The Andes

Peru: police ‘death squad’ leader absolved

A court in Trujillo, Peru, issued a ruling absolving former National Police colonel Elidio Espinoza, who was charged with running a secret "death squad" within the force.

The Andes

Venezuela gets a ‘birther’ conspiracy theory

Venezuela’s opposition is distributing a supposed copy of President Maduro’s birth certificate, showing that he was born in Colombia. But Colombia dismisses it as a crude forgery.

The Andes

Colombian town expels mining company

After a lengthy dispute with global mega-firm AngloGold Ashanti, the people of the central Colombian town of Piedras passed a referendum to halt the company's operations. 

The Andes

‘We have made mistakes, some serious’: FARC

FARC commander “Pablo Catatumbo” issued a public statement apologizing for “mistakes,” but also called on the US, Israel and other governments to apologize for funding the war.

The Andes

Peru: general strike against labor reform

Peru’s CGTP labor federation led angry protests in Lima ahead of independence day celebrations and pledged to mount a general strike to protest a reactionary new labor law.

The Andes

Colombia president: peace law constitutional

Colombia’s President Santos intervened in a hearing of the Constitutional Court to defend the Framework for Peace, the law that brought about peace talks with the FARC rebels. 

The Andes

Peru: Montesinos cleared in bloody 1997 raid

Peru's Supreme Court acquitted former intelligence chief Vladimiro Montesinos of charges related to the bloody 1997 raid on the Japanese ambassador's residence in Lima.

The Andes

Colombia: strikes halt US coal giant Drummond

Indefinite strikes brought Drummond’s coal mining operations to a halt in Colombia, putting further pressure on the country’s economy amid a growing wave of labor actions.