(2021-05-07). Rebellion Sweeps Colombia Despite Deadly Repression. popularresistance.org Massive protests are taking place throughout Colombia as people stand firm in the face of deadly police violence. Since April 28, when a general strike was called to oppose deeply regressive proposed tax reforms, nationwide demonstrations against far right President Iván Duque have been ongoing. | "The repression on the streets perpetuated by the police force is systematic," a young protester in Colombia who wished to remain anonymous told Liberation, "The ESMAD [Mobile Anti-Disturbances Squadron] along with the national police shoots without remorse rubber bullets, tear gas and attack the protestors." | This is…
(2021-05-07). Social unrest continues in Colombia. challenge-magazine.org Huge numbers of protestors have taken to the streets of Colombia over the last week after President Duque attempted to pass a bill that would further increase inequality in the country by making the working class pay for the covid-19-induced fiscal deficit. A general strike began on the 28th April in response to Duque's presentation of the ironically titled 'Sustainable Solidarity Bill'. The proposed bill has intensified grievances about the state of inequality in the country, with 2.8 million people having already been pushed into extreme poverty during the last year alone. The bill proposes increasing VAT on…
(2021-05-07). Colombia: 471 Persons Disappeared During the Mobilizations that Began April 28th. libya360.wordpress.com The Working Group on Enforced Disappearances in Colombia warned that 471 people disappeared in Colombia between April 28 and May 5, in the framework of the #ParoNacional. 379 of them are still missing. The Working Group on Enforced Disappearances in Colombia — MDTDF, warned about the human rights crisis experienced in the country as a…
(2021-05-07). Frente a la protesta ciudadana en Colombia: Militarización y represión. globalizacion.ca Hoy 6 de mayo las masivas protestas en Colombia completan ya 9 días sin signos aún de debilitamiento. Las marchas del miércoles 5 convocadas por el Comité Nacional del Paro fueron masivas en muchas de las ciudades del país. | Contrario…
(2021-05-07). Over 370 People Go Missing During 9 Days of Tax Reform Protests in Colombia, Rights Group Says. sputniknews.com MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) – A total of 379 people went missing in Colombia over nine days of protests triggered by the now-shelved tax reform, the Movice National Movement of Victims of State Crime has announced.
(2021-05-07). Venezuela & ALBA-TCP Deliver Humanitarian Aid to Saint Vincent & the Grenadines. orinocotribune.com 
The Venezuelan Navy, in conjunction with Civil Protection (PC), traveled to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and completed the first phase of humanitarian aid delivery, following the emergency caused by the activity of the La Soufrière volcano. | The work was recognized by the executive secretary of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-Peoples' Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), Sacha Llorenti, in the company of the president of the Bank of ALBA, Raúl Li Causi, who thanked the solidarity of Venezuela and the member countries of the regional body. | En acto de agradecimiento a la tripulación del buque de l…
(2021-05-06). Colombian Campesino Leader: This is an Authoritarian Regime. orinocotribune.com 
We interviewed Ernesto Alexander Roa,
(2021-05-06). Massacre of protesters and economic crisis push Colombia workers to strike. peoplesworld.org 
Colombia is in the midst of another general strike, with unions saying the government has failed to listen to demands for emergency measures to deal with rising poverty and hunger. Monday night's massacre of protesters by police in the city of Cali have further enraged the democratic and people's movements in the country and garnered …
(2021-05-06). Anonymous Colombia Puts Duque on the Ropes with Massive Hacking Operation. orinocotribune.com 
The Anonymous group has been active during the human rights crisis in Colombia, sending a strong message to Iván Duque and taking down webpages of the Army, Senate, and Presidency. | On Tuesday, the international anarchist organization Anonymous reported through social media networks that it had returned "to Colombia due to the injustices generated" in the context of police and military repression against protests that have left 19 dead, 89 disappeared, and hundreds injured in the past week, according to the National Ombudsperson's Office. However, Anonymous often remains silent regarding the near-weekly massacre…
(2021-05-06). Armed Groups Attacking Protesters in Colombia. telesurenglish.net Colombian social organizations and citizens have denounced that armed groups have attacked participants in protests against the Government. They demand an end to police brutality and measures to improve living conditions. | In several parts of the country, there have been reports of intimidation of demonstrators by armed men allegedly opposed to vandalism, and in some, they have even been shot at. | RELATED: | "R…
(2021-05-06). Colombians Mobilized in Spain Amid High Death Toll Fears. telesurenglish.net Colombian residents in Spain took to the streets on Thursday to denounce police brutality carried out by Ivan Duque's government as protests reach their eight-day and express concern that social media has been censored in some parts of the country, such as the city of Cali. | RELATED: | Hundreds of demonstrators gathered at Puerta de Alcalá in Madrid with posters and slogans such as "SOS Colombia" and "They are kill…
