As Oil Money Flowed, Clinton Turned Back on Rights Abuses in Colombia: Report

[Judi Lynn]

5. Clinton changed stance on Colombia trade deal after receiving oil money: Report

Clinton changed stance on Colombia trade deal after receiving oil money: Report
Apr 10, 2015 posted by Talor Gruenwald

Former United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ended opposing a free trade agreement with Colombia after the largest private oil company operating in the South American country pledged $100 million to the Clinton Foundation, according to The International Business Times.

Clinton initially opposed the deal while running for president in 2008, but changed her position in 2011 as Secretary of State after Frank Giustra, the Canadian founder of Pacific Rubiales, pledged to donate to the Clinton Foundation.

The pledge came at a time when Pacific Rubiales was being lambasted for their involvement in an effort to suppress a strike among workers of Pacific Rubiales. To end the strike, the Colombian military allegedly threatened the workers with violence if they failed to disperse.

Additionally, Colombia’s largest oil union, the USO, at the time was reporting death threats from a paramilitary group.
Surprisingly, the US State Department subsequently praised the human rights record of Colombia despite the recent events, stating that the “Colombian government continues to make progress on improving respect for human rights, both within the Armed Forces and in Colombia at large.”

More:
http://colombiareports.co/clinton-changed-stance-on-colombia-trade-deal-after-receiving-oil-money-report/