justin's blog

by Justin Podur

I would have preferred to do some kind of letter to the editor, but it won't work. The need to react precisely precludes writing in Spanish, the need to write quickly precludes finding a translator, and the need to explain a great deal precludes the writing of a short letter. This article concerns the recent articles in el Tiempo, Colombia's national newspaper, on the FARC in Canada.

Sandra C followed up on the story about the Peruvian military moving in to try to end indigenous protests in the Amazon. Please read - the protest ended in a victory for the indigenous. For hyperlinked version go to the Dominion or Sandra's blog. We reproduce it below...

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Peru: Indigenous occupations end with victory in Congress

by Justin Podur, Dawn Paley, and Manuel Rozental

A New York Times article by Simon Romero on August 15 suggested that the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo was going to investigate the FARC in Colombia, and its connections to other countries. In the 12-paragraph article, one paragraph (the 10th) noted that the ICC would also look at paramilitarism:

A note from the peruanista blog. Peru's government (along with Colombia, one of the few completely reliable allies the US and multinationals have left in the region) has sent its military against indigenous people in the Amazon and declared a state of emergency, banning public gatherings for 30 days. To quote one of the indigenous leaders:

WE REJOICE, WITH THOSE LIBERATED, THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS AND CALL
THEM TO USE THEIR FREEDOM TO ACHIEVE THAT OF ALL COLOMBIANS

Colombia's Minister of Defense has just announced that former
Presidential Candidate Ingrid Betancur, together with three American
Soldiers
and 11 members of the Colombian Armed Forces held by FARC have been
rescued unharmed in a successful operation carried out by Colombian
intelligence disguised as representatives of a "fake" NGO who were to
transfer them under the orders of FARC's Secretariat. As this note is written,

This commmuniqué from CRIC was translated by Elena Renderos.

05/22/2008
Author: ELDER COUNCIL – CRIC [Regional Indigenous Council of Cauca]

Note from En Camino:

Attiwapiskat is a James Bay Cree community, neighbouring Fort Albany. The James Bay Cree have seen their lands used in hydroelectric megaprojects and mines, including a De Beers diamond mining project most recently. Unfortunately, the communities have not been the main beneficiaries of the resources from their lands, and indeed, they have suffered poverty, neglect, and worse. The most famous case in recent years has been Kashechewan, a community evacuated because of contaminated water (a problem that prevails in many reserves).

A piece on Canada-Colombia FTA: Manuel Rozental interviewed by Stu Neatby on rabble.

Legalizing terror: Canada-Colombia "free trade"

An interview with Manuel Rozenthal about the proposed Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement.

>by Stuart Neatby
January 3, 2008

I know it's been a while since we've posted here but it's time to get moving again... Listen to this audio interview on Colombia by En Camino member Justin Podur - the failed humanitarian accord, the Canada-Colombia FTA, and more.

More material on the Canada-Colombia FTA to follow!

Interview with Manuel Rozental, Recorded July 27-2007
By Maria Olaya
Produced by Cailey Campbell
Far Too Canadian, Friday mornings from 7-9am on CFRU 93.3 FM in Guelph
www.cfru.ca

AUDIO OF THE INTERVIEW WITH MANUEL

AUDIO OF AN INTERVIEW WITH MAURICIO

Maria: We have with us on the line Manuel [Rozental] and going to talk with us about what is going on in Colombia and specifically in the North of the Valle of Cauca with the Nasa community marching [to] Bogota.