(2021-05-06). Colombia: Casa de Las Americas Condemns Repression of Protests. telesurenglish.net Cuba's Casa de las Americas issued this Thursday a statement condemning the brutal police repression by the government of President Iván Duque against social protests within the framework of the National Strike in Colombia. | RELATED: | The text published on the website of the renowned cultural institution points out that the violent onslaught of the security forces against demonstrators, after more than a week of m…
(2021-05-06). Colombia's National Strike: An On-the-Ground Report. popularresistance.org Colombia's national strike — or paro (stoppage) as it is called locally — began on April 28 with enormous protests and on May 5 entered its eighth day, with another round of mass protests around the country. Truck drivers and rural communities have joined in, paralyzing entire swathes of the country. | What provoked these protests was yet another tax reform from the extreme right-wing government of Iván Duque, the third of his government. As the Colombian economist Libardo Sarmiento Anzola wrote in Le Monde Diplomatique: | The three tax reforms of the Duque administration (2018—2022) have one co…
(2021-05-06). From Colombia to Palestine, resist imperialist crimes! Samidoun solidarity statement with the people of Colombia. samidoun.net 
Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network expresses its strongest solidarity with the people's movement and political prisoners of Colombia, facing the U.S.-backed right-wing regime of Ivan Duque, police murder and targeted assassinations, and harsh repression of mass protests. Thousands of people in Colombia have been marching for the past eight days against the tax policy of the right-wing Duque administration, supported by the United States and also involved in U.S.-directed regime change operations targeting Venezuela, Bolivia, and other progressive governments throughout Latin America. This movement h…
(2021-05-06). Progressive International Statement On The Duque Massacres In Colombia. popularresistance.org On 28 April, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in a nation-wide strike to oppose the neoliberal policies of the Iván Duque government, and his record of violence against social leaders. The government responded with brutal repression. An atrocity is unfolding in Colombia. Since he took power, Iván Duque's regime has been …
(2021-05-06). The Striking Silence of OAS' Luis Almagro on Colombia's Human Rights Crisis. orinocotribune.com While there are plenty of reasons to be aware of what is happening in Colombia, the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro , looks the other way. | As of noon this Tuesday, May 5, the Uruguayan head of OAS had not said a word about the human rights crisis in Colombia, nor has he expressed any crisis of conscience regarding the police repression and human rights abuses, which according to the National Strike Committee, had killed 27 people by May 2. | Instead of following events that should concern him, due to his high position in the regional organization, Almagro met via vid…
(2021-05-06). Gabriel García Márquez And Magical Internationalism. popularresistance.org Sometimes what is obvious hides what is important. Gabriel García Márquez is best known as the craftsman par excellence of the genre 'magical realism', rather than his profound passion for the profession of journalism that led him to traverse—with the eagerness of a chronicler and a vallenato rhythm in his step—countless cafes, newsrooms, and continents. | Gabo, or Gabito, as he was known to his friends in Aracataca, a town camouflaged among the banana plantations of Colombia's Caribbean coast, produced a journalism that few recognize, journalism militantly committed to a national and global context.
(2021-05-06). One Year after Defeat of Operation Gideon, Heroism of Chuao's Militia Recognized. orinocotribune.com Governor of Aragua, Rodolfo Marco Torres, presented decorations to militia and police officers of Chuao, who a year ago took the lead in capturing a group of mercenaries on the coast of Aragua. The mercenaries were embarked on a terrorist plot—Operation Gideon—launched from Colombia and promoted by the US government, with the goal of destroying critical infrastructure and kidnapping or assassinating the president of Venezuela. | The group of citizens and policemen were recognized by the people as the "warriors of Chuao," and awarded the Order of Santiago Mariño in recognition of their bravery and effe…
(2021-05-06). Colombia's Strike Committee Makes Its Voice Heard in the Senate. telesurenglish.net Colombia's Senate on Thursday morning hosted the National Strike Committee (CNP) in a virtual meeting to hear their views on the mass protests that have been taking place against President Ivan Duque since April 28. | RELATED: | At the start of the public hearing, Senate President Arturo Char indicated that the lawmakers had also invited government representatives. | "For the Senate presidency, it is fundamental to…
(2021-05-06). USAID Admits To Venezuela Regime Change Fraud. popularresistance.org Red Lines host Anya Parampil explores a new report issued by USAID's Office of the Inspector General which admits the agency's policy on Venezuela was driven by the State Department and National Security Council's push for regime change. The report specifically investigated USAID's attempt to use the US military to force aid through Venezuela's border with Colombia on February 23, 2019. Anya highlights the most interesting findings in the audit, including that USAID failed to put proper fraud controls in place in order to appease US officials seeking to overthrow Venezuela's elected government.
