The Andes

Peru: army rewrites history of “dirty war”

Peru’s army has released a report contradicting the findings of the official truth commission on the 1980-2000 dirty war, absolving the armed forces of systematic atrocities.

The Andes
fastlaneposter

GIG

Under pressure to address the ongoing wave of targeted assassinations in Colombia, President Iván Duque for the first time spoke before the National Commission to Guarantee Security, formed by the previous government to address continuing violence in the country—which has only worsened since he took office last year. Duque said 4,000 people are now under the government's protection program for threatened citizens. But his office implied that the narco trade is entirely behind the growing violence. Interior Minister Nancy Patricia Gutiérrez told the meeting: "This great problem is derived from the 200,000 hectares of illicit crops that we have in Colombia." However, it is clear that the narco economy is but part of a greater nexus of forces that fuel the relentless terror—all related to protecting rural land empires and intimidating the peasantry. (Photo via Contagio Radio)

The Andes

China and Colombia in trade, military pacts

Colombia’s deal with the Chinese Foton Motor Group to build an assembly plant in the Andean nation follows a recent pact with Beijing for $1 million in military assistance and training.

The Andes

FARC guerilla who killed “Ivan Rios” gets prison

The guerilla who in 2008 killed “Ivan Rios,” one the FARC’s top commanders, was sentenced to 31 years for kidnapping and rebellion. The ex-guerilla complained he was betrayed by the authorities.