http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/colombia/ en-us Wed, 23 Dec 2009 03:49:07 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2413517/posts BOGOTA (AP) - The governor of a southern state was found dead Tuesday, his throat slit, the day after being abducted by leftist rebels in the the first kidnapping of a major Colombian politician since 2002. The body of Gov. Luis Francisco Cuellar of Caqueta state was found not far from Florencia, the state capital where the 69-year-old was kidnapped late Monday, security official Edilberto Ramon Endo told The Associated Press. A grim President Alvaro Uribe later went on national television to say Cuellar's throat had been cut, speaking in a sober monotone, in contrast to his anger early in... Breitbart (AP) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2413517/posts#comment Wed, 23 Dec 2009 03:49:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412775/posts BOGOTA — Colombia's defense chief joked Monday that Venezuelan troops might have mistaken Santa's sleigh for a spy plane, dismissing accusations by President Hugo Chavez about drones flying over Venezuela. Chavez on Sunday accused the United States of violating Venezuela's airspace with an unmanned spy plane and ordered his military to be on alert and shoot down any such aircraft. The Pentagon has declined to comment on Chavez's accusations. Colombian Defense Minister Gabriel Silva and armed forces commander Freddy Padilla told reporters Monday that Colombian aircraft couldn't fly the kind of espionage mission described by Chavez. "Colombia doesn't have that... Google/AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2412775/posts#comment Tue, 22 Dec 2009 06:10:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2411445/posts Colombia has announced it will build a new military base near its border with Venezuela, in a move likely to further strain its tense ties with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Defense Minister Gabriel Silva said Friday that the base, located on the Guajira peninsula near the city of Nazaret, would have up to 1,000 troops. "It is a strategic point from a defense point of view," Silva said. Army Commander General Oscar Gonzalez meanwhile announced Saturday that six air battalions were being activated, including two on the border with Venezuela. Venezuela shares a ...1,250-mile border with Colombia . In November... AFP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2411445/posts#comment Sun, 20 Dec 2009 01:37:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2404217/posts Americas: Venezuela's Hugo Chavez was all bluster last weekend, flashing his missiles, hurling insults and spoiling for a fight with Colombia. The big danger here isn't Chavez, but growing White House indifference to an ally. This fall, when U.S. officials agreed to expanded military-base access in Colombia to fight drug trafficking and terrorism, it never occurred to them how much Chavez would use the arrangement as a pretext for aggression. "They are preparing a war against us," Chavez said Monday. So from Russia, he said, "thousands of missiles are arriving," along with T-72 military tanks "to strengthen our armored divisions."... Investors.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2404217/posts#comment Thu, 10 Dec 2009 01:29:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2402640/posts Note: The following text is a quote: Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Capture of Three Members of Colombian Terrorist Group Charged with Hostage-Taking of U.S. Citizen PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, JOHN V. GILLIES, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the Miami Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI") and MICHELE M. LEONHART, the Acting Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration ("DEA"), announced today the arrest of EDILBERTO BERRIO ORTIZ, a/k/a "El Gavilan," ALEJANDRO PALACIOS RENGIFO, a/k/a "El Gato," a/k/a "Yimi," and ANDERSON CHAMAPURO DOGIRAMA, a/k/a "El Tigre," a/k/a "Dairon," three members of the... NewYork.FBI.gov - DOJ Press Release http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2402640/posts#comment Tue, 8 Dec 2009 05:56:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2402493/posts CARACAS, Venezuela – President Hugo Chavez said Monday that Venezuela has received thousands of Russian-made missiles and rocket launchers as part of his government's military preparations for a possible armed conflict with neighboring Colombia. "They are preparing a war against us," Chavez said during a televised address, repeating a charge he has been making for months. "Preparing is one of the best ways to neutralize it." Both Colombia and Washington deny having any plans to attack Venezuela, but Chavez argues they are plotting together a military offensive against Venezuela. Chavez says his government is acquiring more weapons as a precaution.... AP on Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2402493/posts#comment Tue, 8 Dec 2009 01:18:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2401975/posts The situation in neighboring Venezuela is going from strange to foreboding. President Hugo Chavez has been unsuccessful in getting the voters to make him president for life, but he has used his presidential powers to replace thousands of key officials with people selected mainly for their loyalty to Hugo Chavez. Since the government controls so much of the economy (mainly because of the oil industry), this has had disastrous results. There are increasing power blackouts, and an increasing number of state employees are not getting paid, or paid on time. There are increasing shortages of consumer goods. There is growing... Strategy Page http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2401975/posts#comment Mon, 7 Dec 2009 14:01:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2399203/posts The situation in neighboring Venezuela is going from strange to foreboding. President Hugo Chavez has been unsuccessful in getting the voters to make him president for life, but he has used his presidential powers to replace thousands of key officials with people selected mainly for their loyalty to Hugo Chavez. Since the government controls so much of the economy (mainly because of the oil industry), this has had disastrous results. There are increasing power blackouts, and an increasing number of state employees are not getting paid, or paid on time. There are increasing shortages of consumer goods. There is growing... The Strategy Page http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2399203/posts#comment Thu, 3 Dec 2009 12:53:49 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2393274/posts