Indigenous Say EU Splits CAN

Lima, Nov 14 (Prensa Latina) The Andean Coordinating Office of Indigenous Organizations accused on Friday the European Union (EU) of dividing the Community of Andean Nations (CAN), after brushing off a trade negotiation in bloc with the subregion.

In a public communique, the indigenous organization in Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador and Peru warned that the EU would be responsible for the conflicts in the Andean region, originated by the Colombian and Peruvian decision to separately negotiate a trade agreement, bound to the interest of the European bloc.

The document called Andean and European indigenous and social organizations to take actions against the negotiation of an imposed free trade agreement with the European Union, the consequences of which will lead to the CAN failure.

"We categorically reject the negotiation and signing of the free trade agreement with the EU, disguised as an Association Agreement," the communique said.

It considered false the proposals of cooperation and political dialogue of the "association agreement," negotiated since 2007 by the Andean countries and the European bloc.

The agreement is the beachhead of the European Investment Bank and transnationals, which are trying to plunder the natural resources of the Andean countries, eliminating labor rights and those of the indigenous people.

"They should know that it will not be easy to impose a free trade agreement. The indigenous people are not alone in this struggle. Our organizations are increasingly coordinated with Latin American social movements," the text says.