Antanas Mockus Šivickas

[rabs]

Sergio Fajardo, left, with Antanas Mockus.


Remember the name: Antanas Mockus Šivickas, a Lithuanian-Colombian, Green Party presidential candidate.

This weekend he turned the Colombian presidential race topsy-turvy and even though he is still considered somewhat of a long-shot, there is growing speculation that he could in fact become the next president.

If he were to win, Mockus would become the first Green Party president in the world (so far as I know). Mockus is a former colorful and successful mayor of Bogota. (More on the Wiki link below.)

Mockus on Saturday sent a letter to Sergio Fajardo, another presidential candidate, inviting Fajardo to be his vice presidential running mate. Fajardo today (Sunday) accepted, although it will be next week before it is official.

Fajardo is an independent who has been working the grass roots for the past two years and has amassed a considerable following. Fajardo is a former successful mayor of Medellin.

Both Mockus and Fajardo are considered "clean" as far as their politics go; no links to para-politicians, paramilitaries, massive corruption and everything bad in the past eight years under uribe.

The Mockus-Fajardo alliance is poised on becoming a very real problem for the uribista JM Santos and especially for Noemí Sanín, although Santos and Sanín are leading in the polls. Sanín is the candidate for the traditional Conservative Party but the party is in tatters with defections to JM Santos.

The Mockus-Fajardo duo may knock out Sanín in the first round and go on to challenge Santos in a runoff.

So keep an eye on these two.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antanas_Mockus

[Peace Patriot]

1. Some stranger knocks on your door in Colombia and asks you about your political views

and you can get a bullet in the head for what you say. So opinion polls in Colombia are meaningless. ("...Santos and Sanín are leading in the polls.") And I'm afraid that the same applies to the actual vote. There is no way that the Pentagon/CIA and associated Colombian militarists, death squadders and drug lords are going to let a clean Green candidate win the election in Colombia and defeat the Pentagon's boy, Santos. BILLIONS of U.S. taxpayer dollars have been invested in militarizing and occupying Colombia. There is absolutely no chance of Colombia holding a fair and transparent election. Tens of thousands of leftist voters--union leaders and members, human rights workers, community activists, teachers, journalists, peasant farmers and others--have been murdered by the Colombian military (about half the murders) and by its closely tied rightwing paramilitary death squads (the other half). A recent mass grave with up to 2,000 bodies--very likely 'disappeared' local community activists--was just discovered, very near a U.S. military base in an area of Colombia--La Macarena--of special interest and activity by the U.S. military and the USAID (CIA). In addition, four million peasant farmers have been displaced--the biggest human displacement crisis on earth, outside of Sudan--and hundreds of thousands of those displaced Colombians have fled into Venezuela and Ecuador (creating a huge refugee headache and expense for those countries, and fostering instability in the border areas).

So, for one thing, hundreds of thousands of Colombians can't vote because they are dead, and others can't or won't vote because they have no home and fear reprisals from the government if they 'register' as displaced, or have fled to Venezuela or Ecuador, or live in terror of being killed, or their families being targeted, for their political views. And those who do vote may have the local rightwing paramilitary enforcers looking over their shoulder in the polling booth and pointing to the candidate they must vote for.

The conditions for a fair election do not exist. The vote will be no more reliable than the one that U.S. taxpayers just paid for, in Honduras--an election under martial law, run by the military, after the leftist and even non-political media were brutally shut down and several hundred leftist activists murdered and thousands jailed, as well as beaten, raped tortured.

Sorry to be such a pessimist but those 2,000 rotting bodies in La Macarena--which were discovered because local children got sick from drinking the water which had been polluted by the rotting bodies--say it all. Colombia is such a rotting cauldron of corruption, and such an important investment by our corporate rulers and war profiteers, that it is simply not possible for the left to win and it is not possible for Santos--the 'Donald Rumsfeld' of Latin America--to lose.

[Judi Lynn]

8. Exactly right, truthful, totally focused. I've have read articles which discuss the fact paras DO

go into the voting booths, at times, and actually look over their shoulders while they try to vote. After all, who's going to stop them? What a snake pit.

Your article is worth saving, until LONG after these true demons are gone. Here's just one article which certainly supports what you have written:

COLOMBIA: "Mark Him on the Ballot - The One Wearing Glasses"
By Constanza Vieira

BOGOTA, May 8 , 2008 (IPS) - "With Uribe, we thought: this is the guy who is going to change the country," the 41-year-old fisherwoman told IPS.

That is why her fishing and farming village of 800 people in the central Colombian region of Magdalena Medio decided overwhelmingly to vote for current President Álvaro Uribe in the 2002 presidential elections, when he first ran.

The woman agreed to talk to IPS on the condition that she be asked neither her name (we will call her "L.") nor the name of her village.

The main city in the fertile region of Magdalena Medio is Barrancabermeja, an oil port on the Magdalena River, which runs across Colombia from south to north before emptying into the Caribbean Sea.

What convinced the villagers to vote for Uribe? "Because the region where we live is poor, very poor, it’s so difficult to find work, and when I heard him say ‘I am going to work for the poor, I am going to help them,’ I thought ‘this is a good president’."

When the rightwing president’s first four-year term came to an end in 2006, most of the villagers decided again to vote for him, reasoning that he just needed more time to reduce poverty.

The odd thing was that in both the 2002 and 2006 elections, despite the fact that the villagers had already decided to vote for Uribe, the far-right paramilitaries, who had committed a number of murders since 1998, when they appeared in the region that was previously dominated by the leftwing guerrillas, pressured the local residents to vote for Uribe anyway.

The paramilitaries did not kill people to pressure the rest to vote for Uribe, as they did in other communities, but merely used "threats," said L.

"If you don't vote for Uribe, you know what the consequences will be," the villagers were told ominously.

And on election day, they breathed down voters’ necks: "This is the candidate you’re going to vote for. You’re going to put your mark by this one. The one wearing glasses," they would say, pointing to Uribe’s photo on the ballot, L. recalled.

"One (of the paramilitaries) was on the precinct board, another one was standing next to the table, and another was a little way off, all of them watching to see if you voted for Uribe," she added, referring to the less than subtle way that the death squads commanded by drug traffickers and allies of the army ensured that L.’s village voted en masse for the current president in both elections.

"We form part of a municipality where there is corruption, from the mayor to town councillors, the police, the army and the justice officials - in a word, everyone. They are just one single corrupt mass. So what are you supposed to do?" said L., who added that the paramilitaries "control everything."

In 2002, the paramilitaries joined the election campaign in L.’s village, promising to close off a pipe that during the rainy season floods a field where people put their cows out to graze in the summertime and "where the farmers plant the food we depend on: rice, cassava and maize," she said. "But what we didn't know at first was that they (the paramilitaries) were with the president who we hoped would improve our poverty," she added.

At the same time, L. had few good things to say about the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and National Liberation Army (DLN), the guerrilla groups that dominated the Magdalena Medio region for years after they first emerged in 1964.

"Instead of creating jobs for us, what they did was to make us lose the ones we already had," she said.

In addition, many people left the area because the insurgent groups were winning over and recruiting their teenage sons and daughters.

Although in the first few decades, the guerrillas "stayed out of sight…when they became active, it immediately became clear to us that everything was going downhill."

Then the paramilitaries arrived. At first, said L., they killed only a few people, those who they considered to be involved with the guerrillas. But then they began to pressure local peasant farmers to sell their land.

That pushed many members of the community into ruin, because the 40,000 dollars that they were given, on average, by the paramilitaries for their farms did not last long.

Today the area is one of large plantations of African palm trees, heavily guarded by paramilitaries, despite the partial mobilisation of the far-right groups as a result of talks with the Uribe administration.

When going from one place to another, said L., locals must often take the long way round, because "that area is off-limits to the local peasant farmers."

Some demobilised paramilitaries have taken to highway robbery, while others form part of "newly rearmed" groups, like the "Black Eagles", which first appeared in the Magdalena Medio region, as reported by IPS in April 2006.

Uribe won the 2002 election with 53 percent of the vote. If he had taken 300,000 fewer votes, a runoff would have been necessary, in which an alliance of his adversaries (the social democratic Liberal Party and the left) would have stood a chance.

But in 2006, he won a landslide victory, garnering over 62 percent of the vote.

Just how many legislators, governors, regional lawmakers, mayors and town councillors benefited from paramilitary pressure is something that the Supreme Court and the Attorney General’s Office are just now beginning to elucidate. Talk in Colombia these days is about who is the latest politician to be arrested or investigated for ties to the paramilitaries.

"‘Parapolitics’ is the seizure of power in Colombia by a convergence of alliances and interests of the regional and national political elites, drug traffickers, and armed force," Claudia López, one of the authors of a report titled "Parapolitics: The Route of Paramilitary Expansion and Political Accords", told a packed auditorium at the Bogotá International Book Fair.

She was announcing the release of the third edition of the report, produced by the Bogotá think tank Corporación Nuevo Arco Iris.

The death squads have warned that orders have been issued to kill several of the report’s authors.

More:
http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=42290

[rabs]

10. I am more optimistic

Yes, polls have traditionally been unreliable. But in this case, the fact that Santos only has about 37 percent speaks volumes. Recall that latest polls are still giving uribe around a 70 percent approval rate. So to me, this would indicate that JM has lost massive ground within the uribismo movement. That could be because uribe supported his clone, Felipe Arias, to replace him in the presidential palace, but lo and behold, Noemi Sanin defeated uribito by 37,000 votes in the March 14 primary. Uribe still has not endorsed JM.

About the voting conditions: They have changed totally from the days of Uribe. The powerful paramilitary (AUC) groups that coerced campesinos to vote for Uribe are no longer around and a bunch of them have been extradited to the United States. Many of the parapoliticians and yidispoliticians that swung the re-election for uribe four years ago now are in jail or being investigated.

The primaries last month generated such controversy over the tabulation that this presidential election is going to have such internal and internationsl oversight that I don't think Santos can get away with stealing it. Recall the report in El Espectador that uribe was thinking of importing 10,000 electronic voting machines for the presidential election? Well, that report vanished from the frontpages, although it quoted none other than the president of the National Electoral Council.

I happened to bookmark the story, since it was so far out.

http://www.elespectador.com/articulo193606-estudian-posibilidad-de-establecer-voto-electronico-presidenciales

No doubt there are some in the Pentagon and Hil's State Department who favor Santos to keep Plan Colombia and the bases accords alive, even as the Constitutional Court is studying their legality.

That's why I think the Mockus-Fajardo alliance has shifted the political landscape, expecially for JM. This Green Party candidate and Fajardo all of a sudden are an attractive, middle-of-the political spectrum option for millions of Colombians who are sick of the uribismo corruption, the war, the La Macarenas, the paramilitarismo, the violence etc etc.

Granted, they may not win, but it is going to be interesting how far they go.
---------------------------------

An anecdotal note: When Walter Cronkite turned against the Vietnam War, LBJ said, "Well, that's it. I have lost middle America." Well, JM Santos had an LBJ moment today.

The Colombian pop superstar Juanes today twittered:

"Mockus + Fajardo = more education and less war."

And on Monday:

"Liberty of opinion is inherent in everyone. Mockus/Fajardo, marvelous."

Juanes in the past was known for his unabashed support of uribe.

So today, down the drain went a few million of the younger votes for Santos
:rofl:

[Peace Patriot]

16. Thanks for the detailed run-down of recent developments, rabs! It is so great to have you

posting here at DU!

I shall try to be more optimistic. But this election is SO important to our war profiteers and other corpo/fascists that I cannot believe they won't interfere on Santos' behalf. They are pouring multi-millions of our tax dollars into rightwing groups in Venezuela and all over Latin America--in addition to psyops/disinformation and military budgets--to defeat the Left. Hell, they just installed a rightwing coup in Honduras--with all the loss to Obama in good relations--in order to remove a leftist president and put the rightwing back in charge. And I don't think there is anything they wouldn't do to prevent a Leftist/Centrist victory in Colombia. The only optimism I have is that this Colombian election may be well-monitored. But that's just the voting procedures and counting. That won't prevent "dirty tricks," psyops/disinformation, use of money and the corpo-fascist press, and other means of influencing/tampering with the election. And it won't enable the dead to vote--nor will it likely be able to solve the problem of 4 million displaced people, many of whom fear government reprisal if they register as displaced. That's a lot of votes. And many, many leftist organizers are dead--the people who get out the vote. They have been especially targeted. The La Macarena massacre is recent (2005-2009) and possibly on-going. These are the reasons that I am not optimistic. But I will try to work up some hope and positive thinking. Miracles sometimes DO occur.