Note: The following text is a quote: Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, November 23, 2009 Arms Dealer Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Supply U.S. Fighter Jet Engines to Iran Jacques Monsieur, a Belgian national and resident of France suspected of international arms dealing for decades, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama to conspiracy to illegally export F-5 fighter jet engines and parts from the Untied States to Iran. Monsieur along with Dara Fotouhi, aka Dara Fatouhi, an Iranian national currently living in France, was charged in a... US DOJ.gov - JUSTICE.gov/opa - Press Release http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2393274/posts#comment Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:18:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2387065/posts The threat of a war between Venezuela and Colombia increased over the weekend after both countries deployed more troops along their border and President Hugo Chavez branded his Colombian counterpart a "mafioso". Tensions between the countries reached a new high after the Colombian military arrested four Venezuelan soldiers, just days after Mr Chavez told his army to "prepare for war" with Colombia. The Venezuelan ambassador to Bogota, Gustavo Marquez, said that the seriousness of the situation could not be overstated and that "there is a pre-war situation in the entire region". Diplomatic relations between the South American neighbours are frozen... The Telegraph http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2387065/posts#comment Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:33:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2386450/posts BOGOTA, Colombia -- Colombia's top electoral body ruled late Thursday that millions of signatures endorsing a referendum on President Álvaro Uribe's second re-election bid are invalid, dealing a major setback to the president's contentious bid for a third term. Colombia's National Electoral Council said the organization of Uribe supporters that obtained the signatures had spent about six times the legal limit in their campaign to change the constitution. Voters must approve the change before Mr. Uribe can run in elections scheduled for May. A spokesman for Mr. Uribe declined to comment. Luis Guillermo Giraldo, who headed the vote-gathering effort, said... The Wall Street Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2386450/posts#comment Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:09:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2386044/posts Hugo Chavez is stirring trouble with Colombia to disguise domestic failures and Venezuela would be "mad" to enter a conflict with its neighbor. Perez said the Venezuelan leader's recent controversial exhortation to his army to "prepare for war" was a political smoke screen. "He is obviously trying to distract attention from the immense failure of his government after 10 years in power," Perez said at his home in San Cristobal, capital of Tachira. "In Venezuela today, there is neither electricity nor water on a permanent basis. The crime figures are battering us all. The country has gone backward enormously in... Reuters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2386044/posts#comment Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:34:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2384284/posts CARACAS, Venezuela – A prominent opponent of President Hugo Chavez accused the socialist leader's government on Wednesday of turning a blind eye to leftist Colombian rebels taking refuge in border areas of Venezuela. Tachira state Gov. Cesar Perez said both leftist guerrillas and righist paramilitary groups from Colombia operate in nearly a third of his border state, but he said Venezuelan troops ignore the rebels and try to root out only the right-wing militias. "The guerrillas are there with the government's blessing and the military has orders to leave them alone," Perez told The Associated Press in an interview. "The... AP on Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2384284/posts#comment Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:21:29 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2381917/posts BOGOTA (AFP) – Colombia has said it will seek UN help after Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez instructed his military to ready "for war." "Faced with these threats of war by the government of Venezuela, the government of Colombia is weighing heading to the Organization of American States and UN Security Council," said a statement from President Alvaro Uribe, read out by his spokesman Cesar Velasquez. "Colombia has not made nor will it make any bellicose move toward the international community, (and) even less so toward fellow Latin American nations," the statement said. "The only thing we are interested in is... AFP on Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2381917/posts#comment Mon, 9 Nov 2009 04:11:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2377018/posts CARACAS, Venezuela – Two soldiers in Venezuela's National Guard have been shot to death near the border with Colombia. State television says unidentified assailants gunned down the soldiers at a roadside checkpoint in the western state of Tachira. It says Monday's slayings were confirmed by the National Guard and police. AP on Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2377018/posts#comment Tue, 3 Nov 2009 01:12:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2375574/posts Oct 30, 2009 — “Plant fossils give first real picture of earliest Neotropical rainforests,” announced a press release from University of Florida.  The fossils from Colombia show that “many of the dominant plant families existing in today’s Neotropical rainforests – including legumes, palms, avocado and banana – have maintained their ecological dominance despite major changes in South America’s climate and geological structure.” The team found 2,000 megafossil specimens from the Paleocene, said to be 58 million years old.  This is only 5 to 8 million years after the extinction of the dinosaurs according to conventional dating.  “The new study provides... CEH http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2375574/posts#comment Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:39:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2375080/posts BOGOTA – In a private, low-key ceremony, the U.S. ambassador and three Colombian ministers on Friday signed a pact giving American personnel expanded access to military bases in this drug-producing country, a deal that Venezuela's Hugo Chavez has called a threat to the region's security. Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez said the 10-year deal takes effect immediately and restricts U.S. military operations to Colombian territory — alluding to fears expressed by leftist leaders in the region that it would make Colombia a base for asserting U.S. power in South America. Details of the pact, which aims to boost drug and counterinsurgency... AP on Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2375080/posts#comment Sat, 31 Oct 2009 02:36:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2371141/posts Soccer team slayings fuel Venezuela-Colombia rift Enrique Andres Pretel REUTERS NEWS AGENCY CARACAS, Venezuela | Venezuela said Sunday that at least 10 members of an amateur Colombian soccer team had been found dead after being kidnapped on its side of the border. The slayings added another complication to fractious ties between the two South American neighbors. Venezuela's leftist president, Hugo Chavez, further stirred things up by calling the Colombian defense minister a "mental retard." Venezuela broke off relations and minimized trade with Colombia earlier this year because of the country's acceptance of U.S. military bases on its soil. Colombia is... Washington Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2371141/posts#comment Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:10:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2370621/posts Venezuela said on Sunday at least 10 members of an amateur Colombian soccer team had been found dead after being kidnapped on its side of the border. - The incident adds another complication to fractious ties between the two countries. Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez broke off relations and minimized trade earlier this year due to Colombia's acceptance of U.S. military bases on its soil. reuters.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2370621/posts#comment Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:27:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2370351/posts Colombian Football Team 'Killed' By Will Grant BBC News, Caracas At least 10 bodies - believed to be those of a kidnapped Colombian football team - have been found across the border in Venezuela. The bodies, with multiple gunshot wounds, were found in Tachira. One of the team is reported to have survived. State authorities say they suspect a left-wing Colombian guerrilla group, the ELN, is to blame for the deaths. The team, kidnapped two weeks ago, was known as Los Maniceros or Peanut Men, as they sold nuts along the border. The Venezuelan authorities say they are still investigating... BBC News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2370351/posts#comment Sun, 25 Oct 2009 05:01:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2362856/posts [NOTE: Posted here at this time for archival purposes.] Note: The following text is a quote: YOU ARE HERE: Home > Reports > Consular Affairs Bulletins > Report Warden Message: Possible Attacks in Colombia CONSULAR AFFAIRS BULLETINS Americas - Colombia 9 Oct 2009 The following Warden Message was distributed by U.S. Embassy Bogota on October 9, 2009: This Warden Message is to advise American citizens traveling to or residing in Colombia that the U.S. Embassy has received information that attacks against Government of Colombia facilities may take place in Cali and Santander de Quiilichao on or about October 12, 2009.... OSAC.gov http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2362856/posts#comment Thu, 15 Oct 2009 06:46:02 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2352072/posts Trade: Colombia got another brushoff Tuesday, when Commerce Secretary Gary Locke pronounced its free trade pact dead for the year because Washington is too busy with health care. Why doesn't Cuba ever hear that? Speaking at the sidelines of a conference in Chile, Locke told Dow Jones: "It's pretty doubtful that the pact will be ratified this year, although the Obama administration is pushing forward with Colombia, Korea and Panama." Yeah, sure. Pushing and pushing, it's all we've heard about from this crew. But the only visible moves on trade have a string of protectionist measures to make Big Labor... IBD Editorials http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2352072/posts#comment Thu, 1 Oct 2009 00:45:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2349700/posts ngrid Betancourt, the French-Colombian politician held hostage for more than six years by guerrillas in the Colombian jungle, told CBC News in an exclusive interview that her captors despised her. "I was a politician. They hated politicians. I was a person with some education. They had none, so they thought I [had] a privileged social background and they hated me for that," Betancourt told the CBC's Mellissa Fung in an excerpt from an interview that will air on The National on Monday at 9 p.m. ET. cbc.ca http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2349700/posts#comment Sun, 27 Sep 2009 23:16:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2344473/posts (English-language translation) BOGOTA - On Saturday, Colombia extradited to the United States FARC [member] Nancy Conde Rubio, from whom the authorities intercepted her telephone conversations and thus secured the rescue of 15 kidnapping victims in the guerrilla [organization's] power. There were three Americans among the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) captives. Thirty-seven-year-old Conde was extradited on an airplane belonging to U.S. anti-drug authorities, said General Luis Ramírez with the Police Criminal Investigation Directorate. He added that the airplane was initially headed for Florida and, from there, the detainee, who was wearing handcuffs and a bulletproof vest, will be taken to the... El Vocero de Puerto Rico (Spanish-language article) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2344473/posts#comment Mon, 21 Sep 2009 01:57:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2337053/posts WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents along with Colombian customs inspectors and Colombian National Police (CNP) officers seized approximately $11.2 million Wednesday at the port of Buenaventura, Colombia. The seizure was the result of a joint investigation conducted by the CNP and ICE Attaché Bogota. The U.S. currency was hidden in two shipping containers, each containing 20 big bags filled with ammonium sulfate. Sixteen of the 40 bags contained $700,000 in $20 dollar bill denominations. The containers departed from the port of Manzanillo, Mexico, destined to the west coast port of Buenaventura, Colombia. According to... ICE.gov - News Release http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2337053/posts#comment Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:50:52 GMT