Colombia Murders Another Trade Unionist (no big surprise)

[cyu]

http://www.nupge.ca/content/4978/general-secretary-colombian-sugar-cane-cutters-union-assassinated

Daniel Aguirre becomes the seventh Colombian trade unionist killed this year, and the 61st since Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos took office in August 2010.

He led the strike that led to the creation of SINALCORTEROS, now an affiliate of the International Food and Agricultural Workers’ Association (IUF). He led strikes of 18,000 sugar cane cutters in 2008 which resulted in labour pacts that made organizing less cumbersome.

Recently, he had been pushing for revisions to Colombia’s labour statutes to raise them to International Labor Organisation (ILO) standards. Aguirre was also known as a strong opponent of Free Trade Agreements with the U.S. and Canada.

[Zealot]

My lecturer tried to tell me today that the reason Colombia is such a mess right now is because it's too democratic. I had a good laugh.

[Dennis the 'Bloody Peasant']

Awful that this is still going on, remember hearing about this shit happening in columbia years ago (think it was Mark Thomas offering a bounty on George Bush because he was as guilty of multiple murders by supporting Columbian govmnt with arms etc)

[wsg1991]

pretty fuck up , i don't think any kind of reformist \ democratic approach is even thinkable in a country where syndicalist are being assassinated like that neither syndicalist way either ; any change there can only be achieved through a bloody armed revolution ; the problem is that USA is pouring military aid there , pretty hard situation

[cyu]

My lecturer tried to tell me today that the reason Colombia is such a mess right now is because it's too democratic.

I wonder how much cognitive dissonance he'd suffer if exposed to this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_Index
1 Norway
2 Iceland
4 Sweden
6 Australia
8 Canada
9 Finland
12 Ireland
14 Germany
18 United Kingdom
19 United States
25 Spain
31 Italy
32 Greece
39 India
55 Colombia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Press_Freedom_Index
1 Finland
1 Norway
6 Iceland
10 Canada
12 Sweden
15 Ireland
16 Germany
28 United Kingdom
30 Australia
37 El Salvador
39 Spain
47 United States
61 Italy
70 Greece
80 Chile
97 Guatemala
135 Honduras
142 Russia
143 Colombia

[cyu]

any change there can only be achieved through a bloody armed revolution ; the problem is that USA is pouring military aid there , pretty hard situation

That is in fact the precise reason why the American regime is pouring in aid. They may call it a part of the drug war, they may claim it is to help development, but it's no big secret that the money is to prop up the local plutocracy.

It's a continuation of the policy that developed during the Cold War. Since the American regime during that time saw the Soviet Union as its major competitor and biggest threat, it did anything (and I do mean anything) it could to stop countries from "going communist or socialist" - since the American regime saw all such countries as potential friends of the Soviet Union, and by extension, enemies of their own regime.

"Protecting democracy" was just the rhetoric when in fact the American regime didn't give a damn about democracy. If it could save capitalism by throwing out democracy, then it enthusiastically threw out democracy, as can be seen in some of the examples at http://www.huppi.com/kangaroo/CIAtimeline.html

[--Navarro--]

the murder rate of syndicalists in Colombia is about the same as the total homicide rate. syndicalists are assasinated just as any other population group in Colombia, because violence is still quite high.

[#FF0000]

the murder rate of syndicalists in Colombia is about the same as the total homicide rate. syndicalists are assasinated just as any other population group in Colombia, because violence is still quite high.

I think the difference here would be that unionists are specifically targeted, though.

[--Navarro--]

I think the difference here would be that unionists are specifically targeted, though.

Yes, but I don't know if it's systematical...

[skitty]

Yes, but I don't know if it's systematical...Very systematical; and the victims are anyone getting in between wealthy, influential persons, transnational corps and money.

[La Guaneña]

I think the difference here would be that unionists are specifically targeted, though.

Not only the unionists, but natives, poor people and landless peasants are also a primary target. This kind of class violence is uncomparable to "common violence", and might even be insulting in some cases.

[--Navarro--]

Very systematical; and the victims are anyone getting in between wealthy, influential persons, transnational corps and money.

I don't know it and I'm not sure you know it, what are your sources?

