Colombia

BOGOTA, May 11 (NNN-Xinhua) — Colombian President Ivan Duque warned that protests could lead to a rise in COVID-19 cases, shortly before sitting down to talks with members of the National Strike Committee in a bid to end days of chaos.

“We have seen an increase in movement in many parts of the country, with much interaction between citizens in recent days amid a third peak (in infections), and I must send the message that we must all take care of ourselves,” Duque said at the government headquarters.

CALI (Colombia), May 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The international community on Tuesday decried what the UN described as an “excessive use of force” by security officers in Colombia after numerous deaths during days of anti-government protests.

The United Nations, United States, European Union and rights bodies joined a chorus of criticism after official data showed 19 people were killed and 846 injured in running clashes with the security forces.

Colombia’s human rights ombudsman — a state agency independent from the government — said 89 people were listed as “disappeared.”

BOGOTA, May 2. /TASS/: Colombian President Ivan Duque has ordered to bring troops to those cities where protest rallies against tax reform accompanied by vandalism and public order violations continue.

"The factor of military presence will be in effect in those cities where a great risk for lives of citizens exists," he said in a video address published on his administration’s Twitter page on Saturday.

The president stressed that the servicemen "are trained to work in urban conditions and will provide support to police."

BOGOTA, March 19 (NNN-TELESUR) — Colombians have rejected the appearance of several posters with xenophobic comments against Venezuelan citizens living in Bogota.

The posters read, “Those rats are killing us. Don’t give them handouts, food, or clothes. Don’t rent them or give them work. Don’t be an accomplice to their crimes.”

The signs were taped on poles and home facades in Bogota’s southwestern communities, where thefts have upsurged in recent weeks.

BOGOTA. Feb 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Colombia’s military carried out at least 6,400 extrajudicial killings and presented them as combat deaths between 2002 and 2008, a number significantly higher than previously estimated, a special court said.

The court, called the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, is investigating crimes and atrocities committed during half a century of armed conflict between government troops and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Marxist rebels who laid down their weapons following a historic 2016 peace accord.

BOGOTA, Feb 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 12 people have died, including seven children, after two vessels sank close to a port on Colombia’s Pacific coast.

Naval authorities say the causes of the incident are still being investigated.

The vessels sank on Saturday close to Tumaco, Colombia’s second most-important Pacific port, Admiral Jose David Espitia, commander of the Poseidon anti-drugs task force, said.

“Unfortunately, there are 12 deceased,” he said.

BOGOTA, January 11. /TASS/: The latest developments in the United States show that American society is sorely divided, with the country on the brink of a civil war, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said during a speech in Caracas Sunday.

"The United States is in a crisis. Joe Biden’s term as president will start under the worst scenario which includes hostile polarization, a split, animosity and confrontation. Virtually on the verge of a civil war," he noted.

BOGOTA, January 11. /TASS/: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has stressed that his US counterpart Donald Trump sought to destroy Venezuela and kill Maduro himself during his presidency.

"Donald Trump’s main goal during [his] four years in power was Venezuela, to destroy us and me. He advocated assassinating me a couple of times," Maduro said during a speech in Caracas.

The leader believes that Trump symbolizes "sheer hatred, violence and aggression in global politics."

BOGOTA (Colombia), Nov 21 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Amid a breakdown in relations and absence of US diplomats in Venezuela, Washington has named its first ambassador for the South American country for the first time in a decade.

However he will carry out his duties from the capital of neighboring Colombia, Bogotá.

BOGOTA, Nov 18 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Colombia has requested a more than four-year extension under the Ottawa Treaty for removing landmines from across the country, the High Peace Commissioner’s office said.

If the request is granted, Colombia will have until the end of 2025 to remove anti-personnel landmines from its territory. The decision will be made on Nov 20.

The reason for the extension is to buy more time to finish active de-mining operations, High Peace Commissioner Miguel Ceballos said in a statement.