At the end of the meeting with President Álvaro Uribe at the White House, the President of the United States, Barack Obama, highlighted the reduction of murders of trade union members, as well as the increase in the time of punishment for those responsible for that kind of crimes.

Washington, June 29 (SP). President of the United States Barack Obama, highlighted this Monday the progress of President Uribe’s Government in terms of respect for human rights and protection of trade union leaders in Colombia.

After the meeting both Leaders held at the White House, President Obama told the press that he supports the increase in the time of punishment for trade union murderers.

“I praised President Uribe for the progress made in the field of human rights in Colombia, and crimes related to trade union leaders in this country. We have seen a reduction in homicides of trade union leaders, as well as an increase in the time of punishment for the murderers” the North American Leader said.

He also highlighted that President Uribe did not only talk about Colombia’s progress, but also about unresolved tasks concerning to protections of unionist and workers.

“President Uribe is aware that there is still work to do, and we anticipate cooperation with him to keep improving the rights of the trade unions and the efforts to protect union leaders as well as civil rights” President Obama pointed.

As for the extrajudicial killings investigations, the North American President declared that he trusts the transparent approach that the Colombian Government is using to deal with this issue. 

“We think that the appropriate measures have already been adopted, related to the extrajudicial killing, now it is important that Colombia follows the road of the empire of law and transparency, and I know that President Uribe is committed to it”, Obama said.