Canadian Peace Congress


Canadian Peace Congress
The Canadian Peace Congress hosted the 2nd Tri-Lateral Conference with our fraternal intenational organizations in the US and Mexico which was held in Toronto ON October 2-4, 2009.

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Member of World Peace Council


SASKATCHEWAN PEACE NEWS VOLUME 16 No. 2

5/14/2008 7:04:05 PM - Regina Peace Council

SASKATCHEWAN PEACE NEWS
VOLUME 16 No. 2
May 2008
WORLD PEACE ASSEMBLY MEETS IN CARACAS
A six-member delegation from the Canadian Peace Congress was among the 285 delegates and participants taking part in the 17th World Assembly of the World Peace Council (WPC). Convened in the World Capital of Peace and Anti-Imperialist Struggle, Caracas, Venezuela, the enthusiastic Assembly took place April 9-10 and culminated in adoption of an inspiring Final Declaration.. The WPC Assembly was followed by the World Peace Conference April 11-12.
The event was hosted by the Venezuelan affiliate of the World Peace Council, Comite de Solidaridad Internacional (COSI) with the full endorsement and support of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
The Canadian delegation presented a statement in the Plenary Session of the Assembly April 9, actively participated in the Regional Commission of the Americas and was honoured to chair Panel 3 of the World Peace Conference April 11 and 12 on the theme Defending Peoples Rights (labour, education, civil liberties, democratic freedoms and social rights). The Canadian Peace Congress was elected to the 40-member Executive Committee of the World Peace Council. Canadian delegates also participated in a tri-lateral meeting of WPC members from North America - MOMPADE (Mexico), the U.S. Peace Council and the Canadian Peace Congress - where the Canadiandelegation accepted the proposal to host a tri-lateral meeting in Canada in the autumn of 2009. The meeting will be organized with active participation of the WPC Regional Co-ordinator for the Americas, MOVPAZ of Cuba.
The Canadian Peace Congress delegates had fruitful discussions with many WPC affiliates, delegations, members and personalities and received many requests for Canadian Peace Congress documents and publications. The Canadian Peace Congress website, and Canadian participation in the World Peace Council publication Peace Messenger were frequently commented upon. Many WPC delegates could be seen wearing the lapel pin of the Regina Peace Council, widely distributed by the Regina Peace Councils two delegates. Canadian Peace Congress delegates took many photos of WPC delegations, personalities and events that will be posted to the Congress website.
The Regina Peace Council, Saskatchewan affiliate of the Canadian Peace Congress, made a moving presentation to outgoing World Peace Council president, Orlando Fundora Lopez in the Plaza of the Teresa Carreno theatre. Fundora, who was a frequent visitor to Canada, participated in the World Peace Forum in Vancouver, B.C., June 2006, and actively encouraged and supported the re-invigorating of the Canadian Peace Congress. He was elected by the WPC Assembly to the post of Honorary President of the World Peace Council. President Fundora made a point of extending his warm fraternal greetings to Canadian Peace Congress Honorary Chair, Dr. John Hanly Morgan.
The Canadian Peace Congress delegation is preparing a full report, supplemented by individual delegate sub-reports, to advise all Councils and supporters of the full scope of its work. The report will recommend the earliest possible convening of a Canadian Peace Congress Extraordinary Conference to adopt a program, new constitution, and elect a new executive, with a plan of work to ensure the successful organization of the tri-lateral meeting of North American World Peace Council affiliates in the autumn of 2009.
The Canadian delegation wishes to thank the local Peace Councils, organizations and supporters who con-
tributed monetarily, in the preparation of materials, and in promoting the aims and purposes of the Canadian Peace Congress and the World Peace Council Assembly and Conference. Canadian Peace Congress delegates will be reporting to their respective organizations and will make every effort to undertake report-back tours of their local regions as soon as practical. As received, all materials of the World Peace Council Assembly and Conference will be posted to the Canadian Peace Congress website, www.canadianpeacecongress.ca.
In Peace and Solidarity,
Don Currie, Canadian Peace Congress
#
On May 8 the dedicated participants in the Making Peace Vigil in downtown Regina celebrated one year of action. As their publicity says, they have "defied the odds and the weather to speak out every Thursday at noon on issues of peace, justice and environmental sustainability." The group has met on the Scarth Street Mall every Thursday from 12:00 noon to 12:30 with their banner and each week they have handed out a flyer, on a question related to peace and suggesting action.
The Regina Peace Council has supported the vigil, and extends its congratulations to participants. We invite our readers to join the vigil each Thursday at noon on the Scarth Street mall.
For information concerning participation in the vigil contact: Florence Stratton, 522-2310, or florence.stratton@uregina.ca or Catherine Verrall, 569-7699, or cvtransport2000@yahoo.ca
#
The Assembly of the World Peace Council was successfully held April 9-10, 2008 in Caracas, Venezuela. Taking part were 285 delegates and participants from 124 organizations from 76 countries. After intense and wide-ranging discussion, the Assembly concluded with a lengthy "Declaration to the Peoples of the World." Following is a report of the Declaration.
The Declaration begins with an overview of the growing danger of war and prospects for peace in the world.
"The developments that have taken place since the last World Peace Council Assembly in May of 2004 have continued to rise to a situation which is crucial for humanity, a situation marked by the growing intensity of the aggressiveness of the world strategy of the U.S. as it strives to impose and consolidate the new world order of war and oppression.....Its concerted effort to secure its domination is accompanied by an exacerbation and an upsurge in rivalries over markets, energy and strategic resources and for geopolitical and geostrategic dominance. It is becoming particularly acute in regions of strategic importance for economic and geopolitical control, such as the Balkans, Eurasia and Africa.
"On the other hand, certain developments in different countries of the world are helping to build more obstacles for imperialism as it faces increasing political isolation deriving from its arbitrary and unilateral acts of violation of human and peoples rights. Resistance against imperialism such as in Latin America or the Middle East is giving hope to the people for reaching a just and peaceful world. The WPC calls for an equitable political relationship among nations, free from military threats and imperialist domination, and for a world order of peace and justice based on the peaceful principles of the U.N. Charter.
"Today, U.S.-led imperialism is threatening the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries. Almost all recent interventions of imperialists in all regions have resulted in divisions of countries and separation of peoples by war and blood.....The so-called independent states formed by division of present states turn out to be nothing but protectorates, which serve as bases for imperialist activities. It is therefor important that the world peace movement take a firm stance against this divide and rule policy of imperialism and that the notions of national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the states be more strongly emphasized.
"Another threat for world peace and humanitarian values today is the strengthening of reactionary, fundamentalist, conservative and racist ideologies throughout the world, a development that is facilitating the rule of the capitalists and imperialists. The WPC and the world peace movement should also strengthen action against reactionary ideas and racism and promote humanitarian and progressive ideologies.
