CPTnet
14 May 2009
COLOMBIA REFLECTION: Obama, Free Trade, and Colombia—what a displaced campesina knows now that might take four years for the U.S. public to figure out 

by Eloy Garcia

President Obama seems to be changing his pre-electoral stance, regarding "free trade" and U.S. relations with Colombia.  The recent headline in Colombia's national daily, El Espectador, stated that the free trade agreement between Colombia and the United States got a big boost during the recent summit of the Americas held in Trinidad.  “Colombia is a critical strategic ally," said Ron Kirk, who is leading the U.S. effort to finalize the controversial trade agreement.  Kirk further noted,  "President Obama is a great admirer of Colombian President Uribe and the work that he has done with issues such as security and protection of workers."

Kirk uttered these words in the wake of ongoing assassinations of union and community leaders such as Edgar Martinez Ruiz of San Pablo.*  He made these comments even though  the New York Times, in a 22 April 2009 article, noted that Colombia has a humanitarian displacement disaster second only to that of Darfur, Sudan with over four million people being forcibly displaced since 1985—numbers that have dramatically increased since the implementation of the United States-financed "Plan Colombia."  All of these atrocities have taken place under Colombian President Uribe's self-proclaimed Democratic Security state.

Christian Peacemaker Team Colombia recently did a public action in Barrancabermeja to bring attention to displaced Colombians and the causes of such displacements, such as militarization of the conflict by the U.S., the fumigation/poisoning of the environment, and unjust transnational development/economic agreements.

During the action, I had a chance to speak to one of the many displaced persons now living in the city of Barrancabermeja.  The elderly woman from an Afro-Colombian community—a population that has been disproportionately targeted for displacement because its traditional territories are rich in gold and petroleum—asked about the election of Obama, a black man, as president of the United States.  I commented that thus far the administration has continued the same foreign policy as the Bush regime.

The women replied,  "He is black but maybe he does not understand the struggle of black people.  It seems he is like all politicians; they promise you everything when they are asking for your vote, but once elected, they keep none of their promises and everything stays the same."  These comments should be of some concern to people who were hoping for "change you can believe in."  People should remember the woman’s words when they evaluate the lack of any critical response by Obama toward Israel during its atrocious assault on Gaza, the lack of movement on immigration reform and further emphasis on the militarization of the Mexican border, and the renewed interest in free trade agreements—all election issues that Obama claimed to be against before his electoral triumph.  Three months into Obama's administration, it seems for people of color, at least, that everything stays the same no matter what color the President of the United States.