FAIT Committee News Release
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STANDING COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS NEWS RELEASE COMMITTEE PRESENTS REPORT ON COLOMBIA Ottawa, February 11, 2000 - Bill Graham, M.P., the Chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade today presented a short report emphasizing its deep concern about the continued violence and human rights abuses in Colombia, calling upon both the Government of Colombia and the Government of Canada to take specific steps to improve the situation. In December 1999, the Committee met with church, human rights and trade union organizations, as well as Canadian Government officials based both in Colombia and Ottawa, to discuss the continuing violence and abuses in Colombia, exemplified by a 1998 massacre in Barrancabermeja. In its Report, which is in the form of a resolution, the Committee "condemns the repeated violence, kidnappings, massacres and the abuse of human rights by all parties in Colombia." It calls upon both the Government of Colombia and the Government of Canada to take specific steps to improve the situation, including implementation without delay of recommendations made by United Nations and Organization of American States human rights bodies. The Committee added that it "will remain seized of this issue, and will consider what further bilateral measures may be appropriate to increase pressure on the Colombian authorities." For more information, please contact the Clerk of the Committee at 996-1533 or the Chair of the Committee at 992-5234. - 30 - |