"The domination of the new imperialist world order is worsening the economic situation of the working people and of the people in general in both developed and developing countries. The promotion of capitalist restructuring and neo-liberal policies with the withdrawal of workers gains and implementation of flexible forms of employment, the abolition of collective agreements and the generalized privatization in all sectors are causing an increase in poverty, unemployment, hunger and misery.....Discontent is growing and the working people are waging struggles with which the peace movement can and must link up. The WPC denounces the growing military spending, the responsibility for which lies, in the first place, with the U.S. The WPC demands substantial cuts in military budgets and relocation of the resources for social expenses including welfare, education and living.
"International relations are becoming more and more militarized....The complicity of the European Union with NATO, a self-appointed aggressive alliance of world jurisdiction, is not only a danger to peace in the world but as well, as a dangerous and self-destructive policy for the peoples of Europe....Wherever NATO intervenes, basic principles of international law and the Founding Charter of the U.N. are being flagrantly violated....In this context, the World Peace Council.....demands that immediate steps be taken to effect the dismantling of NATO.....The WPC is in solidarity with the growing movements for abolition of foreign military bases, which are tools of war and aggression.
"The concept of war against terror, among others, is used by imperialists to limit the democratic right of the people especially in European and North American countries....A monstrous monitoring system has been set up, ranging from cameras spying on all of peoples activities all the way to establishment of databases including DNA files.....
"At the same time, the ideological offensive is growing and the falsification of history is being pushed so as to justify the crimes of imperialism. Any country that does not submit is considered, under imperialism, to be undemocratic and any people that resists is considered to be terrorist....Along with the popular movements, the WPC defends democratic rights, the history of the progressive movement, its positions and the rivers of blood shed by the peoples for freedom and social progress.....
"Peoples of the world are still faced with the threat of nuclear war, represented by the U.S. policy of preemptive nuclear attack.....Today, a call for abolition of nuclear weapons is growing all over the world. The WPC demands that all countries having nuclear weapons take concrete steps for abolishing their nuclear arsenal.....Moreover, the WPC calls for....general disarmament all over the world."
With respect to events in particular areas, in brief the Declaration takes the following position:
THE MIDDLE EAST
".....this is the 7th year in the occupation of Afghanistan and 5th year in the occupation of Iraq. However, the U.S. was halted in Iraq....new aggressions were impeded due to this development. This is an important gain for humanity." The WPC expresses solidarity with the Iraqi people, and demands immediate withdrawal of all foreign troops in the country and compensation of all losses for the Iraqi people.
The Declaration warns of a probable attack by the U.S. on Iran and Syria, and calls on all peace organizations and people to stay alert to this danger....The WPC declares its solidarity with the struggle of Irans progressive forces for peace, democracy and social justice; demands economic sanctions on Iran be lifted; and that the Golan Heights of Syria and Shabaa Farms of Lebanon, occupied by Israel, be freed from occupation.
The Declaration calls for Israeli expansion in Palestinian lands to be stopped immediately. The WPC salutes the struggle of the Palestinian people against Israeli oppression and supports establishment of an independent Palestinian State in the 1967 boundaries, with Eastern Jerusalem as its capital. The solution of the issue of the Palestinian refugees ought to be in line with the related U.N. Security Council resolutions. The Israeli government should ratify the chemical weapons convention and comply with the International Atomic Inspection treaty. "The WPC urges all governments to terminate all military and security ties with Israel."
The ongoing U.S. and NATO military intervention in Afghanistan is a deliberate attempt to seize the crossroads of South, Central and Western Asia. The WPC demands with-drawal of all foreign troops from this country. "Sovereignty must be given back to the people of the country."
ASIA
The World Peace Council judges the situation in South Asia to be "grave with the growth and intensity of religious fundamentalism and continuing ethnic conflicts. In most cases, in addition to the specific internal factors, the situation has been exacerbated by direct and indirect intervention of imperialism." Imperialist machinations divert attention through these conflicts and undermine the just quest for peace, unity and development. The U.S. is attempting to make its allies in Asia and the Pacific work with NATO. The WPC expresses its support and solidarity with the people of South Asia, and with the movement for removal of all U.S. bases from their territory.
In addition, in the Declaration the WPC expressed:
- solidarity with the Japanese movement to defend Article 9 of their constitution, renouncing war and prohibiting the nation from possessing military forces.
- solidarity with the Korean people in their desire to achieve peaceful reunification of the Korean peninsula in accordance with the June 15 Joint Declaration made between North and South Korea.
- full support to the Vietnamese people in their ongoing suffering from the toxic Agent Orange used by the U.S., and called upon all members and friends of the WPC to join actively the international campaign for compensation of the victims and the total ban of all chemical weapons.
- support for the right of the people of the Peoples Republic of China to determine their matters without foreign interference and rejected any use of the Olympic Games for political purposes.
LATIN AMERICA
With regard to Latin America, the Declaration states that the World Peace Council values the new political reality in the region, which is a growing stronghold of resistance against imperialism in the current world. After powerful social and political struggles against neoliberalism, the peoples inflicted significant defeats on imperialism, as they sought their own sovereign paths. "We especially value the experiences from Cuba, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia and others that face the open threats and intimidations from imperialism."
The World Peace Council
- applauded the progress of the complementary regional integration processes, such as the Bolivarian Alternative to the Americas (ALBA), the South American Union of Nations (UNASUR), and MERCOSUR, and applauded defeat of the annexationist proposal of the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas (FTAA).
- condemned attempts to overthrow the Bolivarian revolution in Venezuela, and the secessionist intentions of the oligarchy in Bolivia
- condemned the attacks made by Colombia on Ecuador, and assassination of FARC leaders and negotiators. "We support the efforts for constructing a society of justice, peace, and solidarity in accordance with the wishes of the people."
- supported the sovereign decision of President Rafael Cor rea of Equador to close the U.S. base in Manta in 2009, and condemned the existence of foreign bases throughout Latin America.
- supported the people of French Guyana and their right of self-determination, and demanded the decolonization of all Caribbean territories.
- expressed its deep respect and solidarity with the Cuban people, who are continuously defending their revolution against all types of manipulation and blockade, and reiterated its demand for the lifting of the U.S. blockade against Cuba and for the release of the Five Cuban political prisoners held unlawfully in the U.S.
-
EUROPE
With respect to Europe, the WPC Declaration declared the separatist and unilateral declaration of independence of Kosovo to be a new act of flagrant violation of the sovereignty of Serbia as an independent state, of International Law and the relevant U.N. resolutions. The WPC expressed solidarity with the peoples of ex-Yugoslavia and called upon peace loving forces in the area to unite and coordinate common actions against the imperialist plans.
The World Peace Council expressed its solidarity with the peoples of Poland and the Czech Republic, who are rejecting deployment of the U.S. Missile Defence Shield bases in their countries, and with the Cypriot people who are working for a unified, independent, bizonal and bi-communal federation in accordance with U.N. resolutions, and without foreign bases and troops.
AFRICA
The Declaration charges that Africa is the target of new economic and political exploitation by old and neo-colonial rulers, aiming at the further plundering of its resources and new markets. The WPC denounced the imperialist imposition of economic sanctions on countries which do not comply with the wish of the powerful, and demanded the lifting of economic sanctions by the U.S. and the E.U. against the Zimbabwean people.
