Colombia’s President Alvaro Uribe has ordered his military to intensify efforts to free hostages in the hands of the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC)—asserting that they are being held in “concentration camp” conditions “more cruel” than those of the Nazis…. Read moreColombia: Uribe calls for military raids to rescue FARC hostages
Colombian National Police officer Jhon Frank Pinchao, held hostage by the FARC guerillas for nearly nine years, escaped his captors and spent 17 days lost in the jungle of Vaupes department before he was found by an army patrol on… Read moreColombia: FARC hostage escapes
Imprisoned Colombian paramilitary leader Salvatore Mancuso fingered the nation’s vice president, defense minister and two of it’s top conglomerates as collaborators in an explosive judicial hearing. He also said the paramilitaries, branded “foreign terrorist organizations” by Washington in 2001, were… Read moreColombia: para warlord fingers vice president
A new blue-and-green-throated hummingbird species, dubbed the gorgeted puffleg, has been discovered in a threatened cloud forest of southwest Colombia. The name comes from the iridescent emerald green and electric blue patch on the throat—or gorge—of the males, and from… Read moreColombia: coca economy threatens new species
From the International Crisis Group, May 10: Colombia’s New Armed Groups The disbanding of the paramilitary United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (AUC) between 2003 and 2006 is seen by the administration of President Alvaro Uribe as a vital step toward… Read moreColombia: new armed groups proliferate —despite para “demobilization”
Colombian National Police chief Gen. Jorge Daniel Castro and his intelligence boss Gen. Guillermo Chaves were forced to retire May 14 following cliams that police illegally tapped calls of opposition political figures, journalists and members of the government. “The procedure… Read moreNational Police chief forced out in “Colombian Watergate”
On May 14 at 7 AM, Francisco Puerta, a leader of the Colombian “peace community” of San José de Apartadó, was assassinated by paramilitaries outside the bus terminal in the town of Apartadó, the municipal seat. Two para gunmen approached… Read moreColombia: another killing at “peace community”
Nine National Police officers on a coca eradication mission were killed near Landazuri in Colombia’s northeast Santander department May 9, when a roadside bomb exploded, destroying their truck. Six other officers were injured. All were members of a mobile unit… Read moreColombia: roadside blast hits coca eradication patrol
Argentine President Néstor Kirchner made a telephone call over the weekend to his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chávez, asking him not to nationalize Sidor, Venezuela’s biggest steel mill. The head of Argentina’s Techint Group, which owns Sidor, is exÂpected to fly… Read moreVenezuela: nationalization threat opens rift with Argentina
Colombian prosecutor general Mario Iguarán confirmed that several foreigners, at least three from Ecuador, are among the 105 presumed paramilitary victims whose bodies were exhumed from a mass grave near La Hormiga, Putumayo department, May 5. Another 106 bodies were… Read moreColombia: AUC’s “Macaco” behind Putumayo mass grave
Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa announced last week that he will increase military and security forces around oil facilities and allow the use of force to remove protestors. “We will not allow any more invasions of oil installations or the blockage… Read moreEcuador: army ordered to break up oil protests
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has announced details of an arms build-up which he says will include a sophisticated missile defense system. “We’re going to have a tremendous air-defense system, and with with missiles capable of reaching 200 kilometers,” Chavez said… Read moreVenezuela: Chavez pledges missile defense system
