viernes 03/05/2013

Round 8 of Colombian govt, FARC peace talks

concludes
posted by Narayan Buckley

The 8th round of government-FARC peace talks concluded on Friday, with the two
parties still unable to come to an agreement on agrarian reform.

Lead FARC negotiator “Ivan Marquez” said that there has yet to be an agreement on
agrarian reform, the first of six points on the peace talks agenda. When asked whether
it was possible for the two sides to reach an agreement this month, Marquez said was
“possible”, but could not answer “categorically.”

Nevertheless, Marquez stated that the peace talks were progressing well. “The FARC
peace delegation feels satisfied with the achievements we are solidifying and which
are materializing in our joint efforts [with the Colombian government towards a peace
agreement].”

The guerrilla leader also said that the FARC would be willing to review any error made
in the development of the armed conflict with respect to its victims, as a “function of
reconciliation.”
In addition, the guerrilla leader said that the FARC would be on the lookout for the
peace proposals that were submitted as part of a public forum on the possibility of the
guerrilla group’s political participation, which they expect to receive on May 20.

MORE: Forum on FARC political participation garners 400 proposals

The FARC’s post-conflict political participation is the second point of contention in the
peace talks between the rebels and the government. However, the warring parties
must first reach an agreement on the first point of the agenda – comprehensive
agrarian reform.

MORE: FARC, Colombia govt fail to present agreement on agrarian reform

The rebels have proposed giving 20 million hectares of Colombia’s land to low-income
farmers and the displaced, and have also demanded a limit on the property of big
landowners. However, the government’s lead negotiator, Humberto De la Calle, said
that no land would be taken from existing landowners to be given to the poor. Despite
such disagreements however, both the government and the FARC have stated that the
peace negotiations have progressed in a constructive fashion.

Colombia’s best designers on show in Bogota’s fashion

exhibition
posted by Hannah Mead

One of Colombia’s most important fashion events, “Circulo de la Moda,” will

commence in Bogota next week to showcase the latest autumn-winter trends.
The 12th edition of Circulo de la Moda will take place in the Colombian capital’s
Parque de la 93 from May 7 to 9, and will showcase new collections from well-known
brands and established designers.

Young, up and coming designers will also get the chance to show off their work,
including a number of students from the University of the Andes and the School of
Design and Fashion Marketing, who will have their designs worn by models on the
runway.

In total there will be 24 catwalk shows. On Tuesday May 7 the show kicks off at 7PM,
and features five 45-minute runway displays. The catwalks start earlier on Wednesday
at 3PM and on Thursday at 1PM to allow fashion students to exhibit their designs
earlier in the day.

The Colombian brand, TENNIS, will display its new collection at 7.45PM on the final
day of the exhibition. The brand’s new line is “characterized by dark tones” and
features synthetic, leather-look fabrics. They claim the new look is ideal for giving “a
sophisticated edge to a grungy look.”

Other brands and designers set to put on runway shows include TUL, ALDEA, Juan,
Natalia Londono and Kika Vargas.

Parque de la 93, Bogota

America de Cali to be removed from US kingpin list

posted by Parker Crooks
Colombia’s second most victorious soccer club in history, America de Cali, said
Monday that after 14 years, the club will be removed from a United States sanctions
list for drug traffickers.

America de Cali president, Oreste Sangiovanni, said he was notified on Monday that
by Wednesday April 3 the team will be off the so-called “Clinton List” which blocks their
assets and generally prohibits U.S. persons from doing business with them.

“With this measure we are returning to the financial and commercial civilization,” stated
Andres Botero, the director of the Colombian Institute of Sport (Coldeportes).

The Specialty Designated Nationals List, commonly known as the Clinton List, was
enacted in 1995 and blocked assets and prohibited transactions with significant
narcotics traffickers.

According to the U.S. Treasury, America de Cali was officially designated a SDN in
1999 because of the team’s ties to the infamous Rodriguez Orejuela brothers who
controlled the now defunct Cali Cartel. As a result, the U.S. government froze all of the
club’s U.S. based assets (nearly $1 million) and banned any company affiliated with
the club from doing business in the U.S.

Since the sanctions, the team has had to rely on ticket revenue and merchandise sales
in order to sustain their enterprise because no sponsorship deals could be signed.
According to a Caracol Radio report from November 2012, America de Cali is currently
over $7 million in debt and in 2011, the team faced punishment from the national
government for failure to pay player wages.

BACKGROUND: Soccer teams breaching labor laws could face liquidation

A club who in 1996 was ranked second in the world by the International Federation of
Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) has since dropped to the second division in
Colombia – a country that has seen a drop in competitiveness overall in a league once
heavily influenced by drug money.

America de Cali’s president is hopeful that the end of U.S. sanctions will help put the
club back on its feet.

“There are many stakeholders due to the large number of fans of the team of the
capital of Valle [Cali, Valle del Cauca]. We will accept sponsorships or strategic allies
because, what the team requires, are resources to guarantee its future,” said
Sangiovanni.

