MAMA Radio

U.S. Groups Welcome the United States’ Decision to Grant Visa to Hollman Morris

2010-07-30T10:51:00.000-07:00

The Center for International Policy, Washington Office on Latin America, Latin America Working Group and U.S. Office on Colombia welcome the U.S. State Department’s decision to reverse their initial denial of a visa to Colombian independent journalist Hollman Morris. Our groups, which have worked with Mr. Morris for years, were greatly disturbed when Morris was denied a visa in July under the

NACLA Condemns State Department’s Denial of a Visa to Colombian Journalist Hollman Morris

2010-07-21T11:47:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJuly 21, 2010NORTH AMERICAN CONGRESS ON LATIN AMERICACONTACT: Joao Da Silva, (646) 613-1440, ext. 203, joao@nacla.orgNACLA Condemns State Department’s Denial of a Visa to Colombian Journalist Hollman MorrisNEW YORK - The North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA) denounces the State Department’s decision to deny a visa to Colombian TV journalist

Colombia Reports: Morris' visa case shows little change in Obama policy

2010-07-16T04:11:00.000-07:00

Morris' visa case shows little change in Obama policy Friday, 16 July 2010 00:07 Pablo Rojas Mejia The rejection of Hollman Morris’s visa application shows that, in U.S. policy toward Colombia, the line between terrorism and political dissent is appallingly blurry. Some of us hoped, but there was no change. Even under Obama, it seems, the U.S. government struggles to distinguish

AAUP on Hollman Morris Visa Denial

2010-07-15T10:50:00.000-07:00

Free Speech Groups Ask Secretary Clinton To Review Exclusion Of Colombian Journalist New York– The American Civil Liberties Union, American Association of University Professors and PEN American Center today sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressing alarm over reports that prominent Colombian journalist Hollman Morris was denied a visa to travel to the United States. Morris

LA Times STory on Hollman Morris Visa Denial by US

2010-07-15T10:22:00.000-07:00

Denied a Nieman, by the U.S. For the first time, the U.S. has denied a journalist entry to participate in Harvard University's Nieman Fellowship program. By Robert H. Giles 4:41 PM PDT, July 13, 2010 It is not uncommon for international journalists who come to Harvard University as Nieman

Comunicado – Sobre la situación migratoria del periodista Hollman Morris

2010-07-15T10:06:00.001-07:00

Comunicado – Sobre la situación migratoria del periodista Hollman MorrisLa FLIP pide que el Departamento de Estado excluya información proveniente del DAS y la Presidencia de la República de su análisis sobre la situación migratoria de Hollman Morris.Públicamente se ha conocido que el Departamento de Estado de Estados Unidos le negó la admisibilidad en ese país al periodista

Obama Administration Keeping Award-Winning Investigative Journalist Out of Harvard University

2010-07-15T09:42:00.000-07:00

Folks,I know it's been a while since I last posted anything on this blog, making it somewhat irrelevant, BUT I thought I'd share this urgent story with you, in case you haven't heard about it.Indeed, as if you needed more evidence of the permanence of Bush Administration policies under the "enlightened" Obama team, here's the latest:The U.S. government has denied a visa to a prominent Colombian

US NGOs to Colombian Presidential Candidates: What Steps Will You Take to Guarantee Human Rights?

2010-05-12T13:09:00.000-07:00

Washington, May 12, 2010- In an open letter released to Colombia’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates earlier today, the Washington Office on Latin America, US Office on Colombia, Latin America Working Group Education Fund and the Center for International Policy urged the candidates to outline their strategy for building a new Colombia that respects human rights and works towards a

CIP Provides us with a Startling Statistic to Remind us of the Tragic War in Colombia

2010-04-22T16:04:00.000-07:00

20,915 people It’s a good idea to visit the Colombian Defense Ministry’s website every once in a while to view their latest “Operational Results” report (PDF). You get a long powerpoint presentation with the official versions of statistics about the country’s security situation. You also find some really shocking numbers. Take combat deaths,

Evo on Earth Day: Greatest Threats to Planet Come from Capitalism

2010-04-22T15:56:00.000-07:00

Published on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 by Environment News Service (ENS) Morales: 'The Central Enemy of Mother Earth is Capitalism' by Environment News Service (ENS) Bolivian President Blames Capitalism for Global Warming COCHABAMBA, Bolivia - Bolivian President Evo Morales said capitalism is to blame for global

MENSAJE A LA CUMBRE DE LA MADRE TIERRA *Por Eduardo Galeano

2010-04-20T06:54:00.000-07:00

“Los derechos humanos y los derechos de la naturaleza son dos nombres de la misma dignidad”Lamentablemente, no podré estar con ustedes. Se me atravesó un palo en la rueda, que me impide viajar.Pero quiero acompañar de alguna manera esta reunión de ustedes, esta reunión de los míos, ya que no tengo más remedio que hacer lo poquito que puedo y no lo muchito que quiero.Y por estar sin estar estando,

Feliciano Valencia: La paz que merecemos se gana con la resistencia por la libertad.

