recent news from Colombia

Report finds worsening press freedom in Colombia 06/07/2006

There have been more than 100 murders of journalists in Colombia since 1980 – and the press freedom situation there is getting worse, according to a new report.

Petrobras To Spend $150 Million In Colombia To Seek Oil

BOGOTA -(Dow Jones)- Brazilian State-owned oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA (PBR) will invest $150 million in Colombia this year, four times as much as in 2005, the company's top official in Colombia said on Thursday.

Venezuela, Colombia to Start Building Natural-Gas Pipeline

July 8 (Bloomberg) -- Venezuela and neighboring Colombia will start work later today on a $336 million natural gas pipeline that will alleviate a shortage of the fuel in western Venezuela.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and his Colombian counterpart, Alvaro Uribe, will inaugurate construction of the 226-kilometer (136-mile) pipeline during ceremonies this afternoon on the border.

Orbitel, Siemens roll out WiMax in Colombia

Hot on the heels of last week's WiBro rollout in South Korea, Colombian long-distance operator Orbitel has teamed up with hardware manufacturer Siemens to deploy Latin America's first WiMax network in the city of Cali.

Colombia: UN agency voices renewed concern over mass displacements from conflict

Convoy taking displaced back to their homes (May 2006)

7 July 2006 – Fighting between irregular armed groups in southern Colombia, threats and targeted killings of civilians are continuing to sow tension in a region where more than 9,000 people have been forced to flee their homes this year, the United Nations refugee agency reported today.

Colombia monitors ex-rebels, measures success

BOGOTA, Colombia (Reuters) - Colombian police on Friday launched a program to monitor rebels and paramilitaries demobilized since 2003 in an effort to allay criticism of the government's disarmament campaign.

The police program aims to check on at least 41,000 paramilitary and guerrilla fighters who have laid down arms as part of President Alvaro Uribe's efforts to coax illegal groups to end a four-decade conflict that has killed and displaced tens of thousands.

The program is part of Uribe's strategy to show results from peace talks with the paramilitaries after criticism by human rights groups who say he is too lenient with militia leaders accused of horrific abuses. Some question whether the government can stop former militia members from turning into powerful criminal gangs.