Colombian activist Liliany Obando's trial postponed again
Commentary by Angela Denio |March 13, 2010
--ColombiaSolidarity.com--

In Colombia dissent is dangerous. This is especially so for FENSUAGRO, as Colombia's largest peasant and farm worker federation. "We consider our struggle a just and important struggle. We fight for farm workers in defense of life, land and territory," explains one of the union's leaders. The union fights for farmers because they have learned repeatedly that the Colombian government will prioritize the rights of multinational corporations over the rights of a Colombian farming community. Their organization teaches organic growing practices, seed preservation and union organizing.

In their many years of struggle FENSUAGRO became a strong union, a union that has saved communities, changed lives for the better and that brought the voice of rural workers to the ears of all of Colombia. For the work that they do, their members and supporters are abducted, detained, arrested and murdered. FENSUAGRO is the most targeted union by military and paramilitary violence in Colombia.

"Lily's trial has everything to do with her work with FENSUAGRO," says James Jordan of the Alliance for Global Justice. "The Colombian government is trying to destroy the union. The war in Colombia is built around driving farmers off their land and of course the union is at odds with that goal." Obando is charged with rebellion. This is a charged linked with the Colombian government's claim that she raised money for Colombia's growing insurgency, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC-EP).

F.E.N.S.A.G.R.O.
--wiki--

The Single Agricultural Trade Union Federation (or Federación Nacional Sindical Unitaria Agropecuaria) is the federation of agricultural unions and small farmers leagues biggest Colombia . It is a subsidiary of the Central Confederation of Workers of Colombia and the World Federation of Trade Unions . Has a presence in most agricultural areas of the country, especially in Cauca, Arauca, Meta, Caquetá, Cundinamarca and Magdalena Medio. Founded in 1976 as Agricultural Trade Union Federation (FENS), has been one of the most active in the struggle for agrarian reform in Colombia. FENSUAGRO Many leaders have been disappeared and killed by the paramilitaries.