Raul Fernandez

[Texto en español a continuación]

The President of the United States has announced a push to sign “free trade” treaties, South Korea being first in line. Two things to note about the announcement: first, that Obama put it in the context of doubling American exports in the next five years; second, that he described it as the United States coming to the defense of South Korea from military threats from North Korea.

Since 2007 corporate media in the United States have vigorously promoted the passage of the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement, and coverage of this topic by the Los Angeles Times is representative of the media campaign in general.

Jorge Enrique Robledo, Bogotá -- April 3, 2009

Every State has the duty and the right to militarily confront those who illegally take up arms against it. Although increased spending on arms and training does tend to improve a military's combat capability, as can be seen by looking at what's happened in Colombia in recent years, at the same time this doesn't mean that the ends justify the means. Governments are entrusted with solemn obligations and under no circumstances should they violate the law. It's unacceptable to sacrifice national sovereignty to improve military performance, because a country that loses the capacity for self-determination will never be able to solve its own problems.

November 19, 2008 By Charles Mostoller

The Free Trade Agreement would exacerbate an already grave humanitarian crisis.

The U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Colombia is back in the spotlight, after President Bush allegedly conditioned his support for a bailout of the auto industry on the Democrats dropping their opposition to the FTA.

Defending the Rights of Corporations at the Cost of the Rights of the People
October 05, 2008 By Hector Mondragon

Presented in Chicago September 5, 2008

Greetings to all and my appreciation to those who are present here, to hear my reflections despite my inability to be there with you in person.

I've had to turn to the help of technological experts to be able to share with you as had been planned.

You know that I've come to speak about the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the United States and Colombia. This is an important theme currently in our countries; it's a topic of much debate.

Hoffa Says U.S. Should Not Deal With Government Linked to Death Squads

WASHINGTON, April 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa applauded the National Conference of State Legislatures for rejecting a resolution of support for the Colombia FTA.

The NCSL, in Washington for its Spring Forum, on Friday voted down a resolution in support of the Colombia FTA.

"I don't see how state leaders could support a deal with a government linked to right-wing death squads," Hoffa said. "One out of every 10 of Colombia's 268 federal lawmakers is in jail. One out of every 10, including the Senate's president, is being investigated. Many of those are from President Alvaro Uribe's own party."

Just three days ago, President Uribe's family member and political ally was arrested for supporting paramilitaries that kill trade unionists.

by Raul Fernandez and Daniel Whitesell

Something peculiar happens in United States political and media circles when the discussion is about “free trade” with Colombia.

Take for instance the topic of labor conditions. We have grown accustomed to serious and needed condemnations against child labor, sweatshop conditions, etc, when discussing trade issues with China, Thailand and other countries. This is as it should be.

By Peter Cohn. Thu. Apr. 24, 2008. Congress Daily AM.

The AFL-CIO Wednesday filed the first legal complaint with the Labor Department over the treatment of workers in Guatemala, alleging violations of the labor chapter of the Central America Free Trade Agreement, which Congress passed in 2005.

Miami Herald, Fri, Apr. 18, 2008. By PABLO BACHELET

An irate Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos set aside diplomatic niceties and lashed out Friday at opponents of a U.S. free trade pact with Colombia, accusing them of distorting the country's record on violence.

CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS. April 18, 2008 – 2:05 p.m. By Timothy R. Homan

Colombia’s top officials have received no assurances that the pending free-trade agreement will come up for a vote this year, following last week’s House vote to suspend action on the pact’s implementing legislation.