Colombians protest US presence

[Judi Lynn]

Wednesday, 29 July 2009
Colombians protest US presence

Colombia : Social and political organizations in Colombia called the people to gather on Tuesday to protest US military presence and defend national sovereignty.

According to the call on Monday, the decision by President Alvaro Uribe to allow the presence of US Army troops in several spots of the Colombian territory, in line with a military pact negotiated with Washington, rides roughshod over Colombia's independence and sovereignty.

Similarly, a call for debate was made by members of the Polo Democratico Alternativo Party at a plenary of the Senate of the Republic, presided over by Senator Gloria Ines Ramirez.

The wave of protest has been joined by members of the executive direction of the Unitary Workers Union (CUT), which demanded that the government respects national sovereignty by closing US bases in Colombian territory.

The CUT said Uribe's decision is against the so-far persued peace paths, thus contributing to worsen internal conflict and trigger external frictions.

These bases granted gracefully by the Uribe regimen to the United States, behind the nation and Congress' backs, add to the more than 700 such bases the United States has around the world, the workers central said in a communique.

Basing foreign troops in Colombia is banned under the Constitution, which only allows transit on prior authorization by Congress and the State Council, the text recalled.

Colombian Communist Party General Secretary Jaime Caicedo said the United States has become a fundamental factor in the continuity of war in the country and regional destabilization

http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/07/29/wld05.asp

[Downwinder]

1. It is spreading, when will it get here?

[IndianaGreen]

2. Basing foreign troops in Colombia is banned under the Constitution

Basing foreign troops in Colombia is banned under the Constitution, which only allows transit on prior authorization by Congress and the State Council, the text recalled

Rigthwingers have a unique approach to Constitutions regardless of which country they live in. They are quick to embrace them, and just as quick to ignore them, depending upon where their financial interests lie.

[Judi Lynn]

3. Speaking of Colombia: "Colombian TV journalist repeatedly threatened"

Colombian TV journalist repeatedly threatened

Luis Fernando Gil, director of the news show Hora 13, broadcast on a local TV station in the western Colombian city of Cartago, has been constantly receiving threats since February, the Foundation for Freedom of the Press (FLIP) reports via IFEX.

The threats began after Gil allowed a local civic committee to appear on his show and announce a planned protest against Cartago’s mayor for a proposed tax increase. The journalist then received a call on his cell phone from a private number: “You have been declared a military target. If you keep supporting protests, you will die.”

Since then, the threats and intimidation haven’t stopped. FLIP considers the situation serious, not only because of the type of threats against the journalist, but also due to general public safety issues in Cartago. For this reason, the foundation urged the authorities to provide effective protection for Gil.

http://knightcenter.utexas.edu/blog/?q=en/node/4718