(2021-05-06). 100 People Injured and 30 Citizens Missing In Pereira, Colombia. telesurenglish.net Colombia's National Strike Committee (CPN) informed that over 100 people were injured and 30 protesters went missing during the demonstrations that have been taking place since last week in Pereira City. | RELATED: | One victim is Lucas Villa, a young student who was shot to death on Wednesday night during a peaceful demonstration. Two other protesters were also hit by gunfire. | Human rights defenders denounced that t…
(2021-05-06). More International Voices Condemn State Terrorism in Colombia. telesurenglish.net Organizations and personalities from around the world on Wednesday rejected the military and police repression against the Colombian people, who continue to protest against President Ivan Duque and his neoliberal policies. | RELATED: | The governments of France, Chile, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Cuba, Spain, Australia, Germany, and the United Kingdom condemned police brutality. The United Nations (UN) demanded an end to the e…
(2021-05-06). Colombia's Piedad Córdoba Confronts Duque & his Vice President: What Would This Pair be Saying if the Massacre was in Venezuela? + Facebook Censorship. orinocotribune.com 
Amid the wave of state violence against civilian protesters after seven days of demonstrations against the Colombian government's neoliberal policies, former Colombian Senator Piedad Córdoba confronted Colombian President Iván Duque and his Vice President Marta Lucía Ramírez. | "Think for a minute what you would say today, Iván Duque and Marta Lucía Ramírez, if last night's massacre in Siloé had happened in Venezuela," wrote Córdoba on Twitter. "Today it happened to your own people, and you said nothing!" | Piensen por un momento qué estaría diciendo hoy Iván Duque y Marta Lucía Ramírez, si la matanza de anoche e…
(2021-05-06). Colombian Campesino Leader: This Is An Authoritarian Regime. popularresistance.org First of all, we, as a campesino association, the National Agrarian Coordinating Committee, have been involved in the mobilizations from the very beginning and from there we have helped to maintain the mobilizations which have taken place over the course of the last several days. | There have already been some partial achievements. I say partial achievements because they are simply moves by the establishment to try to demobilize the protests. I am referring to what is already happening with the withdrawal of the tax reform as a bill, but also the resignation of the Minister of Finance and his Vice Minister. But t…
(2021-05-06). "Nothing to Lose": Colombians Protest "Fascist Mafia Regime" Amid Deadly Police & Military Crackdown. democracynow.org 
At least 30 people in Colombia have been reportedly killed since a nationwide uprising erupted against the government of right-wing President Iván Duque. Protesters are vowing to remain in the streets amid a deadly crackdown by police and military officers. About 800 people have been injured and 87 people are missing in the midst of the demonstrations, which were initially sparked by a now-withdrawn tax reform proposal, but they have since expanded in scope. People in Colombia are also denouncing rampant police brutality and demanding broader social, economic and political reforms. At least 15 people were killed…
(2021-05-06). Colombia: National strike defeats tax reform for now, repression and militarisation continue. greenleft.org.au In response to days of national strikes and mobilisations across Colombia, security forces have unleashed unprecedented repression against peaceful protesters, reports People's Dispatch.
(2021-05-06). Violent Anti-Government Protests in Colombia. sputniknews.com Earlier, Colombian President Ivan Duque asked Congress to withdraw a tax reform proposal and urgently discuss a new one amid nationwide protests.
(2021-05-06). Over 30 People Reportedly Killed Within Week of Colombian Protests. sputniknews.com MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) — At least 31 people have been killed, 1,220 have been injured and 87 have gone missing in a week of protests in Colombia, the Institute for Development and Peace Studies said.