2010-04-12T18:18:00.000-07:00

04/11/2010Autor: Tejido de Comunicación ACIN El hecho es que ante el reflujo de la derecha a través de golpes y procesos electorales, se requiere la acción consciente de resistencia de los pueblos. El hecho es que Feliciano Valencia no es el criminal, sino quienes lo arrestan y mientras el no esté en libertad y sus victimarios enfrentando a la justicia, no nos dejarán en paz. La paz que

From ACIN: Feliciano Libre, Pero los Pueblos, No.

2010-04-12T18:15:00.000-07:00

Feliciano Valencia está fuera de la cárcel, pero ni el ni los pueblos estamos en Libertad 04/12/2010Autor: Tejido de Comunicación - ACIN Feliciano Valencia fue dejado en libertad aunque el proceso en su contra y en contra de otros líderes indígenas que incluyen a la líder Aida Quilcué continúa. La libertad de Feliciano fue concedida en la medida en que se pudo demostrar en derecho que no es un

DETENIDO ARBITRARIAMENTE MAESTRO DE LA SABIDURIA Y VOCERO DE LA MINGA DE RESISTENCIA SOCIAL Y COMUNITARIA FELICIANO VALENCIA

2010-04-12T18:04:00.001-07:00

New report calls on US to cooperate with Colombian probes of mass atrocities, corruption

2010-02-19T16:10:00.000-08:00

Berkeley, CA—February 16, 2010 Colombian drug lords extradited to the United States must be held accountable for their role in the mass atrocities that have devastated their country, according to a new report, Truth behind Bars: Colombian Paramilitary Leaders in U.S. Custody.The report, by the International Human Rights Law Clinic at UC Berkeley School of Law, calls on the U.S. government to

ACIN's Communication Team Recognized by Casa de Americas España

2010-02-16T14:01:00.000-08:00

Hi folks,Recently, the Casa de Américas in Spain awarded its prestigious Bartolomé de las Casas prize to the Communication Team of the Association of Indigenous Councils of Northern Cauca, ACIN. It was the latest recognition of many to this group of extraordinary people committed to walking the word for the communities of Colombia, using grassroots organizing strategies alongside their popular

Bloomberg News: U.S. Military Aid for Colombia may be on the decline somewhat from previous years, BUT...

2010-02-06T07:03:00.000-08:00

U.S.-Colombia Defense Accord to Offset Drop in Aid, Uribe Says February 05, 2010, 05:54 PM EST (This is from Bloomberg News) By Alexander Cuadros Feb. 5 (Bloomberg) -- A U.S.-Colombia defense agreement signed last year will compensate for a proposed decline in U.S. assistance to its staunchest ally in Latin America, President Alvaro Uribe said. The

ACIN's Communication Team Nominated for Prestigious International Award

2010-02-05T13:45:00.001-08:00

The Communication Team of the Association of Indigenous Councils of Northern Cauca, ACIN, has been nominated for the prestigious Bartolome de las Casas Prize from the Casa de las Américas in Spain. The award is given to those individuals, institutions, and organizations that have done outstanding work for an extended period of time in defense of the rights of indigenous people in the Americas,

Human Rights Watch: Report on the Heirs of the Paramilitary

2010-02-05T13:28:00.000-08:00

Folks,Human Rights Watch released an important report this past week about the emergence of a new wave of paramilitary groups in Colombia that have in essence replaced the recently "dismantled" paramilitary umbrella organization AUC. Here is the link to the full report.MAMAParamilitaries’ Heirs The New Face of Violence in Colombia

From the "Impunity is a Bitch" Department: El Tiempo

2010-02-05T13:20:00.000-08:00

What do you get for kidnapping civilians, killing them in cold blood, and then passing them off as "terrorist" combat deaths? Well, if you're a Colombian soldier (implicated in the horrific "false positives" scandals of the past few years, you get performance clowns, aromatherapy treatments and large servings of roasted pig!This is not a joke. And as President Barack Obama eyeballs renewed talks

CIP: Update on Mass Grave Found in La Macarena

2010-02-05T13:14:00.000-08:00

La Macarena gravesite Photo source and article Last Thursday CIP posted excerpts from two articles in Spanish-language media about a mass grave in the town of La Macarena. The grave is in the middle of a historically guerrilla-controlled zone in Meta department that, in the past five years or so, has been the site of several U.S.-supported military operations. The articles indicated

Socialism and Democracy: Book Launch

2010-01-23T08:36:00.000-08:00

Latin America: The New Neoliberalism and Popular MobilizationThe BRECHT FORUM, in conjunction with Socialism and Democracy, invite you to the launch of the latest edition of the Journal.Friday, February 057:30 pm451 West Street (between Bank & Bethune Streets,)New York, NY 10014Phone: (212) 242-4201Email: brechtforum at brechtforum.org http://brechtforum.org/JOURNAL LAUNCHWith Mario A. Murillo &

