By Lisa Haugaard, Latin America Working Group On December 11, the day after International Human Rights Day, the Colombian Congress approved a justice “reform” bill that will likely result in many gross human rights violations by members of the military being tried in...
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Proposals for an End to the War
By John Lindsay-Poland By Alfredo Molano Jimeno Originally published in El Espectador, December 6, 2012 A holistic agrarian reform, deconcentration of property ownership, policies for food and land sovereignty, strengthening of peasant and indigenous economies,...
Coal Pollution Displaces a Community
By Emily Schmitz Weaving a concrete thread through red dust and boiling sun, a winding two-lane highway curves through the northern department of Cesar, Colombia, carving out a familiar route. Passing between housing settlements of mud and brick stained the color of...
Army’s Round-ups of Youth Continue
By Liza Smith On October 26, two young men from the small town of San Francisco, Antioquia were in Bogota and fell victim to an illegal street round-up. FOR has brought many delegations to this town, where the Antioquia Peasant Association (ACA), an...
Paramilitary Pressure in La Esperanza
By FOR Colombia Tuesday, December 20, 2011, 12:32pm By Emily Schmitz, Charlotte Melly, Elisabeth Rohrmoser and Gina Spigarelli The rural farming community of La Esperanza, remotely scattered through dense jungle, lies three hours walking from the nearest town in one...
Peace in Colombia: Between Expectations and Uncertainties
By FOR Colombia Tuesday, December 20, 2011, 8:19pm By Alejo Vargas Velásquez, Professor, National University From Caja de Herramientas Virtuales The goal of a negotiated solution to Colombia’s long-running war has always been key. In recent weeks it has become more...
How we say thanks: Organic, fair trade Colombian chocolate!
By FOR Last month, we shared a video and update with you about our work here in Colombia. Thank you so much to those who have already generously donated. Because many of us get overwhelmed by emails and some important messages get lost in the stack, we wanted to send...
Opening Paths Toward Peace
By Maureen Maya, Journalist and Social Researcher Published in Semanario Virtual #330, November 23-29, 2012 On Monday, November 19, as delegates of the Colombian government and FARC guerrillas were getting ready to begin negotiations in the Conventions Palace in...