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 expected 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
Ecuador has expelled World Bank representative to Quito, Eduardo Somensatto, on the order of President Rafael Correa. Though Ecuador did not give an official reason for the expulsion, but Correa had protested the Work Bank’s withholding of a $100 million… Read moreEcuador: World Bank booted, legislators flee, Chevron upbraided
Ecuadoran president Rafael Correa announced on April 21 during his weekly radio program that he planned to expel World Bank representative Eduardo Somensatto from the country and would consider legal actions against the lending institution itself. According to Correa, the… Read moreEcuador: World Bank under fire
Agents of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have detained two former Peruvian military officers living in the US who are charged with human rights abuses in connection with an Aug. 14, 1985 military raid that killed 69 villagers—many… Read moreUS detains accused South American rights abusers —on immigration charges
Protesters demanding a share of taxes from Bolivian natural gas field remain in control of the key Yacuiba plant that pumps gas to Argentina. The protesters freed some 50 police officers held hostage for over 20 hours, but have not… Read moreBolivia: protesters seize gas plant
Colombia’s government announced April 18 an “experimental” cease-fire with the National Liberation Army (ELN) following talks in Havana. “The president has asked me to accept the ELN’s experimental and temporary cease-fire proposal,” Colombian peace negotiator Luis Carlos Restrepo told reporters…. Read moreColombia: “experimental” ceasefire with ELN
An investigation that has already exposed links between government officials and illegal paramilitary groups in six of Colombia’s coastal departments has now reached the home department of President Álvaro Uribe, focusing on his administration’s politically powerful allies. Colombia’s Supreme Court,… Read moreColombia: para probe hits Uribe’s home turf