A Profound Critique of the Current Suffering in Haiti

2010-01-14T07:18:00.000-08:00

Folks,Just received and read this piece from the Guardian UK, sent to me from our friends in En Camino. The devastation is Haiti is unbelievable, and is of course the result of a major natural disaster that was as much unexpected as it was so massive in scope. However, we must also consider the man-made disaster of the long neo-colonial history of Haiti, and the role foreign (US) forces have

CIP: Update on the Colombian "False Positives" Scandal - Impunity Reigns

2010-01-10T08:08:00.000-08:00

Folks,Since 2006, we've been keeping you up to date with the horrific "false positives" scandal in Colombia, where the military were rounding up young people, often promising them jobs, then killing them, dressing them as FARC guerillas, and chalking them up as combat deaths. Although a number of top officials were dismissed in a high profile photo op by President Uribe in September 2008, it

Mary O’Grady Incites Violence in Colombian Peace Community

2010-01-09T09:54:00.000-08:00

Folks,Here is a tremendous media criticism article posted on Upside Down World, about a Wall Street Journal's columnist and her dangerous op-ed about the Colombian Peace Community in San Jose de Apartado. Please read, and yes, get angry!MAMA**************************************************************Written by Belén Fernández Tuesday, 29 December 2009In

The Bodies Are Still Piling Up in Honduras

2010-01-09T04:30:00.000-08:00

Folks,Here's an interesting piece about one of the most forgotten stories of 2009-10, from Counterpunch.MAMA**************************************************************By Joseph Shansky , CounterPunch .Now that the world has heard reports of a "clean and fair" election in November, the violence against activists protesting

VIOLENCE AND FAILING JUSTICE, IMPUNITY IN GUATEMALA

2010-01-08T07:27:00.000-08:00

Folks,This compelling piece was brought to my attention from our friends at Rights Action.MAMA **************************************************************December 2009 VIOLENCE AND FAILING JUSTICE, IMPUNITY IN GUATEMALA by Colin Murphy, Le Monde diplomatique, http://mondediplo.com/2009/12/15guatemala At 7.15am on 4 September last year, Yuri Melini stepped onto the street from

CIP: Review of Colombia's Democratic Security Strategy

2010-01-08T07:05:00.000-08:00

2009: The decline of “Democratic Security?” That is the title of a report released two weeks ago by the Corporación Nuevo Arco Iris, one of a small handful of security-focused think-tanks in Bogotá. It has received a lot of attention in the Colombian media because it warns of some bad news. For the first time since Álvaro Uribe and

Bolivia refuses to be U.S. slave: VP

2010-01-08T06:52:00.000-08:00

This piece comes from the Xinhua News Agency. I send it to you as a public service.January 5, 2010Bolivia refuses to be U.S. slave: VPLA PAZ: The Bolivian government said on Monday that it refuses toblindly cater to the economic or political desires of the United States.Bolivia's Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera said that as La Pazwanted to reset its diplomatic ties with Washington, based on

PUERTO RICO: PAWN IN THE U.S. POLICY TOWARDS VENEZUELA

2010-01-08T06:45:00.000-08:00

Folks, Here's an interesting story from NCM Venezuela that a friend alerted me to. MAMA**************************************************(NCM Venezuela)PUERTO RICO: PAWN IN THE U.S. POLICY TOWARDS VENEZUELAJesús Dávila – Translated by Jan SuslerSAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, January 7, 2010 (NCM) – The operation in which the commando group killed Macheteros commander Filiberto Ojeda in 2005 was

An End of Year Note

2009-12-31T08:45:00.000-08:00

Greetings folks,I know it's been quite a long time since I last posted anything, either about Colombia, U.S. foreign policy, media actions, or anything else. The last several weeks have been quite intense on many different levels - personally, professionally - and as I sit here on a snowy morning on the last day of 2009, I can only say I am pleased that this very difficult year is finally coming

U.S. Military Documents Show Colombia Base Agreement Poses Threat to Region

2009-11-06T07:45:00.000-08:00

Hi folks,, Just thought I'd share with you the latest article from Colombia Journal, which focuses on the dangers of an expanded US military presence in Colombia:U.S. Military Documents Show Colombia Base Agreement Poses Threat to RegionBy Garry Leech Leaders in South America have publicly expressed their concerns regarding the recently-signed agreement between the U.S. and Colombian

‘Authorized’ Minga in Colombia? The Challenges of Popular Movements

2009-11-05T06:44:00.000-08:00

Written by Micheál Ó Tuathail and Manuel Rozental* Thursday, 05 November 2009 Indigenous Guard of the Minga, 2008Last fall, Colombia’s social and popular movements captured the world’s attention. Emerging initially from the indigenous territories in Northern Cauca and expanding to unite diverse sectors, the Social and Community

Colombia Journal: Honduran Coup, Washington and the Uribe Regime

2009-10-27T08:56:00.000-07:00

The U.S. and Colombian Role in the Honduran Crisis By Garry LeechMany analysts and sectors of the mainstream media have suggested that the apparent ineffectiveness of the U.S. government to resolve the crisis in Honduras is evidence that the influence wielded by the region’s superpower is waning. They argue that the assertiveness of Brazil in its efforts to have Honduras’ coup regime step

CIP: Violence on the Rise in Colombia, Despite seven years of "Democratic Security"

2009-10-27T04:28:00.000-07:00

Folks,While a lot has been said about the "successes" of Colombian President Alvaro Uribe's Democratic Security Strategy, funded wholeheartedly by U.S. taxpayers through the Plan Colombia package, there is growing evidence that an upswing in violence is occurring on the ground in various regions of the country. Our friends at the Center for International Policy - Colombia, have been keeping close

Santos a Paramilitary? Check this out!