[Dreyfus]

108. Santos is zillion times worst than Rumsfeld

Excuse me, my friend. Donald Rumsfeld is a Saint comparing him with the Colombian candidate Santos What a paradox. Santos means Saints in Spanish, but Juan Manuel Santos is a real devil. With thorns, fork and tail.

[troubledamerican]

162. Operation Gladio -- Strategic reward in letting the Left win so you can sabotage it as "epic fail"

Just like here in the U.S. during the current era.

Does anybody really believe that when AMS wins in Colombia, somehow the Right-Wing Death Squad networks and military-paramilitary connections will somehow magically vanish?

Does anybody really believe the military-paramilitary network will sit on its hands, instead of setting up false flags?

We sure haven't learned anything from this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategy_of_tension

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Gladio

[Dreyfus]

165. UR Right!!!

As Colombian myself, I really appreciate your accurate comment. UR right 100%.

[troubledamerican]

169. Very good to have you here. Welcome to DU.

We really need voices like yours around here. We are outnumbered here.

[Dreyfus]

181. Thank you!!

Thanks a lot for your welcoming words.

"Rivers fills up drop by drop".

[protocol rv]

2. Reminds me of Regus Patoff

There are other politicians with interesting names. The President of Indonesia was Megawati Sukarnoputri - maybe we can bring her over to Venezuela to give us advice to relieve our power crisis? And the Vice President of Zimbabwe was Canaan Banana, who wasn't related to the fruit. The President of Gabon for many years was Omar Bongo. And the President of the USA was George Bush. I wonder, was this associated with the beer, or with the plant?

So if Mockus wins, he'll be in the Pantheon of funny names. You do realize in Spanish Mockus is very close to snot?

Who was Regus Patoff? A Russian immigrant who invented gadgets in a commic strip I read many years ago when I was in college in the USA. Reg US Pat Off. Very funny little guy.

[Meshuga]

3. "I wonder, was this associated with the beer, or with the plant? "

Well, the comedian George Carlin's take is that the name "Bush" is related to the genitals. you know, the hair above it and around it.

[protocol rv]

4. I see

Does Carlin know that in Spanish if a person is called "Genital Hair" it is an insult?

[Meshuga]

5. I'm sure he did

He died a year or so ago. But a bush is a group of those hairs so it makes it even better.

[Judi Lynn]

6. Thanks for the background we'd never get in our own corporate media, rabs.

I hope this man and his running mate can give them some real pressure in this election. It would be wonderful.

Great hearing they have unexpectedly attracted positive attention, support. Wouldn't it be amazing to see Colombia becoming transformed? Are miracles this vast even possible?

Will remember their names.

[Judi Lynn]

7. Key political risks to watch in Colombia

Key political risks to watch in Colombia
Tue Apr 6, 2010 3:41pm EDTBy Patrick Markey

Funds News

BOGOTA, April 6 (Reuters) - A tight election race to succeed President Alvaro Uribe and a possible run-off vote in June, rebel violence, the push for investment grade and tensions with Venezuela are all points to watch in Colombia this year.

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Colombia's political landscape shifted after a court barred the still popular Uribe from seeking a third term. In his two terms, Uribe took the fight to Marxist guerrillas and helped foreign investment rise to an estimated $10 billion this year, mostly in oil and mining, from $2 billion in 2002 when he first came to power. Two Uribe allies now lead in the polls to replace him, but neither has enough backing to win outright in the May vote and a June run-off looks likely.

Juan Manuel Santos, his former defense minister, leads polls and his U Party has the strongest position in Congress after recent legislative elections. He is also the most closely associated with Uribe's security successes. But just ten points behind him in polls is Noemi Sanin, the Conservative Party candidate who also claims to be Uribe's heir. The election of either would guarantee the continuity that investors expect in security and pro-business policies, and analysts see little impact on the Colombian peso COP=RR and local TES bonds. But both Santos and Sanin would face a more divided Congress now that Uribe's alliance in the legislature has splintered.

One surprise has been the rise of independent candidate and former Bogota mayor Antanas Mockus who joined forces with former Medellin mayor Sergio Fajardo. Well-known in the capital, Mockus could challenge Sanin for the second round against Santos if he keeps up momentum, analysts say. Alliance building will be key now.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSRISKCO20100406?rpc=401&type=fundsFundsNews&feedType=RSS&feedName=fundsFundsNews&rpc=401

[rabs]

9. So, Reuters catches up with what we had on DU last Sunday.

------------------
(REUTERS) One surprise has been the rise of independent candidate and former Bogota mayor Antanas Mockus who joined forces with former Medellin mayor Sergio Fajardo. Well-known in the capital, Mockus could challenge Sanin for the second round against Santos if he keeps up momentum, analysts say. Alliance building will be key now.
-------------

Reuters says it is a "surprise." It was more like a tectonic shift in the presidential race because now there is a valid, and growing, option to Santos and his brand of uribismo. But Reuters is behind in the "alliance building" concept. That has already begun.

There is a political movement that emerged after the March 14 primary elections.

It is called TOCOSAN. Short in Spanish for TODOS CONTRA SANTOS. (EVERBOY AGAINST SANTOS) It could also be used against Noemi should she manage to beat (doubtful) Santos in the first round on May 30.

In short what TOCOSAN means is that there will be a concentrated effort to beat Santos (or Noemi) in the second round by the other parties that range from the leftist Polo to many in Noemi's Conservative Party. It is vox populi that Noemi detests Santos.

Semana magazine tonight is reporting that the Mockus-Fajardo alliance is a daring move clamored by opinion makers and common citizens and that it could tilt the balance in favor of a sector that at the moment is in third place in the presidential race.

So, 55 days to go before the election, and being Colombia, anything can still happen.

[Judi Lynn]

11. I recall your mentioning how Reuters has been known to gather their stories some time ago.

This is hilarious, isn't it?

I heard there's one wire service guy who stays in his hotel room in Caracas and literally takes reports he sees on Globovision, just writes them down after they are read on TV and sends them to his employer.

Thanks for the updates on this Mockus-Fajardo element. It's extremely interesting. Hope they get a lot of momentum in the next 2 months.

This sounds quite different than it did just a month ago, it seems.

[protocol rv]

12. Reuters has new safety precautions after the Baghdad Incident

I assume you've heard about the two Reuters reporters who were killed by a US helicopter in Baghdad? They were trying to cover a weightlifting event and heard some gun fire, so they went out to the street to nose around. The US helicopter crew thought the camera with a telephoto lens was an AK47, and the tripod the other guy was carrying was an RPG, so they machine gunned them, plus 9 other guys who were standing around, and two little girls in a van which approached the scene to pick up a wounded man.

Since Caracas is so dangerous now, with a really high crime rate, I can see why they would have those guys sit tight. But I also bet you are a little bit off base. They are probably getting the stories, but they have to be very careful to protect their sources. Imagine the way it is here now, an official who talks to a Reuters reporter and tell them the truth would probably end up in jail like Judge Afiuni*

------------------------------------------------------------

*Here's a reference for the Afiuni case from the UN website:

"Decrying what they termed “a blow by President Hugo Chávez to the independence of judges and lawyers in the country,” three independent United Nations human rights experts today called for the immediate release of a Venezuelan judge arrested after ordering the conditional release of a prisoner held for almost three years without trial.

Judge María Lourdes Afiuni was arrested by intelligence police officers after ordering the conditional release pending trial of Eligio Cedeño, whose detention was declared arbitrary in September by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which cited violations of the right to fair trial. His counsel introduced the experts’ opinion before Judge Afiuni earlier this month.

“We are particularly troubled about allegations that President Hugo Chávez attacked both Mr. Cedeño and Judge Afiuni, calling them ‘bandidos’ and accusing Judge Afiuni of corruption,” the UN experts said in a statement issued in Geneva, where they report to the UN Council on Human Rights.

The three experts are: Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention El Hadji Malick Sow; Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers Gabriela Carina Knaul de Albuquerque e Silva; and Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders Margaret Sekaggya."

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=33273&Cr=judges&Cr1

------------------------------------------------------------------

So tell us, Judy, what do you think about the human rights climate in Venezuela, and what foreign reporters feel like when they see the way people are being arrested? Did you ever see the film "Darkness at Noon"? Or read "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovitch"? Try expanding your horizons, my dear friend.

[Peace Patriot]

13. "...they (Rotters) have to be very careful to protect their sources." Ha-ha-ha...

:rofl:

[Judi Lynn]

14. For sure, the noble name of Reuters must be protected from any hint

of politicized crap attempting to pass as honest journalism.

Everyone has always been able to know EVERYTHING Reuters tells them is absolutely truthful! They all made that pledge with their meaty little hands on a stack of Bibles before they were ever hired.

[Judi Lynn]

15. My horizons only go as far as the immortal author, Heywood Jablomi. n/t

[rabs]

17. "Green tsunami?" Mockus surges into second place

Noemí Sanín, the Conservative Party candidate has just announced to her followers that Mockus has surged past her into second place in the most recent presidential poll. Sanín has been in second place behind JM Santos since the March 14 primaries.

But she said a CM& poll to be released tonight shows Mockus is now second. She asked her followers "not to be disappointed" and to keep working. Sanin said Mockus had jumped from 10 percent to 22 percent.

There are some political observers who already are taling about a "Green tusnami" but I think it is way too early.

Yesterday, Mockus said he was keeping the Polo Party (leftist) at arms length. He does not want anything to do with the extremist uribismo or the leftist sectors.

Story, Spanish but easily understood.

http://www.eltiempo.com/elecciones2010/noemisanin/antanas-mockus-supera-a-sanin-en-las-encuestas_7556470-1

Edit to add poll figures just released

Juan Manuel Santos 37%

Antanas Mockus 22%

Noemí Sanín 20%

Gustavo Petro 6%

Rafael Pardo 5%

Germán Vargas Lleras 3%

Robinson Devia -

Jaime Araujo -

Jairo Calderón -

Votaría en blanco 2%

Ns/Nr (do not say, respond) 5%

[protocol rv]

18. Hey, this is great

Hooray for Mockus!!

[ChangoLoa]

19. ISn't Mockus the candidate who declared himself for the US-shared bases? nt

[Judi Lynn]

20. Looking forward to hearing more on Mockus' foreign policy, by all means.

Just took a tiny peek in a superficial search and what I saw so far seems respectable:

~snip~
Green Party

Mockus, who has formed an alliance with former Medellin Mayor Sergio Fajardo, said today he would also build on Uribe’s security success if elected next month.

The former Bogota mayor is vowing to attack corruption and continue working with the U.S., which provided $600 million a year to Uribe’s government to help fight drug trafficking and promote business development.

Mockus told reporters in Cartagena today that his government won’t pursue dialogue with the country’s guerrilla groups unless they renounce kidnapping and violence. He also said he would use “all diplomatic channels” to improve relations with Venezuela, while continuing to cultivate ties around the region.

“It’s better not to govern by emotion,” said Mockus, 58, a former math professor. “It’s better to treat others the way you want to be treated: with respect.”

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-04-08/santos-pledges-better-colombia-venezuela-relations-update1-.html

~~~~~~~~

~snip~
Mockus’ proposals are directed to change the way in which politics are done, and how the leader relates to the country’s citizens. Meritocracy is a cornerstone of his government proposals, along with the total annihilation of corruption. When Mockus was asked about Uribe’s successful Democratic Security strategy, he said that it already is dried out, and what follows is the “Democratic Legality,” meaning the empowering of the justice structure rather than the military structure that has been the current administration’s basic approach. As for his economic and social policies, he bases them on the ideal of a total elimination of corruption.

The Partido Verde candidate’s proposal regarding Bogotá’s problems with Venezuela and Ecuador is to create a greater sense of interdependence among the nations, giving special attention to nearby South American countries and the Caribbean, similar to the 1991 Constitution, which expresses the ideal of working toward regional unity. This implies that if he would be ready to sacrifice his country’s relationship with the U.S. to a certain extent, Colombia could benefit more from regional integration.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1004/S00068.htm

~~~~~~~~

~snip~
The Colombian people, with a majority of urban mixed Indigenous or mestizos, a third of African descendants, and a considerable number of European, Arab and rural Indigenous, they all remain hopeful that one day, finally, peace will come to their streets and fields, beaches and mountains, valleys and ports.

For that to happen, the United States must withdraw from the country in every way, so that Colombians can take control of their nation. The Colombian oligarchy must end its bloody legacy of hatred and racism, and must accept the true popular will of the majority.

Is for Colombians to promote process of peace, and of disarmament in the long run, beginning with understanding its own history, promoting a historical reconciliation and of tolerance for different political ideas, of respect to the right of its habitants to their lands.
It will take generations to change this privileged and complicated country, but as long as cruel and fanatic people Alvaro Uribe and Juan Manuel Santos are presidents of Colombia, unfortunately this process will not begin.

