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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><img
width=626 height=98 id="Picture_x005f_x0020_1"
src="cid:image001.jpg@01CD1E2E.C61F4780" alt=header600><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Contact:
Andy Phelan (404-593-9126)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>April
19, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=6 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:24.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>U.S. Rep. Hank <font color=black><span style='color:black'>Johnson’s
statement</span></font> on Colombia Free Trade Agreement<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-weight:bold'>Congressman: Continued violence against union activists,
impunity for perpetrators leave <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Colombia</st1:place></st1:country-region>
in default of its obligations under Labor Action Plan</span></font></b><font
size=3><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-style:italic'>WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Hank Johnson, who represents
the eastern suburbs of Atlanta, <font color=black><span style='color:black'>Ga.,</span></font>
in the U.S. House and serves on the Congressional Monitoring Group on Labor
Rights in Colombia, today issued the following statement regarding the <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Colombia</st1:place></st1:country-region> Free
Trade Agreement<font color="#1f497d"><span style='color:#1F497D'>:</span></font><o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>“The U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement will be
implemented next month after the Administration’s recent announcement that <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Colombia</st1:place></st1:country-region> has met
the terms of the Labor Action Plan. <br>
<br>
“As a member of the Congressional Monitoring Group on Labor Rights in <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Colombia</st1:place></st1:country-region>, I
oppose this decision. Violence against Colombian workers and minorities,
and impunity for the perpetrators of violence, are rampant. In the last
year along, 28 union leaders have been killed and 10 have been the victims of
failed assassination attempts. <br>
<br>
“The Government of Colombia continues to fail to protect its own people and has
not yet met its obligations under the Plan. <br>
<br>
“We have the leverage to demand results. Let’s use it.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=3 face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>On Thursday morning, Congressman Johnson issued this
statement <font color=black><span style='color:black'>from</span></font> his
Congressional office. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74yeOQj2liM">Video
of Rep. Johnson’s statement is available here</a>.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=2 face=Calibri><span
style='font-size:11.0pt'><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74yeOQj2liM"><font
color=black><span style='color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'><img border=0
width=528 height=321 id="Picture_x005f_x0020_6"
src="cid:image002.jpg@01CD1E2F.7F834D20"></span></font></a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>###<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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