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8/30/2005 : FARC maintain their demands
FARC rebels have insisted on the point that a meeting with the Colombian government to discuss a" humanitarian agreement" will not be possible unless the villages of Pradera and Florida in the Vallee department, are demilitarised for one month.
Monsignor Luis Castro, the President of the Conference of Bishops in Colombia is said to be optimistic about the response awaited by the Church from FARC about the proposal to organise pre--dialogue talks to facilitate the freeing of those kidnapped in the country.
8/28/2005 : The Revolution of the Clergy in Colombia
The Catholic Church becomes the key player in the solution to the Colombian conflict.
8/27/2005 : When Americans Recruit Colombian Mercenaries for Iraq
The number of these travel candidates is unknown, but the recruitment of Colombians by the Pentagon's private contractors is far from an isolated phenomenon. At the end of 2004, the daily El Tiempo revealed that at the conclusion of a secret meeting with representatives from the American multinational Halliburton, a group of Colombians left for Baghdad, Mosul, Fallujah, and Basra. Their mission: "to protect oil pipelines and private company personnel.
In Colombia, some fear that with the ongoing demobilization of death squads, an abundant workforce of unemployed torturers is being recycled through the Iraqi deserts.
8/25/2005 : Colombian Possibly Tied to FARC Arrested
Brazilian police arrested a Colombian man Wednesday accused of being an unofficial ambassador for Colombia's largest rebel group.
8/23/2005 : Colombia accepts church mediation with rebels
Colombia on Monday eased a key condition for peace talks with Marxist rebels by accepting an offer from the Roman Catholic Church to mediate in a four-decade-old guerrilla conflict.
8/21/2005 : Law Seen As Soft on Militias in Colombia
Since the peace process began two years ago, more than 8,000 paramilitary members have demobilized. But critics said that because the law does not provide for the seizure of assets, the paramilitary groups will be able to recruit replacements with the promise of cash.
The demobilization program, based on a new law, has aroused intense criticism from human rights groups, U.S. politicians and others. The critics say the incentives in the law will allow some of the country's most dangerous criminals to escape justice through lightened penalties and legal loopholes that could protect them from extradition. They say the government of President Alvaro Uribe, while well-intentioned, is being manipulated by international terrorists.
8/19/2005 : A Humanitarian Agreement: a push in the right direction ?
The FARC have given their answer. And the President has replied. The former rejected Aures in Caicedonia (Vallée) the location put forward by the government to look at a humanitarian exchange. The president himself confirmed that there was no possibility of agreeing to demilitarise (a zone).
So, stalemate? No! Added to the 'firm' stance of each side are a new ton and some slight changes in positions. The Government no longer demands a cease -fire and the FARC no longer talk of demilitarising two regions as they had done in their previous statements.
8/18/2005 : Death threats force television news journalist to flee the country
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has voiced concern that news producer Daniel Coronell, a respected journalist and well-known critic of the government, was forced to flee Colombia on 14 August 2005, following months of anonymous threats. He is the seventh journalist to be forced to flee from his home since the start of the year.
8/16/2005 : Farc rejects prisoner talks offer
Colombia's largest rebel group has rejected a government offer to discuss a prisoner exchange.
8/12/2005 : As families speak out, victims of terror in Colombia are unearthed
In one of the most horrific chapters of Colombia's long civil conflict, investigators are unearthing scores of bodies from secret graves dotting this humid cattle-grazing region near the Caribbean, the victims of right-wing paramilitary groups now benefiting from generous concessions for pledging to disarm.
8/11/2005 : Astrid Betancourt: " Alvaro Uribe has a trump card"
"The implementation of a humanitarian accord before the elections in May 2006 would be a trump card for Alvaro Uribe. During the election campaign we will be calling on the electorate to elect a president who can implement this agreement. It is still possible to imagine that a humanitarian agreement may pave the way to talks about peace."
8/10/2005 : Colombian government offers to meet rebel leaders to discuss prisoner swap
The Colombian government said Tuesday it would be willing to meet with rebel leaders to discuss a possible exchange of jailed rebels for hostages, including three Americans.
8/9/2005 : Suspicion still rife of Colombia Three deal
SUSPICION of a secret deal between the Government and Sinn Féin on the return of the Colombia Three persisted last night, despite outright denials from both sides.
The Green Party’s Dan Boyle said the men’s “continuing ambivalence” regarding FARC was “a matter of deep concern”, given FARC’s kidnapping and continuing incarceration of the Colombian Green Party presidential candidate, Ingrid Betancourt.
8/5/2005 : Colombia: Demobilizations Legitimize Paramilitary Power
Colombia's demobilization process is strengthening the power of paramilitary groups without furthering a genuine peace, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today. Drawing on interviews with numerous demobilized paramilitaries, the report is the first to document the Colombian government's mishandling of the recent paramilitary demobilizations.
8/4/2005 : Colombia says no to rebel hostage swap conditions
Hopes of freeing 63 hostages, including three Americans, held in jungle camps by Colombian guerrillas sank on Wednesday when rebels said they would only negotiate if troops pulled out of two mountain towns.
The government promptly refused the demand made by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia in a statement telling President Alvaro Uribe to order police and soldiers out of two mountain towns in the western province of Valle del Cauca in order to hold negotiations there.
8/3/2005 : Ex-Colombia leader named US envoy
Former Colombian President Andres Pastrana is to become ambassador to Washington, one of the country's most important posts.
In a clever political manoeuvre, President Alvaro Uribe has neutralised a dangerous enemy in the former leader. With Mr Pastrana now firmly in the Uribe camp, the Conservative Party is unlikely to field a presidential candidate, instead backing Mr Uribe.
8/1/2005 : Thousands of letters sent to hostages in Colombia.
This month more than 3,600 letters were sent from Europe to Bogotá in Colombia as part of the "Aéropostale 3000" campaign launched in Europe by the International Federation of Ingrid Betancourt Committees, in partnership with the French town of Chambery.
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