Meanwhile, independent and leftist organizations in Colombia, are still trying to stop the continuation of the policies of Alvaro Uribe. This will not be possible unless there is a coalition of the major opposition candidates: Gustavo Petro of the Polo Democratico Alternativo, Sergio Fajardo of Citizens Engagement and Antanas Mockus of the Green Party. These are three extraordinary political leaders.

An electoral victory of the Colombian opposition, would be very good for Colombia and the world. It would help the internal peace process, restore hope to the Colombians that a united country is possible, where all the armed groups could become a civilian part of the government that Colombians will decide. Also it will improve the relations between the countries of South America, creating a political balance in the region, and ensuring peace and progress among our peoples. Something that perhaps the U.S. might not want to see.

We hope that Colombians will decide courageously and with truth. To the rest of the world, we can only wait with an an endured rage and an insisting hope.

http://www.groundreport.com/World/The-U-S-interventionism-in-Colombian-politics-and-/2921462

~~~~~~~~
Regarding his history as the mayor of Bogota, his personal ethic set as policy:

~snip~
In 1995 he was elected mayor of the city of Bogota and he carried out a government plan based on the implementation of policies and programs for the construction of civic culture (Cultura Ciudadana). This meant the promotion of certain rules for civic coexistence through a change of culturally accepted behavior based on pedagogical mechanisms (self-regulation and mutual regulation of behavior) rather than on the exclusive use of coercion or law enforcement. In this manner some of the following policies put into effect were: alcohol restriction, voluntary disarmament, compliance with traffic regulations, interruption of clientelistic relations between the city administration and the city council, voluntary water saving (during a water supply crisis in 1997), among others. At the end of the period the city's violent death rates had significantly decreased. After his first period in office he carried out research on the main questions he had confronted as city mayor. He undertook a study of coexistence of youngsters in Bogota with the aim of identifying the main traits and behavior that foster peaceful coexistence. In 2000 he was again elected mayor of Bogota. The 2001-03 government plan set out to be a development of the previous civic culture program but with an emphasis on voluntary compliance of the law, that is, on the alignment of cultural and moral regulations with the law. With the same priority of promoting peaceful coexistence, the mayor's office has carried out a pedagogy of the law (through the formation of democratic culture and of a culture of legality). Additionally, and closely related to the concept of civic culture, the mayor has promoted a tax culture (as a the necessary condition for social investment) and civil resistance (as nonviolent citizen action against violence and terrorism). The city's violent death rates have been continually decreasing and the citizens are more involved with the development of the city from a perspective of co-responsibility.

http://c250.columbia.edu/c250_events/symposia/constitutions_bios.html

~~~~~~~~
This article brought back the memory all over again of a man of COURSE of whom I heard, years ago! Well, that's cool. I had forgotten his name. This is cool!

~snip~
No one doubts the capability of Mockus as an academic, but his weakness seems to be precisely that his proposals tend to be very abstract and at times preciously idealistic. However, he is known for being the person that changed Bogotá into a cosmopolitan and educated city through his ideas about “citizen culture,” in which he empowered the citizenry and made them responsible for the city through projects such as the “carrot hour,” by which he reduced drunk driving and violence related to alcohol. He has two main principles: “with education everything is possible” and “build over what was already built.”
Mockus’ proposals are directed to change the way in which politics are done, and how the leader relates to the country’s citizens. Meritocracy is a cornerstone of his government proposals, along with the total annihilation of corruption. When Mockus was asked about Uribe’s successful Democratic Security strategy, he said that it already is dried out, and what follows is the “Democratic Legality,” meaning the empowering of the justice structure rather than the military structure that has been the current administration’s basic approach. As for his economic and social policies, he bases them on the ideal of a total elimination of corruption.

The Partido Verde candidate’s proposal regarding Bogotá’s problems with Venezuela and Ecuador is to create a greater sense of interdependence among the nations, giving special attention to nearby South American countries and the Caribbean, similar to the 1991 Constitution, which expresses the ideal of working toward regional unity. This implies that if he would be ready to sacrifice his country’s relationship with the U.S. to a certain extent, Colombia could benefit more from regional integration.

http://mydd.com/2010/3/14/in

Thanks for your info. on this guy, Rabs. He is an extraordinary candidate.

[rabs]

21. Poll commissioned by El Tiempo released this morning

Simply amazing!

Mockus pulls to less then 5 points behind JM Santos, who dropped by about 8.5 points; he had 37 percent at the beginning of this week.

This poll is by the newspaper owned by the Santos family, which of course is pushing the candidacy of JM Santos. Right about now El Tiempo must be starting to have a sinking feeling in the stomach.

Noemi might as well as give it up, her numbers show a drop of about four points this week.

El Tiempo today also publishes an article in which Mockus admits he has the beginning symptoms of Parkinson's Disease. In the story Mockus asks that he not be "crucified" for it and that it is not affecting his mental state or his job performance.

El Tiempo playing dirty politics, but it may backfire if people sympatize with Mockus.

Juan Manuel Santos 29,5%
Antanas Mockus 24,8%
Noemí Sanín 16,4%
Rafael Pardo 5,2%
Gustavo Petro 3,1%
Germán Vargas Lleras 3,0%
Róbinson Devia -
Jaime Araujo -
Jairo Calderón -
Voto en blanco 3,2%
No sabe 10%
No responde 4,0%

Se encuestaron 1.200 personas en 13 ciudades del país, Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Barranquilla, Bucaramanga, Cartagena, Pasto, Pereira, Cúcuta, Manizales, Neiva, Montería y Villavicencio.

La medición se realizó los días 6, 7 y 8 de abril de 2010.

El margen de error del opinómetro es del 2,98%, mientras el nivel de confianza llega al 95%.

http://www.eltiempo.com/elecciones2010/santos-y-mockus-firmes-aspirantes-a-disputar-la-presidencia-en-segunda-vuelta-_7561207-1


http://www.eltiempo.com/elecciones2010/antanasmockus/mockus-confiesa-que-le-diagnosticaron-inicio-de-parkinson_7561127-1

edit to add that Semana headlining Mockus' surge

http://www.semana.com/

For readers of Spanish recommend taking a look at the comments under Semana's article.

[Judi Lynn]

22. Dow Jones was quick to pick up the Parkinson story, of course.

Colombia Presidential Candidate Mockus Has Parkinson's Disease
CARTAGENA, Colombia (Dow Jones)

Colombian Green Party presidential hopeful Antanas Mockus, one of the leading candidates, Friday told local radio that he has Parkinson's disease.

Mockus is currently second in Colombia's presidential race with 24.8% of voting intentions, behind former Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos, with the Party of the U, with 29.5%, according to a poll commissioned by El Tiempo newspaper and W, a local radio station, and published Friday.

"Doctors confirm that I have another 12 years of normal life, thanks to medication," El Tiempo reported Mockus as saying. "I understand people's concerns, but I hope they don't crucify me for having an illness that is physical and not mental."

Mockus is an academic and former mayor of Bogota. The elections will be held on May 30.

http://www.advfn.com/news_Colombia-Presidential-Candidate-Mockus-Has-Parkinsons-Disease_42323306.html

[rabs]

23. Question: If Antanas says he has Parkinson's ...

... why is it that the one who is trembling uncontrollably is Juan Manuel Santos ??

That is the joke of the day in Colombia. :rofl:





A new group formed tonight: NEUROLOGISTS FOR MOCKUS !!
Five of Colombia's leading medical experts said the early signs of Parkinson's that Mockus is showing will in no way impede him in a presidential capacity.

Tomorrow it will be exactly one week that this phenomenon exploded. I would like to see the explanations that Amb. Billy Brownfield is rocketing to the Colombia Desk and Hillary in Washington. Mockus/Fajardo was not in their plans and slipped in under State's radar.

There are 52 days to go before the election and if this momentum keeps up, some Colombians are daring to hope that it may be a first-round knockout by Mockus and Fajardo. But right now signs still point to a runoff.

Oh, Santos today said he would not use Mockus' PARKINSON'S DISEASE against him in the campaign and told his campaign managers not to take advantage of Mockus' PARKINSON'S DISEASE and advised his uribismo followers not to dwell on Mockus' PARKINSON'S DISEASE out of respect for Antanas who has PARKINSON'S DISEASE and for Mockus' family, now that Antanus has PARKINSON'S DISEASE.
:rofl:

For the record, Mockus' full name is

AURELIJNS RUTENIS ANTANAS MOCKUS SIVICKAS

Lots of people are going to have a devil of time spelling it :rofl:

[Judi Lynn]

24. What a name! That should stand out on any ballot.

It's good to hear Juan Manuel Santos is so far above bringing up the PARKINSON'S DISEASE. Of course, it won't be his fault if the newspapers keep dragging up the fact he has PARKINSON'S DISEASE, especially El Tiempo. He'd stop them from doing it if he could, but after all, Colombia has always respected freedom of the press!

This is going to be hilarious if this guy does make it to the top. “The best laid plans o' mice and men often go awry.” It would be simply heavenly.

Very good input from the neurologists. After all, Janet Reno had a real dose of that disease and it appears it didn't hamper her effectiveness in any way at all, and from what I heard last, she was still driving around in her red pickup, and even going canoeing or kayaking with no fear whatsoever.

Some DU members will be watching this countdown together.

[Judi Lynn]

25. Antanas Mockus rules Twitter and Facebook

Antanas Mockus rules Twitter and Facebook
Tuesday, 06 April 2010 14:16
Cameron Sumpter

As Colombia's presidential elections draw closer, presidential candidates are using the internet to garner voter support. Green Party candidate Antanas Mockus is leading the social networking popularity game, while Partido de la U candidate Juan Manuel Santos tops the Google search list, El Espectador reports.

With over 9,000 Twitter followers, former Bogota mayor Mockus has beaten his new running mate Sergio Farjado, who comes a close second with 8,700.

Election front-runner Santos is the most searched-for candidate on Google, but has not embraced social networking sites like his competitors.

Antanas Mockus has attracted more "Facebook friends" than any other candidate, with Polo Democratico candidate Gustavo Petro the runner-up.

El Espectador started to assess the online interest in each Colombian presidential candidates this week, by measuring four indicators including Twitter followers, Facebook fans, Google searches, and the popularity of each candidate's website, as calculated by alexa.com.

There are over 20 million people connected to the internet in Colombia, according to El Espectador.

Websites like Twitter and Facebook have been thought to be influential in election campaigns in other counties, including Sebastian Pinera's rise to power in Chile, and Barack Obama's historic victory in the U.S.

http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/9006-antanas-mockus-rules-on-social-network-sites.html

[Judi Lynn]

26. Great campaign ads:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHM0x2KFwEY

and: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOigFZK-4-M

Many of us remember this guy from years ago! He was getting international media coverage. VERY forward thinking. Cool guy.

http://portal.iteso.mx.nyud.net:8090/portal/page/portal/Dependencias/Rectoria/Dependencias/Direccion_de_Relaciones_Externas/Dependencias/Oficina_de_comunicacion_social/Coordinacion_de_Prensa_y_Difusion/textos_comunicados/Magis/magis.JPG

http://art-design.umich.edu.nyud.net:8090/images/uploads/lectures/antanas.jpg http://2.bp.blogspot.com.nyud.net:8090/_2SS7w9G2IKA/S3Yinq_b8YI/AAAAAAAAAFY/K1nkvPUevus/s400/invitacion+testigos-01.jpg

http://static2.elespectador.com.nyud.net:8090/files/images/febmar2010/742fc85e5f501893e27fc4568575ed38.jpg

[protocol rv]

27. I heard he said he wanted to exterminate the FARC

Seems like a smart leftist. But this will put him on a collision course with Chavez.

[subsuelo]

49. I'm sure he didn't say "exterminate"

[rabs]

28. Mockus/Fajardo going for the home run

There was a ceremony this morning in Bogota to formally inscribe Sergio Fajardo as Mockus' vice presidential running mate.

For the first time, they publically set their goal for the May 30 elections: to win in the FIRST round and not have to go to a runoff election.

Pretty lofty goal, but more and more Colombians are thinking that it could come true. El Tiempo even said that Mockus/Fajardo have become a "fenómeno electoral."

Have been reading leading Colombian political columnists, readers' comments, blogs, twitters and opinion is running heavily in favor of Mockus/Fajardo.

There is a dark and scary side to some of the readers' comments, and that concerns Mockus' safety. After all, Colombian has a history of presidential candidates being assassinated.

