Letters to the editor: Trade pact bad for human rights & The guerrillas in their midst

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.sacbee.com/110/story/891490-p2.html

Trade pact bad for human rights

In his April 20 column "Democratic Party line and Pelosi are bad for free trade," Daniel Weintraub glosses over gross human rights violations and ignores basic economic facts.

The rate of violence perpetrated against trade unionists in Colombia is appalling. Twenty-two unionists have been murdered this year alone (almost double the number at this time last year). More than 400 unionists have been murdered during President Alvaro Uribe's tenure for simply exercising their fundamental right to improve their lives by forming and joining unions, and 97 percent of the time, no one is ever held accountable for these crimes.

Trade agreements should empower workers and lift up the poor, but the proposed Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) would do neither. It won't translate into more U.S. jobs or better wages, and would also be detrimental to Colombia's economy. In fact, according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America, the agreement could wind up costing Colombia up to $75 million.

The Colombia FTA is a bad deal for workers in America and Colombia. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is right in demanding that our trade agreements promote democracy, protect workers' rights and unequivocally condemn violence.

- Art Pulaski, Sacramento

Executive Secretary-Treasurer,

California Labor Federation


The guerrillas in their midst

I support Ecuador and Venezuela for cutting ties with Colombia. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have caused nothing but massacre and turmoil with Venezuela and Ecuador.

Is the Colombian government doing anything to stop guerrilla groups from terrorizing the bordering lands? Drug lords run countries like Colombia, and the weak government can't do anything to control them, and the government can't step in.

Is the United States doing anything about this?

We put our 10 cents in everywhere promoting world peace and democracy. What are we doing about these guerrilla gorillas?

- Salleigh Knox, Elk Grove