The presence of numerous European military bases and increased deployment of military forces in Chad and the Central African Republic are cases for deep concern considering the past and in view of future developments in that continent. With respect to Sudan the WPC expressed its support for a sustainable solution of peace, without any foreign military intervention.
The WPC expressed its solidarity with the people of Democratic Arab Republic of Sahara, for its decades of suffering and oppression, and underlined its support to the struggle for freedom of the Saharawi people for a political solution, mutually accepted between the Polissario Front and Morocco.
In the face of the current development of the conflicting situation in the African continent, the Declaration states, especially in Sudans Darfour, in the Central African Republic, in Zimbabwe, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and in Democratic Arab Republic of Sahara, the World Peace Council General Assembly supports all actions for peace and detente carried out by the African peace movements in favour of the peoples in the conflicting nations.
The Declaration concludes: "Challenged by the imperialist attempts of the U.S. to dominate the world along with its allies, we the delegates of the Assembly of the World Peace Council, express our confidence and trust in humanity for its future. Through the massive and coordinated struggles of our peoples we can achieve our objectives. As certain examples of anti-imperialist resistance and struggle clearly show, the future is bright for humanity.
The Assembly calls upon all organizations and movements on national, regional and international levels - those who are ready to work and fight to defend peace against imperialist plans - to unite our voices and action for a world of peace, equality, justice and solidarity.
CANADIAN PEACE CONGRESS SPEAKS IN CARACAS
The Canadian Peace Congress was one of 124 organizations from 76 countries participating in the broad conference sponsored by the World Peace Council (WPC) which followed the WPC Assembly in Caracas in April. Sean Currie of the Edmonton Peace Council, an affiliate of the Canadian Peace Congress, made the following presentation on the topic: Defending Peoples Rights - Labour, Education, Civil Liberties, Democratic Freedoms and Social Rights.
Sisters, brothers, friends of peace, in considering the approach to this topic I have chosen to frame my comments in the North American reality, Canadas place within that reality and the central role that the Alberta oil sands plays within Canada-U.S. relations.
Discussing human rights in the abstract is an exercise in delusion and deceit. Human rights may be universally proclaimed over and over while unemployment, poverty, homelessness, violence and imperialist war make a mockery of such rights.
The proclamation of universal rights without an economic and political struggle to win universal employment, health care, housing, access to clean water and sanitation, basic nutritious food, education, pensions, child care and senior care, is a cruel irony. The proclamation of rights evokes the demand for power in the hands of the people to implement such rights. To win such power imperialism must be confronted where it arises. In Canada it now arises and is expressed in the foreign and economic policies of the minority conservative government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Workers understand the exploitative economic relationship they are compelled to enter into, on a daily basis with the bosses, in exchange for wages. A growing anger is building as attempts are made to pass the full weight of the capitalist economic crisis down to workers. Because of this, corporate power must now impose, integrate and hide its true economic agendas with state power to create an illusion of legitimacy.
Rapid economic, military and political tri-lateral integration between Canada, Mexico and the U.S. is being carried out in Canada on behalf of U.S. corporate power by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his political lieutenants, Defence Minister Peter McKay, Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and Chief of Staff General Rick Hillier.
This tri-lateral amalgamation is executed and legitimized through a series of formal agreements, standardization and regulatory administrative measures and secret backroom deals - none of which pass through parliament.
The primary North American agreements contained within this strategy which removes the fundamental decisions of the nation from the hands of the Canadian people and places them in the hands of corporate executives are:
* The Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP);
* The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA);
* U.S. Northern Defence Command - NORTHCOM;
* NATO;
* North American Air Defence Command - NORAD.
As well discussions are underway to militarize the Arctic. The Harper administration plans to budget tax payers money for the construction of large deep-water ports and military bases for U.S. warships. Ballistic Missile Defence is to be re-opened in this context after the Canadian people rejected it over two decades ago.
These Arctic consultations are occurring in preparation for a sharpening conflict over the large natural gas deposits which exist on the continental shelves of Russia, Alaska and Canada which are below the Arctic ice. These discussions are, as well, to assert U.S. dominance in the area as the Bering Strait opens up for longer periods over the summer months due to climate change and the rapid melting of polar ice.
I must warn you of the strategically important role Canada now assumes in U.S. expansionism and war. At the root of the rising danger that Canada poses is a massive supply of oil - second only to Saudi Arabia - with 178 billion barrels in reserve as well as newly exploitable Bakken oil shale reserves in Saskatchewan and Manitoba estimated in the tens of billions of barrels.
The government of Stephen Harper actively and aggressively expands combat capabilities of the Canadian military, presiding over an annual $17.5 billion military budget, sixth largest in the world. It is forecast to increase to $25 billion over the next five years. Canada has a population of 34 million people.
Harper has laid out an aggressive program of new arms acquisitions which include Boeing heavy and medium lift transport planes, navy frigates and helicopters and other offensive weapons systems.
The Harper administration willingly and collaboratively carries out, by proxy, Washingtons foreign policy of NATOization. Through the recent NATO meeting in Bucharest the U.S. was successful in expanding the second front in the Middle East war closer to Pakistans borders with the intervention of the Harper administration.
The Harper government was complicit and an active architect in the escalation plans for the Afghan war. Prime Minister Harper orchestrated a manufactured Canadian parliamentary vote in favour of extending the mission in Afghanistan. Harper and his political cronies then went to work claiming that since the Canadian parliament voted in favour of an extension to the war, that it is now, truly, a non-partisan Canadian conflict - implying that people of Canada support the Afghanistan war.
Using that as a smoke screen, Harpers political lieutenants set to work to carry out Washingtons expansionist war plans in the NATO council. The result is a surge of thousands of U.S. troops to the south; French troops to the east; more helicopters and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in Kandahar. I am here to tell you that the Canadian people in their majority reject the Harper policy of war in Afghanistan and demand that our troops be brought home now!
A June 28, 2007, news release from UOP LLP, a Honeywell subsidiary, which is a major arms supplier to the U.S. military, reported that U.S.-NATO war planes consume 2.5 billion U.S. gallons of jet fuel annually. 2.5 billion gallons translates into approximately 295,000 barrels per day of refined fuels. A typical production ratio for refiners of jet fuels is about 17% of crude oil input. This works out to be approximately 1.7 million barrels per day of crude oil required to supply the war fighting capabilities of the U.S.-NATO air force.
The illusion that Canada is somehow capable of making a contribution to peace under the present Harper regime while actively collaborating with U.S. imperialism should be dispelled.
The struggle by Canadians for control of our natural resources is more than a struggle for Canadian sovereignty and independence; it becomes a contribution in the defence of peoples rights around the world and in the struggle for peace. The Canadian Peace Congress opposes the use of Canadian oil to fuel U.S. military war planes and U.S. Navy war ships.
I must also warn you of Canadas expanding and aggressive imperialist character and the danger it poses to Latin America. It is new, differing significantly from previous Canadian administrations. Canada is a fully fledged lesser imperialist power subordinated to a greater imperialist power.
The regime of Stephen Harper actively promotes Canadian corporate mining interests in the region and collaborates with mining giants Tek Cominco, Barrick Gold and others in the expansion of mining properties and capital assets.