2009-10-22T08:24:00.000-07:00

This note from our friends at CIP-Colombia:Francisco Santos and the paramilitariesThe former paramilitary chief [Salvatore Mancuso] stated that [Vice President Francisco] Santos … also met several times with the paramilitaries’ leaders and that “I was surprised because I noticed how much he identified with the cause” and because “he told [AUC paramilitary leader Carlos] Castaño that he liked the

Colombian Indigenous Rights Activist to Update New Yorkers on Situation Facing Indigenous Movement in Colombia

2009-10-20T17:07:00.000-07:00

The Indigenous Minga – One Year Later: Colombia’s Popular Movement and the Imperial Presidency of Alvaro UribeColombian Indigenous Rights Activist to Update New Yorkers on Situation Facing Indigenous Movement in Colombia Several Events in the Metropolitan Area Planned Rafael Coicué is a native Nasa from the indigenous reserve of Corinto, in Colombia’s southwest province of Cauca. A veteran social

La MINGA: One Year Later - An update on the indigenous and popular struggle in Colombia

2009-10-20T07:13:00.001-07:00

Greetings folks, One year ago, the world was moved by the courageous and unprecedented mobilization of the indigenous and popular movement in Colombia, which on October 20, 2008 was already in its second week. A lot has happened since then, including most recently, in Cauca, with a series of events that commemorated the one-year anniversary of the historic mobilization. There is considerable

The MINGA Continues in New York with Nasa Leader Rafael Coicué

2009-10-12T08:33:00.000-07:00

For Immediate Release!Contact: marioradio@gmail.comOctober 12th, 2009Colombian Indigenous Rights Activist, Rafael Coicué, to Visit New York in Late OctoberFocus of his meetings: The Indigenous Minga – One Year Later: Colombia’s Popular Movement and the Imperial PresidencyRafael Coicué is a native Nasa from the indigenous reserve of Corinto, in Colombia’s southwest province of Cauca. A veteran

Human Rights First: US Stalling on Visa for Human Rights Activist from Colombia

2009-10-08T17:52:00.000-07:00

US Government Stalls on Visa for Colombian Activist Delays Could Prevent Activist from Being Present to Receive Human Rights Award NEW YORK - Human Rights First has chosen Colombian activist Gabriel Gonzalez as the 2009 recipient of its prestigious human rights award. The award will be presented at a gala ceremony in New York on October 22, but instead of being part of the celebration

CIP: Analysis of Colombia's Internal Spying Program

2009-10-08T17:50:00.000-07:00

Colombia’s Domestic Spying Scandal By Adam Isacson, CIP Latin America Security Program. Last updated October 8, 2009.A PDF version of this document is available at www.cipcol.org/files/factsheets/das_scandal.pdf On February 21, 2009, Colombia’s most-circulated newsweekly, Semana, broke an important story. It revealed that the Administrative Security Department (DAS), the Colombian Presidency’s

State Department Cable says Colombian Army Responsible for Palace of Justice Deaths, Disappearances

2009-10-08T17:40:00.000-07:00

National Security Archive Update, October 8, 2009State Department Cable says Colombian Army Responsible for Palace of Justice Deaths, DisappearancesDocument Introduced as Evidence in Trial of Col. Alfonso Plazas VegaFor more information contact:http://www.nsarchive.orgWashington, DC, October 8, 2009 - A declassified U.S. State Department document filed in a Colombian court yesterday blames the

A Public Service Announcement from a Colombian Street Messenger!

2009-09-30T06:50:00.000-07:00

Lest we forget, this is an important message for all of us to remember. Thank goodness for those creative grafiteros in Bogotá!MAMA

Latest Developments from Honduras: Rights Action

2009-09-22T19:17:00.001-07:00

DAY 87 – HONDURAS COUP RESISTANCE = AGAIN, A VICIOUS CRACK-DOWNSeptember 22, 2009, Alert#69 BELOW: Action requested: Demand for comprehensive economic sanctions & possible “blue helmuts” peace-keeping missionVarious information from today’s brutal repressive crackdownHow to donate fund for the National Front Against the Coup & what to do? INTERVIEWS & MORE INFORMATION:

The Road to Zelaya’s Return: Money, Guns and Social Movements in Honduras

2009-09-22T19:11:00.000-07:00

Here's an interesting overview of the historic developments taking place in Honduras, posted on Upside Down World.

