Colombian communities in uproar over FTA

Colombian Communities in Uproar over FTA

Bogota, Oct 12, 2005 (Prensa Latina) Thousands of Colombians will go on a national community protest against the US Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and possible reelection of President Alvaro Uribe.

Unitary Workers’ Central (CUT) president Carlos Rodriguez told Prensa Latina that more than a half million people would be at protests throughout the country to demonstrate against the negative effects resulting from the FTA’s implementation in sensible sectors of the national economy such as agriculture.

The CUT, along with other labor unions, students and social organizations plus the Colombian Federation of Teachers, called for the strike to show the government people’s rejection of the commercial treaty with Washington.

Rodriguez stressed the protest would start with rallies in front of government buildings and would continue with peaceful demonstrations of workers, students and the general population.

“With this strike and rally we want to reject immediate presidential reelection of president Uribe as it is neither logical nor ethical that the Republic’s president be simultaneously a presidential candidate and head of state and use the nation’s budget for his campaign,” emphasized the CUT president.

The community protest coincides with an indigenous protest that started Sunday and was suppressed Monday by members of antiriot squadron, where one person was killed and more than 40 injured, among them three minors.

source : Prensa Latina

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