Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez told a crowd of thousands of supporters in the city of Puerto Cabello Sept. 11 that he is giving US Ambassador Patrick Duddy 72 hours to leave the country—saying he issued the order in solidarity with… Read moreVenezuela boots US ambassador
Two Russian Tu-16 bombers landed in Venezuela Sept. 10 as part of military maneuvers. President Hugo Chávez said he hopes to “fly one of those things” himself. The maneuvers mark the first time Russian strategic bombers have landed in the… Read moreVenezuela hosts Russian bombers —and Hezbollah?
Bolivia’s President Evo Morales ordered the expulsion of the US ambassador Sept. 10, charging him with inciting violent opposition protests. “The ambassador of the United States is conspiring against democracy and wants Bolivia to break apart,” Morales said at the… Read moreBolivia: US ambassador expelled amid “civil war” fears
Bolivia’s opposition governors in the eastern lowlands Sept. 3 demanded the national government withdraw its forces from Trinidad, the capital of Beni department, accusing them of repression at a youth protest occupation of the National Tax Service offices. The building… Read moreBolivia: eastern governors demand withdrawal of national army
Venezuela Aug. 31 rejected US requests to resume Drug War cooperation, saying Washington should focus on slashing demand for drugs at home rather than blaming setbacks on other nations’ supposed lack of cooperation. “The anti-drug fight in Venezuela has shown… Read moreVenezuela refuses renewed Drug War cooperation
A car bomb exploded early Sept. 1 near the Palace of Justice in Cali, Colombia, killing four and wounding up to 20. The dead were identified as one police officer and three street vendors. Authorities said they suspect the blast… Read moreColombia: deadly car blast in Cali
Venezuelan National Guard troops in Maracaibo Sept. 4 captured fugitive former Colombian senator, CĂ©sar department governor and national agriculture minister Alvaro Araujo Noguera, 75. Araujo Noguera, who had been wanted for a year and a half, is expected to be… Read moreFugitive Colombian para-pol busted in Venezuela
President Hugo Chávez announced a measure to nationalize wholesale gasoline distribution in Venezuela—despite the lobbying of British Petroleum, Exxon Mobil and Chevron, whose local subsidiaries currently control the business. Under the measure, which received initial approval in the National Assembly… Read moreChávez to nationalize oil distro, move towards “Gas Revolution”
President Evo Morales announced Aug. 24 he has put all of Bolivia’s gas and oil installations under military protection, as protesters in Santa Cruz, Chuquisaca and Tarija departments prepare new actions to resist national control of the hydrocarbon resources. “I’ve… Read moreBolivia: Evo sends army to oil installations
A 24-hour general strike in Bolivia’s opposition-controlled departments of Santa Cruz, Beni, Pando, Tarija and Chuquisaca Aug. 19 paralyzed a large swath of the country’s east. Clashes broke out in the city of Santa Cruz, where protesters armed with sticks… Read moreBolivia: opposition strike shuts down five departments
On Aug. 8 the Colombian Attorney General’s Office arrested sociologist Liliana (or Liliany) Patricia Obando Villota in Bogotá on charges of organizing events and managing money for the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). On Aug. 9 the Attorney… Read moreColombia: opposition figures targeted for supposed links to FARC
The government of Colombian president Alvaro Uribe continues to be plagued by the parapolĂtica (“parapolitics”) scandal, in which some 60 members of Congress have been linked to the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), a right-wing paramilitary group that is… Read moreColombia: revelations in “parapolitics” scandal link armed forces chief to AUC