Sources

 Luego De 16 Anos, America De Cali Saldra De La Lista Clinton  (Caracol

Radio)
 Es Oficial, America De Cali Esta Afuera De La Lista Clinton  (Terra)
 America De Cali: From Curses, Copas, And Cocaine To Clinton, Crisis,
And Collapse (South American Futbol)
 Executive Order 12978 (U.S. Treasury documents)
 America De Cali Debe 13 Mil Millones De Pesos En Deudas Laborales Y
Fiscales (Caracol)
 Economic Sanctions Against Colombian Drug Cartels: Impact Report
2007 (U.S. Treasury)

Press, human rights organizations urge Colombia to

effectively investigate journalist attack
posted by Jim Glade
Following an assassination attempt on one of Colombia’s most prominent investigative
journalists, international press and human rights organizations on Thursday called on
the Colombian government to act to find the perpetrators of the crime.

“The attack on Ricardo Calderon shows that Colombian journalists still face grave
danger when reporting on sensitive issues,” said Carlos Lauria, the senior program
coordinator in the Americas for the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), in a report
published on their website. ”Authorities must send the message that such attacks will
not be tolerated by conducting a thorough investigation and bringing the perpetrators
to justice.”

Human Rights Watch also sent a message to the country saying, “Colombia should
ensure that the investigation into the attack on a leading investigative journalist
thoroughly examines possible motives related to his work and identifies all responsible
parties.”

Calderon, leader of the investigative journalism unit of weekly Semana, was shot five
times Wednesday while traveling from the capital Bogota to the central Colombian city
of Ibague.

MORE: Senior Colombian investigative journalist survives assassination attempt

According to Fundacion para la Libertad de Prensa (FLIP), a journalist rights
watchdog, of the 140 officially registered cases of journalist assassinations in
Colombia since 1977,  49 of these cases still have not been seen by prosecutors, 35
cases of the 91 cases that the Prosecutor General has been presented are inactive,
and a total 59 cases have passed the statute of limitations. So why is there so much
impunity in relation to attacks on journalists in Colombia?

“The answer is the spending inefficiency of the State,” said FLIP President Ignacio
Gomez in an interview withColombia Reports. “Let’s say that to pay for 90 security
details for the [90] journalists who need permanent protection is much more expensive
than paying 90 investigators to clarify the situation and neutralize the threats against
the journalists. But for lack of coordination from the State, for lack of planning, and
most of all for the inefficiency of the Prosecutor General, nothing is happening and
they continue showing spending inefficiencies that at some point will cost lives.”

FLIP’s report on the state of Colombian journalism in 2012 stated that the majority of
the attacks against journalists have come from neo-paramilitary and leftist rebel
groups, however, 7.14% were attributed to public forces.

Gomez told Colombian press that he was very worried about the circumstances
surrounding Calderon’s assassination attempt. “There are circumstances of manner,
time and place that allow linking the criminal attack against Ricardo Calderon with his
journalistic investigation in relation to the military prison, Tolemaida.” Calderon was
reportedly conducting an investigation about alleged excessive privileges for some of
the prisoners in this military prison.

MORE: Colombian inmates granted excessive privileges in military prison

Gomez told Colombia Reports, “At this time the majority of attacks come from criminal
groups but it is important to note that within the attack statistics – as much in the
assassinations as in the attacks on the freedom of press and expression – there are
characters from the country’s political establishment from the three powers –
executive, legislative and judicial – that are the most worrisome, because the State
theoretically should be on the side and protecting and promoting the freedom of
expression … And any element of the State that is attacking journalists is much more
harmful than any citizen.”

According to the FLIP, more than 40 journalists have filed complaints over alleged
press freedom violations so far this year. The majority of complains were in regards to
death threats.

Santos’ urban approval rating stabilized at 50%: Gallup

Colombia
posted by Adriaan Alsema
The urban approval rating of Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos is no longer
dropping. The president now enjoys the approval of 50% of Colombia’s urban dwellers,
while 43% disapprove of him, said Gallup Colombia Thursday.
The pollster made the claim based on interviews with some 1,200 residents of
Colombia’s five largest cities. According to Gallup, Santos’ approval rating has not
changed since February when the last poll was held. Those interviewed by the
pollsters were mostly unhappy with the president’s handling of the  economy, the
security situation and public health care. Santos did receive wide support for his
foreign relations policy, and social housing and child care projects. The Colombian
president’s approval ratings have been dropping slowly ever since taking office in
August 2010.

Juan Manuel Santos’ approval rating since taking office

The urban approval rating of Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos is no longer

dropping. The president now enjoys the approval of 50% of Colombia’s urban dwellers,
while 43% disapprove of him, said Gallup Colombia Thursday.
The pollster made the claim based on interviews with some 1,200 residents of
Colombia’s five largest cities. According to Gallup, Santos’ approval rating has not
changed since February when the last poll was held. Those interviewed by the
pollsters were mostly unhappy with the president’s handling of the  economy, the
security situation and public health care. Santos did receive wide support for his
foreign relations policy, and social housing and child care projects. The Colombian
president’s approval ratings have been dropping slowly ever since taking office in
August 2010.

Juan Manuel Santos’ approval rating since taking office