There was an intriguing item in yesterday's edition of Semana magazine: It said that a poll commissioned by the pro-Santos El Tiempo newspaper and a radio station, which was announced on Friday, had resulted in Mockus polling ahead of Santos. The poll company executives were so startled that the poll was retaken and the results then showed Santos a little less than five points ahead of Mockus. The polling company today denied it, but just the fact that this was published ???


edit -- typos

[ChangoLoa]

29. Home run for the US-shared bases in Colombia then. nt

[rabs]

30. Don't be so sure

Mockus as far as I know no se ha pronunciado on the issue of the bases.

In case you have not seen my previous posts, the bases accords are being reviewed by the Constitutional Court. The court is studying the legality of the pact. This is the same court that slammed the door on Uribe's bid for a third term.

Yesterday in Bogota, an NGO filed a lawsuit before the Consitutional Court also challenging the constitutionality of the accords.

The bases of both the court's and NGO's challenges are that the Congress had no say in reaching the pacts, as the constitution stipulates. The accords were reached and signed in secret by U.S. Ambassador W. Brownfield and the uribista regime.

If you have a link to Mockus backing the accords, post it for us. Thanks.

[Bacchus39]

31. I hope they say its unconstutional

anyway, you may also want to provide links.

[ChangoLoa]

59. I understood that from a question he asked during the presidential debate in Colombia.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXsHAmKCGwM

[Judi Lynn]

32. Great post, rabs. The best. Not surprising to learn threatening comments are already floating around

After starting to research Colombia's history I learned about the hideous history of assassinations of progressive politicians in that country going on for decades and decades.

I hope somehow this guy will get the protection he will absolutely HAVE to have around him so these assassins can't get near him.

As mentioned in DU'er "Derecho's" post on Uribe's denials of guilt, when he made those denials he ALSO took the opportunity to really try to strike out at leftist Senator Gustavo Petro. Petty, childish, deceitful, and so damned predictable. He must fear him.

The comments on the TWO polls by El Tiempo were great. It reveals they are every bit as underhanded as you'd expect them to be. Someone's probably going to get fired for publishing the first poll. The results of that one were WONDERFUL.

Have heard it's common for the parathugs to threaten, to call, to send messages, to even get private non-published phone numbers, private information, etc, etc. and torment, and toy with progressive targets before moving in to harm them. Hope they won't get anywhere near these two great "fenómenos."

May 30th isn't that far away.

[rabs]

33. More on El Tiempo's poll

Yesterday, Marco Emilio Hincapié, the head of the National Electoral Council, said polling firms would have to submit their question to the Council before they were put to the public.

He said the polls should be "more serious, more profound." This was a direct reaction to the El Tiempo/La W radio station poll that gave Mockus such a high approval rate.

He said the polling firms should "orient" their questions according to the Electoral Council's rules. Hincapié cited an obscure law, Ley 130 from 1994.

The head of the Datexco firm that did the poll, César Valderrama, said the polls his company conducts are "perfectly valid" and are done in 13 Colombian cities.

The upshot is that the El Tiempo poll probably upset some important uribismo people (JMS?) and pressure is on the Electoral Council to manipulate the polls.

Can you imagine polling companies here in the States being told to submit their questions to the government before putting them to the people?

I get the impression the uribistas are scared witless of the Mockus/Fajardo phenom ..


(edit to correct Datexco president's name.)

[Judi Lynn]

34. We may be seeing the first time the head of a polling company gets eliminated.

Absolutely NEVER heard of any polling company being required to submit questions to the government before giving them to the public. That defeats the purpose of the poll, after all. Oh, jeez. Looks like they're telling Datexco NOT to ever publish a poll the government won't like.

What a breakthrough for humanity! It's a triumph.

Don't EVER displease us, or we'll say you're breaking the law! You could go to jail, if you're lucky.

[rabs]

35. Actors and actresses for Mockus (video)

These are some of the top show biz people in Colombia, and they have a large fan base. Video came out today.



http://www.semana.com/multimedia-nacion/actores-actrices-suman-mockus/3146.aspx

------------------------
Mockus tried to make a campaign stop in the city 0f Bucamaranga last night and today but heavy rains prevented the plane three times from landing. So he campaigned aboard the aircraft, walking the aisle repsonding to all questions put to him by the passengers.



------------------

Btw, the government is filing charges against Piedad Cordoba for her alleged links to the FARC. She could be tried for treason according to Bogota media. Piedad has been in Europe the past week, trying to drum up support for a "humanitarian accord" to exchanbge more FARC prisoners for guerrillas held by the government.

[rabs]

36. Cali university students greet Santos

and made him run like a cur with his tail between his legs ... out the back door yet ! This was just a few days ago at a private university in the city of Cali.

Video, in Spanish, but self explanatory.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XouflTm570w

another video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiEcM6Hvnm8

(edit to add second video)

[Judi Lynn]

38. Stupendous moment, seeing him slithering down the back stairs!

Hope we won't be hearing some of those students have been murdered when teams of two guys on motorcycles pulled up beside them and blew them away in traffic, like Jaime Garzon, and others who dared to dissent or criticise.

So totally unexpected seeing the students were calling him out like that. I saw a sign nailing him on the "false positives." Outdoors they kept him a long distance from the closest students. (In Kansas City in an area where a lot of Mafia people used to live during the 1930's, etc., they built a lot of tunnels so if trouble came to the door in the form of some cops they hadn't bought off, they would run down their secret stairs and come up in some neighbor's house somewhere else. This would be useful for someone like Santos who may permanently be on the run if the feudal system they're running in Colombia starts coming apart. It would be wonderful dreaming of Santos being chased around by angry crowds the rest of his life. He deserves it.)

Saw the photo of Gustavo Petro on the bottom left of the candidates pictures. I read he ALWAYS has nine bodyguards with him. Hope nine will be enough!

Thank you for the great Mockus updates. So very unexpected and deeply interesting. More power to him.

[rabs]

37. Latest poll has Mockus in a second-round runoff

with Santos beating him 49 percent to 44 percent (only a five-point projection.)



The revelation of this poll is that just a month ago, Mockus was not even a dark horse in the presidential race. Today's poll shows him in a second-round runoff against JM Santos. Noemi Sanin is fading fast.

The El Tiempo story says that between April 8 and April 14, Mockus gained another seven points.

The uribistas are now talking about a TOCONMO -- "Todos contra Mockus" (All against Mockus). Looks like the panic is growing.

I really like the wording of the EL Tiempo (Santos-family owned newspaper) headline:

Si hay segunda vuelta, Santos obtendría el 49% y Mockus el 44%: Centro Nacional de Consultoría

"Si hay segunda vuelta" = "If there is a second round"

I keep seeing readers' comments on major Colombian media that there MAY NOT BE A SECOND ROUND. That Mockus/Fajardo may win in the FIRST ROUND.


http://www.eltiempo.com/elecciones2010/santos-y-mockus-encabezan-intencion-de-voto-en-ultima-encuesta-del-centro-nacional-de-consultoria_7601227-1

Six weeks to go before the election. Anythig can happen still.

[protocol rv]

39. Seems this guy can win with some luck?

This is the type of candidate I really like, but Latin American history is littered with good candidates who never made it. Hopefully he can win. However, I doubt this will fix the problem between Colombia and Venezuela, Mr Mockus declared he would not make any concessions to the FARC, and this would antagonize President Chavez.

[rabs]

40. Care to explain why would it "antagonize" President Chavez?

Mockus's problem with the FARC-EP is an internal Colombian problem. Nada que ver con Venezuela. Now, were "Chucky" Santos to win, then there would be a major league problem.

Btw, you may have seen that a Supreme Court judge ordered uribe a couple of days ago to remain "sordo, mudo y ciego" in regards to uribe's exabruptos over the presidential race.

uribe in recent days has been breaking the law by attacking Mockus, a sign the uribistas are scared witless of the surging green tide.

For English readers:

sordo = deaf
mudo = mute
ciego = blind

The judge ordered uribe to be like the three little monkeys.

[Bacchus39]

41. why would a Santos win be a "major league problem" if its a Colombian internal issue?

the election certainly is an internal issue. what does Colombia electing anyone have to do with Venezuela? Nada que ver con Venezuela.

the guy that told Uribe to remain sordo, mudo, y ciego was the Inspector General. You are allowed to post links you know.

http://www.eltiempo.com/colombia/politica/procudaror-habla-sobre-la-supuesta-participacion-en-politica-de-uribe_7609649-1

I thought Santos was a shoe-in but Antanas is making it much more interesting. thanks for the info but try posting some links though.

[protocol rv]

43. I think he means Chavez hates Uribe

I guess, because Uribe made the base deal with the gringos? Chavez seems so hostile towards Colombia, I'm afraid all the Colombians here will pack and go. And that's going to be a lot of Colombians, it'll create a refugee problem.

[Bacchus39]

44. he said Santos would be major league problem

I wouldn't vote for Santos but its not my country. I don't see why Rabs would say the Antanas/FARC relationship is an internal Colombian issue but a Santos victory is a major league problem. If Colombians vote for him, thats who its going to be regardless of Chavez' preferences.

I tend to think Chavez is more worried about holding power in Venezuela and getting more involved with the FARC isn't likely to help. Not that Chavez isn't capable of blowing Antanas' chances by endorsing him publicly.

[Peace Patriot]

52. Your FANTASY of Colombians fleeing Venezuela flies in the face of the FACTS about

the tens of thousands of Colombians--mostly poor peasant farmers--fleeing across the border INTO Venezuela--mostly in fear of the Colombia military and its death squads and U.S. toxic pesticide spraying*. In Venezuela, they get help--housing, food, health care, education, jobs, even micro-loans, because Venezuela has a GOOD government that is doing what it can in a difficult situation. In Colombia, they get LESS THAN NOTHING--murdered, tortured, 'disappeared,' violently displaced from their farm lands, oppressed, exploited. The number of Colombians fled into Venezuela is about 200,000. About 140,000 Colombians have also fled into Ecuador. Some have fled into Panama. The total of internally displaced people in Colombia is 3 to 4 million--the worst human displacement crisis on earth, outside of Sudan.

This is typical of your lunatic rightwing "tea bagger" mentality--everything upside down, backwards and inside out. Alice in Wonderland. Not surprising, I guess, from an apologist for Chevron-Texaco's massive toxic oil spill in Ecuador, who makes racist comments about "Indians"**--but rather odd, here, in a forum for progressive U.S. Democrats.

-------------------------

* The problem of Colombian refugees INTO Venezuela (and Ecuador):
http://venworld.wordpress.com/2008/01/22/new-hope-for-colombian-refugees/
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=30507&Cr=micro&Cr1
http://www.galdu.org/web/index.php?odas=1963&giella1=eng
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0908/S00377.htm

Background (analysis of Bush Junta policy in Colombia, modeled on the Reagan horrors in El Salvador in the 1980s): http://watsoninstitute.org/bjwa/archive/8.1/Essays/Tate.pdf

Background (the La Macarena, Colombia, massacre--typical of the reasons Colombians are fleeing into Venezuela/Ecuador)
The La Macarena massacre (includes a description of, and links to docs about, U.S. ops in La Macarena)
http://www.cipcol.org/?p=1303
The UK military connection
http://www.tribunemagazine.co.uk/2010/02/04/silence-on-british-army-link-to-colombian-mass-grave/
U.S. and Colombia Cover Up Atrocities Through Mass Graves, by Dan Kovalik 4/10/10
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dan-kovalik/us-colombia-cover-up-atro_b_521402.html


--

**"protocol rv" Comment 36, here: “Indian presenting a complaint?”
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=405x30994

My comment at
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=405x31115

[protocol rv]

42. Chavez has sympathies for the FARC

Don't forget, a statue of Tirofijo has been erected in Caracas on public land. Since Tirofijo was the FARC's leader, and the government allows the statue to be erected and to remain where it is, one can surmise they think it's ok. Since I tend to support a more libertarian state of mind, I would say it's ok if an individual wants to erect the statue on his personal property. But not on public property, that's just not right.

So my educated opinion, based on everything I hear, is that Chavez would be annoyed when Mockus turns out to be like Obama was in Afghanistan, and starts pouring the kitchen sink to destroy them.

What's the matter, you think Chavez is so absolutely perfect he can't miss a single thing? :-))

[Judi Lynn]

45. Mockus Catapults to Second Place in Colombia

Mockus Catapults to Second Place in Colombia
April 17, 2010

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Public support for Green Party (PV) presidential candidate Antanas Mockus increased markedly in Colombia this month, according to a poll by Datexco released by El Tiempo and W Radio. 24.8 per cent of respondents would vote for Mockus, up 15.9 points since March.

Former defence minister Juan Manuel Santos of the U Party (U) is still in first place with 29.5 per cent. Noemí Sanín of the Conservative Party (PC) is now third with 16.4 per cent. Support is considerably lower for Rafael Pardo of the Liberal Party (PL), Gustavo Petro of the Democratic Pole (PD) and Germán Vargas Lleras of Radical Change (CR).