Colombia Journal: Exorcising the Ghosts of Paramilitary Violence: Reclaiming Liberty in Libertad

2009-09-21T07:54:00.000-07:00

Here is the latest article from Colombia Journal, something very much worth reading as President Alvaro Uribe prepares to visit NYC on yet another lobbying ambush:Exorcising the Ghosts of Paramilitary Violence: Reclaiming Liberty in LibertadBy Garry LeechMarco Tulio Pérez arrived in the remote Afro-Colombian community of Libertad in 2000. One of his first acts was to organize a beauty pageant for

US Certification of Colombia on Human Rights is Laced with "False Positives"

2009-09-18T13:33:00.000-07:00

Last week, the U.S. State Department said that Colombia has satisfied most human rights concerns and certified Alvaro Uribe's government, thus opening the way to more than $580-million dollars in U.S. aid for the year. The announcement came just two weeks after Colombia's own Armed Forces was implicated in a massacre of 12 Awa indians in the southern province of Nariño, and amidst the ongoing

NYTimes on the Uribe Spy Scandal: Will Obama Raise Any Questions?

2009-09-17T07:35:00.000-07:00

September 17, 2009 A Scandal Over Spying Intensifies in Colombia By SIMON ROMERO BOGOTÁ, Colombia — President Álvaro Uribe, the top ally of the United States in Latin America, is enmeshed in a scandal over growing evidence that his main intelligence agency carried out an extensive illegal spying operation focused on his leading critics, including members of the Supreme Court,

Colombia: Investigate Massacre in Southern Region

2009-08-28T11:37:00.000-07:00

Folks,You may have heard about this latest atrocity carried out in Colombia on August 27th, although you would be hard-pressed to find any mention of it in the US news media. As the Obama Administration finalizes a deal with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe to open seven military bases for U.S. military forces, Human Rights Watch is calling on an investigation into the massacre of 12

COLOMBIA: Indigenous People Troubled by U.S. Military Presence - IPS

2009-08-17T12:58:00.000-07:00

By Gustavo CapdevilaGENEVA, Aug 13 (IPS) - The head of Colombia's biggest association of indigenous people is concerned that allowing U.S. troops to use military bases in his country will signal a regression to former times when the United States exercised control over Latin America, while a native activist warned of an increase in the number of cases of sexual abuse of young indigenous women by

Time for Transparency on the U.S.-Colombia Military Base Agreement - The Latest from CIP

2009-08-17T12:52:00.000-07:00

Hello folks,The tensions over the US-Colombia military base agreement continue to rise, despite the whirlwind South American tour of Colombian Presiodent Alvaro Uribe two weeks ago, which brought him to every regional capital to discuss the plan with his counterparts. Here is the latest posting from our friends at Center for International Policy, CIP, which has an overview of the UNASUR meetings

Revista Cambio: Entrevista con Alfredo Molano

2009-08-13T06:11:00.000-07:00

'Me responsabilizo de las opiniones de la gente que entrevisto': Alfredo Molano En su nuevo libro 'Ahí les dejo esos fierros', el sociólogo analiza el conflicto colombiano desde la mirada de protagonistas rasos.****************************Alfredo Molano is a sociologist, journalist and commentator who has written over a dozen books about the conflict in Colombia. He has been

Religious and Grassroots Leaders Urge Clinton to Suspend Military Base Talks with Colombia

2009-08-13T06:02:00.000-07:00

Bases deal “presents enormous dangers for entire hemisphere” - Fellowship of Reconciliation, FOROver one hundred religious, national, community organizations and leaders and academics today called on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to “suspend negotiations for expanded U.S. military access or operations in Colombia,” a plan that has generated a swell of protest among Latin American countries,

State of Uribe's Re-election Campaign in Colombia - CIP

2009-08-04T14:56:00.000-07:00

Folks, Some of you may be following the controversies around the U.S. military base agreement with Colombia. This situation, which has not surprisingly caused tensions with other regional leaders, has overshadowed the ongoing push to change the Colombian Constitution in order to allow for yet another re-election of President Alvaro Uribe, a measure that seems to be all but dead in the current

Criticism Grows Over Colombia's U.S. Base Plan- Reuters

2009-08-03T10:48:00.000-07:00

THIS NEWS ITEM WAS RECENTLY POSTED IN REUTERS. While it uses some of the typical, narrow-minded language employed by most "Western" news agencies reporting on Colombia, the broader message of how US military plans in Colombia might interfere with regional stability, and how Colombia's neighbors are not pleased, is perhaps more important.MAMA********************************By Hugh BronsteinBOGOTA,

Colombia’s Deteriorating Displacement Crisis - Colombia Journal

2009-08-03T06:34:00.000-07:00

Here is the latest article from our friends at Colombia Journal:Colombia’s Deteriorating Displacement CrisisBy Garry Leech Tercer Milenio Park is located only blocks from Colombia’s presidential palace in the center of Bogotá and offers respite from the chaotic city to local residents. But for the past four months, it has also been a refuge from the country’s rural violence for more than one

