Coalition calls on Collins to take stand on Colombia pact

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Coalition calls on Collins to take stand on Colombia pact
April 29, 2008

LEWISTON, Maine—A coalition of activist groups is calling on Sen. Susan Collins to take a position on a proposed free trade agreement with Colombia.

more stories like thisMembers of the Maine Fair Trade Campaign held a press conference in Lewiston on Tuesday saying Collins has been ducking the issue. Supporters rallied with duck posters, quacking noisemakers and duck bills.

The coalition is opposed to a Colombia free trade agreement, claiming Colombia has a history of violence against organized labor and that such an agreement would be bad for Maine and the U.S.

Collins has not yet taken a stand on a Colombia free trade agreement. It's unlikely it will come up in the Senate anytime soon after being blocked in the House of Representatives from going to a vote.



Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/local/maine/articles/2008/04/29/coalition_calls_on_collins_to_take_stand_on_colombia_pact/

[Judi Lynn]

1. Is there a trustworthy Spanish speaking DU'er who would look at this?

First, here's the google translation of an article in Colombia's largest newspaper, El Tiempo which just doesn't really come through well, at ALL. It's possible, however, to see that this is important, concerning, I think, a session in which Uribe was question in connection to the investigation of his cousin, Mario Uribe Escobar.

I'll post the google English, "ginglish," then the link to El Tiempo:

April 29, 2008

Alvaro Uribe extended at this hour complaint against former president of the Court, July Cesar Valencia

In the midst of a great safety device, the agent arrived at nine o'clock in the judicial proceedings, and is interrogated by the representative investigator, Carlos Ramiro Chavarria.

Defending Valencia said that there is no possibility of reconciliation.

President Uribe did not want to give statements to the entry of the Commission on accusations of the House, where he conducts the expanded complaint.

The representative researcher, Carlos Ramiro Chavarria, said that the diligence was expected that the agent would confirm his allegations by insult against Valencia, who said in an interview that the Head of State had called for the claim by linking the process to the parapolitics his cousin, former Senator Mario Uribe.

"The President will make an extension, will possibly include some facts that were not. Arriving Valencia or its proxy, they might also ask," said Chavarria. Indeed, the defence lawyer, Ramiro Bejarano, was present.

Bejarano, former director of DAS and strong critic of the Head of State, ruled to be giving a reconciliation with the agent in the process.

"We have spent some preliminary discussions between different people have spoken and I can not see there being any possibility of reconciliation," said Bejarano.

The lawyer described the denunciation of President Uribe against Valencia as a "trick" because he said, occurs in an "unfortunate historical moment when the Supreme Court is trying mostly to friends and allies of Mr President."

He hoped that the Commission accused acted "within the canons of law".

Spanish version:
http://www.eltiempo.com/politica/2008-04-29/ARTICULO-WEB-NOTA_INTERIOR-4131696.html