Álvaro Uribe has been Colombia’s president since August 2002. In the May 2006 election, he won a new four-year term with 62.2 per cent of all cast ballots. He was able to run again after pro-Uribe lawmakers in the House of Representatives and the Constitutional Court officially sanctioned a plan to allow immediate presidential re-election. After issuing its ruling, the court warned that the clause was not valid for the unlimited re-election of the head of state.

A group of Uribe supporters gathered enough signatures to call a nationwide referendum on whether the current president should be allowed to run for re-election again this year. In September 2009, Congress approved the referendum bill in a late-night vote boycotted by members of the opposition. In February 2010, the Constitutional Court voted 7-2 against the referendum proposal. Uribe said he "accepted" and "respected" the court’s decision.

Immediately after the ruling, Santos confirmed that he would become a presidential candidate for the U Party, which borrows his name from the first letter of the current president’s name.

On Mar. 14, Colombians voted in legislative elections. The U Party garnered the most votes, followed by the pro-Uribe Conservatives and the opposition Liberals.

The PC has supported the Uribe administration since the beginning of his first term. The party did not nominate a candidate to stand against Uribe in the 2006 election. However, this time the PC has Sanín standing against Santos. Both are running on a platform of continuing with Uribe’s policies.

On Apr. 15, Uribe appeared to criticize Mockus, declaring, "It seems very grave to me that when some people in this country allowed paramilitarism to grow and failed to combat it, now present themselves as honest and enemies of politicking."

Mockus dismissed the president’s assertions, saying, "Uribe is not paying attention to his own statements, because he lauded my work on security where we worked in conjunction for more than 11 months. (...) They are seeing the possibility that we will defeat them in the election and this is why they are reacting in such an emotional way."

The presidential election is scheduled for May 30. If no candidate garners more than 50 per cent of the vote, a run-off must take place.

http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/35378/mockus_catapults_to_second_place_in_colombia

[Judi Lynn]

46. Spandex Superhero Gains in Race to Succeed Uribe as Rebels Fade

Spandex Superhero Gains in Race to Succeed Uribe as Rebels Fade
By Helen Murphy

April 21 (Bloomberg) -- A Colombian mathematician known for quieting unruly students by mooning them and donning a superhero’s spandex outfit to teach civic values is gaining in a bid to succeed President Alvaro Uribe.

Former Bogota Mayor Antanas Mockus, dismissed as a clown by opponents, surged into second place in polls ahead of Colombia’s May 30 vote even after announcing that he suffers from early- stage Parkinson’s disease. The polls show the Green Party candidate trails Uribe’s former Defense Minister, Juan Manuel Santos, by as few as 7 percentage points, down from 17 percent last month. In 2006 elections against Uribe, Mockus won just 1 percent.

Uribe’s success in stemming Colombia’s drug-fueled violence is allowing urban voters to focus on other issues, including corruption and unemployment, analysts said. During two terms as mayor, Mockus, 58, used dramatic pranks to advance his goals of improving public transport, cutting crime and balancing the budget. His record has drawn praise from Uribe, who, with a 63 percent approval rating, remains a political kingmaker.

Mockus “shines as a fresh, clean, anti-politician,” said Felipe Botero, a political science professor at Bogota’s Universidad de los Andes. “He’s a question mark, but people like him.”

Under Uribe’s watch, foreign investors have poured as much as $50 billion into industries including oil and coal, according the central bank. Gross domestic product has more than doubled to $242 billion, the government says, while the benchmark IGBC stock index has risen more than ten-fold.

No Radical Departure

Mockus, who as mayor of the city of 7.5 million boosted tax collection alongside investment, has vowed to continue prudent fiscal management as president. Investors say they aren’t concerned about electing Mockus because the margin for any radical departure from Uribe’s popular policies is minimal.

“Colombia has a very mature economy that honors its debt and that won’t change under Mockus,” said Alvaro Camaro, a vice president at Bogota-based Interbolsa SA, Colombia’s biggest brokerage. “He was excellent at managing Bogota’s economy so there’s no reason to be afraid.”

More:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=a_sadgIlbPbY

[Judi Lynn]

47. Greens close in on Colombia election win

Greens close in on Colombia election win
Wednesday 21 April 2010 by Paul Haste

Colombia's Green Party have continued to sensationally shake up Colombia's presidential elections after a new poll revealed that its candidate Antanas Mockus was closing the gap on far-right President Alvaro Uribe's favoured successor.

The president's former hardline defence minister Manuel Santos, who has been described by Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez as "a threat to Latin America," looks set to be forced into a second round as a result of Mr Mockus's spectacular rise in support.

To be elected president, a clear 50 per cent plus one vote majority is necessary, but the latest poll for the 30 May election gives the Green Party 24 per cent to Mr Santos's 29 per cent, meaning that a second round on June 20 is likely.

Colombia's traditional Conservative and Liberal parties have been eclipsed by the rise of Mr Mockus, who has twice served as an independent mayor of the country's capital Bogota and who is backed by two other popular former mayors of the city, Enrique Penalosa and Luis Eduardo Garzon.

The leftist Polo Democratico, which is supported by Colombia's union confederation, has also suggested that the party would support the Greens in the second round.

The Green Party leader recently announced that he suffered from Parkinson's disease, but stressed that doctors had told him that he had at least another 12 years before he would begin to be affected by the condition.

The admission brought forth declarations of solidarity from all six candidates competing in the first round, but as Mr Mockus's rise in the polls has continued, Mr Santos has begun to question whether the son of Lithuanian immigrants has the "strength to combat the Farc terrorists."

More:
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/89454

http://www.terra.com.co.nyud.net:8090/addon/img/elecciones_2007/18dd3c7antanas_mockus_270x150p.jpg

Antanas Mockus

http://colombiareports.com.nyud.net:8090/pics/politics/juan_manuel_santos.jpg

[rabs]

48. Well Judi, looks like some the English-language media types are catching up

with the Antanas/Fajardo Green tide that we had here in the Latam Forum on April 5 :-)

I just wonder when the NYT and Wash. Post, the AP and the others will wake up.

Spoke with our CNN forum friend Neil A. last night and he is hoping for a first-round knockout by Antanas. But realistically he agrees that this will go to a second round.

Neil's main worry is a repeat of the 1970 election when the normally feuding Liberals and Conservatives joined forces to defeat a common threat, the ANAPO movement (Alianza Nacional Popular) which came into being after years of government corruption by both traditional parties.

In that election, Neil said he went to bed with the ANAPO leading 2-1 in the national vote and when he woke up in the morning, lo and behold the ANAPO had narrowly lost, after FOUR recounts. It was massive vote rigging.

Mockus/Fajardo are facing a similar situation, with another factor, the uribismo movement of the past eight years. A coalition of uribistas, Liberals and Conservatives could mean trouble for the Greens. On the plus side, it looks like the Polo vote would go to Antanas and the Polo has a sizeable base (around two million votes in the last election IIRC.)


Meantime, you probably saw that Chucky Santos had to eat his words about attacking FARC camps outside of Colombia's borders. Guess the reaction from Correa and Chavez stung alvarito and he told Chucky to cool it.

?w=500&h=750


and pretty soon (Aug. 7) alvarito is going to be out of a job (if not in jail where he belongs).

?w=500&h=666

[Judi Lynn]

55. Can only imagine how shocked and sick Neil A. had to be in 1970.

He probably decided things were going to get a lot worse before they got better by that time in Colombia, if they could pull off that kind of massive election fraud.

Things really went south after that, apparently.

I remember Neil has a good friend in the legislature there. Have seen that guy's name on the internet several times after Neil mentioned him, but I have forgotten his name in the last couple of years. It appears Neil keeps very much in touch with what is going on there.

He radiates intense concern, feeling for Colombia and its future. Hope this election will go RIGHT for people like Neil. They've got a GOOD election coming to them.

Great imagery in the two links! Love that uribestiaro website, too. Adore the "takes" they have on those guys. Never saw a place like that. Glad to know there IS one in operation. Thanks!

[rabs]

50. Antanasmania keeps growing and growing

Mockus is Facebook's 13th most popular politician

Antanas Mockus, presidential candidate for Colombia's Green Party, has more than four times as many fans on social networking site Facebook as any of his fellow candidates, making him the thirteenth most-followed politician on the whole website.

According to El Espectador, the candidate is fast reaching a total of 400,000 Facebook fans - reportedly gaining one fan every six seconds - while his closest challenger, Gustavo Petro, has just 93,000. Third in the race is Partido de la U candidate, Juan Manuel Santos, who can claim almost 58,000 fans.

-----

Fans of the Green Party candidate, referred to by some as "Colombia's Obama," are campaigning to raise his number of followers from 381,636 at the time of writing on Wednesday afternoon, to 400,000 by midnight, with a scheme in which every one of his fans convinces ten new people to add Mockus on Facebook.

http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/9283-mockus-facebooks-13th-most-popular-politician.html

[Judi Lynn]

54. It's so unexpected to see such an uncommon, mold-breaking, unconventional candidate

doing so wildly well in Colombia, isn't it? I've gotten the impression they have really clung to their traditions.

And to learn that Gustavo Petro is the one closest behind him, too! Remarkable.

His Facebook thing seems to be in constant motion. It's easy to see why he is compared to the U.S.'s campaigning Obama.

[rabs]

51. Whoa, another slam on Santos

(This story is published today in El Espectador newspaper. Not a single word in the Santos family-owned El Tiempo.)

--------------------

Salvadore Mancuso, notorious paramilitary leader and extradited to the United States, said JM Santos proposed to him (Mancuso) and Carlos Castaño, another paramilitary honcho who was killed in 2004 by his own men, that they carry out a coup to topple then President Ernesto Samper (1994-1998).

Now we will see how JM Santos will weasel out of what Mancuso had to say.

Mancuso also said uribito's vice president, Francisco Santos (yes, of the same family) proposed a plan to set up a paramilitary bloc to operate in urban Bogota.

Mancuso said the former head of the DAS, José Miguel Narváez, used to visit the paramilitary camps to indoctrinate the groups politically.

Narváez at the time was an advisor to the Uribe Defense Ministry. Narváez determined who was to be killed for their ideological links to guerrilla groups, according to Mancuso, who made his remarks in the United States.


------------------

El ex comandante paramilitar Salvatore Mancuso reveló que el hoy candidato presidencial, Juan Manuel Santos, le propuso a Carlos Castaño dar un golpe de estado al Presidente Ernesto Samper, quien gobernó el país entre 1994 y 1998.

Así mismo, reiteró que durante la misma época el hoy vicepresidente, Francisco Santos, le propuso la creación de un bloque paramilitar de carácter urbano, con operaciones en Bogotá.

En su declaración, desde Estados Unidos, manifestó que el ex director del DAS, José Miguel Narváez, visitaba los campamentos de los grupos paramilitares para adoctrinar políticamente a sus combatientes, en momentos en que oficiaba como asesor del Ministerio de Defensa.

Añadió que era él quien determinaba qué tipo de personalidades perseguir por su cercanía ideológica con los grupos guerrilleros.

Precisó que sin la colaboración del DAS, el Ejército Nacional y la Policía Nacional, abría sido imposible que los paramilitares de la región Caribe obtuvieran un crecimiento como el que alcanzaron finalmente.

Elespectador.com Tags de esta nota: ColombiaErnesto SamperSalvatore Mancuso

http://www.elespectador.com/noticias/judicial/articulo199342-mancuso-acusa-juan-manuel-santos-de-convocarlos-derrocar-samper

[Judi Lynn]

53. Extraordinary! After Mancuso's revelation concerning Narváez, people will HAVE to see Uribe's

disclaimer of any connection to Jorge Noguera's identical actions is completely dishonest.

He had HIS hit lists, too, to hand off to the paramilitaries. The only difference between him and Narváez must be that people found out what he was up to WHILE he was still in office, forcing him to leave the country in a hurry and try to hide across the Atlantic until Interpol located him.

The timing here is superior, if there are enough honest Colombians left to take note of this new material. This is too important for them to ignore.

Mancuso REALLY knows where all the bodies are buried.

[rabs]

56. SHOCKER: Santos, Mockus in technical tie, Mockus would WIN in second round

El Tiempo poll just went up on its website

First round: Santos 35 percent, Mockus 34 percent, Sanin 12 percent.

Second round: Mockus 50 percent, Santos 44 percent.

Poll was taken by telephone of 1,000 persons in 38 cities between April 19 and 21.

------------------

Santos y Mockus están en empate técnico; el candidato del Partido Verde ganaría en la segunda vuelta

Así lo consigna la más reciente encuesta del Centro Nacional de Consultoría, contratada por el noticiero CM&.

