Speech by Rep. Lane Evans (D-Illinois), March 6, 2002

Speech by Rep. Lane Evans (D-Illinois), March 6, 2002

Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my support and solidarity with the people of Columbia in their pursuit of stability and peace. Along with my colleagues, I condemn the horrible violence that has been inflicted on the Columbian people by the AUC, ELN, and the FARC. But, I cannot in good faith support a resolution that expresses praise to Columbia for improving it's human rights record, when in fact it has eroded.

Many Member of Congress have joined me in expressing their profound concern to the Columbian Government over the many murders of trade union leaders that have gone without investigation or prosecution. The scourge of murders of trade unionists in Columbia is the highest in the world, thereby making Columbia notorious as the most dangerous place in the world to be a union member. The government of Columbia has over and over again demonstrated their unwillingness to pursue prosecution of these attacks on organized labor. Columbia's de facto immunity extended to these assassins has been

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clearly condemned by the International Labor Organization, United Nations Human Rights Commission, Amnesty International, and our own Department of State.
Columbia can drastically reduce the violence against trade unionists. It begins with effectively halting the impunity enjoyed by these perpetrators, many of which have credible ties to the military and police. Columbia must aggressively prosecute these criminals and restore its people's confidence in justice.

Mr. Speaker, this resolution fall short in condemning the impunity enjoyed by human rights violators and the violence perpetrated against all levels of society, including organized labor. Many of my fellow Members have actively engaged the Columbian Government with these concerns but without success. Passing a resolution basically congratulating Columbia on improving its human rights record is wrong and counterproductive.

It is my hope that Columbia will choose to aggressively improve it's human rights record, so in the future we may pass a similar resolution, with unanimous consent.

As of March 7, 2002, this document was also available online at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r107:@FIELD(FLD003+h)+@FIELD(DDATE+20020306)