22 September 2005

Colombians March against US Free Trade Agreement

Bogota, Sep 22 (Prensa Latina) As the governments of Ecuador, Peru and Colombia negotiate in Cartagena the signing of a Free Trade Agreement with the US on Thursday, some 15,000 Colombians rally their rejection of the deal.

"We want to show the government that there are Colombians who oppose negotiation of the FTA behind the people’s backs," Bolivar province’s Workers Union President Luis Alberto Mendoza told Prensa Latina.

Mendoza said the peaceful march is organized by the Workers Union of Bolivar province and other social organizations.

The union leader added that demonstrators from neighboring provinces, including Córdoba, Cesar, La Guajira and Magdalena joined the march, which began at 09:00 local time from María Auxiliadora church and extended to San Felipe de Barajas Castle.

According to Mendoza, Congress members Venus Albeiro, Jorge Robledo, Luis Carlos Avellaneda, Antonio Peñaloza, Antonio Navarro, Samuel Moreno, Jaime Dussán, Gustavo Petro and Wilson Borja participated in the march.

Former Parliament member Piedad Córdoba and local leaders also attended the demonstration to express their rejection to the FTA.