Roger protests against human rights violations in Colombia
Posted by Roger Godsiff, MP for Birmingham, Hall Green, at 20:44, Thu 2 January 2014:
Roger was among a small group of MPs who voted against approving the draft European Union (Definition of Treaties) (Colombia and Peru Trade Agreement) Order 2013. Sixty-one MPs chose to vote against accepting this free-trade agreement with Colombia in protest against the country’s failure to honour its commitments on human rights.
Roger explained the reason for his “no” vote: “Once again, this Government have put economic interests above human rights. In just one year, 37 human rights activists were murdered in Colombia, sixteen of whom were murdered by Government forces during strike action. The free trade agreement sets out standards for human rights protection, but I am concerned that this is just empty rhetoric that will not be enforced. This House should not condone the murder of innocent people by their own Government.”
The trade agreement was passed by the House, but Roger and his colleagues who voted against it felt that it was important to make a stand against human rights abuses, wherever in the world they take place.
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Posted by amanat gul, 00:34, Fri 3 January 2014: (Is this post abusive?) #
Roger has done a tremendous job by opposing the above draft in favour of human rights activities. This government has lost sense quite before now is losing their moral credibility as well. We the constituents of Roger will fully support his motions every movement now and in future. Dr Amanat Jee Ballsal Heath Birmingham
Posted by Amar bashir, 11:10, Fri 3 January 2014: (Is this post abusive?) #
Sir I find it ironic that you can criticise a free trade deal with Colombia, who may well be a human rights violator, but there is no mention of Israel by yourself and the vast majority of MP's, which has been censured by by the UN and had ignored numerous resolutions regarding the creeping genocide being inflicted upon the Palestinian people. Nor has there been any mention of imposing sanctions or restrictions the like on Israel and the companies that have dealings with them. Infact, the vast majority of MP's seem to fall over themselves and goto great lengths to show their loyalty to organisations such Freinds of Israel and the like in order to gain material benefit to advance their careers. How about standing up for the Palestinian people, all of whom are suffering unimaginable horrors of living under an Aparthid reigime.
Posted by Mohammed Hemraj, 11:22, Fri 3 January 2014: (Is this post abusive?) #
Protest against a country’s failure to honour its commitments on human rights? What a joke? What about abuses of human rights in Israel (against its neighbour Palastian's land garbing), Saudi Arabia (against women, and the rulers squandering the nations oil revenue,) Bahrain (against the majority Shia population), China, Russia and African nations (for corruptions) to mention but a few? Why the US and UK who are the architect of democracy are not upholding democracy when they are being breached by the Arab nations and prefer to act as spectators? The UK and the US will never ever vote against the trade agreements with these countries, so why the double standards? Corruption is rampant in the African nations and the UK is providing aids to these nations whereas the citizens of this country have to rely on the food bank? Where is the justice?
It is the US policy of following its vested interest that has made it difficult for people around the world to live peacefully.