The Canadian mining industry ranks first in the global production of zinc, uranium, nickel and potash; second in sulphur, asbestos, aluminum and cadmium; third in copper and platinum group metals; fourth in gold; and fifth in lead. It has interests in over 8,300 properties worldwide - 3,400 of which are in 100 foreign countries. In Latin America and the Caribbean, which have been identified as the main current geographical target for mineral exploration, Canadian mining corporations represent the largest percentage of foreign mining companies - with interests in more than 1,200 properties.
Prime Minister Harper intones Canadas growing imperialist character when he says that "Canada is an emerging energy superpower." On July 14, 2006, in a speech to the Canada-U.K. Chamber of Commerce on the eve of the 2006 St. Petersburg G8 summit, the Prime Minister said: "One of the primary targets for British investors has been our booming energy sector. They have recognized Canadas emergence as a global energy powerhouse - the emerging energy superpower our government intends to build."
In a follow-up speech on September 20, 2007 to the Economic Club of New York Harper said: "Canada is an emerging energy superpower, the only stable and growing producer of this scarce commodity in an unstable world. Our strong and robust economy, with its enormous energy potential, represents a tremendous opportunity for American business and a crucial element of continental energy security. And given the deep integration of our own econ-omies, these global challenges and opportunities call for a continental response."
Prime Minister Harpers 2007 tour of Haiti, Columbia and Chile was a play to position Canadian mining and banking interests as dominant hemispherical players and to situate Canada as a regional imperial power broker.
While on his July tour of the region Harper made stops at Barrick Golds headquarters in Santiago and stopped at Scotia Bank to glad hand. In his July 17, 2007 speech to the Chile-Canada Chamber of Commerce in Santiago, Chile, Prime Minister Harper indicated that Canada is willing to become a bigger player in the region and "for the long term." Harper said: "Foreign direct investment from Canada into the Americas now stands at close to 100 billion dollars - a number that is more than twice the size of Canadian investment in Asia."
This places Canada third in direct foreign investment in the Caribbean and Latin America, with banking and mining as the dominant entities. Harper also expressed Canadian energy capital is ready to supply energy to South American markets and that Canada is prepared to challenge Venezuela and reverse "the return to the syndrome of economic nationalism, political authoritarianism and class warfare." Harpers thinly veiled warning to South American workers to abandon a path of independent socialist development and return to capitalist relations pleases his mining bosses. Harper continued, "Canada is an emerging energy super power and is committed to working with you in addressing this challenge."
All fundamental democratic decisions affecting the vital interests of the Canadian people are now being made in the imperial councils of the G8, NATO, the IMF, WTO, U.S. State Department and at the highest levels of the Canadian and U.S. military commands.
Take for example the recent bi-lateral Civil Assistance Plan agreement signed by the U.S. and Canada to permit "the military from one nation to support the armed forces of the other nation during a civil emergency." The Generals said, "This document is a unique, bilateral military plan to align our respective national military plans to respond quickly to the other nations request for military support of civil authorities."
The plan was not debated, approved or signed by the Canadian Parliament; it was signed at U.S. Army North Headquarters, Fort Sam Houston, Texas on February 14, 2008. It was not even sighed by any elected officials of the government of Canada: it was signed by U.S. Air Force General Gene Renuart, commander of NORAD and NORTHCOM, and Canadian Air Force Lt.-Gen. Marc Demais, commander of Canada Command.
Domination of transnational corporate power of Big Oil, military arms profiteers and speculative capital over parliamentary supremacy, in the decisions of the nation, and a concurrent suppression of labour through a dismantling of public institutions and services, coupled with growing attacks on organized labour is a sinister scheme of Prime Minister Harper and corporate backers to fully subordinate people to profit. These corporate policies of amalgamation are dramatic and nothing short of an impending dangerous, dark period of capital dictate.
In conclusion, when discussing the issue of defending peoples rights, the economic basis of the attack on the rights of people must be understood. The political and class nature of the forces implementing those policies requires rigorous scrutiny and exposure.
When defending the rights of the people, that struggle needs to occur where it arises. Imperialism is an objective process and an economic system of market control and profit over people. It is dominated by a shrinking class of industrialists, war profiteers and speculative capital opportunists who control a greater share of global wealth. Defence of peoples rights without understanding the class composition and economic basis only results in abstract discussions of idealism.
The international duty of progressive forces in the defence of international human rights and dignity is the challenge, exposure and defeat of the source of imperialism arising in ones own nation. In Canada that source is the Stephen Harper administration, and his oil, military and finance capital backers. The Canadian Peace Congress is committed to the task of defeating Stephen Harper and expresses solidarity with our fraternal family of nations in the World Peace Council in support of their struggles for peace, justice and the rights of people to live in dignity.
Viva Venezuela, long live workers internationalism.
The following was written by Matt Gehl, a Regina student and a delegate from the Regina Peace Council to the Assembly and Conference of the World Peace Council in Venezuela last month.
I recently returned from the Assembly and Conference of the World Peace Council (WPC), held in Caracas, Venezuela from April 7-13. It was my first trip to a foreign country, other thanthe U.S., and needless to say I was anxious to bring back a souvenir to remember my trip by. A good bottle of rum, a few cigars and some spices were all I was able to bring back duty free, but those few things are not what I cherish most from my time in the south nor what I truly wanted to bring back.
The most memorable part of my trip was simply the experience of being in Venezuela. With all of the anti-Venezuelan propaganda to which the people of Canada and the U.S. are subjected, I really had no idea what I might encounter there. People I spoke with before I left were almost uniform in their uneasiness over my safety; they could not have been further from the reality of the situation.
The delegates and guests of the World Peace Council were beyond graciously hosted by the people of Venezuela, especially our comrades with the Committee for International Solidarity of Venezuela (COSI). Thanks must also be given to the numerous members of the Socialist Youth of Venezuela (Juventud Socialista de Venezuela, JSV) who were responsible for ushering delegates to and from venues, dispensing the translation equipment and ensuring that people like myself did not get lost during our trips to events in other parts of the city. The efforts of COSI, JSV and the countless other volunteers helped to ease the logistical quagmire presented by hosting such an enormous event.
As for safety, the strong contingent of police in the vicinity of the event venues ensured optimal security for those involved. But even during the dawn or midnight hours of the day when I was liable to go for a walk in the city, never once did I fear for my safety and always helpful were the complete strangers I would ask questions of on the street, regardless of my highly broken Spanish. Perhaps the most obvious examples of what might be regarded as a crime to a Canadian were the murals and graffiti that seemed to cover nearly every inch of available public wall space. It was not just random vandalism though, this was a city covered in political slogans and declarations of support for the democratically elected Hugo Chvez and the Bolivarian Revolution he is leading.
The murals were truly something to behold. Only four blocks from our hotel was a mural covering over 200 feet of a concrete wall, turning what should have been another drab, grey barrier into a bounty of colour depicting the history of colonialism in South America. This is a piece of art work that I think could never be publicly displayed in Canada, not only because of the laws concerning vandalism but because of the critical and up front approach to the long, shared history of colonialism on the southern continent.
