Journalist speaks out vs. union threats in Colombia

Journalist and documentarian Hollman Morris has spoken out against the abuses on labor union members in Colombia. Morris- who fled Colombia in October after receiving serious death threats- voiced his concern while the Canadian government continues the latest round of free trade negotiations with the South American country:

"I don't think they told (Prime Minister Stephen Harper) that more trade unionists are killed in Colombia than in any other country in the world," said Morris, who was to meet with officials at the Foreign Affairs Department later Friday.

"What this shows is a blind support. ... I'm not sure whether the Canadian public would accept this from Prime Minister Harper, or whether the Parliament would accept his memory loss."

Morris is currently in Canada on a speaking tour sponsored by Human Rights Watch (HRW). As we mentioned earlier this week, HRW criticized the harassment of union members in Colombia.

Image- IFEX

Sources- The Latin Americanist, Canadian Press, International Herald Tribune