In what the Colombian press is explicitly portraying as a “farcpolítica” scandal to rival the “parapolítica” outrage, chief prosecutor Mario Iguarán asked the Supreme Court to investigate three opposition legislators for alleged links to the FARC guerillas. The investigations were… Read moreColombia: seized guerilla computer leads to “farcpolítica” scandal
On May 15 the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders—a program sponsored jointly by the World Organization Against Torture and the International Federation of Human Rights—issued an urgent call for the Colombian government to ensure the safety of… Read moreColombia: rights activist threatened
On May 13 unknown persons riding a motorcycle shot and killed Julio Cesar Molina, a leader of refugees from Colombia’s internal conflicts who were displaced to the rural zone of Ansermanueva in the southwestern department of Valle del Cauca. On… Read moreColombia: refugee leader murdered
Bogotá May 18 rejected charges from Venezuela that 60 Colombian soldiers had entered its territory in what Caracas called a provocation aimed at destabilizing the region. “There has been no incursion,” Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos told local radio,… Read moreVenezuela charges Colombian military incursion
Nelly Ávila Moreno AKA Karina, commander of the FARC’s 47th Front, surrendered to agents of Colombia’s Administrative Security Department (DAS) May 18 in Sonsón, Antioquia. Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos called it an “important blow” against guerilla organization. Karina was… Read moreFARC 47th Front commander surrenders
The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE) declared itself in opposition to the government of Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa on May 12. The CONAIE accused the president of continuing right-wing neoliberal economic and racist social policies. The harsh condemnation… Read moreEcuador: indigenous movement condemns Correa
Colombia’s Defense Ministry assured that the US air base now housed at Manta, Ecuador, would not be relocated to the Colombian Caribbean coastal zone of La Guajira—hours after Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez said Bogotá was “playing with fire,” and that… Read moreUS base plans escalate Colombia-Venezuela border tensions
Again displaying his penchant for name-calling, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez called Interpol chief Ronald Noble a “corrupt” and “immoral” “gringo policeman” and “international vagabond,” and branded as “ridiculous” a new report authenticating computer data allegedly seized from a FARC camp… Read moreChávez: Interpol chief “corrupt gringo policeman”
This is a clear sign of chastisement in high places. We sure hope these folks have got Barack Obama‘s ear! Jim Lobe writes for InterPress Service May 14: New Approach Awaited on Latin America, Cuba WASHINGTON – More than 150… Read moreCouncil on Foreign Relations reconsiders Monroe Doctrine
Colombia extradited 14 top commanders of the right-wing paramilitaries to the US May 13 on drug trafficking and other charges. Security forces rousted the warlords from their prison cells in a surprise pre-dawn operation and took them to Bogotá’s military… Read moreColombia extradites paramilitary commanders
Presidents Hugo Chávez of Venezuela and Rafael Correa of Ecuador warned of possible “contagion” in their countries by the autonomy movement in the eastern Bolivian province of Santa Cruz. “The central plan by the CIA and its lackeys in Venezuela… Read moreSeparatist “contagion” spreading in Andes?
Colombia’s military committed “crimes against humanity” when it shot three people in the back and killed a man with a blow to the head during the March 1 raid on a guerilla camp in Ecuador, Quito’s Interior Minister Fernando Bustamante… Read moreEcuador accuses Colombia of extrajudicial executions
