· February, 2009

Stories about Colombia from February, 2009

Colombia: Another Illegal Wire Tapping Scandal

The news magazine Semana recently revealed that the "secret police" of Colombia had been illegally wire tapping politicians, journalists, magistrates, intellectuals and even government officials close to President Álvaro Uribe. Even worse, some of these agents allegedly had been “selling to the highest bidder” the information obtained to guerrillas, paramilitaries or drug traffickers. Colombian bloggers react to these revelations.

25 February 2009

Colombia: The Awá Indigenous Community Caught in the Middle

The ongoing conflict deep within the Colombian jungle between the FARC, ELN and the Colombian Armed Forces often finds people caught in the middle. Authorities are investigating the killing of dozens of members of the Awá indigenous community, and are blaming the FARC guerrillas for the crime. Many say that the Awá have been targeted because of the suspicion that they are acting as informants, something which the government denies. Nevertheless, this indigenous group is now being displaced from their land because of the violence.

17 February 2009

Colombia: The Release of Alan Jara

Bogotá Subterranea [es] is celebrating the release of Alan Jara, a Colombian professor and former governor, who will held captive by the FARC for nearly 8 years.

6 February 2009