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| MPs attack Colombia military aid | MPs attack Colombia military aid |
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| MPs from all parties are calling for an end to all UK military aid to Colombia, citing murders and human rights abuses by the country's security forces. | MPs from all parties are calling for an end to all UK military aid to Colombia, citing murders and human rights abuses by the country's security forces. |
| The MPs are to launch a TUC-backed group called Friends of Colombia. | The MPs are to launch a TUC-backed group called Friends of Colombia. |
| Thousands of trade unionists and human rights activists have disappeared or been killed or jailed in Colombia. | Thousands of trade unionists and human rights activists have disappeared or been killed or jailed in Colombia. |
| The UK Foreign Office said it shared many of the MPs' concerns, but added: "We do not believe that isolating Colombia will help solve its problems." | The UK Foreign Office said it shared many of the MPs' concerns, but added: "We do not believe that isolating Colombia will help solve its problems." |
| "Quite the opposite, we believe that we have a strong interest in helping Colombia address its problems of violence and exclusion, human rights abuses and illegal drugs. We cannot turn our back on these problems," the Foreign Office said. | |
| Millions of Colombians have been displaced by the civil conflict there, which spans more than four decades and involves left-wing rebels, right-wing paramilitaries and drug traffickers. | Millions of Colombians have been displaced by the civil conflict there, which spans more than four decades and involves left-wing rebels, right-wing paramilitaries and drug traffickers. |
| Six out of every 10 trade unionists whose lives end in violence come from Colombia, and campaigners have expressed concerns the number of assassinations rose last year to nearly one per week. | Six out of every 10 trade unionists whose lives end in violence come from Colombia, and campaigners have expressed concerns the number of assassinations rose last year to nearly one per week. |
| Colombia does need foreign assistance, but for things such as employment, housing, health and education projects - things that will really benefit the people Jeremy Dear, Justice for Colombia | Colombia does need foreign assistance, but for things such as employment, housing, health and education projects - things that will really benefit the people Jeremy Dear, Justice for Colombia |
| Some 109 trade unionists have been killed since 2007, with teaching being the worst affected sector. | Some 109 trade unionists have been killed since 2007, with teaching being the worst affected sector. |
| This month two members of teaching union Asedar were killed in the same week in the northern Arauca region. The first, Pablo Rodriguez Garavito, was shot by gunmen in a classroom where he worked. | This month two members of teaching union Asedar were killed in the same week in the northern Arauca region. The first, Pablo Rodriguez Garavito, was shot by gunmen in a classroom where he worked. |
| Other groups such as students and journalists are also regularly targeted, threatened and killed in Colombia. | Other groups such as students and journalists are also regularly targeted, threatened and killed in Colombia. |
| The Colombian authorities say the death toll is lower than humanitarian and foreign governments report, and it is working to improve human rights and levels of impunity in the country's military. | |
| In May the Colombian authorities arrested more than 20 soldiers, accusing them of killing civilians and passing the victims off as gunmen killed in combat. | In May the Colombian authorities arrested more than 20 soldiers, accusing them of killing civilians and passing the victims off as gunmen killed in combat. |
| EDM - COLOMBIA MILITARY AID This House notes with concern the increase in trades unionists assassinated in Colombia in 2008notes the recent statement by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights that she believes the Colombian security forces to be involved in "widespread and systematic" killings of civilianswelcomes the findings of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee... [in particular the] conclusion that UK military assistance to Colombia is "inappropriate" given the "serious" human rights situation in Colombiacalls on the government to freeze UK military assistance to Colombia until the regime fully implements the repeated human rights recommendations made by the UN | EDM - COLOMBIA MILITARY AID This House notes with concern the increase in trades unionists assassinated in Colombia in 2008notes the recent statement by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights that she believes the Colombian security forces to be involved in "widespread and systematic" killings of civilianswelcomes the findings of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee... [in particular the] conclusion that UK military assistance to Colombia is "inappropriate" given the "serious" human rights situation in Colombiacalls on the government to freeze UK military assistance to Colombia until the regime fully implements the repeated human rights recommendations made by the UN |
| An inquiry is currently under way into the cases of some 1,500 civilians believed murdered by troops since 2004. The soldiers are accused of killing civilians and presenting them as rebels or paramilitaries to inflate army statistics in their security drive. | An inquiry is currently under way into the cases of some 1,500 civilians believed murdered by troops since 2004. The soldiers are accused of killing civilians and presenting them as rebels or paramilitaries to inflate army statistics in their security drive. |
