President Santos withdrew his education “reform” bill, and student leaders responded by suspending a month-old strike that shut down the country’s public universities and many of the private schools.
Rodrigo Londoño AKA “Timochenko,” issued his first statement since assuming command of the FARC guerillas, saying official celebrations of the death of his predecessor Alfonso Cano exposed “the macabre face of this beautiful democracy.”
Chilean and Colombian students are planning a binational demonstration in defense of education as the two countries’ rightwing governments may be preparing to meet some of the strikers’ demands.
Residents in Cajamarca, Peru, held a general strike, blockading the local highway and occupying the university campus, to demand that the US-owned Yanacocha Mining Corp. drop its plans to develop a giant gold mine.
Bolivia and the US agreed to restore diplomatic relations, three years after President Evo Morales expelled the US ambassador. But in announcing the move, Morales emphasized that the DEA would not be allowed back in his country.
As many as 600,000 students and their supporters marched in cities across Colombia against proposed legislation which they say will “reduce education to a commodity.”
The future of Colombia’s FARC guerillas is in question following the death of leader “Alfonso Cano” at the hands of the Colombian army Nov. 4. Local media reports anticipate a power struggle between regional commanders.
Colombian army forces announced that they have killed Guillermo Leon Saenz AKA “Alfonso Cano”—supreme leader of the FARC guerillas. Initial reports that he was killed an in airstrike contradict forensic evidence of multiple bullet wounds.
Colombia’s DAS secret police agency was officially closed after years of scandals concerning paramilitary ties, assassinations, illegal wiretapping and corruption. DAS employees leaked hundreds of classified documents as the agency shut.
Gustavo Petro, a former leader of the M-19 guerilla movement and longtime socialist legislator, was elected mayor of Bogotá. Petro called the vote a “victory of the desire for change.” Pre-electoral violence saw 41 candidates murdered.
Growing political conflicts over development projects have prompted security forces to intervene in recent weeks in Ecuador, with military troops and campesinos in confrontations over mining and hydro concessions.
A total of 32 public universities across Colombia have gone on strike against proposed changes to the education system that students and faculty say will lead to privatization. One student was killed in protests in Cali.
