Bogota, Colombia News

“It encourages investors and companies to leave this country and set up manufacturing operations abroad.”

As President Bush tries to push a U.S.-Colombia free trade agreement through Congress, he has an unusual ally: Sen. via McClatchy DC

Comment?

YESTERDAY MORNING, the House of Representatives voted to postpone consideration of the U.S.-Colombia free trade pact, which President Bush sent to Congress earlier this week. via The Weekly Standard

Comment?

A court has temporarily blocked the extradition of one of Colombia's most feared warlords to the U.S. while it decides whether he should first finish a sentence here, a lawyer said Friday.

Carlos Mario Jimenez, better known by the alias 'Macaco,' is wanted by the United States on charges of drug trafficking, money laundering and financing terrorist groups. His extradition was approved April 2.

Alirio Uribe, a lawyer who represents victims of the paramilitaries, said a court granted his request to stay the extradition late Thursday. Read more

Comment?

“We're not celebrating and there is no champagne, but there are no handkerchiefs or any tears either, we are simply waiting and confident that a solution can be found, an accord”

Colombia's government said on Thursday it would keep lobbying to secure a U.S free trade deal, saying "the game is not over" after the U.S. House of Representatives voted to delay any decision on the accord. via KRVN-AM Lexington

Comment?

“This government is not a puppet... we will not allow them (military) to trample over our authority and democratic legitimacy”

Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa faces a stiff battle to increase his influence over the military, after his top commanders quit and ended his honeymoon with an institution that ousted three presidents in a ... via The Boston Globe

Comment?

“We hope that the FARC heeds our appeals and speedily liberates Ingrid Betancourt and the rest of the hostages”

A bishop preaching in a war zone Sunday called on leftist rebels to release French-Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt and hundreds of other, lesser-known captives. via Slam Sports

Comment?

“It doesn't correspond to reality.”

A former hostage of Colombian rebels on Monday said that captive Ingrid Betancourt was sick but denied assertions that he had said she was near death.

France launched a mission to help the French-Colombian hostage, citing fears for her health after more than six years in captivity in the jungle. The mission has stalled as the rebels have not responded to appeals to give Betancourt medical aid or free her.

Lorenzo Delloye, Betancourt's son, told reporters in Paris on Wednesday his mother could die if she did not get a blood transfusion 'in the coming hours,' adding that she suffers from hepatitis B and a ravaging skin disease. He said he learned this from former hostage Luis Eladio Perez, who spent part of his captivity with Betancourt and last saw her on Feb. 4. Read more

Comment?

“It tries to stigmatize us, it tries to paint us as rebels, and that's when the right-wing death squads try to kill us”

The Colombian government said Monday that the U.S. trade deal will grow its economy. via Post-Standard

Comment?

“People ask if we are going to give up this humanitarian mission. We will never give up”

French first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy joined thousands of people in a solemn march in Paris to press for the release of ailing French-Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt. via Raw Story

1 comment

“After the events of the last few days, Mark Penn has asked to give up his role as chief strategist of the Clinton Campaign”

In a fresh blow to Democrat Hillary Clinton, her chief strategist quit her White House campaign late Sunday after revelations his PR firm was also working for the Colombian government. via Raw Story

Comment?