Indigenous Peruvians Still Under Threat - Amazon Watch

2009-07-31T07:06:00.001-07:00

Persecution of Indigenous Leaders Continues in Peru Police prepare to arrest indigenous leader who was shot 8 times during protest upon his release from hospital UN Special Rapporteur report calls for immediate review of legal charges against indigenous leaders Lima, Peru (July 31, 2009) – San Francisco-based Amazon Watch is

ACIN Statement on State-Sponsored Impunity Presented to UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights

2009-07-30T09:01:00.000-07:00

Friends,Below is the missive (in Spanish) posted on ACIN's website on the occasion of the visit to Northern Cauca of James Anaya, United Nations Special Rapporteur for Human Rights, last weekend. It is titled: "No More Genocide and Impunity from the Colombian State," and reflected the recent aggressions carried out in Cauca against the indigenous communities of the region, presented to Anaya in

Honduran Coup Update from RIGHTS ACTION

2009-07-30T08:56:00.000-07:00

“HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCY” AT THE NICARAGUAN-HONDURAN BORDER REGIONBy Karen Spring, in Tegucigalpa An international mission has been formed involving both national and international human rights workers and journalists that are concerned of the “humanitarian emergency” that are occurring in the El Paraíso region close to the Nicaraguan-Honduran border. The newly formed International Mission of

Contrasting Views About the Colombian Reality from CBS News and COHA

2009-07-29T11:52:00.000-07:00

Hi folks,Much has been made the last few days about the controversial U.S.-Colombia military base agreement that will allow U.S. forces to work from five military installations in different parts of Colombia. As we've already pointed out in a previous post, the five bases will replace the Manta Air base in Ecuador, and would expand the U.S. military mission to include counter-narcotic operations,

Latest News/Analysis from ACIN - Association of Indigenous Councils of Northern Cauca

2009-07-28T16:37:00.000-07:00

Estrategia: entre farsantes y solidarios07/27/2009Autor: Tejido de Comunicación ACIN Mientras desde Honduras sigue requiriendo una solidaridad más estratégica, que no sólo sirva para denunciar y hacer cientos de análisis, sino para buscar alternativas inmediatas para que el pueblo tenga la palabra y actúe en consecuencia con sus objetivos estratégicos, en Perú después de la Masacre de Bagua, el

WBAI's Wake Up Call Examines US Base Agreement with Colombia

2009-07-27T16:47:00.000-07:00

Hey folks,As many of you may know, I'm out of town, actually just got into Colombia yesterday, so I'm not on the air these days at WBAI, but last week, NACLA's Christy Thornton, who is co-hosting the Friday edition of Wake Up Call in my absence for the next few weeks with producer Karah Woodward, conducted an in-depth interview with Garry Leech and Forrest Hylton on the U.S. base agreement with

Obama Administration Shifts U.S. focus in Colombia from Counternarcotics to Counterinsurgency

2009-07-27T09:03:00.000-07:00

Here is the latest article from Colombia Journal: Obama Administration Shifts U.S. focus in Colombia from Counternarcotics to Counterinsurgency The Obama administration’s proposed 2010 aid package for Colombia appears to be sailing through the Democrat-controlled Congress with little opposition and few amendments. As a result, the administration is poised to achieve a shift in U.S. policy in

A Renewed Monroe Doctrine? Pentagon proposes 5 U.S. bases in Colombia

2009-07-17T09:56:00.000-07:00

A Renewed Monroe Doctrine? Pentagon proposes 5 U.S. bases in ColombiaJuly 16, 2009: Oakland, CA: In a stunning development, the United States is negotiating for the use of five military facilities in Colombia in an agreement whose objectives include “filling the gaps left by the eventual cutting of [military] aid in Plan Colombia,” according to sources in Washington and Bogotá cited by an

Sobre las bases militares de Estados Unidos en Colombia

2009-07-14T11:48:00.000-07:00

Here's an interesting commentary (in Spanish) from Colombian Senator Jorge Robledo about US Militarism in Colombia, which was posted on ACIN's website. Share it widely!MAMA 07/13/2009Autor: Jorge Enrique Robledo Debe saberse que entre las nuevas estrategias de dominación global del mayor imperio de la historia aparecen las bases militares llamadas “lotos”, las cuales pueden ser relativamente

Honduras Coup Update from Rights Action in Honduras

2009-07-09T15:37:00.000-07:00

Greetings folks, Below is the latest urgent action alert from the independent human rights organization Rights Action in Honduras about the ongoing crisis in the country after the illegal coup that toppled the democratically-elected President Manuel Zelaya almost two weeks ago. Tomorrow on WBAI's Wake UP Call, we will have an update on the crisis with several guests, including the co-director

2009-07-02T10:12:00.000-07:00

Greetings folks!Just to let you know that we've completed our first two "barridos" in New York City with the ACIN's documentary on the 2008 Indigenous Minga, "A Country of People's Without Owners," - one at NYU on Monday night, and last night in Jackson Heights, Queens, in the intimate La Terraza 7 Train Café. These presentations of the film are designed as consciousness-raising events in the

