Colombia’s Chiribiquete park to receive $US1 million annually for at least 30 years
Bogota, Colombia Reuters Colombia’s parks agency, the Frankfurt Zoological Society and German fund Legacy Landscapes on Thursday launched a financial mechanism to fund Chiribiquete National Park with $US1 million each year for at least 30 years. Chiribiquete, Colombia’s largest national park, is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The fund will pay toward the […]
Thousands of Colombians protest Petro’s economic, social reforms
Bogota, Colombia Reuters Tens of thousands of Colombians marched on Sunday to reject economic and social reforms being proposed by the leftist government of President Gustavo Petro, the latest in a series of demonstrations against Petro’s policies. The reforms, which Petro says will fight deep inequality but which opponents say will damage the country’s already-struggling […]
Colombia talks with EMC armed group in crisis, analysts say
Bogota, Colombia Reuters Peace talks in Colombia between the government and the Estado Mayor Central are in crisis, threatening to end negotiations and ramp up clashes between the armed group and the country’s military, analysts said on Thursday. Over the weekend, the government of President Gustavo Petro suspended a bilateral ceasefire with the EMC, a […]
Colombia decree suspends ceasefire with EMC armed group in three areas
Bogota, Colombia Reuters Colombia will suspend its months-long ceasefire with the Estado Mayor Central (ECM) armed group in three provinces on Wednesday, a government decree said on Sunday, citing incidents of violence that broke the ceasefire. The EMC – founded by former members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels who reject the […]
Peace deal with Colombia unlikely before end of Petro’s term-EMC rebel leader
San Jose del Guaviare, Colombia Reuters It will be difficult for the Estado Mayor Central (EMC) armed group to sign a peace deal with the Colombian government before President Gustavo Petro finishes his term in 2026, despite trust between the two sides, a major leader of the EMC told Reuters on the sidelines of peace […]
Thousands march in Colombia to protest government reforms
Bogota, Colombia Reuters Thousands of people marched through Colombia’s biggest cities on Wednesday to protest political, economic and social reforms backed by President Gustavo Petro, as well as to demand action against deteriorating security. Leftist Petro was elected in 2022 on ambitious promises to fight poverty and inequality, and end Colombia’s six decades of internal […]
Colombia’s ELN would respond with force to any break in ceasefire, says leader
Bogota, Colombia Reuters Colombia’s National Liberation Army rebels will respond with military force to any break in their ceasefire with the government, leader Antonio Garcia told Reuters, predicting that the current stage of peace talks will end in 2025. President Gustavo Petro restarted negotiations with the group, founded in 1964 by radical Catholic priests, as […]
Colombia human rights ombudsman urges action to prevent fires
Bogota. Colombia Reuters Colombia’s human rights ombudsman on Friday urged local authorities of high-risk areas for wildfires to take preventative action, while the environment minister warned the Andean country faced new climate dangers. Earlier this week, the government of leftist President Gustavo Petro said it will declare a natural disaster to free up resources for […]
Colombia rights watchdog reports 181 activists slain in 2023
Bogota, ColombiaReuters Some 181 community activists were murdered in Colombia in 2023, the human rights ombudsman’s office said on Tuesday, calling the situation a tragedy. The number of murdered activists, known as social leaders, and human rights defenders in Colombia was lower in 2023 than the prior year, the ombudsman said, adding that killings in […]
Colombian President proposes Latin American alliance to transform ‘war on drugs’
Bogota, Colombia Reuters Colombian President Gustavo Petro proposed on Saturday an alliance between Latin American countries to bring a unified voice to the fight against drug trafficking, by recognizing drug consumption as a public health problem instead of confronting it with what he called a “failed” militarised approach. President of Colombia Gustavo Petro and Mexico’s […]