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FARC to Release 6 Hostages and Say That Obama Won’t Fulfill Expectations

11:36 am By Maegan La Mala · Colombia| Politics · Comments Off

22 Dec 2008

Yesterday the FARC announced via a news agency that they were set to release 6 hostages, two politicians and four members of the Colombian military.

The politicians are Alan Jara, governor of Meta province until he was abducted in 2000, and former deputy Sigifredo Lopez, kidnapped in 2002.

No release date has been announced.

The FARC also updated their official website, saying among other things, that U.S. President Elect wouldn’t live up to expectations.

Via/ France 24 y FARC Website

Ingrid Betancourt on FARC, Running for President, and Obama

10:47 am By Maegan La Mala · Colombia| Politics| Venezuela · Comments Off

21 Dec 2008

On Al Punto with Jorge Ramos this morning on Univision, there was an interview with former FARC hostage and one time Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt. Five months after her release, Betancourt said the FARC was struggling to survive in Colombia and that there have been orders to recapture her, which is why she lives in Paris, France, where she is also a citizen.

Ingrid Betancourt Wants a Place at the Table for the FARC

8:53 am By Maegan La Mala · Colombia| Politics| Women · Comments Off

9 Sep 2008

During Ingrid Betancourt’s 4 day visit in Rome, she met with the pope, and she made what some would call stunning statements as to the role her once captors, the FARC, should play in Colombia.

Addressing her kidnappers directly, she said: “After almost seven years, I can say I know you, I know your organisation, your ideas, your objectives.” The world, she said, is inviting them to open their hearts “to something more than political and military calculations,” and to “make room for peace in your minds.”

And peace can come only “through the way of democracy, mutual respect and law,” she said. She asked the Colombian government to recognise the political role of the FARC, “knowing that we are different, and have different ideas.”

Via / IPS and Reader Patrick Mac Manus

Ingrid Betancourt Meets With Pope

3:21 pm By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Uncategorized · Comments Off

3 Sep 2008

I was kinda surprised to read today how much meeting the Pope meant to Ingrid Betancourt. I didn’t realize many of us Catholics/ex-Catholics still felt any serious emotional connection the Pope, most Catholics I know are lovers of La Virgin and occasionally remember some ancient rule (like eating fish on Friday’s) as way to show a seasonal respect to La Virgin.

I can see Betancourt’s point though, that hearing a trusted voice after being held captive for years has a way of being inspirational.

“It’s hard to explain the psychological effect this has on a prisoner, what it meant to know we hadn’t been forgotten at a time when we thought we didn’t exist,” Betancourt said. “The voice of the Holy Father was like a light.”

Betancourt said she told the pope about her distress for the hundreds of hostages FARC still holds and her concern for Colombia’s future after decades of civil war.

“The pope is pained by the suffering of the prisoners,” she said. “I know his prayers are also dedicated to obtaining the freedom of all the prisoners and peace in my country.”

via/Boston.com

Bomb Explodes in Cali, Colombia Killing 4 : FARC Suspected

9:34 am By Maegan La Mala · Colombia| Politics · Comments Off

1 Sep 2008

Early this morning, a car bomb exploded in the Colombian city of Cali, killing four people. The explosion took place near local courts according to news reports.

While no one has claimed credit for the attacks, the Colombian government was quick to point the finger at the FARC and the mainstream U.S. media is quick to remind everyone that Cali has a reputation for drug related violence.

Via / Reuters

Is Newly Liberated Ingrid Betancourt Getting Ready for Politics Again?

10:00 am By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Colombia| Politics · Comments Off

3 Jul 2008

Newly liberated former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt describes the Colombian military operation that freed her. But also note her politician side coming out. She throws flowers at the Colombian military saying that they will lead Colombia to peace (an army leading a country to peace?) and also how she praises the Israeli military.

Other news reports show Betancourt thanking President Alvaro Uribe (who was once her rival and whom she linked to paramilitaries during her own campaign). She also thanks Latin American Presidents like Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez and Ecuador’s Rafael Correa, but said that they need to respect Colombian democracy.

Later today, Betancourt will be reunited with her children.

Ingrid Betancourt and 14 Other FARC Hostages Free

5:19 pm By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Colombia · Comments Off

2 Jul 2008

I just heard/read the news, that Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other hostages held by the FARC in Colombia have been released. Various news agencies are saying that they were “rescued” by the Colombian military without any violence.

I am currently watching CNN en Español, which is showing a helicopter that is allegedly holding Betancourt, three U.S defense contractors, and others. All of them are said to be in good health

Latin American leaders across the world are hailing the actions. Evo Morales already is getting heat for using this opportunity to say that this is a prime time to come to a peace agreement between the Colombian government and the FARC.

More as information comes in.

Via / Reuters, CNN en Español

FARC Loses its Leader, Uribe Wants to Negotiate

6:41 am By Maegan La Mala · Colombia| Latin America| Politics · Comments Off

26 May 2008

The FARC has announced the death of its number one man, Pedro Antonio Marín Marín (also called “Tirofijo”), approximately 2 months after it actually happened. Some are questioning the strength of the organization while the Colombian government is offering a “door to peace”, inviting the FARC to put down its arms and give up:

To “Cano”, the new head of the FARC, the minister said that he should take advantage of “this opportunity and the generosity of president Uribe to walk through that door of peace,” but that they negotiate with “seriousness and good faith. That they don’t start a process just to come up for air and get stronger like they have so many times before.”

FARC announced that Tirofijo had died of a heart attack “in the arms of his partner”.

Is FARC losing steam? Last week, an important member of the group, Karina, known for her ability to elude authorities as well as her ruthless nature, turned herself in.

Via / LA Times

Hugo Chavez Says Colombia (and U.S.) Trying to Provoke War

1:19 pm By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Colombia| Politics| Venezuela · 2 Comments

12 May 2008

Yesterday Hugo Chavez accused Colombia (and the U.S.) of provoking a war by pushing Interpol to back up the position that Venezuela’s government has supported the FARC.

“El gobierno de Colombia es capaz, así lo digo, es capaz de provocar una guerra con Venezuela para tratar de justificar la intervención de los Estados Unidos en Venezuela”, expresó el mandatario, en su habitual mensaje dominical.

Currently Interpol is determining if computer files recovered from a camp of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia prove that Venezuela is supporting the guerrilla organization, as the U.S. and Colombia claim.

The Wall Street Journal reported May 9 that the files showed that Chavez sought guerrilla warfare training from the FARC, as the rebel group is known, and may have offered to supply them with rockets, citing unnamed senior U.S. intelligence officials. The findings may increase pressure for the U.S. to put Venezuela on the list of state sponsors of terrorism, the Journal reported.

Hugo Chavez and Gov. Bill Richardson Meet : And All You Did Was Visit Abuela This Weekend

6:53 am By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · Colombia| Politics| Venezuela · 1 Comment

28 Apr 2008

On Saturday, the Latino U.S. President that wasn’t, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, met with U.S. Latin American enemy #2 (Cuba is still #1), Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Richardson was lending his support in hostage negotiations with the FARC, especially trying to secure the release of 3 U.S. hostages and of course, Ingrid Betancourt.

“I’ve had a good meeting with President Chavez … (he) has told me that he is willing to help in this situation,” Gov. Bill Richardson told reporters after the meeting.
“Many times in a conflict like this we forget the human side, that human beings are being held hostage.”

Via / Reuters

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