The news is the latest in a series of reports that have been coming out of Colombia showing the links between the government, paramilitary groups and corporations.  In March, Chiquita admitted to paying millions of dollars to the AUC paramilitary group, which is considered a terrorist group by the US State Department.  The ILRF lawsuit against Drummond, an Alabama-based coal company, which alleges that the company paid paramilitaries to torture, kidnap and murder union leaders has also been getting media coverage.

President Uribe of Colombia has been agressively advocating for passage of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the US and his country.  Uribe faced large protests here in DC and some members of the US Congress have been vocal in calling for an end to the impunity in Colombia.  It is essential that people in the US contact their members of Congress to encourage them to say no to an FTA with Colombia and to hold the country responsible for violence against human rights activists.

You can also listen to this radio clip from NPR's Morning Edition about the newest revelations in Colombia.