Colombia’s president addresses European Parliament – MEPs stage protest

Despite widespread condemnation of his visit, the president will address MEPs next Tuesday 10th February 2004.

The protest is being organised by campaign groups War on Want and Justice for Colombia, and comes just days after a delegation from these organisations returns from a whistle stop tour of Colombia’s most dangerous regions.

MEPs will be handcuffed and gagged, in a show of solidarity with the Colombian trade union movement that sees hundreds of trade unionists killed, disappeared and displaced every year.

President Uribe faces widespread accusations from human rights organisations that he is responsible for dragging greater numbers of civilians into Colombia’s human rights crisis. He is introducing a series of policies – the ‘democratic security’ programme, including the creation of a peasant army, an informer network and militarised zones – which human rights groups believe will make the already catastrophic human rights situation much worse.

Recently returned MEP Richard Howitt and TUC President Roger Lyons will address a press conference at 10.30 on the morning of 10th February.