08/12/2009

Hundreds gather for solidarity talks

Sunday 06 December 2009

Lizzie Cocker

Hundreds of solidarity campaigners descended on the TUC headquarters in London for this year's Latin America conference.

Entitled Facing the Challenges, the event not only highlighted the tide of progress sweeping the continent but also addressed how the people of Latin America are responding to renewed attempts by the right to undermine the various forms of socialism that are being created.

To a packed audience of people from across Britain as well as Cuban and Venezuelan ambassadors, TUC international policy officer Sam Gurney outlined the importance of learning from Latin America and building on solidarity work with fellow trade unionists there, in particular those in danger.

Colombian activist Yessika Hoyos from Sons and Daughters Against Impunity, whose own father was assassinated by the state machinery, highlighted the constant attacks trade unionists face in that country, where 2,500 trade unionists have been assassinated in the last two decades.

On this note, Mr Gurney called for support for the TUC's latest campaign to halt the signing of an EU free trade agreement with Colombia.

Mr Gurney went on to reiterate the TUC's calls for the immediate reinstatement of ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya, for the EU to not recognise the illegitimate elections held on November 29 and for the suspension of trade preferences with the EU currently enjoyed by the illegal Honduran regime.

General secretary of the Venezuelan graphical and printworkers union Egle Sanchez passionately explained the transformation of that country, where previously widespread illiteracy has been eradicated, school children get three free meals a day, poor single mothers receive 80 per cent of the minimum wage for up to a year so they can get training and three million people are in higher education totally free of charge.

"We in Venezuela are prepared to give our lives for our revolution and our president," she said.

Guardian journalist Seumus Milne said it was an "emblem of the humanity of Castro and Guevara's legacy" that, 40 years after Ernesto Che Guevara was assassinated by Sergeant Mario Teran, "Teran had his sight restored by Cuban doctors paid for by revolutionary Venezuela in the radicalised Bolivia of Evo Morales."

Left MP Colin Burgon summarised how Latin America has provided hope in Europe as it has "revived an interest and enthusiasm for socialism that we were told 10 to 15 years ago was consigned to history."

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/84129