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OSSTF District 11- Thames Valley
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District 11 Office |
Education Matters Online
Feature
Volume 2, Issue 4: May 10, 2004
Meeting "L": Unmasking Injustice in ColombiaBy Bryan Smith, Chairperson, OSSTF District 11 Human Rights & Status of Women Committee |
Liliany arrived to a roomful of questions. The answers are based on her responses, on information brought with her, and on other research. Before her arrival, many had asked themselves questions such as:
 | If one of the women here were a flower worker, ie working at
"cut flowers" for stores here, how many hours would she work
a day, what would she get paid, what would be her working conditions,
what effect would her job have on her health?
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| If the Colombian government knew you were going to make a documentary
about agriculture today in Colombia, what would they want to have in it?
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| If the Colombian government knew you were going to make a
documentary about agriculture today in Colombia, what would they want
left out?
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| If the Colombian government knew you were going to make a documentary
about agriculture today in Colombia, what would they do to you?
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| Who owns Colombia’s oil?
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| Why are there so many landless farmers in Colombia?
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| Why are there so many guns in Colombia?
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| Why are there so many transnational corporations in Colombia?
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| Would you like a Coke?
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Liliany told us about the way in which Fenuagro, the farmers’ and argicultural workers’ union tries to prevent the loss of all of its leadership. When a death-squad targets a union leader, they move the leader from one part of the country to another so as not to lose the knowledge and skills of that person while preserving life. Only as a last resort would they consider having a leader go into exile. Despite that, CUT in Colombia and its equivalent, the CLC in Canada, agreed two years ago that at least 50 union leaders were in such grave danger of torture and death from paramilitaries that Canadian unions would undertake to sponsor them as refugees to Canada.
Faced with "interminable questions" Liliany responded with good humour. Yes, she would answer number 26. Yes, if people at the Human Rights meeting had more questions, she would talk about the issues raised. Would she like a Coke? Had she seen the "Coke Float" sticker? She would explain that Coke is only one of the transnationals set up in Colombia.
Members wishing additional information on the situation in Colombia should:
| talk to the Human Rights representative from your branch; |
| ask the Branch Human Rights representative for information distributed at the meeting; |
| read Common Threads, describing conditions of sweatshop workers in Guatemala and extrapolate for another Central American country |
| attend future meetings of the District Human Rights & Status of Women Committee. Tuesday, May 18 is the next scheduled date for a 4:00 meeting. All members are welcome; |
| consult www.killercoke.org/042004.htm or www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Transnational_corps/Stop_Killer_Coke_Colombia.html or www.wsws.org/articles/2002/sep2002/colo_s19.shtml or www.neravt.com/left/hotspots/colombia.htm or www.panna.org/resources/panups/panup_20040212.dv.html; |
| do not believe that Clear and Present Danger is anything other than a Hollywood movie set in a fictional country, called Colombia either by coincidence or malice; |
| be aware that some Colombians in the London area are financed by the managers of plants owned by transnational corporations and may tell a different story; |
| read the Spring issue from the Council of Canadians’ magazine. |
Unlike many refugees and members of workers’ unions in Colombia and other parts of the world, Liliany authorized us at the meeting and afterwards to use her name. Often refugees do not want to make public statements for fear of repercussions on family or reprisal attacks on friends at home. In her case, it is apparently safe to do so. We hope that it will soon be safe for teachers, workers and farmers in Colombia.
