The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs mistrusted the work of Venezuelan NGOs and was reluctant to concede that the arms seized from Colombian guerrilla had come from Venezuela and that there was a relationship between Caracas and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), according to cables leaked by the whistleblower website WikiLeaks. "While the diplomatic corps in Venezuela seemed concerned about a close relationship between President Hugo Chávez and the FARC, and...

Dozens of people demonstrated in front of the headquarters of the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs to reject the deportation to Colombia of Joaquín Pérez Becerra, an alleged member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and editor of the Stockholm-based Noticias Nueva Colombia (Anncol) news agency. They defended him on the grounds that his detention was a violation to human rights. "We are in the streets to demand the government to respect our...

In the opinion of Defense Minister Carlos Mata Figueroa, the comprehensive plan on military education is a paper for the army only (Photo: Angel Dejesús) Interview All that fuss over Resolution 017621 which contemplates the Comprehensive Plan on Military Education of the National Armed Forces (PIEM) does not matter a damn to General-in-chief Carlos Mata Figueroa, the Venezuelan Minister of Defense. "That is premised on our laws; it is still revised and it is an internal...

Over 100 lawyers representing the families of some 4,000 Colombians allegedly murdered by illegal armed groups funded by Chiquita Brands International are working together to make one giant case against the banana company, lawyer Paul Wolf said Wednesday. The two new lawsuits Wolf filed against Chiquita represent the families of 931 people who lost their lives in the name of the banana giant. The attorney told Colombia Reports that he has filed a total of 2,100 cases in Washington courts. ...

The rebel known as Oliver Solarte controlled drugs and weapons smuggling operations in southern Colombia, President Juan Manuel Santos said. He died in an attack on rebel positions near the border with Ecuador. It is the latest in a series of blows to the guerrillas, who have lost many of their top leaders in recent years. Farc setbacks President Santos said the death of Oliver Solarte was an "important blow" to the left-wing group. ""I want to tell them once again...

International police agency INTERPOL has issued a "code red", its highest level of alert, for the arrest of Víctor Ramón Vargas Salazar, a,member of the FARC who is wanted by the Spanish High Court because of his links with ETA. On their website, INTERPOL lists Vargas Salazar, a 36-year-old Colombian, as wanted for acts for terrorism, and states that the court which issued the arrest warrant which underlies the latest "code red" was 'Nº 6 at the Spanish...

Two hostages were released by the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) on Wednesday, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) confirmed in a statement. The hostages, police major Guillermo Solorzano and soldier Salin Sanmiguel, "were delivered to former Senator Piedad Cordoba, ICRC members and one members of the non-governmental organization Colombians for the Peace," said the statement. The humanitarian mission, dubbed "Freedom," began Wednesday...

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos should "take advantage of the opportunity" and start peace talks with the FARC, the guerrilla group said in a press statement seen by Spanish press agency EFE Sunday. "If he really is interested in seeking a solution other than war he should take advantage of the opportunity and start a dialogue that allows a political solution to this serious conflict," EFE quoted the FARC. The press release was not published on the website of...

Colombia's Defense Minister Rodrigo Rivera visited the Arauca Department on the border with Venezuela to assess security issues in the area, where members of the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN), the two main Colombian guerrillas, are still operating. Rivera travelled to Arauca Department with Admiral Edgar Cely, the General Commander of Colombia's Armed Forces; Felipe Muñoz, the director of the Security Administrative...

Colombia has sent a copy of a video, in which a leftist rebel says the guerrillas supported the presidential campaign of Ecuadorean leader Rafael Correa, to the OAS and Interpol, the government said on Sunday. Correa says the video is a setup and has denied receiving any funds from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. Friday's release of the video, in which a top rebel chief says the FARC gave money to Correa's campaign, has heightened tensions between the the Andean...