Latin America rejects coup in Peru, while US supports unelected regime killing protesters

At least 14 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have condemned the coup in Peru, backing President Pedro Castillo. The unelected regime, which has killed dozens of protesters, has the staunch support of the US and the region’s right wing.

Ben Norton

Multipolarista | December 20, 2022

More than a dozen countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have condemned the coup in Peru and backed democratically elected President Pedro Castillo.

Meanwhile, the US government has staunchly supported the coup regime, which has suspended civil liberties, imprisoned Castillo for 18 months without trial, and unleashed extreme violence on Peruvian protesters, killing dozens and wounding hundreds.

Colombian government and ELN agree to restart peace talks

The announcement of resumption of peace negotiations between the national government and the ELN guerilla group was celebrated by human right activists and organizations

Tanya Wadhwa

People’s Dispatch | October 05, 2022

High Commissioner for Peace of the Colombian national government Iván Danilo Rueda (R) and the ELN commander Antonio García shake hands after the signing of an agreement to resume peace talks. (Photo: Prensa Latina/Twitter)

The progressive government of Colombian President Gustavo Petro and the country’s largest leftist guerilla group the National Liberation Army (ELN), on Tuesday October 4, signed an agreement to restart peace talks, which were suspended in September 2018 by the former conservative President Iván Duque.

According to a joint statement, signed by High Commissioner for Peace of the Colombian national government Iván Danilo Rueda and the ELN commanders Antonio García and Pablo Beltrán, issued during a press conference in Venezuela’s capital Caracas, the parties agreed to reinstate the negotiating table, resume agreements that had been reached before the suspension, and reestablish the dialogue process after the first week of November.

The statement added that the participation of civil society groups would be “essential” for the peace talks to succeed. High Commissioner Rueda explained that the government would seek ways to make this participation possible.

Colombian Ambassador: Monómeros will return to control of Venezuela

The ambassador ratified the decision announced by his government in order to complete the process of registering the new directive

Odry Farnetano

Últimas Noticias | August 18, 2022

Armando Alberto Benedetti, designated ambassador of Colombia in Venezuela

During the development of the business forum Border Agreement held in Cúcuta this Thursday, the Colombian ambassador, Armando Benedetti, ratified his government’s decision to return monomers to the Venezuelan government led by Nicolás Maduro Moros and confirmed the collaboration of the head of the Superintendence of Companies, Billy Escobar, to close the registration episode of new directive.

“The Superintendence of Companies, in the company of our superintendent, Billy Escobar, have managed to lift the intervention of Monómeros,” said Benedetti.

US influence in Latin America is on the decline

Petro’s victory has meant the biggest setback for US influence on the continent

Jesus Inojosa

Últimas Noticias | August 14, 2022

The victory of Gustavo Petro in Colombia and his inauguration as President of the New Granada nation has set off alarms in the United States, where the possible end of the so-called “Washington influence” in Latin America is seen.

“It is time for a new international convention that accepts that the war on drugs has utterly failed, that it has left a million Latin Americans murdered, most of them Colombians, and that it leaves 70.000 North Americans dead from drug overdoses every year; none produced in Latin America”.

These words spoken by Petro During his inauguration speech this Sunday, he directly questions US policy in the neighboring country with the so-called “Plan Colombia”, which could mean the possibility of ending this agreement that has allowed the US to install no less than nine military bases in Colombian territory and guarantee the free action of officials of the DEA, the CIA and its Army, as well as the implementation of the extraterritoriality of its laws in this nation.

Venezuela to ‘Rebuild Fellowship’ with Petro Gov’t in Colombia

José Luis Granados Ceja

RESUMEN | August 09, 2022

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro celebrated the inauguration of Gustavo Petro as president of Colombia, with leaders pledging to rebuild the long but fraught relationship between the two Caribbean countries.

“I extend my hand to the people of Colombia, to President Gustavo Petro, to rebuild fellowship on the basis of respect and love between peoples,” said Maduro on Sunday.

For his part, Petro called for Latin American governments to leave aside their political differences and work toward regional integration.

Maduro congratulates Colombia and Petro after his assumption as president

Invites the new Colombian president to rebuild the brotherhood between both peoples

Aurig Hernandez

Últimas Noticias | August 07, 2022

The President of the Republic, Nicolás Maduro, congratulated the Colombian people and Gustavo Petro after his inauguration as President of Colombia, this Sunday in the city of Bogotá.

Through his Twitter account, the Head of State greeted the Colombian people and their new president.

