6/30/2008 : Colombia; 2 more trade unionists assassinated

Less than a week after the International Confederation of Trade Unionists (ICTU) sent their latest protest letter to President Uribe condemning the climate of violence and repression against trade union members in Colombia, the murder of two more trade unionists has been condemned in this Latin American country. These murders bring to 28 the number of trade unionists assassinated in Colombia since the beginning of the year.

6/29/2008 : Ingrid Betancourt nominated for Nobel Prize

An Italian political party has nominated French-Colombian, Ingrid Betancourt, held by FARC for more than six years, for the Nobel Prize.

6/28/2008 : Colombia's president calls for snap election

Colombia was rocked by a political crisis Friday as the hugely popular President Alvaro Uribe sought a replay of the 2006 vote after the top court challenged the legality of his reelection.

6/27/2008 : Aymeric Dalphin: this generous young citizen supports campaign for Ingrid Betancourt

For several years Aymeric has raised public awareness about Ingrid Betancourt’s situation and that of the other 3000 hostages held by FARC. Next week, he flies to Washington where he will receive a scholarship and a gift of 2500 US dollars which Aymeric will donate to Yolanda Pulecio Betancourt’s (mother of Ingrid Betancourt) work with orphans in Bogota.

6/26/2008 : Contacts with FARC: countries continue to seek a solution

Several hours after the French Ambassador to Colombia, Jean Michel Marlaud clarified that currently no line of communication existed with FARC; the same diplomat stated that those countries mandated by the national Government were continuing to seek contacts with some members of the leadership of FARC to renew talks about freeing hostages.

6/24/2008 : “Humanitarian agreement is a top priority”!

Roberto Saens Vargas, brother of Alfonso Cano, the new leader of FARC and Yolanda Pulecio, Ingrid Betancourt’s mother spoke in an interview with El Espectador.

6/23/2008 : Colombian captive urges Betancourt to stay strong

A Colombian soldier kidnapped by rebels more than 10 years ago sent a "message of strength" to French-Colombian politician and fellow hostage Ingrid Betancourt in a video released on Sunday.

6/22/2008 : Colombian rebels release proof-of-life video of hostage lawmaker

Colombian rebels released a proof-of-life video Saturday of a 44-year-old regional lawmaker who was kidnapped six years ago in the western city of Cali.

6/20/2008 : Ingrid Betancourt’s mother receives, on her behalf, the Order of Civil Merit.

Ingrid Betancourt’s mother, Yolanda Pulecio received the Order of Civil Merit on behalf of her daughter. This honour was awarded by the Council of the City of Bogota.

6/19/2008 : France renews contact with FARC leaders

France has renewed contact with the leaders of Colombian guerrillas holding Franco-Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt to try and secure her release after their main guerrilla contact was killed in March, presidency sources said on Thursday.

6/18/2008 : San Vincente, ex "capital" of Farc...

San Vicente was the “capital” of Farc from 1999 – 2002. During these three years, this community of 60,000 people- living in an area 300 times the size of Paris- was the centre of negotiations between the rebels and the Colombian government led by former President Andrés Pastrana. Talks that came to nothing. Now, in San Vicente del Calguán, everyone thinks only of that: of the Farc rebels. Even if they are no longer present, or are less obvious.

6/17/2008 : Colombia commemorates the killing of 11 deputies held hostage by FARC.

The death of 11 regional deputies in Colombia kidnapped by Farc will be commemorated in Cali and Bogota at Masses and ceremonies today, Wednesday, on the occasion of the first anniversary of the still unexplained incident in which they lost their lives.

6/15/2008 : Colombia welcomes Chavez shift on guerrilla support

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe on Saturday welcomed a call by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez for FARC rebels to free their hostages as a step towards peace negotiations to end Latin America's oldest insurgency.

6/14/2008 : Colombia says FARC rebel wants deal for Betancourt

A Colombian FARC rebel has offered to release French-Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt and other guerrilla captives in exchange for protection from extradition, President Alvaro Uribe said on Friday.

6/13/2008 : FARC disagree with Chavez proposal

Farc yesterday announced they would not free prisoners as long as the Colombian government refuse to free imprisoned rebels in Colombia and the USA.

6/13/2008 : Colombia’s democracy at risk

According to Gustavo Gallon, director of the Colombian Commission of Jurists, the rule of law is under threat in Colombia. He says President Alvaro Uribe is encroaching into the competence of the Supreme Court and a fourth of parliament members are under investigation for alleged links to paramilitary groups.

6/11/2008 : Betancourt’s mother doesn’t doubt Córdoba

Yolanda Pulecio, mother of Ingrid Betancourt, says she supports Colombian senator Piedad Córdoba, who was accused in the media of having advised the FARC to not liberate their French-Colombian hostage.

6/10/2008 : Colombian army spots three US hostages

Colombia's army located three US nationals in the hands of Marxist FARC rebels, but did not attempt a rescue, Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos said Monday.

6/9/2008 : Chavez says 'out of step' FARC should free hostages

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez on Sunday urged the new leader of Colombia's Marxist FARC insurgency to free all its hostages, in unusually tough words for Latin America's oldest rebel force.

6/7/2008 : ELN seeks fusion with FARC

The ELN, Colombia’s second largest rebel group, seeks a fusion with Colombia’s largest rebel group FARC after the death of FARC-founder ‘Manuel Marulanda’, Colombian newspaper El Tiempo reports.

6/2/2008 : Government is trying to bribe the FARC to release Betancourt, says Córdoba

The Colombian Government has offered US$ 100 million to someone within the FARC secretariat to reveal the location of French-Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt, opposition senator Piedad Córdoba said Monday.

6/2/2008 : Pawns in the Jungles of Colombia

American victims? Don't be surprised if you have never heard of Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell; The Post has published only three substantial stories about them in the past five years. All three are U.S. citizens who were working for Pentagon contractor Northrop Grumman when their surveillance plane crashed in a remote Colombian jungle on Feb. 13, 2003. Since then, they have been hostages of the FARC, confined with chains and forced to endure a nightmarish life of isolation, disease and brutality...

6/1/2008 : Colombia VP says FARC sought ETA ties for attack in Spain

Colombia's Marxist FARC rebels sought to forge an alliance with the Basque separatist group ETA to launch an attack in Spain on top Colombian officials, Vice President Francisco Santos charged Friday. But the Anncol news agency, which is sympathetic to the FARC, said in an article on its Web site that the government mistook a reference to the town of Madrid in northern Colombia for a reference to the Spanish capital.

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