(2021-05-06). US Special Forces trained Mexican drug cartels linked to decapitation, torture, rape. thegrayzone.com An investigation into how U.S. Special Forces trained feared Mexican drug cartels responsible for grisly murders, and how Pentagon-backed counter-insurgency in Colombia and Guatemala has bled into organized crime. (This article was first published in CovertAction Magazine.) The Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) has established itself as one of the most feared paramilitaries in Mexico over the last decade. Images of the group have become the standard depiction of the Mexican cartels writ large. Their propaganda videos often feature groups …
(2021-05-06). Colombia's Violent and Sleepless Nights. latinorebels.com Data from Temblores ONG, an organization that has been receiving reports directly from citizens, says that as of May 5, 37 people have died due to police violence.
(2021-05-06). Duque Regime's Crimes Against Humanity to Reach ICC. libya360.wordpress.com Kawsachun News Scene from a protest in Santiago de Cali on April 29, 2021. Photo: Jahfrann The International Criminal Court (ICC) will soon receive a communication from Bogotá on the crimes against humanity committed by the Ivan Duque regime against Colombian citizens since national strike mobilizations began on April 28th. Senator Iván Cepeda Castro announced…
(2021-05-06). USAID admits to Venezuela regime change fraud. thegrayzone.com Red Lines host Anya Parampil explores an internal USAID report admitting the agency's policy on Venezuela was driven by the State Department and National Security Council's push for regime change. The report specifically investigated USAID's attempt to use the US military to force aid through Venezuela's border with Colombia on February 23, 2019. Anya highlights the most interesting findings in the audit, including that USAID failed to put proper fraud controls in place in order to appease US officials seeking …
(2021-05-06). Colombian security forces are massacring people on the streets. thecanary.co In Colombia the right-wing government of Iván Duque is killing people taking part in an ongoing national strike protesting the government's economic policies and widespread human rights abuses. | Since the strike began at the end of April, Colombian human rights groups have estimated that In addition to the killings, there has been a major militarisation of cities, with reports of disappearances, sexual assaults on wom…
(2021-05-06). This is how President Maduro Welcomed Steven Seagal in Miraflores. orinocotribune.com 
The famous US actor Steven Seagal visited President Nicolás Maduro at the Miraflores Palace this Tuesday, May 4, in a meeting full of symbolism about values such as international friendship, culture, cooperation, and fighting spirit. | For these reasons, the Venezuelan president thanked Seagal for his gesture. Seagal currently holds the position of special envoy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the country that also granted him citizenship. In addition, Seagal is a recognized master of martial arts, especially the discipline called Aikido. | The head of state expressed, through his Twitte…
(2021-05-06). Crisis & Critique: The Ibero-American Summit's Impact on Venezuela. orinocotribune.com By Ociel Alí López — Apr 30, 2021 | VA columnist Ociel López highlights the de facto recognition of the Maduro government by Washington-aligned countries in the recent international event. | The Ibero-American Summit is an event that brings together the presidents or senior representatives of Latin America, Spain, Portugal and Andorra. On April 21, the XXVII meeting was held in Andorra, although most participants attended virtually. | The main theme was "innovation for sustainable development," but for obvious reasons it was the Covid-19 pandemic that ended up taking center stage. | The event's first importa…
(2021-05-06). Venezuelan Parliament Appoints New Electoral Authorities with Two Opposition Members. venezuelanalysis.com The new CNE was the product of behind-the-scenes dialogue between the Maduro government and moderate opposition sectors.
(2021-05-06). Venezuela Reiterates Its Commitment To Human Rights And Justice. popularresistance.org Mexico City, Mexico – The Venezuelan Attorney General's Office submitted an updated report to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on April 30 detailing its efforts to address alleged human rights abuses by state officials. | In September 2018, Venezuela's right-wing opposition, with support from the US and a handful of allied countries, filed a suit before the ICC accusing the Nicolás Maduro government of being responsible for "crimes against humanity" during violent anti-government protests in 2017. | Attorney General Tarek William Saab said his office had engaged in "meticulous" work to defend human rights.
(2021-05-06). Venezuela Inaugurates CNE Board: Meet the New Authorities. orinocotribune.com At noon on Wednesday, May 5, the new board of directors of Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE) was installed, in a session in which they assigned the responsibilities that each rector will assume. | Rector Pedro Enrique Calzadilla Pérez reported that during the meeting held by the new electoral authorities, they decided who will be responsible for the various tasks within the CNE. | "We are the result of an agreement. This governing body is the result of a historic national agreement of the country's political [and[ social forces, to redirect Venezuela to political stability in adherence with the dynamic…