TRADE unionists heard about progress in Colombia under its first left-wing President Gustavo Petro, but also the serious threats his government faces, at a Justice for Colombia fringe meeting at the Scottish TUC today.

The meeting was addressed by the international secretary of Colombia’s biggest trade union federation the CUT, Rosalba Gomez, who explained that powerful right-wing forces work constantly to scupper the Petro administration’s efforts to achieve peace after decades of civil war and for social justice.

Corporate-dominated media meant that looking at Colombian newspapers you get the impression that “if it rains it’s Petro’s fault,” Ms Gomez said.