From Venezolana de Televisión (VTV), translated by P&JfC
An international electoral observer mission in Colombia has today expressed concern about the fairness of upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections in March and May of this year. They believe the electoral process has been marred by bribes, assassinations and persecution.
The director of the NGO “Americas Program of the International Relations Centre (IRC)” Laura Carlsen, has said that during her visit members of the mission have heard from the people that they interviewed that the candidates from the governing parties have used government subsidies to force people to vote for them. Continue reading »
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On February 5th, Peace and Justice for Colombia sent the following letter to Mr. Brendan O´Connor, Australian Minister for Home Affairs protesting the interrogation of a member of our organisation.
Mr Brendan O’Connor MHR
Minister for Home Affairs
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Mr. O´Connor,
Minister for Home Affairs,
We are writing to protest against the interrogation of Mr. Alejandro Rodriguez by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) on February 3rd. Mr. Rodriguez is a member of our organisation, Peace and Justice for Colombia, and he is a well known advocate for workers´ rights and solidarity. Continue reading »
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Oct. 5 (Bloomberg) — Colombia Senator Piedad Cordoba and Afghanistan’s Sima Samar, two women promoting peace and human rights in conflict zones, are among the top contenders for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, the International Peace Research Institute in Oslo said.
There are a record 205 nominees for the 10 million-krona ($1.4 million) prize, which women rarely win, set to be announced by the Norwegian Nobel Committee on Oct. 9. U.S. scientists Elizabeth Blackburn, Carol Greider and Jack Szostak were awarded the Nobel medicine prize today, the first of six prizes to be announced through Oct. 12. Continue reading »
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Dear friends and supporters of Peace and Justice for Colombia, PJFC in Australia and the world,
Due to the implications of the attempts to criminalize international solidarity we forward this public denunciation issued by the Permanent Campaign in Solidarity with the Colombian political detainees.
We are concerned about the information received that the Australian Federal Police, appear to have breached the rights of Colombian trade unionist and human rights campaigner Liliany Obando unjustly held at the “El Buen Pastor” women’s prison in Bogota, Colombia.
Yours in solidarity,
Peace & Justice for Colombia, PJFC Continue reading »
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by Li Rong
BEIJING, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) — A U.S. deal on military bases in Colombia is pitting Bogota against many neighboring countries, which feared the bases would threaten their national security and heighten regional tension.
Venezuela, which borders Colombia to the north, is the most vehement opponent of the plan. Its president Hugo Chavez instructed the foreign ministry to get prepared to sever ties with Bogota.
Bolivian President Evo Morales proposed Wednesday that South Americans vote in a continent-wide referendum on the issue. Others,including Uruguay, Ecuador, Argentina and Brazil supported the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) to intervene in the case. Continue reading »
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Today 8 August, it is exactly one year since the Colombian police detained our comrade and friend Liliany Obando and charged her with two counts of rebellion and managing funds for a terrorist organization.
On this open letter, Liliany herself gives a brave account on how the Colombian government uses her case in an effort to silence the political opposition and proponents for social justice. Continue reading »
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Last week, NSW secretary of the Construction Division of the CFMEU, Andrew Ferguson, paid a visit to trade unionist and human rights activist Liliany Obando who is being held on trumped up charges in the Buen Pastor women’s prison in Bogotá, Colombia. He was moved by Liliany’s strength and good spirits but appalled by the conditions he saw: “There are 89 persons in her section of the jail built for 60. Her room consists of a bunk bed for two prisoners with a third sleeping on the floor. The jail is riddled with asbestos and is rat infested. There are seven children living in this section of the jail. When the children turn three they are prohibited from continuing to stay with their mums,” he noted in a brief email report. He said that support systems for political prisoners can barely function in the repressive political atmosphere of Colombia and called for increased international solidarity.
In related news, the Colombian Supreme Court announced recently that the politically motivated charges of supporting the country’s guerrilla forces against Senators Gloria Ramírez and Piedad Córdoba and several other opposition figures have been dropped. Liliany’s matters come to court on August 27. Continue reading »
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Venezuela’s President Hugo Chávez said by midnight Monday that the installation of US military bases in Colombia “forces us to revise the diplomatic relations” with this country.
“Now the Yankees want to install in Colombia four military bases more. Off course, they use euphemisms and say that they are not Yankee bases, but Colombian bases and say that they can come there. They are going to be there permanently,” said Chávez from the Presidential Palace of Miraflores during a TV phone call to the program La Hojilla broadcasted by Venezolana de Televisión (VTV). Continue reading »
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