[skitty]

I don't know it and I'm not sure you know it, what are your sources?If this link doesn't work find the "Dutch Woman FARC Fighter" post in Politics:http://forusa.org/sites/default/files/colombialandbooklet.pdf
I had the pleasure of meeting a brave soul who had volunteered to live with those who are threatened with violence and I believe what he told me.

[skitty]

http://forusa.org/sites/default/files/colombialandbooklet.pdf

[#FF0000]

I don't know it and I'm not sure you know it, what are your sources?

These things are almost common knowledge but if you want a specific example of it, go look up the "Coca Cola Case", where Coke was accused of hiring thugs from the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia to gun down unionists.

It's no secret that trade unionists in Columbia are specifically targeted for attack and assassination in Columbia, dude.

[--Navarro--]

I didn't find any mention to union traders (especifically) on that link.

It also mentions a lot of bad and very real things that are happening in Colombia, but all is taken with such levety that makes these subjects more blurry to the reader. It also has a lot of "easy statements", like the one suggesting all the military in Colombia (we're talking about hundreds of thousands of men) is linked with paramilitary groups, or the one related to the impact of NAFTA in Mexico. That, and a lot of imprecise data (number of displaced people, number of massacres in the last years, etc).

[--Navarro--]

Also, which one is "Dutch Woman FARC Fighter", the BBC interview with the Dutch girl?



This kind of class violence is uncomparable to "common violence", and might even be insulting in some cases.

It's common and naturalized in some cases, and it affects union traders, women or poor people the same.


These things are almost common knowledge but if you want a specific example of it, go look up the "Coca Cola Case", where Coke was accused of hiring thugs from the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia to gun down unionists.

It's no secret that trade unionists in Columbia are specifically targeted for attack and assassination in Columbia, dude.

Yes, I'm Colombian (with two "o") and I know perfectly well some unionists are targeted, but we're discussing if it's systematicall and the Government is behind it, and I can't assume aprioristically that every time an unionist is killed, it's because of his/her work, in a country with the rates of violence of Colombia. Mostly because, as I said, the unionists murder rate is about the same as the national murder rate. I can't assume such things in such naive and condescending way as many posters here do without being well informed first about the subject.

[erupt]

Very similar thread about the homeless in Colombia; it reads very similar, especially when it comes to Navarro's comments. You still never gave me the source I asked of you in that other thread, my friend.

[--Navarro--]

I replied on this thread a few hours ago, but I don't know if mods approved post or my reply is on "waitlist"....

[#FF0000]

Yes, I'm Colombian (with two "o") and I know perfectly well some unionists are targeted, but we're discussing if it's systematicall and the Government is behind it, and I can't assume aprioristically that every time an unionist is killed, it's because of his/her work, in a country with the rates of violence of Colombia. Mostly because, as I said, the unionists murder rate is about the same as the national murder rate. I can't assume such things in such naive and condescending way as many posters here do without being well informed first about the subject.

Nah get the fuck out of here wit htaht because no one is going to fall for that hella pedantic "WELL NOT EVERY TRADE UNIONIST IS MURDERED SYSTEMATICALLY HEH". Yeah, there are trade unionists that are murdered, but when the bulk of them have been killed my paramilitaries, then yeah, you can bet they're being targeted systematically.

[--Navarro--]

Nah get the fuck out of here wit htaht because no one is going to fall for that hella pedantic "WELL NOT EVERY TRADE UNIONIST IS MURDERED SYSTEMATICALLY HEH".

that is not my point at all and your reply is silly and fallacious.

also, did you saw the title of this thread? OP and everyone just assumed that it was "Colombia" (the Government?) the author of the assasination, just out of convenience. some quality discussions and analysis of information you have here m8.

[Paul Pott]

I don't think the Colombian government itself is doing this. Rather, this is the work of paramilitary groups, probably acting on the behalf of some foreign corporation or local oligarch.

The point is, there's no fine line between them. The paramilitaries have many connections at all levels of government.

[--Navarro--]

I don't think the Colombian government itself is doing this. Rather, this is the work of paramilitary groups, probably acting on the behalf of some foreign corporation or local oligarch.

The point is, there's no fine line between them. The paramilitaries have many connections at all levels of government.

I agree. It's not very useful to understand the "the Government" or "the State" as homogeneous entities guided unitarily by I don't know which conspiration. There are many processes (even contradictory ones) happening inside any state apparatus.