La encuesta refleja que en la primera vuelta Juan Manuel Santos obtendría el 35% y Antanas Mockus el 34%. En tercera posición estaría Noemí Sanín con el 12%. Después quedarían Rafael Pardo y Gustavo Petro con 5%, y Germán Vargas Lleras con el 4%.

La muestra también pudo establecer que el 2 por ciento de los encuestados votaría en blanco y el 3 por ciento aún no sabe por quién hacerlo.

Jaime Araújo, Róbinson Devia y Jairo Calderón, no registraron intención de voto.

Si la segunda vuelta presidencial fuera entre Santos y Mockus, el ex alcalde de Bogotá ganaría las elecciones con el 50%, sobre el 44% del ex ministro de Defensa.

Para el sondeo se entrevistaron 1.000 personas telefónicamente en 38 ciudades del país, entre el 19 y el 21 de abril.

--------------------

Remind all that this is the Santos-family owned newspaper. It may be getting to the point where the Green tide can no longer be denied by the uribismo/Santos factions.

[Judi Lynn]

57. Mockus pulls even in Colombia presidencial race

Mockus pulls even in Colombia presidencial race
* Poll shows independent Mockus in dead heat with Santos

* Survey says Mockus would win second round vote in June

By Hugh Bronstein

BOGOTA, April 22 (Reuters) - Independent Colombian presidential candidate Antanas Mockus has come from behind to tie right-wing former Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos in the race for the May 30 election, a poll showed on Thursday.

Mockus, who served two terms as mayor of Bogota, got 34 percent to Santos' 35 percent in the telephone survey of 1,000 voters commissioned by local television channel CM&. The difference was within the poll's 3 percent margin of error.

The CM& survey, carried out in 38 cities around the country, showed that Mockus would win a June runoff in the likely event that no one candidate captures more than half the vote in the May 30 election.

Whoever is sworn in as president in August is expected to continue President Alvaro Uribe's popular security policies, which have attracted investment to Colombia by making the cities and highways safer.

Santos, known for his single-minded focus on defeating Marxist insurgents, is closely associated with Uribe while Mockus, a mathematician and philosopher once known for his outlandish behavior, is especially popular among urban voters.

"The wave is in Mockus' favor. He is clearly on his way to winning a spot in the second round," said Bogota-based political analyst Ricardo Avila.

"But all parties allied with the government will unite against him in the June run-off and that will be a tough coalition to beat," Avila added.

More:
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2213294120100423?rpc=401

Keeping those fingers crossed. Wow. !!!!!!!

[rabs]

58. Mockus is of the Green Party

BOGOTA, April 22 (Reuters) - Independent Colombian presidential candidate Antanas Mockus ...


Reuters reporter calls Mockus an "Independent" .... geez ..

Fyi the CM& polling company is beyond the reach of the uribistas/santonistas so the poll is more credible reflection of the electoral mood right now.

The Greens in Europe are probably keeping a close eye on how the Colombian greenies will do in such a country.

More and more people who comment on Colombian media are expressing concern over the safety of Mockus with 40 days to go before the election.

Keeping fingers crossed here too.

[naaman fletcher]

60. What's the outlandish personal behavior mentioned?

Drinking, ladies and such? If so I'll probably like him even more (as long as he wasn't committed to someone else).

[Judi Lynn]

61. Academic turns city into a social experiment

Academic turns city into a social experiment
Mayor Mockus of Bogotá and his spectacularly applied theory
By María Cristina Caballero
Special to the Harvard News Office

Antanas Mockus had just resigned from the top job of Colombian National University. A mathematician and philosopher, Mockus looked around for another big challenge and found it: to be in charge of, as he describes it, "a 6.5 million person classroom."

Mockus, who had no political experience, ran for mayor of Bogotá; he was successful mainly because people in Colombia's capital city saw him as an honest guy. With an educator's inventiveness, Mockus turned Bogotá into a social experiment just as the city was choked with violence, lawless traffic, corruption, and gangs of street children who mugged and stole. It was a city perceived by some to be on the verge of chaos.

People were desperate for a change, for a moral leader of some sort. The eccentric Mockus, who communicates through symbols, humor, and metaphors, filled the role. When many hated the disordered and disorderly city of Bogotá, he wore a Superman costume and acted as a superhero called "Supercitizen." People laughed at Mockus' antics, but the laughter began to break the ice of their extreme skepticism.

~snip~
A theatrical teacher

The slim, bearded, 51-year-old former mayor explained himself thus: "What really moves me to do things that other people consider original is my passion to teach." He has long been known for theatrical displays to gain people's attention and, then, to make them think.

Mockus, the only son of a Lithuanian artist, burst onto the Colombian political scene in 1993 when, faced with a rowdy auditorium of the school of arts' students, he dropped his pants and mooned them to gain quiet. The gesture, he said at the time, should be understood "as a part of the resources which an artist can use." He resigned as rector, the top job of Colombian National University, and soon decided to run for mayor.

The fact that he was seen as an unusual leader gave the new mayor the opportunity to try extraordinary things, such as hiring 420 mimes to control traffic in Bogotá's chaotic and dangerous streets. He launched a "Night for Women" and asked the city's men to stay home in the evening and care for the children; 700,000 women went out on the first of three nights that Mockus dedicated to them.

When there was a water shortage, Mockus appeared on TV programs taking a shower and turning off the water as he soaped, asking his fellow citizens to do the same. In just two months people were using 14 percent less water, a savings that increased when people realized how much money they were also saving because of economic incentives approved by Mockus; water use is now 40 percent less than before the shortage.

"The distribution of knowledge is the key contemporary task," Mockus said. "Knowledge empowers people. If people know the rules, and are sensitized by art, humor, and creativity, they are much more likely to accept change."

Mockus taught vivid lessons with these tools. One time, he asked citizens to put their power to use with 350,000 "thumbs-up" and "thumbs-down" cards that his office distributed to the populace. The cards were meant to approve or disapprove of other citizens' behavior; it was a device that many people actively - and peacefully - used in the streets.

He also asked people to pay 10 percent extra in voluntary taxes. To the surprise of many, 63,000 people voluntarily paid the extra taxes. A dramatic indicator of the shift in the attitude of "Bogotanos" during Mockus' tenure is that, in 2002, the city collected more than three times the revenues it had garnered in 1990.

Another Mockus inspiration was to ask people to call his office if they found a kind and honest taxi driver; 150 people called and the mayor organized a meeting with all those good taxi drivers, who advised him about how to improve the behavior of mean taxi drivers. The good taxi drivers were named "Knights of the Zebra," a club supported by the mayor's office.

Yet Mockus doesn't like to be called a leader. "There is a tendency to be dependent on individual leaders," he said. "To me, it is important to develop collective leadership. I don't like to get credit for all that we achieved. Millions of people contributed to the results that we achieved ... I like more egalitarian relationships. I especially like to orient people to learn."

More, with photos:
http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2004/03.11/01-mockus.html

[rabs]

62. Hold on to your hats: Mockus takes sizable lead

in latest poll released about an hour ago in Bogota. It is the FIRST TIME that Mockus has TAKEN THE LEAD. Poll taken April 24/25 in 36 cities around the country by Semana, RCN Radio, RCN Television and La FM radio station.

It really, really starting to look like it is going to happen unless something monstrous happens to Mockus




By the numbers (First round)

primera vuelta:
Antanas Mockus: 38 por ciento
Juan Manuel Santos: 29 por ciento
Noemí Sanín: 11 por ciento
Gustavo Petro: 5 por ciento
Germán Vargas Lleras: 3 por ciento
Rafael Pardo: 3 por ciento
Jaime Araújo Rentería: 1 por ciento

Second round

Mockus 50 percent
Santos 37 percent

Según la encuesta, Mockus y Santos se enfrentarían en segunda vuelta, y en esa instancia, el candidato del Partido Verde, con un 50 por ciento, se impondría frente al de la U, que registra un 37 por ciento en intención de voto.

------------------------
El Espectador a while ago

http://www.elespectador.com/noticias/politica/articulo200172-mockus-esta-primera-vez-al-frente-de-encuestas

[Bacchus39]

63. this is pretty cool.

Santos is asqueroso. the FARC will be obsolete. the interactions of Mockus, army, paras, narcos, and FARC will be quite amazing to witness.

[Judi Lynn]

64. Never would have expected this to take off, and especially at this speed!

Didn't think it was possible for anyone to win this but the guy who's connected to the narcotrafficking death squads.

Now for the tense watch to see if they kill him as they have so MANY non-right-wing candidates in Colombia. When I get the time I really want to find out about "La Violencia" which lasted so long after the assassination of Liberal Party Candidate Jorge Eliécer Gaitán on April 9, 1948.

For others who are trying to catch up on Latin America as I am, please check the following if you don't know, already:

The "Violencia" in Colombia 1948-1958

Colombia, plagued by social and economic problems, was also embroiled in a political feud between the country's two traditional parties, the Liberals and Conservatives, when Jorge Eliecer Gaitan (1902-48), popular left-wing Liberal leader, was assassinated on April 9, 1948, while a Pan-American conference was being held in Bogota, the Colombian capital. Immediately, riots and vandalism occurred throughout the country (this sudden outbreak of violence seems to have been the result of longtime pent-up frustration by the public over numerous local and national issues). Columbia was thrown into a constant state of insurrection and criminality from 1948 to 1958 (called "La Violencia"), a period during which more than 200,000 persons lost their lives and more than a billion dollars of perperty damage was done. Laureano Eleuterio Gomez (1889-1965), an archconservative, served as Columbia's president from 1950 until his ouster in 1953 in a coup led by Army Chief of Staff General Gustavo Rojas Pinilla (1900-75), who ruled as a dictatorial president until his corrupt, brutal regime was deposted (1957) by a military junta supported by both Liberals and Conservatives. In 1958, democracy returned to Columbia upon the formation of a Liberal-Conservative coalition government (the National Front) under newly elected president Alberto Lleras Camargo (1906-90), who slowly stabilized the country's faltering economy and instituted agrarian reform.

*****

Although order was restored in Bogotá and Ospina remained in control, the tempo of rural violence quickened to a state of undeclared civil war known as la violencia. La violencia claimed over 200,000 lives during the next eighteen years, with the bloodiest period occurring between 1948 and 1958. La violencia spread throughout the country, especially in the Andes and the llanos (plains), sparing only the southernmost portion of Nariño and parts of the Caribbean coastal area. An extremely complex phenomenon, la violencia was characterized by both partisan political rivalry and sheer rural banditry. The basic cause of this protracted period of internal disorder, however, was the refusal of successive governments to accede to the people's demands for socioeconomic change.

After the Bogotazo, the Ospina government became more repressive. Ospina banned public meetings in March 1949 and fired all Liberal governors in May. In November of that year, Ospina ordered the army to forcibly close Congress. Rural police forces heightened the effort against belligerents and Liberals, and eventually all Liberals, from the ministerial to the local level, resigned their posts in protest.

In the 1949 presidential election, the Liberals refused to present a candidate; as a result, Gómez, the only Conservative candidate, took office in 1950. Gómez, who had opposed the Ospina administration for its initial complicity with the Liberals, was firmly in control of the party. As leader of the reactionary faction, he preferred authority, hierarchy, and order and was contemptuous of universal suffrage and majority rule. Gómez offered a program that combined traditional Conservative republicanism with the European corporatism of the time. A neofascist constitution drafted under his guidance in 1953 would have enhanced the autonomy of the presidency, expanded the powers of departmental governors, and strengthened the official role of the church in the political system.

Gómez acquired broad powers and curtailed civil liberties in an attempt to confront the mounting violence and the possibility that the Liberals might regain power. Pro-labor laws passed in the 1930s were canceled by executive decree, independent labor unions were struck down, congressional elections were held without opposition, the press was censored, courts were controlled by the executive, and freedom of worship was challenged as mobs attacked Protestant chapels. Gómez directed his repression in particular against the Liberal opposition, which he branded as communist. At the height of the violence, the number of deaths reportedly reached 1,000 per month.

Despite the relative prosperity of the economy--owing largely to expansion of the country's export markets and increased levels of foreign investment--Gómez lost support because of protracted violence and his attacks on moderate Conservatives and on the military establishment. Because of illness, in November 1951 Gómez allowed his first presidential designate, Roberto Urdaneta Arbeláez, to become acting president until Gómez could reassume the presidency. Although Urdaneta followed Gómez's policies, he refused to dismiss General Gustavo Rojas Pinilla, whom Gómez suspected of conspiring against the government. When Gómez tried to return to office in June 1953, a coalition consisting of moderate Conservatives who supported Ospina, the PL, and the armed forces deposed him and installed a military government. They viewed such action as the only way to end the violence. Rojas Pinilla, who had led the coup d'état, assumed the presidency.

