In a detailed fifteen-page letter sent last week to Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, Representative George Miller (D-CA) urged Uribe to take action to improve investigation and prosecution for the murders of nearly 2,700 labor union leaders in his country since 1986. The vast majority of these murders remain uninvestigated by the Attorney General’s office. In addition, Miller outlines how Mr. Uribe can build a transparent and sustainable system of justice to combat anti-labor violence and bring Colombian labor laws up to ILO standards.
The letter comes at a timely moment, as last ditch efforts have been organized to pass a new US-Colombia Free Trade Agreement. The Uribe government sent an 80 person delegation to lobby Congress last week and tomorrow, September 19, the Colombian president will meet with President Bush to work to pass the FTA.
To read the full text of Miller’s letter click here.