Welcome to the committee, everyone.
Ms. George, you indicated that free trade will improve human rights and workers' rights in a country. You spoke at length about the improvement of the situation in Colombia in the past several years. In the statistics that I have read, there has been some improvement, but in 2008, 28 trade unionists have been murdered.
Le Monde diplomatique is an internationally recognized French publication. In the May edition, we read that “...the Colombian government caused a (minor) surprise by agreeing to the extradition of fourteen former leaders of paramilitary groups to the United States". Those people were put in prison and called to testify about the various operations they led. Their latest statements somewhat increased the pressure in the country. That is why they were sent off to the United States with American cooperation. Paramilitary groups have been linked to Juan Manuel Santos, Minister of Defence, Francisco Santos Calderón, the country's Vice-President, whom we have had here at the committee, and President Alvaro Uribe.
Le Monde diplomatique is no local daily or weekly. It is an international journal. Those are the facts, sir, and I can show you the article I am referring to.