More:
http://www.onwar.com/aced/data/cite/colombia1948b.htm

http://www.biografiasyvidas.com.nyud.net:8090/biografia/g/fotos/gaitan.jpg http://www.elpais.com.co.nyud.net:8090/paisonline/fotos_notas/gal_023020.jpg

Jorge Eliecer Gaitan

http://www.newsmatic.e-pol.com.ar.nyud.net:8090/usr/481/3373/img_0063.jpg

~~~~~ Wikipedia:

El Bogotazo (from "Bogotá" and the -azo suffix of violent augmentation) refers to the massive riots that followed the assassination in Bogotá, Colombia of Liberal leader and presidential candidate Jorge Eliécer Gaitán on April 9, 1948 during the government of President Mariano Ospina Pérez. The 10 hours riot left 3,000 to 5,000 dead and thousands injured, and left much of downtown Bogotá destroyed. The aftershock of Gaitan's murder continued extending through the countryside and triggered a period in the history of Colombia known as La Violencia ("The Violence") that lasted until approximately 1958, and laid the foundations for the civil conflict that continues to this day.

General settings
On April 9, 1948 the 9th Pan-American Conference was being held in Bogotá and President Mariano Ospina Pérez was attending a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State General George Marshall

At the time, Jorge Eliécer Gaitán was the leader of the left wing of the Liberal Party, and the most prominent politician in the country after President Ospina. His office was located in downtown Bogotá, on the corner of 7th avenue and 14th street. Gaitán had been working the previous night until 4 a.m. as defense attorney in the trial that declared the innocence of Lt. Jesús María Cortés. Gaitán was running in the presidential election, and with massive support among the country's working class, was seen as the candidate most likely to win. Both Conservatives and traditional Liberal elites were very concerned about this prospect.

Murder of Gaitán
The doorman of the Agustín Nieto building, where Gaitán's office was located, said he saw at about 1:00 p.m. an unknown young man waiting outside the office. Gaitán was scheduled to meet that afternoon with the Cubans Fidel Castro, Enrique Ovares and Alfredo Guevara to talk about the Latin American Youth Congress, where they expected Gaitán to give the final Speech, as Castro himself declared years later in an interview with Arturo Alape (1983).

Gaitán left his office, and just outside the building he was shot twice in the head and once in the chest, with a .32 caliber handgun, at 1:15 p.m. He was carried to a local hospital where he died a few minutes later.

The Killer
The man suspected of killing Gaitán ran away heading south. Soon, an angry mob ran after him. Nearby, policeman Carlos Alberto Jiménez Díaz tried to control the situation. According to the police reports, The man surrendered to him and said to Jiménez:

- "No me mate, mi cabo" (Don't kill me, my corporal)

In an attempt to avoid the angry mob, Jiménez and the man locked themselves in the Granada drugstore. Some witnesses that were interviewed by local newspapers (El Tiempo and El Espectador, issues from April to May, same year) argue that the man who was taken into the drugstore wasn't the same one who was captured, and that Officer Jiménez was mistaken because of the angry mob and because the other man was also wearing a gray hat.<1> According to the drugstore owner, when he asked the man why he had killed Gaitán, he just said:

- "¡Ay Señor, cosas poderosas! ¡Ay, Virgen del Carmen, sálvame!" (Powerful things, Lord! Our Lady of Carmen, save me!)

After that, the doors were charged and the man was taken by the mob. His naked corpse was found later, in the Bolívar Square, outside the Presidential Palace. His face was crushed with a brick, and his body was torn. A bystander, Gabriel Restrepo, collected the remains of his clothes where he found some personal documents, which allowed to identify him as 21-year-old Juan Roa Sierra. However, there have also been other theories about his murder indicating that Gaitán assassination was planned and developed for more people than just Juan Roa Sierra or that he was not even the real killer. He was born in a poor family with a history of mental illnesses among his brothers, and maybe himself. He was seen often in Gaitán's office asking for job, since he was unemployed, but Gaitán never received him. Some people who knew him told that he never learned to shoot a gun, in contrast with the accuracy of the shots that Gaitán received. It has been known that the gun used to kill Gaitán was sold two days before the crime, with not enough time to teach Roa to use a gun. So, it has been theorized that the crime was planned for political reasons and to promote different interest of foreign countries, but it has never been corroborated. Different publications have mentioned among others: the government of Mariano Ospina Perez, sectors of the Liberal party, the Colombian Communist party, Fidel Castro, the CIA and others that may have been involved in his murder.<2> <3><4>

More:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bogotazo

~~~~~
Hope candidate Mockus will have a better chance of success than they gave Jorge Gaitan.

Thanks for the breakthrough news, rabs.

[Dreyfus]

168. One more time, thanks, Juddi.

Juddi, everytime my dad spoke about Gaitan, he ended crying like a baby.

[EFerrari]

65. This is astonishing!

lol

[rabs]

66. Mockus WINNER in second round

Gallup poll released this morning.

This is the second poll in a week that gives the Greens a victory by almost the same numbers.

Santos and Sanin, who led Mockus by double-digit margins a month ago, are now like crabs, going backward. These polling companies no longer can hedge the figures; the Green momentum is just too overwhelming.

Million of Colombians who did not bother to vote in the past now are motivated by the Mockus/Fajardo/Green phenomenon.

Only 33 days to go and expect the uribistas, santoistas, Liberals and Conservatives to pile on Mockus. Still, it may not be enough to stop the Green flood.


Second round runoff
Mockus 47.9 percent
Santos 42.2 percent

May 30 first round
Santos 34.2
Mockus 31.6
Sanin 16.2

Poll taken of 1,200 Colombians in 60 cities and towns. Margin of error, 3 percent.

------------------------------

From El Tiempo (Santos family newspaper)

Santos logra el 34.2% en la intención de voto y Mockus el 31.6% en nueva encuesta de Invamer Gallup

En segunda vuelta el candidato del Partido Verde lograría el 47.9% frente al 42.2% del aspirante del Partido de 'La U'. La encuesta fue realizada a 1.200 colombianos de 60 poblaciones del país.

En primera vuelta, Noemí Sanín, del Partido Conservador, obtuvo el 16.2% en la intención de voto, mientras que Rafael Pardo logró 5.7%.

El candidato Gustavo Petro, del Polo Democrático, alcanzó 5,0% y Germán Vargas Lleras, de Cambio Radical, el 3.6%.

El 1,6% de las personas encuestadas por Invamer Gallup votaría en blanco, mientras que un 0,2% dijo que no participaría en los comicios del próximo 30 de mayo.

El margen de error de la encuesta, realizada por la firma encuestadora para la emisora Caracol Radio, y los diarios el Espectador, el Colombiano de Medellín y el País de Cali, entre otros, tiene un margen de error de 3%.

--------------------------------

More relevant data from the Gallup poll:

From El Espectador (not Santos family related)

Enthusiasm for the May 30 elections is soaring; 69,1 percent of Colombians polled said they would vote, a rise of 4.8 percent from a month ago. The "will not vote" dropped to 7 percent from 11.3 percent in the same period.

This year's election could be historic, with the number of people voting being as high as 16 million. Others say 13 million and 13.5 million. Colombia has about 28 million people elegible to vote.

In 2002 when uribe was first elected. 11.3 million voted.
In 2006 when uribe was re-elected, 12.1 voted.

------------------------------
Otro de los datos relevantes que deja la encuesta de Gallup Colombia para la Gran Alianza de Medios tiene que ver con el crecimiento en el entusiasmo de los ciudadanos de participar en la contienda electoral. El 69,1% de los encuestados dijo que definitivamente sí votará el próximo 30 de mayo, en la primera vuelta de las presidenciales, un incremento de 4,8 puntos con respecto a lo registrado hace un mes. A su vez, el número de indecisos se reduce levemente, mientras que quienes aseguran que definitivamente no votarán pasa del 11,3% en marzo a 7%.

De acuerdo con estos datos, es probable que la elección presidencial de 2010 sea histórica. De hecho, el registrador Carlos Ariel Sánchez ha advertido que se podría llegar a la cifra de los 16 millones de votos, aunque algunos analistas creen que llegará máximo a los 13 millones y medio. Una mirada a los años anteriores muestran que en 2002 votaron aproximadamente 11’300.000 personas y en 2006 lo hicieron cerca de 12’100.000.

[protocol rv]

67. I guess Mockus will be like Lula?

But he's also work to crush the FARC. The question is, how will he do it?

[rabs]

68. Crush the FARC? Very simple

Mockus will use mimes


The mimes will be waving girasoles (sunflowers)


And Mockus will lower has pants and show his nalgas (buttocks) to the FARC.

Of course he will be backed by the entire Colombian military establishement. Plus the U.S. forces who are already in Colombia.

With this unique combination, the FARC is doomed. :)

[protocol rv]

69. I have a better idea

I would convince the USA to legalize drugs. Then the FARC nor the right wing paras will have the ability to buy weapons. And I would also try using a little less force and a little more social justice. As you know, I'm a big supporter of a judiciary with teeth, independent of the president's and congress' powers. That's something we don't have in Latin America.

[Judi Lynn]

70. Outsider's meteoric gains bring Colombia's elite down to earth

Outsider's meteoric gains bring Colombia's elite down to earth
By Naomi Mapstone in Lima

Published: April 30 2010 03:00 | Last updated: April 30 2010 03:00

Colombia's presidential race has taken a similar unexpected turn to the UK's general election, with the meteoric rise of an erstwhile rank outsider who has tapped into dissatisfaction with the traditional political elite.

In Colombia's latest opinion polls, Antanas Mockus, a bespectacled philosopher-mathematician with an Amish-style beard, overtook Juan Manuel Santos, the former defence minister. This delivered a shock to the political establishment akin to Nick Clegg's ascent as the newly relevant leader of the UK's Liberal Democrat party. The presidential vote is set for May 30.

A strong performance in debates and an effective Twitter and Facebook campaign put Mr Mockus, a former mayor of Bogotá, ahead of Mr Santos, with 38 per cent of the vote compared with 29 per cent for Mr Santos this week, according to pollster Ipsos Napoleon Franco. Other polls showed the candidates level-pegging. In March he scored less than 10 per cent.

Mr Mockus, who has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, would triumph if voting went on to a second round, a Gallup poll also showed, although an Invamer Gallup poll gave Mr Santos 34.2 per cent and Mr Mockus 31.6 per cent.

"We are now assigning Mockus a 60 per cent chance of winning," says Patrick Esteruelas, Latin America director for Eurasia Group, the consultancy.

More:
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/04199eb4-53f1-11df-aba0-00144feab49a.html

[Judi Lynn]

71. Introducing Antanas Mockus

Introducing Antanas Mockus
by Charles Lemos , Fri Apr 30, 2010 at 05:01:46 AM EDT

Antanas Mockus, at the moment the front runner to win the presidency in Colombia, is not your typical politician. The son of Lithuanian immigrants, he is not a man who chose a political career but rather instead someone who catapulted to national attention as a result of a now famous, some would say infamous, incident. In 1993 when in front of an unruly mob of students who would not allow any of the scheduled guests to speak, as the then rector of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, the largest university in the country, he stepped to front of the podium turned his back on the whistling students, dropped his pants and mooned them.

The students were stunned into silence and Mockus' unlikely ascent had begun. In explaining why he chose to moon the audience, Mockus has noted that he was connecting "two extremes, extreme contempt and extreme submission." The mooning incident, the leading story in Colombia that day, would cost Mockus his post running the state-run institution but it would earn him a place in Colombian lore while gaining him many admirers for having stood up to an anarchist mob.

Timing, they say, is everything in politics. In the mid 1990s, Colombia was a desperate place immersed in ever-spiraling violence but change was on the horizon with a set of political reforms that had begun to open up the Colombian political arena. In the late 1980s, Colombian electoral law was changed to allow direct elections of governors and mayors and in 1991 a new Constitution further opened up the political process.

It was into this political opening that Antanas Mockus was drafted into a run for mayor of Bogotá, then a city of over six million people that was considered the worst city in Latin America with the second highest homicide rate in the world after Medellín, an overstretched infrastructure and one of the largest disparaties between rich and poor anywhere on the planet. Perhaps such was the despair that the political novice Antanas Mockus - the full name is Aurelijus Rutenis Antanas Mockus Šivickas - was elected mayor of Bogotá in his first run for office in late 1994 becoming the first independent mayor in the city's history.

What unfolded over the next three years ranks as one of the most innovative mayorships anywhere and launched the transformation of Bogotá from one of the world's worst cities into one of its best. A mathematician and a philosopher by training, Mockus' viewed Bogotá's problems primarily as one of culture. Change the culture and you change the city.

