Having lost his constitution reform vote by a razor-thin margin, Venezuela’s President Hugo Chávez said he will accept the results—with caveats. “I faced a great dilemma,” he said. “I wanted to wait until the results were irreversible, but we cannot… Read moreChávez accepts defeat —”for now”
A Threat to What Was Won Through Struggle from El Libertario, Caracas This is the editorial from the November edition of the Venezuelan anarchist journal El Libertario, analyzing the controversy over the pending constitutional reform, from a position harshly critical… Read moreVENEZUELA’S CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM:
Continue ReadingVENEZUELA’S CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM:What’s at Stake by Sujatha Fernandes, ZNet On Sunday Dec. 2, Venezuelans will return to the voting booths to ratify or reject two slates of constitutional reforms, 33 of which have been proposed by President Hugo Chávez and 36 additional… Read moreVENEZUELA’S CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM:
Continue ReadingVENEZUELA’S CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM:Colombian prosecutors on Nov. 22 ordered the detention of an army captain, Guillermo Gordillo, for participating with paramilitary killers in the massacre of eight civilians, including three children, in San José de Apartadó in February 2005. (Fiscalia press release, Nov,… Read moreColombian army captain charged in Peace Community massacre
On Nov. 23, approximately 5,500 Colombian and Ecuadoran women marched for demilitarization, to end violence against women, to construct peace with dignity and social justice and for a negotiated solution to the conflict. Their celebration was to mark Nov. 25,… Read moreColombian, Ecuadoran women march for peace
Opposition leaders in Bolivia pledge further protests against a new draft constitution, after a one-day strike Nov. 28 closed banks, schools and public transportation in six of Bolivia’s nine departments. The strike was most successful in Santa Cruz, where opposition… Read moreBolivia: right-wing strikers pledge more protests
Just days ahead of the referendum on President Hugo Chávez’s proposed constitutional reforms, Venezuela has threatened to expel a US diplomat if a document outlining supposed CIA plans to foment unrest proves to be real. The document, entitled “Final Stage… Read moreVenezuela destabilization document emerges: real?
Meeting in a heavily guarded military academy on the outskirts of Sucre, Bolivia’s Constituent Assembly approved a new Constitution late on Nov. 24 with the support of 136 of the 255 delegates. Two delegates abstained, and the majority of the… Read moreBolivia: new constitution protested
The Nov. 21 New York Times includes a profile of Venezuela’s recently retired army commander-in-chief Gen. Raul Isaias Baduel, a longtime confidant of Hugo Chavez who led the paratrooper raid that restored him to power following the abortive 2002 coup… Read moreAnti-Semitism in Venezuela —again?
Just as the Peru Free Trade Agreement has passed the US House of Representatives, efforts to pass a similar agreement with Colombia hit an embarrassing snag. Sandra Suarez, the special envoy Colombian President Alvaro Uribe sent to Washington in July… Read moreColombia’s DC trade envoy steps down following para collaboration charges
Colombians went to the polls on Oct. 28 to elect 18,527 local and regional officials, including mayors, governors, municipal council members and deputies. As has been usual in regional elections, turnout was low. The campaign was marked by the murders… Read moreColombia: left holds on to Bogotá
Peruvian miners began an open-ended strike on Nov. 5, affecting copper, tin, iron and zinc mines owned by Southern Copper Corp., Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., Newmont Mining Corp., Doe Run Resources Corp, Cia. de Minas Buenaventura SA, Minsur SA,… Read morePeru: strikes, protests continue
