Latin America Not Going To War
March 7, 2008
Above: Peace between the leaders
After one week of bickering and threats, the presidents of Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela have ended their border dispute.
In a summit hosted by President Leonel Fernandez of the Dominican Republic, the three presidents shook hands in the live Latin America broadcast to formally end to their recent differences.
“And with this … this incident that has caused so much damage (is) resolved,” said leftist Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa before standing up and shaking hands with his Colombian counterpart Alvaro Uribe, who happens to be a Western-backed conservative.
Venezuela Ready for War vs Colombia
March 2, 2008
Above: Hugo Chavez
Yesterday, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (pictured above) sent a battalion to the Colombian border. He’s ready to go to war it seems after Colombia went after Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) leader Raul Reyes (pictured below). Reyes and 16 other militants were killed by Colombian forces in Ecuador. Colombia sent their air force to bomb the rebel base. Afterwards, troops went in for the kill.
Below: Raul Reyes
“Mr. Defense Minister, move me 10 battalions to the border with Colombia immediately - tank battalions,” President Chavez said on his weekly TV show Alo Presidente. The Venezuelan Air Force is also on standby.
FARC Release More Hostages
February 28, 2008
Above: Gloria Palanco
This Wednesday, four politician hostages were freed by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) after seven years of captivity. Their release was coordinated by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
The release was made to clean up the rebel group’s name; as they are considered as a terrorist group by different nations of the international community — one of which is the European Union.
One of the freed captives, former congresswoman Gloria Polanco (pictured above) had this to say, “You’ve given me the opportunity to live again,” in her gratitude to President Chavez. Her husband, Huila governor Jaime Lozada, was assassinated by the FARC in 2005.
