Amid Increased Violence, Colombians Mobilize in Defence of Life and Peace

STRUGGLE FOR PEACE IN COLOMBIA

Tanya Wadhwa

People’s Dispatch | November 02, 2020

The Humanitarian Caravan for Life and Defense of Territory in the Cañón del Micay, carried out by social movements from the Cauca department, reached the El Plateado village on November 1. Photo: Colombia Informa

Mobilizations to demand an end to escalating violence in Colombia against social movements and political activists have intensified in recent days. Social movements have converged in the Cauca department as part of a Humanitarian Caravan, while ex-combatants of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), today part of the Common Alternative Revolutionary Force party, have been marching in the Pilgrimage for Life and Peace. Organizations are demanding that the government take measures to stop the increase in violence and protect the life and integrity of citizens.

FACE OF A POLITICS: U.S.: Political Violence

POLITICS IN CAPITALISM/IMPERIALISM

A Journal of People report

Political violence is now almost daily news in the U.S. the violence is an aspect of capitalist/imperialist politics.

Patrick Symmes, Contributor, Yahoo News, wrote on September 9, 2020 (“What Portland and Kenosha say about the return of political violence in America”):

“Political violence is easy to start, and nearly impossible to stop. A single incident isn’t enough to launch a cycle of democratic decay, although the recent killings in Kenosha (rightist shoots leftists) and Portland (leftist shoots rightist) should have everyone in America concerned.

Two Years of Duque’s Colombia: Deepening Neoliberalism, Increased Violence and a Public Health Crisis

COLOMBIA

Zoe PC

People’s Dispatch | August 11, 2020

Colombians had a brief moment of celebration following the Supreme Court of Justice’s announcement that they were ordering the detention of Álvaro Uribe Vélez. Photo: Colombia Informa

August 7 marked two years since Iván Duque took office as president of Colombia. For the Colombian people, these two years have been marked by incessant attacks on the rights of people, an increase in violence and the deepening of the economic crisis. Added to this, today, Colombia has the eighth highest number of COVID-19 cases in the world and the number of deaths is also steadily increasing.

In this context, Peoples Dispatch spoke to Milena Ochoa, the director of the Corporation for Popular Education and Research – National Labor Institute – CEDINS – and a member of Congreso de los Pueblos (the People’s Congress) to understand what two years of the Duque presidency has meant for the Colombian people, and how his poor management has made Colombia one of the countries worst hit by the pandemic. We also asked her about the implications of Colombia’s Supreme Court of Justice ordering the detention of former president Álvaro Uribe Vélez on August 4.

Hong Kong: Protesters set massive fire on university, throw petrol bombs

 Countercurrents | November 18, 2019

Massive fires raged at the campus of Hong Kong Polytech University (PolyU), where anti-government protesters have holed up, and pelting petrol bombs at riot police, who have taken position around the university campus. The protesters feared police raid in the campus.

The campus turned into a battleground between the rioters hurling Molotov cocktails and rocks at police, and police firing tear gas and water cannon, as videos from the scene early Monday morning show an inferno rising near the staircase to the building.

Evo Morales Slams Coup Plotters for Keeping up Violence

teleSUR | November 11, 2019

Bolivian residents in Argentina hold placards that reads “no to the coup”, in support of Bolivian President Evo Morales, in Buenos Aires. | Photo: Reuters

“Mesa and Camacho, discriminators and conspirators, will go down in history as racists and coup plotters,” Morales said in a tweet early Monday morning. 

Former Bolivian President Evo Morales condemned Monday right-wing opposition leaders Carlos Mesa and Lusi Camacho for failing to stop the violence in the country and warning that they intend to blame him for such violence instead of taking responsibility following the coup against his leftist government.

Venezuela: Communication Minister Shows Truth of Border Violence

teleSUR | February 24, 2019

Jorge Rodriguez speaking on Venezuela-Colombia border bridge violence. | Photo: Twitter / @ViceVenezuela

On Sunday, Venezuelan Minister of Communication and Information Jorge Rodriguez revealed the truth of the violence on the Simon Bolivar-Venezuela border bridge. His revelations show the falsification of reports by mainstream media related to Saturday’s violence.

Violent Opposition Forces Throw Molotovs At Venezuelan Forces, Colombian Police Complicit

teleSUR | February 24, 2019

Guarimberos under the Santander bridge trying to cross from Colombia to Venezuela. Feb. 24, 2019 | Photo: teleSUR

Colombian forces at the border with Venezuela are looking the other way as violent Venezuelan opposition protesters, or ‘Guarimberos’, throw homemade Molotov cocktails at Venezuela’s National Guard while in Colombian territory.

Venezuelan Campesinos Mobilize as Rural Violence Continues

by Ricardo Vaz

VENEZUELANALYSIS.COM | November 22, 2018

Over 1000 campesinos demonstrated in the border state of Tachira, demanding more government support for food production. (CRBZ)

Pays de Gex, France, November 22, 2018 (venezuelanalysis.com) – Over a thousand campesinos staged a rally in the border state of Tachira on Tuesday, November 20, demanding government support for food production.

The mobilization in the state capital of San Cristobal, led by the Revolutionary Bolivar and Zamora Current (CRBZ), included campesino organizations and communes from Tachira State, as well as from neighboring Apure, Barinas and Merida states.

Violent disorder: state of emergency in Britain’s jails

by Charley Allan

Morning Star | October 07, 2018

WE ALL know our prisons are in a state of emergency — with horrifying stories of hospitalised officers, soaring suicide rates and synthetic-drug-fuelled riots reported almost every week.

Attacks on staff and prisoners have skyrocketed since the coalition government sacked 7,000 prison officers under the direction of serial wrecker Chris Grayling, while the Tories’ recent desperate recruitment drive has proved to be too little, too late.

Nicaragua’s President Ortega Calls for Dialogue to End Violence

teleSUR | April 21, 2018

President Daniel Ortega criticized right-wing opposition groups for “conspiring” against his government. | Photo: EFE

The social reform demonstrations are becoming increasingly violent: on Friday, protesters burned down a branch of the National University in Leon.

Nicaragua‘s President Daniel Ortega has appealed for dialogue and condemned “destabilization attempts” by the opposition after violent protests over social security reforms killed at least 10 people.