(2021-04-10). Colombia: Over 3,600 Indigenous Rights Violations In The First Months Of 2021. popularresistance.org The recent upsurge in state and right-wing violence has left all of Colombia reeling, but Indigenous communities have been particularly affected by it. This is evident from recent data published in a report by the Human Rights Observatory of the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia (ONIC). The report revealed that between January 1st and March 9th of this year, a span of little more than two months, over 3674 Indigenous people in Colombia registered human rights violations. | An ONIC press release summarized the harsh realities of the conditions Indigenous people face in the country; "The displacement cau…
(2021-04-10). Network In Defense Of Humanity Rejects Aggressions By Armed Groups. popularresistance.org The Network of Intellectuals, Artists and Social Movements in Defense of Humanity, in view of the confrontations that began on March 21 between the Bolivarian National Armed Forces and irregular armed groups in La Victoria, Apure State, near the Colombian border, declares: | -It is an insistently repeated historical fact that irregular armed groups from Colombia, sometimes with the complicit tolerance, sometimes with the connivance, and sometimes with the declared support of the government of that country, crossing into Venezuela's borders to commit common crimes and destabilize the legitimate government. | -We a…
(2021-04-10). Colombian Comptroller's Office Finds over a Thousand Irregular Vaccinations. orinocotribune.com The Office of the Comptroller General of Colombia, with assistance of the Directorate of Information, Analysis and Immediate Reaction (DIARI), found that among the Colombians vaccinated against Covid-19, 1,241 do not belong to any of the prioritized groups defined in the second stage of phase one of the National Plan of Vaccination. | Among them, DIARI identified 600 people who are between 26 and 44 years of age, and 189 are within the age range of 18 to 25 years. The 1,241 individuals vaccinated irregularly are not over 60 years old, nor are they health professionals, teachers or students, nor support personnel…
(2021-04-10). Venezuela's Arreaza Denounces Colombia's 'Unusual' Response to Request for Dialogue to Fight Colombian Paramilitary. orinocotribune.com 
Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza described as "unusual" the position of Colombia regarding Venezuela's request for dialogue made through the United Nations, to coordinate a response to Colombian paramilitary incursion in recent weeks inside Venezuelan territory and causing death, damage to property, and panic in the population. | The Venezuelan diplomat, in response to a message on Twitter from the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Colombia, pointed out that his Colombian counterpart had replied to Venezuela's request for dialogue with "a primitive, irresponsible and ideological script." | According to…
(2021-04-10). ALBA-TCP Women and Gender Meeting Revitalizes Fight Against Patriarchy and Imperialism. orinocotribune.com 
"It is not possible to separate the struggle against patriarchy from the struggle against imperialism and the hegemonic policies of domination," stated the meeting resolution. | High-ranking authorities related to Women and Gender Issues of ALBA-TCP states met on Wednesday to assess progress and challenges in the construction of a fairer, more egalitarian society without exclusion. | The meeting included the participation and interventions of high-level authorities and representatives of Nicaragua, Bolivia, Granada, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Venezuela and Cuba. | Secretary General Sacha LLorenti opened the m…
(2021-04-10). Summary of Latest Venezuelan Fake News. orinocotribune.com By Carola Chavez — Apr 7, 2021 | Last weekend, a thug from the El Coqui gang took a dip in the pool of a police club. I saw it with my own eyes: a guy on the edge of the pool, throwing himself in, as if it was an everyday thing, along with a write-up that said who he was. "We do not believe in policemen, or in anyone," they said, dying of laughter, and then splash! | The dip was a trending topic last weekend and even today, despite the fact that one of the most vociferous "news outlets" specialized in fake news tweets posted the correction—yes—in a single and timid tweet about the false news item…
(2021-04-10). Canadian Member of Parliament: Sanctions on Venezuela Are Illegal and Immoral. orinocotribune.com April 8 (Special for OrinocoTribune.com) — Don Davies, lawyer and member of Canada's national parliament, confirmed that unilateral coercive measures (UCM) imposed on Venezuela by the US and its allies, including Canada, are "illegal as well as immoral." | Davies characterized the sanctions as a violation of international law. He also attested that "regime" change was the apparent goal of the unilateral coercive measures, in contravention of the United Nations' legal framework. | "These unilateral 'sanctions' are not grounded firmly in international law," said Davies. "I think these 'sanctions' are actually…
(2021-04-10). United Kingdom Has Not Released a Single Dollar Belonging to Venezuela for Vaccine Purchases. orinocotribune.com Venezuela is one of the few countries in the world that has had, and still has, to face Covid-19 pandemic while being subjected to an unprecedented blockade imposed by the United States and European countries. The government of President Nicolás Maduro has called incessantly for the end of these illegal coercive measures and is especially waiting for the release of $300 million kept frozen by the Bank of England. However, "not a single dollar" of that money has been released until now, informed Jorge Arreaza, Venezuelan Minister for Foreign Affairs, in a recent interview. With this money, the State intends to buy…
(2021-04-10). Republicans Block US Aid to Palestinians. news.antiwar.com Congressional Republicans Senator James Risch (R-ID) and Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), the ranking members of their respective committees on foreign affairs, put a hold on the notification for USAID on the reinstated fun…
(2021-04-10). Venezuela has its strategy: Bolivarian Shield. workers.org 
By Sergio Rodríguez Gelfenstein/Guest Commentary The writer was the director of international relations in Venezuela's presidential office and the country's ambassador to Nicaragua. Translation: John Catalinotto. President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela April 7 — Throughout its history the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), founded in 1947, has been the main actor . . . |
