The Andes

Colombia nears deal with Washington for military base

Colombia says it is close to sealing an agreement with Washington which would make the country the hub for US anti-drug operations in South America—despite protests that the move is unconstitutional.

The Andes

Colombia extradites Betancourt captor

FARC guerrilla Gerardo Antonio Aguilar AKA “CĂ©sar” was extradited to the US to face drug charges. “CĂ©sar” guarded hostages including Ingrid Betancourt before his arrest in July 2008.

The Andes

Colombia: KatĂ­o Embera leader killed

Gunmen shot Colombian indigenous leader Héctor Betancur Domicó in the northwestern department of Córdoba. More than 1,254 indigenous people have been killed by armed groups in Colombia since 2002.

The Andes

Peruvian provinces paralyzed by paro

Peru’s government ordered thousands of soldiers into the streets as a paro or series of coordinated strikes against the free-trade policies of President Alan GarcĂ­a entered its second day.

The Andes

Peru: strikes, protests and “cold war”

Peru’s President Alan GarcĂ­a says his country has become a pawn in a continental “cold war,” alleging Venezuelan and Bolivian involvement in a wave of strikes and protests.

The Andes

Bolivia bashes Obama over trade sanctions

President Evo Morales lashed out at President Obama a day after the US ended trade benefits, saying Bolivia is not doing enough to combat coca cultivation of coca.

The Andes

Obama pledges progress on FTA in meeting with Uribe

Barack Obama held his first meeting with his Colombian counterpart Alvaro Uribe, pledging to move ahead with a Free Trade Agreement—in spite of expressed concerns about ongoing rights violations.