| Last year, 27 soldiers and officers were fired when the scandal came to light. | Last year, 27 soldiers and officers were fired when the scandal came to light. |
| The launch of the new parliamentary group of MPs on Tuesday will hear from director of human rights at Colombia's TUC-equivalent, the CUT (Central Unitaria de Trabajadores), Luis Alberto Vanegas. | The launch of the new parliamentary group of MPs on Tuesday will hear from director of human rights at Colombia's TUC-equivalent, the CUT (Central Unitaria de Trabajadores), Luis Alberto Vanegas. |
| General secretary of the British Trades Union Congress (TUC) Brendan Barber will also be speaking at the event. | General secretary of the British Trades Union Congress (TUC) Brendan Barber will also be speaking at the event. |
| A Parliamentary Early Day Motion (EDM) on the subject has attracted 242 MPs' signatures, making it the fourth most supported of 1,891 EDMs. | A Parliamentary Early Day Motion (EDM) on the subject has attracted 242 MPs' signatures, making it the fourth most supported of 1,891 EDMs. |
| The motion - sponsored by Manchester Central MP and chair of the new group Tony Lloyd - refers to a statement by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, who believes the Colombian security forces to be involved in "widespread and systematic" killings of civilians. | The motion - sponsored by Manchester Central MP and chair of the new group Tony Lloyd - refers to a statement by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, who believes the Colombian security forces to be involved in "widespread and systematic" killings of civilians. |
| It also welcomed the findings of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee which said UK military assistance to Colombia was "inappropriate" given the "serious" human rights situation there. | It also welcomed the findings of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee which said UK military assistance to Colombia was "inappropriate" given the "serious" human rights situation there. |
| In March Foreign Secretary David Miliband announced an end to bilateral aid projects with the Colombian Ministry of Defence, which it said had been aimed at "human rights and humanitarian de-mining" projects with the country's army. | In March Foreign Secretary David Miliband announced an end to bilateral aid projects with the Colombian Ministry of Defence, which it said had been aimed at "human rights and humanitarian de-mining" projects with the country's army. |
| But he said the UK would continue to fund other human rights work and counter-narcotics projects, including a £900,000 contribution to a UN programme. | But he said the UK would continue to fund other human rights work and counter-narcotics projects, including a £900,000 contribution to a UN programme. |
| The UK has never revealed the total amount it has spent on anti-drugs work with the Colombia army, citing "security concerns". | The UK has never revealed the total amount it has spent on anti-drugs work with the Colombia army, citing "security concerns". |
| Many individual unions and the TUC, led by Brendan Barber, support the call | Many individual unions and the TUC, led by Brendan Barber, support the call |
| In his statement Mr Miliband said the government "shared the concerns of many in the House that there are officers and soldiers of the Colombian Armed Forces who have been involved in, or allowed, abuses". | In his statement Mr Miliband said the government "shared the concerns of many in the House that there are officers and soldiers of the Colombian Armed Forces who have been involved in, or allowed, abuses". |
| But UK-based humanitarian group Justice for Colombia (JFC) said while it welcomed the partial change in policy the UK's continued involvement in counter-narcotics projects remained and was "shrouded in secrecy". | But UK-based humanitarian group Justice for Colombia (JFC) said while it welcomed the partial change in policy the UK's continued involvement in counter-narcotics projects remained and was "shrouded in secrecy". |
| Money was given without conditions and it was impossible to verify who was benefiting, a spokesman said. | Money was given without conditions and it was impossible to verify who was benefiting, a spokesman said. |
| A JFC study on military aid said the Colombian military made "no distinction between counter-narcotics and counter-insurgency operations", and used both as a pretext for targeting civilians, trade unionists and human rights activists. | A JFC study on military aid said the Colombian military made "no distinction between counter-narcotics and counter-insurgency operations", and used both as a pretext for targeting civilians, trade unionists and human rights activists. |
| General Secretary of the UK's National Union of Journalists, and chairman of JFC, Jeremy Dear said it was "unacceptable" for any foreign country to provide aid to the military. | General Secretary of the UK's National Union of Journalists, and chairman of JFC, Jeremy Dear said it was "unacceptable" for any foreign country to provide aid to the military. |
| "Colombia does need foreign assistance, but for things such as employment, housing, health and education projects - things that will really benefit the people," he said. | "Colombia does need foreign assistance, but for things such as employment, housing, health and education projects - things that will really benefit the people," he said. |