«I extend my hand to President Gustavo Petro and the Colombian people, to rebuild brotherhood on the basis of respect and love. Let’s take advantage of this second opportunity mentioned by the new President of Colombia, for the sake of happiness and peace. Congratulations!” Maduro posted.

Tiendo mi mano al Presidente Gustavo Petro y al pueblo colombiano, para reconstruir la hermandad sobre la base del respeto y el amor. Aprovechemos esta segunda oportunidad que menciona el nuevo Presidente de Colombia, por el bien de la felicidad y la Paz. ¡ Felicidades! pic.twitter.com/tcC8LUP4uk

— Nicolás Maduro (@NicolasMaduro) August 7, 2022

Petro’s position on Venezuela allows to refresh relations

The historian Ydelfonso Finol visualizes a process of diplomatic normalization

Robert Araujo

Últimas Noticias | July 24, 2022

Finol affirmed that the brotherhood between Caracas and Bogotá is still valid

By recognizing Nicolás Maduro as the constitutional president of Venezuela, the elected president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, opens a door for a refreshing of bilateral relations, historian Ydelfonso Finol said on Sunday.

“It is interesting that Petro said that the constitutional president of Venezuela is Nicolás Maduro. This allows a refreshing of relations between Venezuela and Colombia, and the normalization of contact between the embassies of our nations », he said during the program Here with Ernesto, broadcast on VTV.

He asserted that the brotherhood between Caracas and Bogotá is still in force, since it was determined by the Liberator Simón Bolívar, who this Sunday celebrates 239 years of his birth.

Gustavo Petro Is The First Leftist President Elected In Colombia

Countercurrents | June 20, 2022

Gustavo Petro, a former rebel, has been elected Colombia’s first leftist president on Sunday. Petro’s triumph, in one of the most historically conservative countries on the continent, is a stunning example of widespread discontent that is shaking the status quo. It is a powerful rejection of the political establishment that has ruled the South American nation for two centuries.

Voters on Sunday also made history in electing the country’s first Black female vice president, Francia Márquez, an environmental activist, lawyer and former housekeeper who energized a large Afro-Colombian community that long felt forgotten by those in power.

“Today is a party for the people,” Petro said in a tweet Sunday night. “Let us celebrate the first popular victory. May the sufferings of many now be cushioned in the joy that today floods the hearts of the Homeland.”

Petro’s competitor Rodolfo Hernández swiftly accepted the results on Twitter.

Who will be the next president of Colombia?

Senator Gustavo Petro of the left-wing Historic Pact coalition is running against businessman Rodolfo Hernández of the League of Anti-Corruption Governors movement for the presidency of Colombia in Sunday’s run-off vote

Tanya Wadhwa

People’s Dispatch | June 18, 2022

Gustavo Petro of the left-wing Historic Pact coalition is running against Rodolfo Hernández of the League of Anti-Corruption Governors movement for the presidency of Colombia in Sunday’s run-off. Photo: Archives

On Sunday, June 19, Colombians will return to the polls in the second round to elect the country’s new president and vice president for the period 2022-2026.

Senator Gustavo Petro and environmental activist Francia Márquez of the left-wing Historic Pact coalition are running against businessman Rodolfo Hernández and professor Marelen Castillo of the League of Anti-Corruption Governors movement for the presidency and vice presidency of Colombia, respectively. Petro and Márquez won the May 29 first round of elections with over 40% of the votes. Meanwhile, Hernández and Castillo followed them with over 28% of the votes.

The winners of Sunday’s run-off vote will replace conservative President Iván Duque and Vice President Marta Lucía Ramírez on August 7, who are leaving the office with a record 80% disapproval rating. Petro and Hernández are both considered anti-establishment candidates and have promised to respond to the demands manifested in street protests in the last four years.

Venezuela to Hold Anti-NATO Summit on the Border With Colombia

teleSUR | June 04, 2022

The Colombian far-right US-backed narco-regime constantly threatens its neighbor Venezuela, with almost zero reporting in mainstream media. It has supported attempted invasions, cross-border attacks, and training camps for anti-Venezuela terrorists. | Photo: Twitter @BenjaminNorton

Venezuelan National Assembly member Julio Chávez said that, in such event, the aim is to confront the militarist campaign promoted by countries such as the United States and those of the European Union (EU), which has all mankind in suspense.

Venezuela will hold an anti-NATO summit in the state of Táchira, on the border with Colombia, in parallel to the Western military bloc’s event in Madrid, Spain. “Táchira will be the Latin American capital of the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) counter-summit on June 28-29”, Venezuelan parliamentarian Julio Chávez told the Russian news agency Sputnik.