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Colombia: News & Updates

Colombia has the world's second largest population of internally displaced persons (five million) due to the half-century internal armed conflict—the longest-running war in the Western Hemisphere (since 1964). Control for territory and popular support among the three main groups (left-wing rebel forces FARC & ELN, right-wing paramilitaries, Colombian police/military) has left 220,000 killed, 75% of them non-combatants. Since 2000, the US has exacerbated the violence by sending more than $9 billion in mostly military assistance. Colombia, which has both Pacific and Atlantic coastlines, holds strategic interest for the US for global trade and military posturing.

   

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News Article

The article discusses Colombian President Gustavo Petro's efforts to reform labor laws in response to social upheaval and economic inequality, inspired by the popular song "El Jefe" by Shakira. Petro aims to reverse decades of neoliberal policies and increase labor rights, addressing issues created by past reforms in the 1990s and early 2000s. The proposed reform faces opposition from conservative forces in Congress, and while progress has been made, it has not yet become law. The US embassy expressed support for the reform, and there is a call for popular mobilizations to pressure Congress. The success of Petro's labor reform remains uncertain in the volatile political climate of Colombia.

News Article

The election of Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Vice President Francia Marquez, seen as a result of national strikes and mobilizations, is now under threat. The current Attorney General Francisco Barbosa, linked to the previous government, alleges campaign finance violations by the FECODE teachers union, attempting to suspend the transition to a new Attorney General. Despite intimidation, no credible witnesses support Barbosa's claims. The coup plotters, employing "lawfare," advise the armed forces not to obey the president. The U.S. role is complex, with past Republican strategies against Petro and the Biden administration seeking to influence his policies on Venezuela. High-level U.S. officials' recent visits to Colombia raise concerns of foreign interference. Demonstrations supporting the elected government are planned globally, emphasizing opposition to any coup and the respect for the Colombian people's will. A coup threatens Colombia's peace process and intensifies risks to Venezuela and the region, urging global support for the people of Colombia.

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