Colombia marches against Chavez

Protests against Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez have got under way in several cities across Latin America.The demonstrations were organised by Colombian activists after Mr Chavez criticised Colombia for allowing US forces access to seven military bases.Organisers used social networking sites to set up “No more Chavez” protests.President Chavez’s supporters have also turned out to show [...]

Chavez freezes relationship with Colombia

Venezuela is withdrawing its ambassador from neighbouring Colombia and freezing relations, following a dispute over weapons supplied to Colombian rebels.President Hugo Chavez, who announced the move on Venezuelan TV, also said he was halting trade deals with Colombia.

Is OAS the Problem in Latin America?

Honduras, where an ally of Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez triggered a military response after violating the law in his attempt to stay in power, reminds us that today’s threat to liberal democracy in Latin America comes from authoritarian populists who abuse the legitimacy of the ballot box. It also suggests that the Organization of American States [...]

Colombia drug baron gets long U.S. jail term

A Colombian who was one of the top financial managers and supervised money-laundering for a cocaine cartel accused of smuggling $10 billion in drugs into the U.S. was sentenced Tuesday to 30 years in federal prison.
via Colombia drug baron gets long U.S. jail term – Crime & courts- msnbc.com.

Bogota’s displaced youth turn to street arts instead of crime

Just a short walk from Bogota’s presidential palace lies the city’s most infamous and deprived neighbourhood, known among locals as the Bronx. But its notorious reputation doesn’t deter the Legion of Affection (Legion del Afecto), a grassroots arts project made up mainly of young displaced men and women, who are there for an “intervention”.
via Reuters [...]

Colombia releases ex-Farc rebels

The Colombian government is to release two former leftist guerrillas from prison after they renounced violence and vowed to work for peace.
via BBC NEWS | Americas | Colombia releases ex-Farc rebels.

2 more resign from troubled Colombia spy agency – Americas AP – MiamiHerald.com

Two more top deputies resigned from Colombia’s domestic spy agency on Tuesday as prosecutors investigate allegations of improper eavesdropping on journalists, Supreme Court judges and opposition members.
The Department of Administrative Security, or DAS, announced in a statement the resignation of its deputy directors of analysis and operations, Gustavo Sierra and Marta Leal, without elaborating on [...]

China set to boost Venezuela ties

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping is due in Venezuela as part of a visit to boost Chinese ties in the region.
Mr Xi is expected to sign agreements including joint ventures with Venezuela’s state oil company, PDVSA, the Venezuelan foreign ministry said.
China is also set to inject $4bn (£2.8bn) into a joint investment fund that was [...]

Rebel-held hostage flown to freedom in Colombia

A former provincial lawmaker was helicoptered to freedom in Colombia on Thursday after spending more than six years as a captive of leftist guerrillas.
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, handed Sigifredo Lopez over to a humanitarian mission led by the Red Cross and an opposition senator, Red Cross spokesman Yves Heller told reporters.
Lopez [...]

Colombian court: No extradition in US kidnap case

The Supreme Court on Wednesday denied a request from the U.S. to extradite a guerrilla captured during last year’s rescue of three American military contractors.
The court said its decision is not subject to appeal. U.S. Embassy officials had no immediate comment.
Alexander Farfan, alias “Gafas,” or glasses, cannot be extradited on kidnapping and terrorism charges because [...]