This mural really made me think of how Canadas past and present colonialism can never seem to capture the attention of the Canadian public. Instead we choose to bury our heads in the sand and think of colonialism and imperialism as notions from a past day that are no longer relevant. An unbiased look at the environment Canadas Aboriginal population has been living under for hundreds of years as well as Canadas current exploits in the South American mining sector clearly show that colonialism and imperialism are still alive and well in Canada today.
The people of Venezuela have something to teach Canadians about their willingness to confront even the ugliest parts of their history. From the speech of an elderly Venezuelan Aboriginal woman who spoke during the second day of conferences, the Aboriginal population of Venezuela are in support of the Chvez government as well. Not surprising considering that it was under Chvez that Aboriginal rights were finally enshrined into the Venezuelan constitution.
It was around the issue of the benefits of having nationalized their oil reserves that the knowledge of the Venezuelan people was the most obvious. Every person I talked to was in support of the move to give the benefits of Venezuelan oil to the Venezuelan people and not to the corporate share holders of Exxon-Mobil and the like. The reason for this belief, is that the people believe that they should be able, in a democracy such as they have, to freely choose how to run their own country free of outside interference. Along with this is the belief that the natural resources found within the borders of Venezuela belong to the people of Venezuela and not to the transnational corporation that happens to have the development rights.
Having some of the largest oil reserves in the world go to work for the benefit of the people has proven to the masses of Venezuela that the path they are on is a good choice for the majority of the people. Once more Canada should be looking to the south and learning from the dedicated people of Venezuela a lesson or two about the importance of being able to control your own country and the resources found within. This should have particular resonance for Canadians given our proximity to the worlds greediest superpower and also our sheer abundance of precious natural resources. And forget about oil, it is our massive supply of fresh water that will have Uncle Sam looking north in the decades to come. Consolidating the Canadian people in a stance against the commodification of water and in support of Canadian sovereignty over our water is of the utmost importance in the years to come, yet it seems that the Canadian public at large is willing to hand over control of the riches of our country to corporations.
In my talks with Venezuelans the majority of people were able to step back from their immediate concerns and take a look at the bigger picture, arriving at the same conclusion: the need for peace. Maybe it was the presence of so many people from across the world in their city to discuss matters concerning world peace, but the people that I met had a very good understanding that behind all the other issues: imperialism, climate change, nationalization of industry, etc., there is the need for peace, an end to war and the abolition of nuclear weapons. The people of Venezuela in their boundless revolutionary spirit were able to encapsulate the message of the World Peace Council and then put it into action.
It is that praxis that I wish I was able to bring back and share with people back home, but alas Canadian Customs limits me to my own personal experience worth of political passion. You will have to visit for yourself. Or if that is not a possibility, approach the news stories about Venezuela critically with the understanding that Hugo Chvez is democratically elected by the people of Venezuela. Chvez has started the country on a path of socialist development that has and will continue to benefit and be supported by the vast majority of the public. Or share my experience of being humbled by how politically involved the average Venezuelan is and come to the same realization that they understand how to use a democracy far better than Canadiansdo. Or if that is too much to ask then perhaps ask yourself why the price of fuel in Canada is where it is, currently $1.30/litre in Regina, compared to the price of $0.05/litre in Venezuela, or how Chvez can give heating oil to the impoverished people of New York City last winter and maybe that will give you an idea of how public ownership of a countrys natural resources can benefit the people. So regardless of how much further developed Canada is in comparison to Venezuela, recall that the people of Venezuela have not only learned that important political lesson but are putting it into practice and reaping the benefits. Canadians have much to aspire to.
On February 17 this year, Kosovo, a part of Serbia, declared Kosovos independence as a separate country. A month later the government of Canada officially recognized the breakaway territory as an independent state. Serbs consider Kosovo the cradle of the Serbian state and religion, and Serbia considers Kosovos independence declaration illegal under U.N. Security Council Resolution #1244, which asserts Serbias control over Kosovo. In response to the action of the Canadian government, Serbia recalled its ambassador from Canada.
In spite of the U.N. resolution cited above, Maxime Bernier, Canadas Minister of Foreign Affairs, hypocritically gave as Canadas reason for recognizing Kosovo as an independent state, its commitment under NATO and the United Nations "to protect Kosovo."
Not all Canadian government-connected figures agree with Bernier. Retired general Lewis McKenzie, who commanded U.N. troops during the Bosnian war of 1992, has said that Kosovo is "a failed state run by people who at one time could be considered criminal.....The independence movement (in Kosovo), at least the violent aspect, was started by the KLA [Kosovo Liberation Army - ed.] which was a terrorist organization at the time." Both Serbia and Bosnia were parts of the former Yugoslavia.
Two days after Kosovos declaration, James Bissett, Canadas ambassador to Yugoslavia in 1990-92, warned that Canada will find itself part of "a small group of Western democracies who recognize this failed state as independent and well pay a price for that, I think, down the road." He stressed that"recog-nition of Kosovo outside of the U.N. framework will set a dangerous precedent. Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said that Canada should make foreign policy decisions that are not only independent but are noticed by other powers around the world. Here is an opportunity for Canada to illustrate both of these objectives and stand firm for the U.N. Charter by saying no to the recognition of Kosovo."
Bissett has been a staunch critic of U.S. and NATO policies in the Balkans, and opposed Canadas participation in the NATO-led air war against Serbia in 1999. At that time Serbian forces were driven out of Kosovo by NATO, and it has since been governed by a UN mission. In November 2006, Kosovars voted on a new constitution. At that time, flanked by Bishop Artemijc Radosavljevic of Kosovo, Bissett told a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa that the ethnic Albanian leadership in Kosovo was incapable of protecting the rights of non-Albanians in the former Serbian province. "If theres any group of people in the world less deserving of independence, its the Albanians in Kosovo, who have proven by their terror and their barbaric treatment of non-Albanians in the last seven years that they are not meeting any standards that would qualify them for joining the democratic nations of the United Nations."
On March 30, speaking at a rally in Montreal against Canadas recognition of Kosovo, Bissett again denounced the action by the Harper government, calling it a "serious mistake." http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=8532

"Of course," he added, "it is always difficult for Canada to refuse to follow the foreign policy dictates of its powerful neighbour to the south. As a founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO], Canada was even in a more difficult decision to refuse recognition, but a number of NATO countries have stood by their principles and said, no to Kosovo. Canada would have gained self respect and admiration from a large part of the international community if it had refused recognition and not followed the American direction.....


"Kosovo is the creature of the United States," Bissett continued. "The Americans instigated the armed rebellion against the Serbs in 1998 by training, equipping and arming the terrorist organization, the Kosovo Liberation Army [KLA]. Later they fabricated the stories of genocide and ethnic cleansing by the Serbian security forces that was used as the excuse to bomb Serbia for 78 days and nights--using cluster bombs and weapons containing depleted uranium.....


"We also know that while there were several thousand Albanians displaced within Kosovo by the fighting, the so- called ethnic cleansing of the Albanians occurred AFTER the NATO bombing...not before. So much for President Clinton's claim that genocide was taking place in Kosovo.


