Pubdate: Sun, 18 Sep 2005
Source: Jersey Journal, The (NJ)
Copyright: 2005 The Jersey Journal
Contact:  http://www.nj.com/jjournal/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2699
Author: Rebecca Santana, The Associated Press

COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT HOLDS TOWN HALL-STYLE MEETING IN NEW JERSEY

ELIZABETH, N.J. - Colombian President Alvaro Uribe brought a relaxed 
political style here Sunday in a freewheeling, town hall-style discussion 
that covered topics ranging from identification cards for immigrants to his 
negotiations with paramilitary organizations.

Uribe, who attended celebrations at the United Nations last week, met with 
a crowd of nearly 3,000 Colombian immigrants in New Jersey, the state with 
the nation's third-highest Colombian population.

He praised Colombians for how far the country has come in ending the 
violence that has plagued it for decades, but said more work needs to be done.

"If you ask me what Colombia needs, eradicate terrorism, eradicate 
corruption, and help the poor," said Uribe, who spoke in Spanish.

The president, who enjoys tremendous support in his home country and with 
many of those who showed up for Sunday's meeting, was met with a standing 
ovation and cheers of "Viva Uribe!" as many in the crowd waved Colombian flags.

Others cheered "Uno, dos, tres, Uribe otra vez!" or, "One, two, three, 
Uribe another time!" Uribe's term expires next year, and he'd like to run 
another time but the country's Constitutional Court still must decide 
whether legally he's allowed to.

Uribe swept to power in 2002 on promises he would defeat the leftist 
guerrillas that have been fighting the government for four decades. He has 
also won praise from the United States for taking steps like aerial 
spraying and extraditing drug traffickers to the United States to cut back 
on the drug trade.

"No one has fought the war on terror, and the war on narcotics more 
strongly and more effectively and more in partnership with the United 
States than President Uribe has," said U.S. Sen. Jon Corzine, who attended 
the event, along with Rep. Robert Menendez, D-Hoboken.

But the president has also been criticized for failing to protect human 
rights, and some say he has been too lenient on the right-wing paramilitary 
organizations that were formed to protect against the guerillas.

Many Colombians came to the United States to escape the violence. During 
the Sunday meeting Uribe said he would be tough with the paramilitary 
groups that won't negotiate a peace deal, but generous with those who do. 
Many in the crowd praised Uribe for what they described as his role in 
ending the violence.

"The security situation in Colombia was very difficult. It was very 
difficult to travel around the country. I think now we have a safer place," 
said Orlando Munoz, a lawyer from Colombia who works for a law firm in New 
York.

The bulk of Sunday's meeting had to do with issues vital to Colombians 
living in the U.S., many of whom are in the country illegally.

One topic was the efforts by the Colombian embassies and consulates in the 
United States to issue identification cards to all Colombians, since many 
of them have no legal identification documents.

Another concern was gaining legal status for many Colombians already here. 
Legislation sponsored by Sens. John McCain (R-Arizona) and Edward Kennedy 
(D-Mass.) that would give guest-workers visas to stay in the United States.

Uribe also asked people in the audience to discuss remittances, a way in 
which many Colombians working in the United States send money to family 
back home. Remittances are a vital part of the Colombian economy, but many 
in the audience complained about the taxes and fees associated with sending 
money internationally that eats into what they can send home.

The Colombian president holds many similar town-hall style discussions in 
Colombia, but organizers said this was the first one he's done in the 
United States.

In keeping with the relaxed atmosphere, Uribe went tieless and often 
interrupted people when their questions seemed to drag on. At one point in 
the discussion that lasted roughly three hours, Uribe walked offstage after 
receiving a phone call but later returned.
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MAP posted-by: Elizabeth Wehrman