Colombian opposition urges for FTA referendum
Prensa Latina, Havana
Colombian Opposition Urges for FTA Referendum
12 February 2005
Bogota, Feb 11 (Prensa Latina) Detractors of the Free Trade Agreement Marched Thursday throughout the main Colombian cities urging for a referendum to sanction or disapprove the signing of the accords.
The FTA negotiations with the United States begun on May 2004 together with Ecuador and Peru to be implemented it on the first quarter of 2006, have found a strong domestic resistance from union, political leaders, small and median businessmen and tycoons.
The strongest resistance came from the Regional Indigenous Council of Cauca that will run an inquiry at five municipalities of the southeastern Colombian Department. The turn out will be submitted to Parliament to create a precedent.
The other goal is to explain to what point the agreement threatens their territory, culture, diversity and natural resources, explained Feliciano Valencia, representative of Indigenous communities.
Democratic Alternative Rep. Wilson Borja said the FTAA will further enhance the economic opening promoted by President Cesar Gaviria as agricultural imports soared from US$700,00 tonne to US$7 million and the figure may jump to US$11 million under the FTAA.
Many other sectors have become aware of the damages their sectors will suffer hence if the FTAA is approved by Congress there will be an appeal since acceptance conditions every law approved thereafter.
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