Oh How Can we Keep Silent? Canada’s Free Trade Negotiations with Colombia

By Rebecca Bartel

 

Colombia is home to the largest population of internally displaced persons in the world. A state of internal armed conflict claims some 3,000 lives every year. Military and para-military forces are known to commit gross human rights violations. A complex political scandal has implicated President Alvaro Uribe and various members of his government in having close relationships with paramilitary militias.

Church leaders and communities continue to be targetted by all armed actors involved in the war. In 2006, 68 cases of human rights violations, representing 223 victims and 289 aggressive acts, were registered by a Mennonite Central Committee partner project dedicated to documenting violations of human rights abuses suffered by Protestant Churches in the country. Just 2 months ago, the same MCC partner was attacked in a politically motivated assault, intended to instill fear in the hearts of those working to bring about Christ-centred social change and a just peace for all.

Yet, the Canadian government has deemed Colombia and President Alvaro Uribe’s current administration a prime destination for increased Canadian investment, and has begun free trade negotiations. In turning a blind-eye to humanitarian concerns and favouring Canadian business interests, Harper’s new Foreign Policy agenda for the region is less concerned with human life than that of the United States House of Representatives. The US Congress has rejected ratifying a bilateral free trade agreement with Colombia until clear improvement in the government’s human rights record and ties with paramilitary groups are entirely severed. But Prime Minister Harper has called the expectation of negotiations to be contingent on social and political justice “ridiculous”(The Economist, “Saying no to Free Trade, July 18, 2007.)

As Canada attempts to establish a new place for itself in the international scene, Canadians should be called to hold our government accountable for misguided initiatives that not only harm our international reputation but privilege corporate interests over human security.

Who Benefits?

Canadian investment in the Americas is 3 times its investment in Asia. In the last 3 years, Canadian investment grew by 79 percent in the region, compared to an average of 15 percent in the rest of the world. In Colombia, Canadian investment is around USD$2 billion, mostly in the oil, gas, mining, and service sectors; Canadian mining companies in Colombia are increasing by an average of 1.4 every month. The concentration of Canadian investment in the extractive industry in the country is generating profound concern around the trade talks.

It is in the areas of the country where extractive industry companies are operating that some 75 percent of human rights violations take place. Currently, various foreign extractive companies are under investigation for employing paramilitary militias in the protection of their infrastructure. The paramilitary groups are known to assassinate or issue death threats against union leaders, making Colombia the most dangerous country in the world for unionists. They also force local communities to allow companies to freely explore resource deposits by threatening death or displacing them.

And corporate Canada will benefit. The Colombian government is issuing huge concessions to foreign companies to ensure them of significant profits. Some companies are guaranteed royalties of up to 80 percent of their operations. The argument of more free trade deals bringing more development and even helping Colombia “renounce violence,” as Harper brazenly suggested (Richard Foot, CanWest News Service, July 16) is truly troubling.

Unfortunately, more details on the deal cannot be divulged, since the negotiations are happening behind closed doors with little participation from civil society in either country.

 

What can we do?

The benefits and privileges of being Canadian allow us to choose. We can choose our political leaders, where we buy our groceries, what church we will attend, and whether or not we witness prophetically to neighbours and policy makers.

As Christians we have less choice. We are called to live justly and peaceably, not only in our own communities, but with the family of God in the world. Jesus calls us to lead lives of truth; being honest with ourselves and our leaders about what free trade deals might really mean for a country in the midst of a war that our Prime Minister is choosing to ignore. We cannot ignore it. We cannot keep silent.

Pray

For Colombian churches as they continue to witness as Salt and Light in the darkness of violence and injustice. For ourselves as we seek to be Salt and Light in our communities and in our country. For negotiators as they continue to determine the terms of agreement for the Free Trade Agreement.

Learn

Visit the MCC Colombia Website (www.mcc.org/colombia) to learn more about the country and the exciting and sad things happening there.

Act

Write a letter to your Member of Parliament expressing your concern for Colombia and Canada’s new free trade initiative. Clarify that a free trade deal should NOT happen if not contingent upon a clear improvement in the government’s human rights record, a complete severing of government ties to paramilitary groups, and a verification that the demobilization process is serving to bring peace to the country and not more violence. In addition, Canada and Colombia must assure that the agreement will be justly negotiated, keeping in mind the needs of the marginalized and needy in both countries.

 

Rebecca Bartel is currently serving with MCC as Policy Analyst and Educator for Latin America and the Caribbean. She has a Masters Degree in Political Science and Armed Conflict Resolution from Los Andes University in Bogotá. Originally from Winnipeg, she has lived in Bogotá for the last 5 years, studying as well as working with local Colombian NGOs in community development before beginning her work with MCC.  .