Semana In English http://www.semana.com/ Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:53:12 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss CMS Semana Colombia's Justice and Peace Law has been in force since July 25th 2005. Has it worked until now? What has it accomplished and what challenges lie ahead? SEMANA INTERNATIONAL interviewed Angelika Rettberg, chair at the Political Science department at Los Andes University, who gave her opinion regarding this important topic. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/justice-and-peace-lawfour-years-later/126742.aspx Mon, 27 Jul 2009 05:00:00 GMT BOGOTA - An hour-long video police found in a computer of an alleged rebel appears to confirm that Colombia's largest rebel army gave money to the 2006 election campaign of President Rafael Correa of Ecuador. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/ap-newsbreak-rebel-video-hounds-ecuadors-correa/126347.aspx FRANK BAJAK (AP) Fri, 17 Jul 2009 05:00:00 GMT Huge controversy in Colombia after it was revealed that an African hippo originally brought to the country by the late drug lord Pablo Escobar has been killed with the help of the Army. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/the-heated-debate-about-drug-lords-killed-hippopotamus/126237.aspx Thomas Sparrow, tsparrow@semana.com Tue, 14 Jul 2009 05:00:00 GMT This week, President Alvaro Uribe authorized opposition senator Piedad Córdoba to mediate in the release of the remaining hostages held by FARC. His announcement was seen as an important step towards freedom, although not everyone seems to be convinced by the news. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/new-hope-for-the-relatives-of-colombias-kidnap-victims/126067.aspx Thomas Sparrow, tsparrow@semana.com Fri, 10 Jul 2009 05:00:00 GMT Jul 09--For all its miscues at home, General Motors Corp. has built a powerhouse operation in Latin America, where its fuel-efficient vehicles could play a crucial role in returning the battered company to health. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/new-gm-may-lean-on-latin-america-lessons/126030.aspx Thu, 09 Jul 2009 05:00:00 GMT Jul 02-- Atletico Junior coach Julio Comesana received a five-game ban on Wednesday for using abusive language against a referee, who has also been suspended. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/coach-gets-fivegame-ban-in-colombia-for-abusing-referee/125784.aspx Thu, 02 Jul 2009 05:00:00 GMT UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial executions Philip Alston visited Colombia on a mission to investigate Colombian Army's "false positives." His partial report reveals the extrajudicial excecutions are more than just a few isolated cases. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/false-positives-are-systemic-rapporteur/125239.aspx Fri, 19 Jun 2009 05:00:00 GMT SEMANA spoke to Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2006, who recently signed an agreement to create a microcredit institution in Colombia which resembles his world famous Grameen bank. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/there-is-no-reason-why-poverty-cannot-be-eliminated-completely/125066.aspx Fri, 12 Jun 2009 05:00:00 GMT Howard Varney, an expert on peace and reconciliation, talks to Semana International about how the cases of South Africa and Sierra Leone can apply to Colombia. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/colombia-much-to-learn-from-other-countries/124700.aspx Wed, 03 Jun 2009 05:00:00 GMT Juan Carlos Echeverry & Verónica Navas evaluate the positives and negatives of Uribe's seven years a president, to analyze whether this government deserves another four years. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/does-uribe-deserve-new-term/124414.aspx Wed, 27 May 2009 05:00:00 GMT The free trade agreement between Colombia and Canada, which is waiting for its ratification, has been a subject that has been widely debated in both countries and has received both praise and criticism. Bearing in mind this background, SEMANA INTERNATIONAL spoke to the recently appointed Canadian Ambassador to Colombia, Geneviève des Rivières, about this controversial topic and the general political relations between both countries. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/colombia-is-very-important-to-us/124287.aspx Thomas Sparrow. Journalist at Semana International. tsparrow@semana.com Fri, 22 May 2009 05:00:00 GMT Semana International interviewed Nat J. Colletta, international expert on conflict resolution. In this second part of the interview, Colletta discusses demobilization and the reintegration of former combatants to society. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/we-are-doing-something-for-combatants-not-just-buying-them-bus-ticket-and-dropping-them-at-the-end-of/124192.aspx Wed, 20 May 2009 05:00:00 GMT Semana International interviewed Nat J. Colletta, international expert on conflict resolution, about the violence in Colombia and what can be learned from the experiences of other countries with similar armed conflicts. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/colombias-conflict-is-reaching-tilting-point/123731.aspx Thu, 07 May 2009 05:00:00 GMT Apr 27 -- A wooden crucifix saved the life of a Colombian reporter when it diverted a bullet that has been fired through his arm, passing through and reaching his chest during an attack, doctors and media outlets said. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/crucifix-saves-colombian-reporters-life/123337.aspx Mon, 27 Apr 2009 05:00:00 GMT In the US Congress, Patrick Leahy is the key man as far as Plan Colombia is concerned. Leahy is the Chairman of the Foreign Operations Subcommittee, which is in charge of approving the money for this initiative. Juan Carlos Iragorri, Semana correspondent in the United States, interviewed the 69-year old Democrat, who argues that the Colombian government should finance a bigger part of Plan Colombia and that the financial crisis will reduce the help Washington sends to Bogotá. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/colombia-should-pay-more-of-the-cost/123087.aspx Mon, 20 Apr 2009 05:00:00 GMT Before his first trip to Latin America, U.S president Barack Obama speaks on CNN en Español about the situation in Mexico, the regional Summit in Trinidad and Tobago, democracy in the region and Cuba. Interview by Juan Carlos López. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/times-have-changed-for-latin-america/122927.aspx Juan Carlos López Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:00:00 GMT Pablo Emilio Moncayo, held hostage by the FARC since December 1997, could return to freedom according to the announcement made in a letter published in Liberal Party Senator Piedad Córdoba's web page. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/farc-announces-hostage-release/122900.aspx Thu, 16 Apr 2009 05:00:00 GMT With civil conflict easing, and the cultural, culinary and nightlife scenes sexed up, Bogotá is emerging as an attractive destination for the first time in decades. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/the-return-of-bogota/122918.aspx Thu, 16 Apr 2009 05:00:00 GMT During his recent visit in Panamá, Colombian President Álvaro Uribe insisted on the need to open the Darién Gap, the last swath of undeveloped swampland between Colombia and Panamá. It is the only extent of land not connected by road to the rest of the continent. If it were constructed, the road would cross the continent all the way from Alaska, in the US, to Tierra del Fuego, in Argentina. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/president-uribe-insists-on-opening-the-darien-gap/122536.aspx Fri, 03 Apr 2009 05:00:00 GMT Planning to murder the Minister of Defense, intermittent attacks in some provinces and menacing pamphlets are part of the FARC's unsuccessful strategy to tell the country they still exist after the deaths of top guerrillas 'Manuel Marulanda' and 'Raúl Reyes'. This is the strategy behind the FARCs bloody attempt to commemorate those two events. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/the-black-march-of-the-farc/122342.aspx Sun, 29 Mar 2009 05:00:00 GMT Mubadala, an Arab development company, is thinking of Colombia as a possible investment destination. What is this fund looking for? By Dinero magazine*. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/the-arabs-are-coming/122173.aspx Fri, 27 Mar 2009 05:00:00 GMT The Uribe government needs to complement its military approach to defeating the FARC with a political negotiation strategy if it is to end Colombia's half-century long armed conflict. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/ending-colombias-farc-conflict-dealing-the-right-card/122123.aspx Thu, 26 Mar 2009 05:00:00 GMT Ten young professionals from different nationalities visited Colombia for ten days as part of a program that expected to change their perspective about Colombia by showing them the country not only as a beautiful tourist destination but as a place of opportunities. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/the-colombian-connection-project/122065.aspx Tue, 24 Mar 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/an-american-in-colombia-by-jason-moore/122066.aspx Tue, 24 Mar 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/visit-to-coffee-heaven-by-julia-murray/122069.aspx Tue, 24 Mar 2009 05:00:00 GMT Nearly two years after being kidnapped, Swedish Erik Roland Larsson was released last Tuesday in the northern Colombian province of Córdoba. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/farc-releases-swedish-citizen-its-last-international-hostage/121886.aspx Wed, 18 Mar 2009 05:00:00 GMT This Inter-American Dialogue report offers the Obama administration a ten-point agenda for the Western Hemisphere, including one which directly includes Colombia: "The new administration should give immediate attention to the signed, but as yet unratified, Colombia and Panama free trade agreements". http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/second-chance-us-policy-in-the-americas/121670.aspx Thu, 12 Mar 2009 05:00:00 GMT A book published by Noël Saez, a former mediator between the French government and Farc, seeks to rebut official versions about the success of the world-famous rescue mission "Operation Checkmate". Is it trustworthy? Or are we simply facing a new selling strategy? http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/the-guards-of-ingrid-betancourt-had-been-paid-off/121642.aspx Camilo Jiménez, Semana correspondent in Berlin Wed, 11 Mar 2009 05:00:00 GMT This Policy Paper, written by Vanda Felbab-Brown, analyzes how the drug trade in Mexico should be addressed. In order to explain the problem, the paper does an analogy with Colombia and especially describes the situation in Colombia in the 1980s and early 1990s, before Plan Colombia. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/the-violent-drug-market-in-mexico-and-lessons-from-colombia/121591.aspx Tue, 10 Mar 2009 05:00:00 GMT 9 March-- It is the world's fifth poorest nation with no prisons and few police. Now this small west African failed state has been targeted by Colombian drug cartels, turning it into a transit hub for the cocaine trade out of Latin America and into Europe. Grant Ferrett and Ed Vulliamy tell the remarkable story of how the cocaine cavalry arrived three years ago and transformed the life of Guinea-Bissau. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/how-tiny-west-african-country-became-the-worlds-first-narco-state/121552.aspx Sun, 08 Mar 2009 05:00:00 GMT João Bernardo Vieira killed while attempting to flee his residence, military spokesman says http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/guineabissau-president-killed-in-clash-between-rival-soldiers/121472.aspx Fri, 06 Mar 2009 05:00:00 GMT Mar 05 -- Colombia gained much and suffered little from its raid into Ecuador. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/an-unmended-fence/121408.aspx Thu, 05 Mar 2009 05:00:00 GMT Prohibition has failed; legalisation is the least bad solution http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/how-to-stop-the-drug-wars/121418.aspx Thu, 05 Mar 2009 05:00:00 GMT On February 13, 2003, a plane carrying three American civilian contractors-Marc Gonsalves, Keith Stansell, and Tom Howes-crash-landed in the mountainous jungle of Colombia. Read an excerpt here. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/out-of-captivity-book-excerpt/121198.aspx Fri, 27 Feb 2009 05:00:00 GMT Feb. 17th - Feb. 23th -- It's not surprising, but it's sad: headlines about Colombia spread around Europe, and their only aspect in common is crime. This week political persecution, massacres, and drug-trafficking filled up the space of major papers. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/colombia-is-not-only-passion/121076.aspx Camilo Jiménez, Semana correspondent in Berlin Tue, 24 Feb 2009 05:00:00 GMT DAS, the Colombian intelligence agency, is out of control. It is illegally tapping journalists, judges and politicians and its services have been used by drug dealers, paramilitaries and guerrillas. Investigation by SEMANA. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/colombian-intelligence-agency-scandal/121057.aspx Mon, 23 Feb 2009 05:00:00 GMT Feb. 9th - Feb. 17th - The massacre of at least 17 indigenous peasants of the Awa community in the province of Nariño was an issue that deeply concerned European press. A Swiss peace emissary who supposedly mismanaged his mission in Colombia was also news. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/the-farcs-losses/120850.aspx Camilo Jiménez, Semana correspondent in Berlin Tue, 17 Feb 2009 05:00:00 GMT After the first round of negotiations of the Free Trade Agreement between Colombia, Perú, Ecuador and the European Union finished on February 13th, the chief negotiators of each country seemed positive. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/colombia-european-union-fta-on-track/120861.aspx Tue, 17 Feb 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/obamas-concerns-around-the-fta-with-colombia-are-still-valid-us-spokesman/120668.aspx Thu, 12 Feb 2009 18:00:00 GMT Jan. 23rd - Feb. 9th - What does the Old Continent think about Colombia? Read every week in Semana International a roundup report on what the major European press says, thinks, feels, and does about our country. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/europe-calling/120585.aspx Camilo Jiménez, Semana correspondent in Berlin Mon, 09 Feb 2009 05:00:00 GMT At 2:05 p.m Thursday, the Brazilian helicopter landed in Cali (Valle del Cauca) and López finally met his wife and two sons. After 6 years, 10 months and 24 days away, the deputy is back home. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/sigifredo-lopez-is-free-the-wait-is-over/120425.aspx Thu, 05 Feb 2009 05:00:00 GMT SEMANA INTERNATIONAL spoke to Patricia Nieto, wife of former provincial deputy of Valle del Cauca Sigifredo López about the years her husband has been away and how she imagined his return http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/all-we-could-do-was-wait-wife-of-kidnapped-colombian-politician/120429.aspx Thu, 05 Feb 2009 05:00:00 GMT The Colombian rebel group's recent hostage release was just a ploy. If it wants political credibility, it must renounce violence and free all its captives. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/the-farcs-cynical-stunt/120405.aspx Wed, 04 Feb 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/humanitarian-commission-leaves-to-bring-back-jara/120372.aspx Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:00:00 GMT The kidnapping of the former governor of Meta province by the FARC was interpreted by the international community as a travesty. This is his story. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/alan-jara-finally-free/120382.aspx Tue, 03 Feb 2009 05:00:00 GMT Four members of Colombia's armed forces were released on Sunday in Villavicencio and Alan Jara, former governor of Meta province who has been kidnapped for more than 7 years, is due to be freed today by the FARC. Thomas Sparrow, journalist at Semana International, is currently in that Colombian city and reports what has happened in the last few days. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/behind-the-release-of-the-hostages-by-the-farc/120368.aspx Thomas Sparrow Tue, 03 Feb 2009 05:00:00 GMT In the second week of February Colombia will start to negotiate a Free Trade Agreement with the European Union. SEMANA INTERNATIONAL spoke to Fernando Cardesa García, Ambassador of the Delegation of The European Commission to Colombia and Ecuador, about what this new deal means and how both parties will benefit from it. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/green-light-for-colombia-to-discuss-fta-with-the-eu/120357.aspx Mon, 02 Feb 2009 05:00:00 GMT Jan. 22nd - Jan. 29th - This week, SEMANA INTERNATIONAL found important news about Colombia in different newspapers and magazines around Europe, including Spain's daily El País and German based Spiegel-Online and Focus. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/europe-say/120203.aspx Camilo Jiménez, Semana correspondent in Berlin Fri, 30 Jan 2009 05:00:00 GMT Colombia´s most important literary festival began on Thursday in Cartagena with international personalities from the worlds of culture and politics. http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/the-festival-in-colombia-an-international-literary-and-political-gathering/120187.aspx Thu, 29 Jan 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.semana.com/noticias-international/twelve-days-to-plan-the-hostage-release/120099.aspx Mon, 26 Jan 2009 20:00:00 GMT