"The NATO bombing of Serbia was brought to an end when Serbia accepted the terms of UN Resolution 1244. This Resolution called for the disarming of the KLA, the return of all refugees, the establishment of a democratic and multi ethnic Kosovo, and most importantly it reaffirmed Serbia's sovereignty over Kosovo. During almost ten years of NATO/UN occupation none of the provisions of Resolution 1244 have been carried out. In fact almost all of the non-Albanians have been expelled from Kosovo, 150 Christian churches and monasteries have been burned and crime, corruption and violence is endemic in the territory. All of this at a time when there have been up to 40,000 U.S. and NATO troops there to maintain order and implement UN Resolution 1244. This is a shameful record of duplicity, double standards and cowardice on the part of the US-led NATO forces.


"However, the primary reason Kosovo should not have been recognized by Canada is that by doing so we have abandoned the central pillar that has governed Canadian foreign policy since the end of the Second World War --- respect and adherence to the United Nations Charter and its principles. The UN Charter includes territorial integrity as one of its cardinal principles prohibiting the threat or use of force in the resolution of international disputes and it is one of the paramount elements in the Charter relating to the concept of sovereign equality. The Helsinki Final Accords of 1975 reinforced this principle by including a section on the inviolability of borders.


"These are fundamental principles. They were designed as a guarantee that all nations, small as well as large, need not fear aggression by a more powerful state. They are meant to have universal application and cannot be set aside because of special circumstances or when they prove to be an obstacle to the policy aims of powerful nations. Their message is simple and clear--borders cannot be changed without the consent of the affected state."
A NOTE FROM HISTORY:
Writing in 2006, John Ryan PhD., retired professor of geography and senior scholar at the University of Winnipeg, stated the following: After the Second World War, the six major groups of people known as the southern Slavs, under the dynamic leadership of war hero Marshall Tito, were reunited into Yugoslavia after its dismemberment by Hitler and Mussolini. Yugoslavia now consisted of six republics: Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia, Bosnia, Montenegro, and Serbia, of which Kosovo was a province. All six republics were united in the nation of Yugoslavia with the federal capital in Belgrade, in Serbia. Together the six republics forged a viable, unified federal state and launched their development by means of an independent socialist approach, flexibly adapted to suit their own society and economy. The capitalist West tolerated this socialist experiment for 45 years and allowed it to exist largely because it was seen as a nonaligned buffer to the USSR and the Warsaw Pact countries. With the collapse of the USSR and the communist governments in Eastern Europe, Yugoslavia remained the only socialist state in the region. By the end of the 1980's serious economic problems had developed. These resulted from a combination of a major miscalculation in Yugoslavias own economic policy and a malicious concerted policy by the U.S. and some European powers to dismember and destroy this little island of socialism in the midst of Europe. "The U.S., in particular, was not going to tolerate another Cuba on the world scene."
In1991, with support from the U.S., Solvenia and Croatia seceded, and the secession was recognized by western powers. Dr. Michel Chossodovsky, professor of economics at the University of Ottawa, has also written about the disintegration of Yugoslavia. In a 1996 paper he stated "The IMF-induced budgetary crisis created an economic fait accompli that paved the way for Croatias and Slovenias formal secession in June 1991. ... The reforms demanded by Belgrades creditors also struck at the heart of Yugoslavias system of socially-owned and worker-managed enterprises." This development led in September 1991, to Macedonia also declaring independence.
Then in 1995 Bosnia-Herzegovina seceded violently, with the aid of NATO bombing ending in the signing of the Dayton Accord, and leaving Bosnia under IMF and NATO control. As Dr. Ryan puts it: "Bosnias state-owned assets, including energy, water, telecommunications, media and transportation have been sold off to private firms, mostly foreign, at garage sale prices. This is not a case of neo-imperialism, it is out and out colonial occupation."
Dr. Ryan writes of the KLA: "The secession of Slovenia and Croatia, and particularly the violent secession of Bosnia-Herzegovina with the aid of NATO bombing of Serbs, dramatically increased the efforts of Kosovo Albanians to secede. It was at this stage that there was a revival of the Nazi-era Balli Combetar, the fanatically racist fascist organization, only now it was called the Kosovo Liberation Army." Its activities were such that in February 23, 1998 the special U.S. representative for former Yugoslavia, Robert Belbard, declared that the KLA was a "terrorist group beyond any doubt." On March 31 of that year the UN Security Council condemned "all acts of terrorism by the Kosovo Liberation Army..." Despite this condemnation, in June of that year Madeleine Albright, as U.S. Secretary of State, stated that the U.S. had not determined that the KLA was a "terrorist organization." "Obviously," Dr. Ryan comments, "there was an effort to rehabilitate the KLA for additional service to the U.S." Following the end of this particular episode in the balkanization of Yugoslavia, the KLA was transformed into the Kosovo Protection Corps and given $20 mil-lion in start-up funds and military training by a mercenary group of retired U.S. military officers.
In 1999 NATO bombed what was left of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) on the pretext that the Albanians in Kosovo were threatened. 78 days of constant day and night bombing by NATO planes (including Canadas), of a country one-fifth the size of Saskatchewan, destroyed the countrys infrastructure, in contravention of the Geneva Convention. To end the bombing, Russia suggested withdrawing the two provisions of the Rambouillet agreement which Yugoslav premier Milosevic had refused to accept. This was eventually done, Milosevic then agreed and NATO stopped bombing, but took over the country as KFOR (Kosovo Force), along with UNMIK (United Nations Mission in Kosovo), both of which supported NATO. The Yugoslav army withdrew from Kosovo, leaving it in the hands of the KLA.
Dr. Ryan writes further: "It is not by accident that the American-drafted Rambouillet ultimatum specified that the economy of Kosovo shall function in accordance with free market principles. ...The KLA government took over the management of state-owned enterprises and public utilities and proceeded to sell them off at bargain prices to foreign investors. Of prime interest to American and European investors was Kosovos wealth in mineral resources...The massive Trepca mining complex.....constitutes the most valuable piece of real estate in the Balkans.....This mineral complex includes large reserves of lead, zinc, cadmium, gold and silver, as well as estimated reserves of 17 billion tons of coal and lignite.... This area in northern Kosovo has several smelting plants, 17 metal treatment sites, a power plant, and Yugoslavias largest battery plant......Shortly afterwards, UNMIK handed over the management of the entire Trepca complex to a Western consortium, dominated by American interests."
BACK TO THE PRESENT
Which brings us back to the current situation with respect to Kosovo. There are many facets to be taken into account when considering the situation in Kosovo and its neighbours.
As Dr. Ryan points out, "In addition to U.S. interest in Kosovos mineral wealth, it had an equally significant strategic interest in the area. Whereas relatively small barracks were built to accommodate French and German soldiers, the Americans proceeded to build the biggest U.S. overseas military base since the Vietnam war. Immediately on arrival in Kosovo the U.S. illegally expropriated almost a thousand acres at a strategic location for possible oil pipeline routes. Camp Bondsteel was built in record time and is a solidly constructed self-sufficient high-tech enclave.... The base is in a commanding position of two main north-south mountain passes for the routes of any future pipelines from an Aegean port proceeding to northern Central Europe. The base is also in a strategic location for any military intervention in the entire Middle East. The emergence of this base was not lost on the Europeans. Le Figaro Magazine, (JUNE 9, 2000) ran a detailed illustrated report on it, saying Not secret, but very discreet: the immense, solidly built base that the Americans have constructed in Kosovo is there to last. And the allies of the United States are starting to wonder whether its implantation wasnt the real objective of the war."
