David Begg's letter to the new Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Eamon Gilmore
1 Apr 2011
"Postpone the implementation of the EU/Colombia Free Trade Agreement until the human rights situation on the ground improves"
In a letter to the new Minister For Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore, the General Secretary of Congress David Begg writes about the proposed Free Trade Agreement between EU and Colombia. He hopes that the new Government will signal a shift in the Irishposition to one of making it clear to the Colombian regime that trade priveleges with the EU will only be extended to countries that show respect for their international human rights obligations.
He emphasises that "a regime such as the current Colombian regime which clearly violates their own citizen's human and trade union rights should not be rewarded and the Irish government should do all in its power to gain allies within the EU to adopt such a stance and postpone the implementation of the EU/Colombia Free Trade Agreement until the human rights situation on the ground improves"
Read the letter here:
Dear Tanaiste,
I am writing to you regarding our ongoing work on the human rights situation in Colombia and the proposed EU/Colombia Free Trade Agreement. You will remember that you and other TDs of the Labour party met with Jack O'Connor and a delegation from Colombia headed by their Trade Union Congress (CUT) General Secretary Tarsicio Mora on the 9th of December last year. We and our Colombian guests were very pleased with the solidarity expressed by the Labour Party at this meeting and indeed by Fine Gael deputies whom we also met.
As you are aware, Colombia is the most dangerous country in the world to be trade unionist. Research carried out by Amnesty International indicates co-coordinated strategies between the Colombia military and paramilitary death squads to make the work of trade unionists impossible through assassination and intimidation. Over 2,500 trade unionists have been killed in Colombia in the last 15 years whilst trying to defend the right to collective bargaining and freedom of speech.The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) states that the conviction rate for the murders of trade union members in Colombia is 1%. It is said in Colombia that: "To be a trade unionist is to walk with a gravestone on your back."
Despite the ongoing attempts by the Colombian Government to portray an improving situation, the reality on the ground in Colombia regarding human and trade union rights is in fact worsening. Jack O'Connor, who took part in an international human rights delegation to Colombia in July last year, reported for example the burial of hundreds of unidentified bodies at La Macarena, and the situation regarding the mothers of Soacha. 52 trade unionists were murdered in 2010, six more than were murdered in 2009.
It is in this context we must view the Free Trade Agreement between EU and Colombia that has been proposed by the EU-Commission. I do not believe that an upgrading of the trade relationship is the right answer to such a serious situation. On the contrary an upgrading would weaken the whole argument even further, as the Colombian Government would know that human rights were not a priority, as they were never sanctioned for their constant violations under the GSP+ Agreement. It is a question of showing Colombia and the world that crimes against human rights are not to be rewarded.
I am proud that in October 2009 all 12 Irish Members of the European Parliament agreed with our view and co-signed our letter to the EU Commissioner on this issue. I am also proud that the Irish Senate on the 3rd of February 2010 passed Senator Joe O'Toole's motion giving full support to Congress' and the MEPs position on the Free Trade Agreement.
I hope that your appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs will signal a shift in the Irish Government position from one of constructive engagement which has clearly failed, to one of making it clear to the Colombian regime that trade privelelges with the EU will only be extended to countries that show respect for their international human rights obligations. A regime such as the current Colombian regime which clearly violates their own citizen's human and trade union rights should not be rewarded and the Irish government should do all in its power to gain allies within the EU to adopt such a stance and postpone the implementation of the EU/Colombia Free Trade Agreement until the human rights situation on the ground improves.
Best regards,
David Begg.
General Secretary