FOR National Council member Zara Zimbardo hosts Access SF's Newsroom program, with a special segment on Colombia, that you can access here. Click on Episode #57; the segment on Colombia is 18 minutes in.

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Democracy Now! 27 July 2009
Tensions Rise in Latin America over US Military Plan to Use Three Bases in Colombia

The Colombian government has agreed to grant US forces the use of three Colombian military bases for South American anti-drug operations. The move has heightened tensions between Colombia, the largest recipient of US military aid in the Americas, and its neighbors, particularly Venezuela and Ecuador. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez warned that the US Army could “invade” his country from Colombia.

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John Lindsay-Poland at Seabeck 4th of July 2009 from toddboyle on Vimeo.

Report (in Spanish): Extrajudicial Exeuctions in Colombia, January 1-December 31,2007

Observatorio de Derechos Humanos y Derecho Internacional Humanitario

Download here.

View the Map Here

FOR and the American Friends Service Committee have released a report documenting the first-person experiences of women peace activists in Colombia. "I Will Never Be Silenced: Testimonies of Hope from Colombian Woman" highlights the words and work of 17 women from throughout Colombia - rural and urban, old and young, Afro-Colombian, indigenous and mestizo, artists, religious, political, feminists. These women have tirelessly and fearlessly worked to create peace and justice.

This DVD, produced by Swiss filmmaker Juan Jose Lozano, tells the story of the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó. This is a wonderful introduction to the Community and the principles involved in taking a stand for peace in a conflict zone.

English subtitles, 58 minutes.

In the last six months, Colombia’s armed forces and intelligence agency have evidenced a slew of major scandals, abuses, and policy failures, largely unexplored in Administration and media reports. These include a massacre by the army of top anti-drug police; terrorist infiltration of the Colombian intelligence agency; documented torture of army cadets; extrajudicial killings; use of Blackhawk helicopters to attack unarmed indigenous protesters; and responding to expressions of concern by dozens of Members of Congress with public relations instead of action.

Taken together, these events demonstrate the urgent imperative to fundamentally reconsider the United States’ relationship with the Colombian Armed Forces. This reports provides a brief review.