Then there is the statement of Ambassador Bissett immediately following the Kosovo declaration of independence. He declared: "The intervention in Kosovo [in 1999] had nothing to do with humanitarian reasons but was deliberately designed to justify the continued existence of NATO and to fundamentally change its role ......into one that could intervene wherever or whenever it decided to do so, and with or without U.N. approval......The bombing of Serbia by NATO without UN approval was a historic turning point. The precedent had been set. The UN Charter could be subverted if the military intervention could be cloaked and justified in terms of humanitarianism."
NATOs bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999 and the policies of UNMIK and KFOR, allowed the Albanians to expel most of the non-Albanian population and thereby take effective control of Kosovo. However, a substantial number of Serbs still reside in northern Kosovo. The Albanians want the whole of Kosovo, and furthermore they are claiming a part of southern Serbia where a substantial number of Albanians reside. The Serbs in northern Kosovo are now calling for the right to secede from Kosovo and join Serbia.
Another complication is that with Kosovo being in a state of political limbo, the multinational corporations were prevented from taking over the huge Trepca mineral complex. This is undoubtedly the reason, Dr. Ryan stresses, "why the International Crisis Group (ICG) and Frank Carlucci, former U.S. Secretary of Defence, urged the early establishment of Kosovos independence. Although the ICG is a supposed independent organization, it is largely funded by American corporate interests, and Frank Carlucci is now with the Carlyle Group." It is also undoubtedly a major reason why the U.S. was quick to recognize Kosovos independence.
The Canadian government in its decision to recognize the independence of Kosovo has not listened to Ambassador Bissett or General McKenzie. By citing its connection toU.S.-dominated NATO as its excuse for recognizing Kosovos declaration of independence, the Canadian government is obviously indicating it is giving in to pressure to back the policy of the U.S. government. The Canadian people must take up Ambassador Bissetts warning and work to challenge and change the Harper governments policy. As Bissett warned in his statement immediately following the Kosovo declaration: "Canada did not follow the USAs invasion of Iraq because it was done without the authority of the United Nations. This was the correct decision but in recognizing the independence of Kosovo we have turned our back on international law and have acted in violation of the United Nations Charter. This is the second time Canada has done so. We set the precedent when we joined the U.S. in bombing Serbia in 1999 without UN approval. In foreign policy as in other issues of public policy there are times when principles must be honoured -- otherwise we risk sliding back to the days when force was the only means of resolving disputes. In an age of nuclear proliferation this is the road to disaster."
On March 1 Colombian military forces crossed the border with Ecuador to attack a jungle camp of Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, or FARC, the main guerrilla organization conducting a struggle against the oppressive Colombian regime. More than 20 persons were killed, including a key FARC negotiator involved in the release of hostages held by FARC and attempts to establish a humanitarian accord between the guerrillas and the government. The incursion followed an air attack on the FARCoutpostwhich killed Raul Reyes, FARCs second in command. Both Ecuador and Venezuela moved troops to their respective borders with Colombia, and recalled their diplomats. Since then the incident has been resolved and Colombias president Uribe has apologized.
The question is, was this foray by Columbia an attempt by the U.S. administration to take back control of the oil of Venezuela, and a testing by the U.S. administration as to the possibility of stopping the Bolivarian revolution going on in South America, a revolution being led by Venezuela? These two factors are closely related. as revenue from oil is now being used to fuel the Bolivarian revolution, rather than line the pockets of American oil company stockholders.
According to U.S. government figures, over a million barrels of crude oil a day are supplied to the U.S. by Venezuela, the U.S.s third largest supplierafter Canada and Saudi Arabia. However, under president Hugo Chavez, the oil in Venezuela had been nationalized and control of the oil taken out of the hands of companies such as Exxon, forces friendly to Washington. The dispute over Venezuelas oil has recently intensified because of the dispute between Exxon and the Venezuelan government over provisions of the nationalizing process. In addition, Citgo, a subsidiary of a Venezuelan oil company which had established a string of gas stations in the U.S. and was then nationalized, was embarrassing the White House by supplying cheap heating fuel to poor Americans in several northeast U.S. states.
What has that got to do with Ecuador? While Uribes forces invaded Equador, not Venezuela, on the excuse of fighting terrorism, Venezuela could be counted on to object to that action. Venezuelas president Hugo Chavez has been playing a leading role in securing the release of hostages held by FARC in their 40-year struggle against the oppressive government in Colombia, and in finally working out a humanitarian accord, and the raid by the Colombian military threatened to wreck that process. Venezuela could be counted on to object strenuously, and by doing so, possibly provide an excuse for an attack on Venezuela.
A further indication that the attack on Ecuador was a deliberate provocation is the admission by the Colombian government that it had the coordinates of Reyes whereabouts for several weeks, including while he was in Colombian territory, yet it chose to act while he was in Ecuador.
The bombing and incursion were carried out only days after Venezuela, with Ecuadors support, led a successful international mission to revive the unilateral handover of four FARC prisoners, the success of which gave hope to many that a peaceful solution to the conflict in Colombia was possible. A humanitarian accord would include the dismantling of the Colombian governments terror apparatus, the paramilitaries, and the FARC guerrillas have declared their willingness to continue with the process of releasing prisoners as part of trying to reach a political solution.
Why do we ask if the U.S. is behind the attack? In 2000 President Clinton had introduced Plan Colombia, which was touted as a solution to the problem of drugs coming from Colombia, but was actually the U.S. increasing its military involvement in the country. Plan Colombia was enthusiastically taken up by George Bush, who replaced Clinton that year. In 2003, following election of Alvero Uribe as Colombias president in 2002, the ante was upped with Plan Patriot, which was openly an increased militarization by the U.S. of Colombia in an attempt to destroy FARC. Colombia is now third highest on the list of countries receiving Washingtons military largesse. Any move toward peace in the region puts into question the role of the U.S. in Latin America.
The recent incursion by Colombia into Ecuador in an attempt to foil steps being taken to work out a humanitarian accord was obviously countered by the force of the response from Venezuela and Ecuador. As important was the response from other Latin American countries, and also from some of the allies of the U.S. in NATO. A resolution from the Organization of American States, to which South American countries and the U.S. belong, stated that the Colombian incursion was a violation of Ecuadorian sovereignty. Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Cuba, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Peru all protested Colombias military action. A European Union representative asked Uribe to remain calm, contained and moderate. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner stated that killing Raul Reyes was bad news, because of his role as Frances contact to obtain the release by FARC of its most high-profile hostage, Ingrid Betancourt, who has dual Colombian and French citizenship. Spains Minister of Foreign Affairs called for diplomacy, neighbourly co-operation and good faith. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for restraint on all sides. The sole support for Columbias action came from Washington. It was Colombia that attacked its neighbour, Ecuador, but a spokesperson for the president said Washington supported Colombias right to defend itself.
