Writer dealt drugs, took freebies, and oh yeah, never visited Colombia
Australia's News Network Apr 14, 08 4:00 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Lonely Planet guidebook executives are reeling in the wake of memoir confessions by one of their authors that he fabricated or plagiarized parts of the books—and dealt drugs to fund his trips. Thomas Kohnstamm also writes in Do Travel Writers Go to Hell? that he flouted guidebook policy by accepting free travel. “They don’t pay enough for what they expect the authors to do,” he told Australia's Herald Sun .
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They change House rules to avoid a vote, angering Bush
New York Times Apr 9, 08 6:58 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Congressional Democrats thumbed their noses today at Bush's renewed efforts to pass a free-trade pact with Colombia. Bush sent the bill over Monday, mandating Congress to vote yea or nay within 90 days. Or so he thought. Nancy Pelosi is changing the House rules and won't allow a vote until the White House attends to more pressing domestic issues, the New York Times reports.
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Colombian rebels
block medical help
for Betancourt
BBC Apr 9, 08 5:35 AM CDT
(Newser)
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A French humanitarian team is leaving Colombia after being frustrated in its mission to aid failing hostage Ingrid Betancourt, reports the BBC. The leadership of the FARC rebels, who have held the French-Colombian presidential candidate hostage for six years, refused to allow the team to provide Betancourt with emergency medical aid. French President Nicolas Sarkozy had sent the aid workers after reports that Betancourt was seriously ill.
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But Dems will likely
kill trade pact over human rights
Washington Post Apr 7, 08 7:51 PM CDT
(Newser)
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President Bush said today he is handing Congress a much-disputed Colombia free trade pact, the Washington Post reports. But with both Democratic presidential candidates and many lawmakers opposing it, the bill has little chance of passing. Democrats have long blasted Colombia for failing to protect labor advocates and curb violence. "Workers are routinely murdered for seeking to exercise their most basic economic rights," Sen. Harry Reid said.
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updated
Says apology for
trade meeting showed 'lack of respect'
Politico Apr 5, 08 2:25 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Colombia fired a Washington lobbying firm today after its CEO, a top Hillary Clinton strategist, apologized for meeting with the country's US envoy, Politico reports. Mark Penn called the trade meeting an “error in judgment” that “will not be repeated,” but the remark ruffled feathers in Colombia. "The Colombian government considers this a lack of respect to Colombians, and finds this response unacceptable," the government said it a statement.
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Penn, in job as lobbyist, hired to promote accord candidate opposes
Wall Street Journal Apr 4, 08 2:01 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Hillary Clinton’s chief strategist met with Colombia’s ambassador to the US this week on a trade deal the Democratic candidate opposes—in his capacity as a lobbying executive, the Wall Street Journal reports. Mark Penn's firm, Burson-Marsteller, was paid $300,000 to fight for the bilateral accord, which President Bush says he could send to Capitol Hill next week.
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French president renews call for FARC ro release hostage
Reuters Apr 1, 08 3:20 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Nicolas Sarkozy today reiterated his call for FARC to free hostage Ingrid Betancourt, saying the Colombian-French politician is "in danger of imminent death," Reuters reports. After 6 years in the rebel guerrillas' custody, Betancourt reportedly began a hunger strike Feb. 23. "Free Ingrid Betancourt and the weakest hostages," the French president said in an appearance televised with Spanish subtitles.
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Unverified docs reveal activities of Colombian rebels
New York Times Mar 30, 08 3:07 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Colombian officials claim to have computer files captured from its FARC rebels that indicate Venezuela sold arms to the terrorist group, the New York Times reports. If Interpol verifies the files, they would also suggest links between FARC and Ecuador’s government and provide insight into the rebel organization. Colombia nabbed the computers in a raid in Ecuador earlier this month.
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FARC must release ailing Betancourt for deal to go through
Guardian (UK) Mar 28, 08 10:43 AM CDT
(Newser)
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After more than 6 years in captivity, Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt will go free if FARC agrees to a deal Alvaro Uribe signed off on last night, the Guardian reports. The Colombian president issued a decree saying the country will release imprisoned rebel fighters in exchange for Betancourt, a onetime presidential candidate believed to be seriously ill with hepatitis B and a tropical skin disease.
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US attempts to quell trafficking stagnate in coca-based economy
Los Angeles Times Mar 23, 08 3:48 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Peru's cocaine business is growing again, sparking a spate of killings, threats, and US-funded attempts to stop it, the Los Angeles Times reports. Coca bush plots have increased by a third since 1999 to feed markets in Europe, East Asia, and Brazil—but growers are hard to collar because they work piecemeal, without the flashy kingpins of old. "We're up against an army of ants," said Peru's top anti-drug cop.
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He shot his FARC boss, cut off his
hand as proof
BBC Mar 15, 08 11:51 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Colombia will pay the former FARC rebel who killed his commander last week part of a $2.5 million reward—a move critics say amounts to payment for murder, the BBC reports. Guerrilla Pedro Pablo Montoya shot his boss, then cut off his hand as proof. He will share the money with three others who provided intelligence information.
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US, studying evidence, won't yet call Chavez
a terror sponsor
Reuters Mar 12, 08 8:50 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Possible links between Hugo Chavez’ Venezuelan government and the Colombian FARC guerrilla group concern Washington, but US officials aren't yet saying the nation will be declared a state sponsor of terrorism, Reuters reports. Colombia said computers seized in a March 1 raid on a FARC base in Ecuador contain evidence that proves Venezuela is aiding the leftist group.
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