal title to land that their communities are confronting. This situation is worsening daily in these rural communities and endangers their very existence as an ethnic group beyond the armed conflict. Topics that will addressed include the illegal appropriation of traditional lands by armed groups and economic actors; threats, massacres, violence perpetrated against thier communities and thier leaders; the crisis of internal displacement; the impact of US military and fumigation programs; and the truth, justice and reparation challenges related to the demobilzation process. Leaders will decide upon strategy and recommendations document directed at the US Congress. Additionally, they will develop mechanisms of communication, cooridination and representation between thier communities and guidelines for work with international supporters, the US Congress and international organizations.

For further information and the schedule of events please contact Marino Cordoba, AFRODES USA, at macobe2001@yahoo.com or Gimena Sanchez, WOLA, at gsanchez@wola.org

About the US Office on Colombia

The U.S. Office on Colombia is an independent non- profit organization, not affiliated with any political party, that seeks to educate U.S. policymakers, the media and the U.S. public about the impact of U.S. policy on Colombia.