Monday's Meeting Between Uribe and Obama: An overview from CIP

2009-07-01T08:44:00.000-07:00

President Barack Obama and Colombian President Álvaro Uribe took a few questions from reporters after their meeting yesterday afternoon. The Washington Post has published the transcript. The record is mixed. A few quick observations. 1. President Obama should have made a clearer public statement of concern about human rights. Colombia’s community of human rights defenders

Obama and Uribe Just Like Old Pals in Monday's Meeting

2009-07-01T08:33:00.000-07:00

Pres. Obama Meets with Pres. Uribe of Colombia President Obama met with President Alvaro Uribe of Colombia in the Oval Office to discuss U.S.-Colombia relations on Monday. It was their first meeting since Obama became President, and was a major about face from Obama's strong concerns voiced on the campaign trail about Colombia's human rights record. They covered a lot of

A Country of Peoples Without Owners: Jackson Heights Screening

2009-06-30T09:44:00.000-07:00

WBAI’s Wake Up Call & First Voices Indigenous Radio, in collaboration with Momentos de Cine, present the Jackson Heights Premiere of the long anticipated documentary…A Country of Peoples Without Owners: The Indigenous and Popular Minga of 2008Wednesday, July 1st at 7:00pm La Terraza 7 Train Café, (40-19 Gleane Street, near 83rd St. & Roosevelt Ave.) in Jackson Heights, QueensThis documentary

Pedro Arenas, Mayor of San Jose, Guaviare, Attacked by FARC

2009-06-29T09:30:00.000-07:00

Folks,Earlier today I received disturbing news from a good friend of mine in Colmbia who apparently was the victim of an attack against him and his entourage by rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC.I'm talking about long-time social justice activist, community organizer and independent politician, Pedro Arenas, the current mayor of the city of San Jose, in the southern

ECONOMY: More Democracy the Cure for Broken System, U.N. Says

2009-06-25T08:21:00.000-07:00

By Henry Parr (For Inter-Press Service) UNITED NATIONS, Jun 25 (IPS) - The United Nations General Assembly kicked off a three-day conference on the world financial crisis Wednesday with calls for a substantial overhaul of the decades-long model under which the world's richest countries set the terms of global fiscal and trade policy."At this critical moment, we must all join our efforts to

Obama, Latin AMerica and U.S. Trade Policy - A Change or Business as Usual?

2009-06-24T13:42:00.000-07:00

As a presidential candidate, Barack Obama posited himself as the "Fair Trade" candidate in opposition to Hillary Clinton, whose support of NAFTA during her husband's administration was seen as a liability. But as soon as Hillary was out of the picture, Obama began to backpedal on trade and told Fortune magazine that his anti-NAFTA stance was “overheated and amplified.”Nevertheless, Obama won some

Cambio Magazine: Extraditing the Truth

2009-06-17T12:56:00.000-07:00

Hi folks,Here is another important public service which the folks at CIP recently posted, an English translation of an exclusive interview with Colombian Paramilitary boss Salvatore Mancuso from a Federal US Prison in the magazine Cambio. In it, Mancuso discusses how the Uribe government's extradition of he and 14 other right ring heads of the AUC was a way to "extradite the truth." I think it

From CIP: Confirming Obama and Uribe's Upcoming Meeting in Late June

2009-06-17T12:38:00.000-07:00

Here is a recent post from the BLOG of Center for International Policy, which draws our attention to the June 29th scheduled meeting between Barack Obama and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. The White House press secretary’s office (on June 12th) confirmed what the Colombian Presidency told us on Tuesday: that Colombian President Álvaro Uribe will be paying a visit to

Reminder: Two Upcoming NYC Screenings of "A Country of Peoples Without Owners: The Indigenous and Popular Minga 2008

2009-06-15T09:10:00.001-07:00

WBAI’s Wake Up Call & First Voices – Indigenous Radio, in collaboration with Deep Dish TV and the Movement for Peace in Colombia, present the New York Premiere of the long-anticipated documentaryA Country of Peoples Without Owners:The Indigenous and Popular Minga of 2008Mark your calendars for two important screening dates:Monday, June 29th at 7:00pm The Labowitz Theater of NYU(715 Broadway at

Free Trade Pact with Colombia Back on the Agenda of Obama Administration

2009-06-12T11:28:00.000-07:00

Folks,Here is a piece from Reuters about President Obama's upcoming meeting with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe his intention of discussing the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Pact. If last week's events in Peru aren't enough to sound alarm bells in all of us, consider that Obama voted for the US-Peru FTA when he was in the Senate, and once upon a time (a loooonnngggg time ago) he spoke out openly

Some videos on the Peruvian Amazon Crisis

2009-06-12T11:25:00.000-07:00

Videos Protestas Sobre el Amazonas del Peru... Solo escuchalo y piensa... Protests in Peru Indigenous rights Protest at Peru's consulate .... NYC Amazon Peru protest of solidarity May 2009 Peru Indigenous protest in Lima: a Native man s... Los Angeles protest in support of Peru's Indigi...

