Colombia

Peace for Colombia

Latin American solidarity activists rallied for peace and justice in Colombia, in Sydney on August 3.

Speakers called for an end to the killings of social leaders. More than 600 social leaders, including indigenous land rights activists and human rights advocates, have been killed since 2016.

Photos and stories of many of the activists were displayed in Sydney鈥檚 iconic Circular Quay.

The action was organised by United for Colombia and included a cultural festival of music, dance, theatre and poetry.

United for Colombia issues appeal for peace and justice

Australian-based solidarity group United for Colombia released the following appeal on August 3 in response to continuing human rights violations in Colombia.

Venezuela: Behind the US aid convoy

One month after declaring himself the 鈥渓egitimate president of Venezuela鈥, Juan Guaid贸 attempted to provoke a crisis on February 23 by forcing United States' humanitarian aid across the Venezuela-Colombia border. Here Elisa Trunzo asked Jose Curiel for his account of what happened at the border that day.

In Venezuela, the Western media fall in behind Trump's PR aid stunt

The Trump administration鈥檚 now completely overt effort to overthrow Venezuelan President Nicol谩s Maduro had a very successful public relations effort this week, as major Western media outlets uniformly echoed its simplistic, pre-packaged claim that the Venezuelan government was heartlessly withholding foreign aid:

The US's Venezuela-Colombia border stunt exposed

The cameras are focused on the border between Venezuela and Colombia. Everything has been prepared to present it as a door about to give in. It is just a matter of waiting for the right day, according to some presidents and news headlines.

The narrative of 鈥渋mminence鈥 has been key since Venezuelan opposition politician Juan Guaid贸 proclaimed himself president last month: the imminent fall of President Nicol谩s Maduro, imminent transition government and imminent resolution of all of Venezuela鈥檚 problems.

Is Latin America still the US's 'backyard'?

In 2008, the prestigious Council on Foreign Relations published a聽听迟颈迟濒别诲 US-Latin America Relations: A New Direction for a New Reality. Timed to influence the foreign policy agenda of the next US administration, the report asserted: 鈥渢he era of the US as the dominant influence in Latin America is over.鈥

Then, at the Summit of the Americas the next year, then-president Barack Obama promised Latin American leaders a 鈥渘ew era鈥 of 鈥渆qual partnership鈥 and 鈥渕utual respect鈥.

Colombia: Elites unleash wave of killings to protect illegal land grabs

Business owners in northwest Colombia are conspiring with death squads to assassinate social leaders and prevent the restitution of land that was stolen during Colombia鈥檚 decades-long armed conflict, according to several Colombian NGOs.

Colombia: Incoming president faces crisis as Uribe to stand trial

Ivan Duque has not even taken office and his government is already in crisis after the聽president-elect鈥檚 political patron, former president Alvaro Uribe, resigned from Congress.

Colombia: 鈥楾hey are killing us鈥

Candlelight vigils were held in Colombia and cities around world on July 6 to demand an end to the political violence that since January has cost the lives of more than 125 social leaders in the South American country.

Political violence against social activists has risen in recent years despite the signing of a peace accord between the government and the leftist guerrilla group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). According to Colombia鈥檚 Ombudsman, more than 311 political murders have been registered since the accords were signed in November 2016.

Colombia: State does nothing as social leaders are exterminated

Colombia鈥檚 authorities seem unable or uninterested in curbing the wholesale slaughter of the country鈥檚 social leaders that has occurred since a peace process came into force, with nine leaders being murdered in the last week of June alone.

The violence is threatening Colombia鈥檚 peace process that not only sought the demobilisation of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), but also the increased political inclusion of the left and minorities in general.

Colombia: Ultra right and centre-left to face off in second round presidential vote

The results of Colombia鈥檚 May 27 presidential election confirmed that a run-off election between Gustavo Petro and Ivan Duque聽will be required to decide the country鈥檚 newest leader. The election is set for June 17.

Ivan Duque, former president Alvaro Uribe's prot茅g茅e and candidate for the right-wing Grand Alliance for Colombia, ended with聽39.14%. Centre-left ex-mayor of Bogota Gustavo Petro, running for the List of Decency聽coalition, won 25.09%.

Colombia: Controversial vote leaves little change

Amid several controversies in the voting process, Colombians went to the polls on March 11 to elect 166 legislators to the House of Representatives and 102 senators.