US Defense Secretary Robert Gates and his Colombian counterpart Juan Manuel Santos share a joint op-ed in the New York Times July 23, “Colombia’s Gains Are America’s, Too,” shamelessly trading off the apparent hostage rescue operation to shill for the… Read moreRobert Gates joins PR offensive for Colombia FTA
In mid-July Citgo—the US oil distributor owned by the Venezuelan state oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela, SA (PDVSA)—began a program to distribute compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) to low- and middle-income families in Houston and Corpus Christi, Tex.; Lamont, Ill.; Lake… Read moreVenezuela’s Citgo gives U.S. families energy-efficient lightbulbs
Some 10,000 Venezuelans protested in Caracas July 12 to demand the country’s supreme court overturn a “blacklist”—or “inhabilitación política”—barring several opponents of President Hugo Chávez from running in upcoming state and municipal elections. Chanting “freedom!” and waving Venezuelan flags, the… Read moreVenezuela: opposition protest “blacklist”
“Venezuela and Colombia today open a new epoch in our relations,” Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez told reporters after a meeting with his Colombian counterpart Álvaro Uribe in Caracas July 11. “I want to make clear that the intention exists to… Read moreChávez in lovefest with recent Colombian nemesis
Claude-Marie Vadrot, writing for his blog on the French online journal Mediapart July 4, asserts that FARC hostage Ingrid Betancourt—freed in a Colombian military operation July 2—was actually supposed to be liberated on March 8, in a French deal that… Read moreFrench deal in Colombia hostage case?
As popular organizations called a one-day general strike July 9 to protest rising food and fuel prices, Peru’s President Alan García accused leftist opponents of plotting to overthrow him. “What we are seeing is a conspiracy that is underway,” García… Read morePeru general strike: land struggle or “conspiracy”?
US authorities could demand the extradition of two FARC guerilla leaders arrested by Colombian commandos during their rescue of 15 hostages, Justice Department officials said July 7. FARC leaders Gerardo Antonio Aguilar Ramírez AKA “César” and Alexander Farfán Suarez AKA… Read moreFARC leaders captured in rescue operation to face extradition?
Latin American leftists expressed satisfaction at the release of 15 people held captive by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)—including French-Colombian ex-presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and three US military contractors—in a Colombian military operation July 2. “Out of a… Read moreLatin American left reacts to release of FARC captives
Speaking to the Caracas-based Union Radio, Archbishop Roberto Luckert Leon of Coro, vice president of the Venezuelan bishops’ conference, charged that the newly established Reform Catholic Venezuelan Church is a ploy by the government of President Hugo Chávez to divide… Read moreVenezuela: bishops bash Bolivarian Catholics
The government of Peru issued a statement saying it formally “rejects” recent comments by Bolivia’s President Evo Morales about the supposed installation of US bases on Peruvian territory. Lima has called its ambassador in Bolivia, Fernando Rojas, to discuss the… Read moreEvo charges: US plans bases in Peru
The New York Times July 3 alluded to an Israeli role in the dramatic rescue of Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other FARC hostages in Colombia: “On Colombian television, Ms. Betancourt wept and smiled as she recounted a chain of events… Read moreIsraeli connection emerges in Betancourt release
Amid generally ebullient news coverage, reports are starting to emerge that the “impeccable” hostage-rescue mission in Colombia was actually a sham to disguise the payment of a ransom. Swiss public radio cited an unidentified source “close to the events, reliable… Read moreRansom charges emerge in Betancourt release
