Photo by Center for American Progress

BOGOTA, COLOMBIA: Uribe, President of Colombia, defended his countries progress in protecting union leaders and announces a publicity campaign in the US to improve Colombia’s image so that the FTA will pass.

Colombia spent nearly $40 million last year to protect union leaders and high profile workers. The measures have not been entirely successful, but they are definitely a step in the right direction. When union leader killings hit American news, US politicians stalled the Free Trade Agreement. Uribe is hoping the new image boosting campaign will help push past what he views as exaggerated attention on the problem.

It’s not that union leaders being killed is good, but that the US shouldn’t be giving people advice when they’re only half listening.

English article from Colombia Reports: We do not need the US to tell us we must protect workers: Uribe

Spanish article from El Tempo: “No necesitamos que E.U. ni ningún país nos exijan proteger a nuestros trabajadores”: Uribe