Stories about Colombia from January, 2009
Colombia: Ex-Mayor Sentenced for Ordering the Murder of Journalist
Victor Solano of ¿Comunicación? [es] writes that the former mayor of the Colombian town of Barrancabermeja was sentenced to 28 years in prison for ordering the murder of journalist Emeterio Rivas.
Colombia: President Uribe's Prospects for Re-Election
Marsares of equinoXio takes a look at some of the prospects for a re-election of Colombian president Álvaro Uribe.
Colombia: Against Bullfighting in Medellín
Andreata of Jovenes Pensantes [es] thinks that more people should protest the annual bullfighting festival in Medellín, Colombia since it is “another death celebrated by many insensitive persons and executed by those.. bullfighters.“
Colombia: Criticisms on Fight on Crime in Bogotá
In Colombia, Machete [es] criticizes the way that the Government Secretariat of Bogotá, Clara Lopez, handled the fight against crime.
Colombia: No Smoking in Closed Public Spaces in Bogotá
It's been more than a month since a law went into effect that prohibited smoking in closed public spaces in Bogotá, Colombia and Diana of La Urbi y El Orbe [es] is pleased. However, she laments an incident when a smoker killed a bar manager who asked him to extinguish...
Colombia: President Uribe to Receive US Medal of Freedom
Outgoing U.S. president George W. Bush plans to award Colombian president Álvaro Uribe with the Medal of Freedom. Adam Isacson of Plan Colombia and Beyond criticizes the selection and wishes that, “a U.S. government would someday offer similar recogntion to Colombia’s thousands of other heroes. The country has no shortage...
Colombia: Solidarity March for Palestine
In Colombia, Julián Ortega Martínez of equinoXio reports on and publishes photos of the recent solidarity march for the people of Palestine, which was held in Bogotá.
Colombia: Only After Media Coverage Does the Police Act
Piso Tres [es] writes about the homicide of a young university student in Bogotá and wonders whether “there needs to be wide media coverage so that the police searches and finds the responsible party?” and that the police only started to offer a reward only after there was press coverage.
Colombia: Top 10 News Events
Victor Solano of ¿Comunicación? [es] lists the top 10 Colombian news events of 2008, with the rescue of Ingrid Betancourt and the other 11 hostages topping the list.
Bolivia: An Interview With Ingrid Betancourt
Boris Miranda, a journalist for the La Paz, Bolivia newspaper La Prensa writes about his recent interview with former FARC hostage Ingrid Betancourt [es] from Colombia, who had been visiting the country.