(2021-04-09). Venezuela Maintains the Apure Border Situation Under Control. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) Chief of Staff Admiral Remigio Ceballos Friday offered an update on the military activities in the bordering Apure state, where Colombian irregular armed groups conduct destabilization actions. | RELATED: | He informed the deployment of an additional special brigade to confront these groups, which attack Venezuelan soil without any rejection from Colombia's President…
(2021-04-09). Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister: Biden Acting 'Irrational' Towards Venezuela. orinocotribune.com 
In an interview with the international news agency AFP, Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza called the position of US President Joe Biden "irrational" because of the latter's continued non-recognition of the government of President Nicolás Maduro. In effect, Arreaza said that Venezuela has not given up trying to re-establish contact with Washington in order to normalize relations between the two countries. | "We have not received any contact or positive response to the hand that President Maduro extended," said Arreaza, referring to the messages sent by the Miraflores Palace to the White House. Howe…
(2021-04-09). April 15 Webinar: Armed Conflict on the Venezuela-Colombia Border — The Battle of Apure. orinocotribune.com 
The armed aggression of Colombian criminal groups against the civilian population in the state of Apure, Venezuela, involved drug trafficking paramilitaries, used by Colombia and the US to attack the Bolivarian revolution. Venezuelan military regained control of the area after uncovering cocaine producing labs, airplane tracks and narco planes. | Join us to hear from the mayor of La Victoria, Apure state, the details about the current situation in his town and the measures that the Venezuelan state is taking to defend the integrity of its territory and population. | April 15, 2021 07: 00 PM ET | Link to the Zoom…
(2021-04-09). Venezuela to Send Humanitarian Aid to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines — La Soufrière Volcano. orinocotribune.com In the next few hours, Venezuela will send humanitarian aid and disaster management experts to cooperate in evacuation and preventive relocation of citizens in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, following the alert issued by the authorities of that country after an increase in the activity of the La Soufrière volcano. | The information was provided this Thursday, April 8, by Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza through his Twitter account @jaarreaza: "In the next few hours #Venezuela will send humanitarian supplies and disaster management experts to cooperate in evacuation and preventive relocation of…
(2021-04-09). Car-Bombing Highlights State's Culpability in Colombia's Violence. orinocotribune.com 
On Friday, March 26, a car bomb in the town of Corinto in the Cauca department was detonated, leaving 43 people injured, including 11 public officials, and causing heavy damages. Diego Molano, recently appointed Defense Minister, accused the Molano Dagoberto Ramos Mobile Column, a dissident group of the FARC, of carrying out the attack. | Corinto, a town of about 35,000 residents, has become, according to authorities, a strategic area on a crowded drug and weapons route heading towards the southwestern part of the country. This has made it a much-disputed territory amongst armed groups. According to the Colombian…
(2021-04-09). Colombia Rules Out Ban on Mining In High Andean Wetlands. telesurenglish.net Colombia's Senate rejected a bill that sought to include a constitutional prohibition on mining exploitation and exploration in high Andean wetlands or "paramos." | RELATED: | The main arguments focused on the exclusion of paramos' surrounding areas where mega-mining companies could continue extractive activities. | At least 36 wasteland ecosystems generate 85 percent of Colombia's potable water and the main water tributaries.
(2021-04-09). Puebla Group To Accompany As Observer Ecuador's Runoff Election. telesurenglish.net On Friday, the Puebla Group confirmed the presence of an observer mission of the group in Ecuador to accompany the second round of presidential elections scheduled for Sunday, April 11. | RELATED: | The team is headed by Spanish jurist Baltasar Garzon and includes Colombian congressperson Maria Jose Pizarro and a Spanish Congress of Deputies, Gerardo Pisarello. | According to advances of the space formed by Ibero-A…
(2021-04-09). Dialogue With Cuba and Venezuela Is Not a US Policy Priority. telesurenglish.net The U.S. Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs Juan Gonzalez on Thursday confirmed that a change in policy towards Cuba and Venezuela are not priorities for President Joe Biden. | RELATED: | "The commitments made by the U.S. to the government of President Miguel Diaz-Canel will be fulfilled gradually. Biden is focused on addressing other crises worldwide," he said. | In Dec. 2015, Cuba's President Raul Castro and U.S. President…
(2021-04-09). Venezuela to Start Production of Cuba's Abdala COVID-19 Vaccine. orinocotribune.com 
The Vice President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, confirmed that the South American nation is fine-tuning details, and will soon start production of a COVID-19 vaccine. This was reported by the top official during a tour of the Espromed Bio plant, located in the city of Guarenas, Miranda state. | In her statements, she recalled that an agreement was recently signed for the production of insulin in that particular plant, with a Russian manufacturer. Now, preparations are directed towards the manufacture of the drug to fight the coronavirus, to move Venezuela forward towards mass immunization. | "We have been accom…
(2021-04-09). Venezuelan Senior Citizens Begin to Receive COVID-19 Vaccinations (Sputnik V). orinocotribune.com 
In the early hours of the morning of this Thursday, Venezuelans older than 60 years of age, selected through the Patria System, began to arrive for the start of the COVID-19 mass vaccination campaign, carried out at Ana Francisca Pérez de León II and Domingo Luciani hospitals, both located in the Sucre municipality of Miranda state (Caracas). | Dr. Zayra Medina, director of Pérez de León II hospital, was in charge of welcoming the patients who would receive the first dose of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, shown to be 92% effective in studies, without presenting major side effects. | In strict compliance with all…