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Article

20 Mar 2007

Author:
Helda Martínez, Inter Press Service

Miners' Woes Heard - If Faintly - in US

"We believe it's a deliberate distortion to present the problem of human rights violations in Colombia as the result of a simple struggle between good guys and bad guys," [Colombian] lawyer and trade unionist Francisco Ramírez told IPS. "What is happening here is a war of economic interests." Ramírez was speaking before a Mar. 3 meeting between trade unionists and U.S. Democrat Representative James McGovern.... [i]n which the workers said they were "tired of our people being killed, of the constant abuses and the impunity."…The union representatives showed McGovern, using maps and documents, the patterns and forms that harassment and violence against mine workers take in Colombia.... [also refers to BHP Billiton, Anglo American, Glencore International, Occidental Petroleum, Cemex, Drummond]