Canadians advising against rushing into FTA with Colombia.....

[Judi Lynn]

In the rush to free trade with Colombia, human rights must not be overlooked
KENNETH MILLS

Special to Globe and Mail Update

January 10, 2008 at 12:00 AM EST

~snip~
Colombia is home to the most brutal and protracted theatre of war in the Americas — the sorry predicament that has long fuelled an illegal drug industry and provided cover for assassinations and human rights violations. Mr. Uribe and the best of his allies in government need to make more progress on these fronts, and they might actually thank a prospective trade partner such as Canada for linking opportunities for peace and greater economic prosperity to improvement on these difficult fronts.

In the immediate wake of Mr. Harper's visit, Bogota-based political scientists Sandra Borda and Maria Paz Berger set out several reasons why Canada's contributions in addressing violence, death lists and the ongoing war in this South American nation of 46.8-million people are crucial and might reasonably be awaited: Canada's historic regard for the observance of human rights; an established reputation for multilateral diplomacy based on respect for open dialogue and international institutions; and demonstrated leadership in the resolution of internal conflicts such as those that engulfed Central America in the 1980s. Even closer to their home, Ms. Borda and Ms. Paz Berger noted Canada's key participation in two rounds of negotiations with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), in the Group of 24 developing countries, and in the movement to eradicate land mines in Colombia as elsewhere.

For these and other historic reasons, Canada is respected and able to punch far above her apparent international weight in terms of political and moral influence.

The social justice Canadians expect at home is intimately tied to our vision and contributions abroad. At this moment, Canada can do more to realize a potential for creative engagement in Colombia, and across the Americas and wider world, and in ways that will ultimately bolster the kinds of trust, respect and commercial relationships Prime Minister Harper and President Uribe seek.

If the North American Free Trade Agreement between Canada, Mexico and the United States is a kind of blueprint for other bi- and multilateral relationships linking Canada with countries in the Caribbean and Latin American regions, then we must ask to just what a NAFTA amounts to if the wealthier, northerly partners detach economic concerns from human rights and a wider vision.

Colombian observers, like other Latin Americans, are informed and wise neighbours when they remind Canadians to stand for something more.

More:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080109.wcomment0110/BNStory/International/home

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Is it possible these guys can all be spray painted "commies," too? Very doubtful.

Always the first through the last attempt by wingers is to label everyone who disapproves of their greedy, violent ways as "communists."