Peru Congress Suspends Two Divisive Decrees, but Is it Too Little, Too Late?

2009-06-12T10:37:00.000-07:00

Hello folks,As you must know by now, the violent repression of Indigenous protests in the northern Peruvian Amazon last week has been met with widespread international outcry, as well as solidarity protests held in 11 cities worldwide. Below is a post from Amazon Watch about these developments, making the links between the US-Peru Free Trade Agreement and the violence spearheaded by the

A Country of Peoples Without Owners: The Indigenous and Popular Minga of 2008

2009-06-11T07:52:00.000-07:00

WBAI’s Wake Up Call & First Voices – Indigenous Radio, in collaboration with Deep Dish TV and the Colombian Movement for Peace,present the New York Premiere of the long-anticipated documentary A Country of Peoples Without Owners:The Indigenous and Popular Minga of 2008Monday, June 29th at 7:00pm The Labowitz Theater of NYU (715 Broadway at Washington Place) in ManhattanColombia will never be

Blood at the Blockade: Peru's Indigenous Uprising

2009-06-10T10:18:00.000-07:00

Hello folks,Below is the intro to a story posted on the website of NACLA about the indigenous uprising in Peru, which was violently repressed last week. It is written by Peruvian historian and author Gerardo Renique. Check it out when you have a chance, it places the entire massacre into a political context that unfortunately has been totally absent in the corporate media coverage of the

Crisis in the Peruvian Amazon: The Cold Truth of Free Trade Terror

2009-06-10T07:30:00.000-07:00

Greetings folks,I'm sure many of you ahve been keeping up to date with developments in Peru, where the neoliberal government of Alan Garcia has been relentless in its attacks against indigenous protesters in the Amazon region, who are confronting the government's development plans in their territory. President Garcia has used the terms of "terrorism," "primitives," and "backwards" to describe the

Parole Process Underway for Puerto Rican Political Prisoner

2009-05-29T08:08:00.000-07:00

Hi folks,You may have heard that Carlos Alberto Torres may be home soon! This morning I spoke with attorney Jan Susler in Chicago about the parole hearing for Carlos Alberto. You can catch it on the WBAI Radio Archives. The interview was about ten minutes into the final hour of the show. But here are some details that I think you might be interested in. So many years in prison, is there a chance

The Dark Side of Plan Colombia

2009-05-28T16:11:00.000-07:00

Hi folks,It's been a while since I last posted materials on this space, the result of lots of distractions and busy work. But there's so much to catch up on. Here I send you a link to an important article that will be published in the June 15th edition of the Nation Magazine, which is written by friend and colleague Teo Ballvé, an independent journalist and former editor of NACLA, based in

Oil Firms and Loggers 'Push Indigenous People to Brink of Extinction'

2009-05-28T16:08:00.000-07:00

Published on Thursday, May 28, 2009 by The Guardian/UKby John Vidal Five "uncontacted" tribes are at imminent risk of extinction as oil companies, colonists and loggers invade their territiories. The semi-nomadic groups, who live deep in the forests of Peru, Brazil and Paraguay, are vulnerable to common western diseases such as flu and measles but also risk

Marijuana and Cocaine Should Be Legalized, Says Latin American Drugs Commission

2009-05-28T16:04:00.000-07:00

Published on Thursday, May 28, 2009 by The Guardian/UK . By Duncan Campbell Marijuana and cocaine for personal use should be decriminalised because the "war on drugs" has been a disaster, according to some of Latin America's most powerful politicians and writers.The current international policy on drugs encourages corruption and violence that is

Military Base Plans for Colombia - From Fellowship of Reconciliation

2009-05-27T15:04:00.000-07:00

Fellowship of Reconciliationwww.forusa.org May 18, 2009, Oakland, CA: The United States is planning to establish a new military facility in Colombia that will give the U.S. increased capacity for military intervention throughout most of Latin America. Given the tense relations of Washington with Venezuela, Bolivia, and Ecuador, as well as the Colombian military’s atrocious human rights record,

Colombian Government’s Role in Human Rights Abuses

2009-05-04T10:50:00.000-07:00

Here is the latest article from our friends at Colombia Journal: Colombian Government’s Role in Human Rights Abuses by Garry Leech It seems that new revelations about the Colombian government’s links to human rights abuses are appearing almost weekly. In recent weeks there have been allegations that Colombian political and military officials conspired with right-wing paramilitaries to burn the

Shielding the Recession by Hector Mondragon

2009-05-03T11:06:00.000-07:00

Hello Folks, I just received this insightful analysis of Colombia and the impact the economic crisis is having on the country by Hector Mondragon, one of the leading critics of the neoliberal onslaught on Colombia. This was translated at distributed by Justin Podur, who among other things, writes regularly for Z Net, and En Camino. Recall that Hector Mondragon was forced to leave Colombia last