This try at a military confrontation with Venezuela may not have worked, but the reaction from the U.S. indicates that it will probably not be their last attempt.
A NOTE FROM HISTORY:
For decades the people of Colombia have suffered the depredations of the U.S.-supported government of Colombia, leading to formation of a number of guerrilla groups, the largest and most effective of which is FARC. The current president of Colombia, Alvaro Uribe, elected in 2002, has made conditions even worse for the people, and intensified the fight against the guerrillas, all in the name of fighting the war on drugs. However, his success is indicated in a BBC report that he was able only to force the guerrillas "out of the towns and cities." Other reports indicate that FARC controls some 40 per cent of Colombia, mostly in the south.
The background for the current situation in Colombia was outlined back in 1998 by Rev. Javier Giraldo in an interview published in Reginas Briarpatch Magazine. Giraldo is a Jesuit priest and founder of the Intercongregational Peace and Justice Commission, a net-work of 55 Roman Catholic congregations in Colombia. Asked what kind of force the guerrillas represented in Colombia, and in what circumstances they arose, Giraldo said there was a very close relationship between the injustice to which a large part of the Colombian population was subjected, and development of the guerrillas. "I have been in many areas of conflict where the people are completely marginalized and live in terrible misery. I have seen the barbarities committed by the military and how the people try to defend themselves." This did not mean the guerrillas did not commit errors, Giraldo added. "To deny, however, the connection between injustice and the guerrillas is to close your eyes to reality."
Asked about formation of the paramilitaries, Giraldo said that beginning in the1970's, all the Latin American armed forces had met at the Conference of American Armed Forces, where a national security doctrine had been developed, and was the foundation of many of the military dictatorships in Latin America. This doctrine, Giraldo added, "was strongly promoted by the U.S. in the Conference of American Armed Forces."
One of the facets of this doctrine is to include the civilian population in the fighting, Giraldo explained. This is done by organizing them into groups with clandestine links to the military, supplying them with weapons and co-ordinating their actions, creating a "clandestine military arm of the death squads, called paramilitaries." These civilian defence groups were then legalized as co-operatives. They have committed many atrocities, Giraldo charged. "In the department of La Meta, all members of the political opposition party, Union Patriotica, have been assassinated, including parliamentarians, congress people, community leaders, unionists and human rights workers."
As for the war on drugs, in August, 2000, then-president Clinton visited Columbia and handed over $1.3 billion in military aid ostensibly to combat the drug trade. Rick Salutin of the Globe and Mail wrote at that time that Clintonscitingthe drug trade was "insultingly false." The aid would be used only in the half of the country controlled by the rebels, who dont even grow crops, though they tax them, Salutin stated. "Army-backed paramilitary groups will be left alone, though they get most of their money - 70 percent says their leader - from drug traffic..... The Columbian military is up to its eyes in drug trafficking, say U.S. officials." Clinton also claimed that his aim was to improve human rights, "a good idea," Salutin added, "since massacres of innocents, mainly by paramilitaries, have reached more than one a day, says Colombias ombudsman." At the same time, Salutin reported, Clinton had signed a "human rights waiver," meaning that Colombia would not have to live up to human rights conditions originally part of the package.
"So whats the aid really for," Salutin asks. "Colombias civil war is almost 40 years old. Between 1986 and 1995, 45,000 people died, 36,000 of them civilians. There are 4,300 political murders a year (and rising), and 1.5 million displaced people. About 2,500 trade union leaders have been assassinated since 1986, in a Canada-size population. Colombia is rich in oil and gold, but 3 per cent of the people control 70 per cent of the arable land, and 40 per cent live in absolute poverty and 18 percent in absolute misery. The rebels have a social democratic program - freeze privatization, subsidize farmers, help local industry. They get along with populist Venezuelan leader Chavez, whose demonization in the American media is heading to Saddamian levels.....Its a situation up with which, in Churchillian terms, the U.S. shall not put. Send in the gunships. Cue the Ride of the Valkyries. Sounds like Vietnam to me...You could call the U.S. a nation addicted to intervention. Its hard to think of a time they werent assaulting some small place: Lebanon in 58, Cuba in 61, Dominican Republic in 65, Vietnam for 10 years, Libya, Grenada, Panama, Iraq, Yugoslavia have I left any out?"
Uribe was elected president in 2002, and re-elected in 2006 in what was reported as a landslide victory. He got 53 per cent of the vote, but only 25 per cent of voters went to the polls. Under Uribe, son of a wealthy land owning family, described by the BBC as "President Bushs staunchest ally in Latin America," conditions have worsened. Uribe and Bush signeda second agreement, a follow-up to Plan Colombia which increased again the militarization of Colombia by the U.S. and required the Colombian government to adopt the requirements of the International Monetary Fund allowing foreign investment and a cut in social spending.
Some of the devastating situation in Colombia was revealed at a tribunal held in Colombia by the Tribunal of International Opinion (TIO). Headed by Belgian academician Francois Houtart, the TIO has held 33 Permanent Peoples Tribunals around the world. Last Novemberan 8-member TIO was held in Bogota, Colombias capital city. Witnesses testified that millions of people had been forced from their homes and land, and poverty was rampant. Some 40 percent of children dont attend school. During the 1980's, paramilitaries had forced peasants off land sold for a pittance to drug traffickers intent upon laundering new wealth. The paramilitaries opened up the stolen land for mining, agribusiness and construction projects. Witnesses described terrorist assaults, and complicity of the courts in legitimizing new proprietors.
This past February a delegation of three top U.S. trade union leaders visited Colombia. They reported that trade unionists operate in a climate of fear. The Colombian government has a consistent policy of union busting, and only one percent of workers have a union contract. Last year 38 trade unionists were murdered, and this year the figure is almost one per week.
These are the conditions that led to the formation of the guerrilla resistance forces of Colombia, including FARC. As has happened in other South American countries, most notably in Venezuela, the people are rising up against the exploitation by their landowner elite, and by U.S. corporations. It would appear the recent action by the Columbian government in Ecuador is a strengthening of the campaign by the U.S., with Uribes help, to get rid of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez and the influence his Bolivarian Revolution is having on the rest of South America. The Venezuelan people are providing a cant miss example of what the people of Colombia could have without Uribe and the U.S. military.
ATTENTION REGINA READERS!
Watch for these activities being planned by the Regina Peace Council.
Later this month the Regina Peace Council will hear reports at a public meeting, from their two delegates to the World Peace Council Peace Assembly and Conference in Caracas last month. Date and location are still to be finalized.
Then on June 16 the Cuba Caravan, sponsored by Pastors for Peace from the U.S. will once again visit the city. This year Pastors for Peace are working to send five buses to Cuba, in the name of the Cuban Five, who are being held in jail in the U.S. Travelling with the Caravan is Alicia Jrapko of California, an expert speaker and leading activist in the effort to free the Cuban Five.
For information as further arrangements are made with respect to the above, e-mail peace.council@sasktel.net.