More:
http://mydd.com/2010/4/30/introdantanas-mockus?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+mydd+%28MyDD%29

[rabs]

72. Now we have Santos the ex-pothead

Santos reconoce que fumó marihuana
Santos admits that he smoked marijuana

Dijo que eso lo hacían casi todos sus compañeros de universidad en Estados Unidos.
So did almost all of his university campanions, he said (in an interview with Radio Caracol).


At the (gasp) that hotbed of radicals -- The University of KANSAS -- when he studied there in the decade of the 70s.

There is speculation about why JM Santos revealed this at this time, especially when he has been so involved with the War on Drugs.

Some Colombian commenters are saying it is because of Mockus' huge inroads with the younger voters. (As of yesterday, Mockus' Facebook followers topped the 500,000 mark, with a lot (if not most) of those being younger people).

So JM comes out with this, perhaps to show the younger voters that he too "is just a regular guy" cuz he smoked pot back when he was a student.

Seems JM is beginning to grasp for straws with only 28 days to go before the election,

http://www.elespectador.com/noticias/politica/articulo201119-santos-reconoce-fumo-marihuana

[Judi Lynn]

73. Without a doubt you've read their intention in floating this shocking news!

That photo shows he can look like Richard M. Nixon, too! "The Sec. of Defense is not a crook."

He really went all out to get wild and crazy at Kansas University, Lawrence, Kansas, 30 miles from Kansas City. Yikes. That IS the secret radical center of the country, revolutionary students everywhere. It's also where a lot of Republican politicians love to make speeches.

It does look as if he senses his ominous, violent image isn't as attractive to voters as he believed it would be. The next step may have to be calling for some extraordinary violence to show the people they need his special protection. It's quite possible. He can inspire the warriors by pointing out a country inspired to vote for a sensible man might cut down on their budget.

Thank you for the news. This is amazing, actually. He appears to be getting desperate, and it's less than a month as you indicate, starting the countdown.

[rabs]

75. "He appears to be getting desperate"

Judi, talk about your hitting the nail squarely on the head.

El Espectador is reporting today that JM "Chucky" Santos is shaking up his entire election team, including his group of top advisors, his press spokesman and even the color of the Party of the U. This just a couple of days after he admitted he had been a pothead at the U. of K.

With only 27 days to go, if this is not a clear sign of panic, I don't know what it could be.

The big surprise is the hiring of J.J. Rendon, yep, that unsavory VENEZUELAN who is the master of black propaganda. Funny that JM Santos had to turn to a VENEZUELAN for help. :rofl: (Guess Hugo was too busy :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:)

Rendon is best remembered for his work for CAP and Caldera in Venezuela and I think Calderon in Mexico. We have mentioned him in this forum before.

Chucky Santos will also be switching the campaign color of his uribista party. Instead of orange, the party's flags and logos will now feature green, yellow and red colors.

Of course this is sparking hilarity among Colombians, who say he will now sport the "Gay Pride" colors. You may have heard that there are rumors among Colombians about JM Santos in that respect.

It is fun watching daily events in the runup to the May 30 election.

http://www.elespectador.com/noticias/politica/articulo201258-revolcon-campana-de-juan-manuel-santos

[Judi Lynn]

76. He's going out for a total overhaul of his campaign strategists, according to your link.

This is the very first link which jumps up in a search for JJ Rendon:

J.J. Rendón's Sleaze-Art of Malicious Rumors
Posted by Al Giordano - August 20, 2004 at 7:10 pm

Behind the now-demonstrably bogus rumor that SmartMatic touch screen voting machines in Sunday's Venezuela referendum on the presidency of Hugo Chávez had fraudulently imposed a cap on anti-Chávez votes was one man only, and he is known in pockets of América as a siren of sleaze: Political consultant Juan José Rendón, a.k.a. "J.J. Rendón."

Earlier this week, the pale and pasty-faced "political consultant" appeared on the national TV channel Globovision in Caracas, not disclosing any client whom he was representing, waving ballot result pages like snake oil, charging that the existence of similar numbers of "YES" votes (anti-Chávez) votes indicated that the machines had been rigged.

From what rock did this slime-ball J.J. Rendón crawl out from? Narco News has found the dirt under that stone. Read on, kind reader, read on...

His rumor - libelous against the company that made the machines - was deflated this morning in none other than The Wall Street Journal; a periodical with a special hostility to Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, but that had nonetheless had the common sense to interview an expert in statistics before repeating a viciously untrue rumor that would later discredit any newspaper or person that passed it on...

"Aviel Rubin, a computer-science professor at Johns Hopkins University, said he calculated odds of roughly one in 17 that two of three computers at a voting table would have identical results. That compares to about one in 15 that so far have shown similar results in Venezuela's referendum…"

"Aviel Rubin, a computer-science professor at Johns Hopkins University, said he calculated odds of roughly one in 17 that two of three computers at a voting table would have identical results. That compares to about one in 15 that so far have shown similar results in Venezuela's referendum…"

According to the Mexican press, he cut his teeth in Mexico, working for the PRI, the party that invented computerized election fraud in this hemisphere! Apparently, Mr. Rendón's slash-and-burn tactics have left him without many friends in Mexico… and, his behavior in recent days may find him equally loathed in his home country of Venezuela.

Mexican journalist and popular national columnist Jaime Avilés calls him "the Venezuelan neo-nazi Juan José Rendón" (La Jornada, October 13, 2001).

More:
http://narcosphere.narconews.com/notebook/al-giordano/2004/08/jj-rend%C3%B3ns-sleaze-art-malicious-rumors

[Judi Lynn]

77. Another link discusses Santos' new political strategist's previous clients:

"TransMedia; Group to expose more of his eclectic talents than electing Presidents; PR to focus on Rendon's flair for designing clothes and furniture to his passion for literature and Samurai culture."

BOCA RATON Fla., Feb. 22 /PRNewswire/ TransMedia Group has been hired to represent Latin America's foremost political strategist, J.J. Rendon, and his company Creatividad Estrategica (StMrategic Creativity). The PR firm will not only promote Rendon's vast experience with political campaigns, but the wide-ranging creative aspects of his personal life as well.

"I retained TMG because I want to share my 20 years of knowledge and experience in the political world," said the Venezuelan-born Rendon, the mastermind behind thousands of campaigns including: Presidential and gubernatorial elections in Latin America involving: Rafael Caldera, Carlos Andres Perez, Hipolito Mejia, Alvaro Uribe, Juan Manuel Santos, and numerous multinational campaigns.

TransMedia Group plans to highlight Rendon's role in electing presidents, governors, ministers of defense, municipal & provincial candidates, and legislators, and his most recent success, the difficult election of President Porfirio Lobo of Honduras. TransMedia said it will also publicize Rendon's new company J.J. Rendon & Associates, which produces and finances documentaries and conferences involving interesting world issues, as well as politics, to help raise awareness about Venezuela's and its government's repurcussions all over Latin America.

"While the word 'guru' is often misapplied, here it's awesomely accurate to describe J.J. Rendon who has lead more than 5,000 campaigns across Latin America," said Tom Madden, Chairman and CEO of TransMedia Group. "Rendon is approaching his 20th Anniversary as one of the leading political gurus of his time. We know the press will lineup to interview the leading political consultant in Latin America and one of the top five in the world."

More:
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Latin+America's+Leading+Political+Strategist,+J.J.+Rendon,+Retains...-a0219437074

~~~~~
Just HAD to include this one to show the kind of associations TransMedia Group, Rendón's PR group maintains:

Comcast to Launch the ISRAEL NEWS NETWORK
Picked up from the Broward-Palm Beach New Times and re-printed here in it’’s entirety.

Beginning Sunday, August 30, at 7 a.m., Comcast will air a half-hour TV program devoted to news about the Middle East. The show, run by the so-called Israel News Network (INN), will be unabashedly pro-Israel and makes no secret of its aim: to counter the growing influence of Al Jazeera, which began as a TV station in Qatar (it was essentially the Arab world’s CNN) and has morphed into a worldwide news network.

A news release states, “Each INN program would feature a segment that is related to the Al Jazeera report of the week that INN will expand upon. For example, if Al Jazeera reports that Israeli checkpoints don’t allow Palestinians to get proper medical care, INN would run a feature about IDF medics who work in the West Bank and treat EVERYONE who needs help, even injured terrorists.”

Little information is available about INN, but the show is “supported by” Freedom Watch, a conservative nonprofit organization founded by Miami- and Boca Raton-based lawyer Larry Klayman, who, in his efforts to fight corruption and “preserve freedom,” has sued the Clintons, Dick Cheney, and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Freedom Watch’s missions include abolishing the United Nations (“a bastion for terrorist nations”); stopping the “Obama-Clinton crowd” from “turning the United States into a Euro-style socialist state”; and forcing the government to open its files about extraterrestrials (“It is important for our citizens to know the truth so we can prepare for the day when openly occurs, to prevent worldwide panic.”)

Thomas J. Madden, a spokesperson for INN, did not immediately return a call for comment.

Other related press releases indicate that TRANSMEDIA has been retained by INN to publicize their debut on Comcast. TransMedia’s publicity will explain that INN is supported by the public interest watchdog group, Freedom Watch, which is a joint venture partner with INN. Founded by pro-Israel attorney Larry Klayman, Freedom Watch has offices in Washington, DC, Beverly Hills and now Boca Raton, Madden said.

http://cut-the-cable.com/tag/thomas-j-madden



J.J. Rendón, heading J. M. Santos' Presidential campaign.

[Judi Lynn]

78. "Colombia: “J.J. Rendon Does Not Work For Me”"

Colombia: “J.J. Rendon Does Not Work For Me”
Posted by Colin Brayton on September 28, 2007

“Germán Medina (above) is not a hooker-themed blackmailer like J.J. Rendón.”

A good horse runs even at the shadow of the whip. — Zen koan.

Fads can be incredibly lucrative: mass hysteria and stupidity can make a real difference to a business’ bottom line. … –Rhymer Rigby. “Craze Management.” Management Today. London: Jun 1998. p. 58

‘J.J. Rendon no es mi asesor’, afirma el candidato a la alcaldía de Medellín, Alonso Salazar: “J.J. Rendon does not advise my campaign,” says Medellín mayoral candidate.

The report is from El Tiempo (Bogotá), which also reports that the “king of black propaganda” may soon have his contract terminated by the La U political party. More on that in a bit.

An aide to a La U legislator reportedly got the Zen master of gabbling nonsense on tape threatening to create a hooker-themed scandal if the legislator did not accede to a political bargain Rendón’s client was proposing to him.

More:
http://cbrayton.wordpress.com/2007/09/28/colombia-jj-rendon-does-not-work-for-me/

~~~~~~~~
Here's something very recent, in Spanish. I'll post the google translation first, for DU'ers who aren't fluent in Spanish. Remember it's always only computer generated, so it's wobbly:

Who protects J. J. Rendon, accused of black propaganda against politicians?
with 4 comments

Born in Venezuela and with experience in Mexico, now J. J. Rendón controversy follows him in Colombia. / WEEK

J. controversy J. Rendon, a Venezuelan citizen, anti-Chavez, advisor to the Ministry of Defence and the Party of the 'U', working in Colombia in a questionable work: making montages and black propaganda against government opponents, as pointed out by several of his victims. Who is this man?

At least for their actions louder, Juan José Rendón Delgado have to fear. That said, quietly so far, defense ministry sources, the Party of the 'U' and the Vice-Presidency, where he tends to move with complete freedom. "He is an expert in black propaganda," is a professional slanderer ", ensure that testimony. However, little by little history has gone out into the open and more and more people show their faces to demand clarity.

The last one was the representative Nicolas Uribe, a so-called 'rebel' party of the 'U', who said on the morning of Thursday in the W to J. J. Rendón-as it is known, threatened to invent a story that would say that the young politician walked into trouble with prostitutes. A serious accusation, especially if you consider that to have one when Uribe was on the eve of her marriage.

That is, I knew that if did not let him hurt politically, it would affect their relationship. Why are you threatened? Basically because J. J. Rendon was required to request the resignation of the director of Colombia Joven presidential program, Ana María Convers. J. J. Rendon had some recordings in its possession in which an informal chat, Ana María Convers made comments against the government and the Vice President Francisco Santos.

Ana María Convers accepted that the views were his but were taken out of context to damage it and make it say something that really did not think. In his account to The W said that it was recorded by Ana Maria Ospina. This person had at the time contracts with the Vice-entity to which the administrative part of Colombia Joven "program and, under the testimony of the officer, worked for J. J. Rendón. Women had a conversation in which the second is recorded in secret and handed the tape to J. J. Rendón.

According to the testimony of the representative Nicolas Uribe, J. J. Rendon was and called the office of Member of Parliament to demand to seek the resignation of the director of youth program to consider a traitor to the government. "We said he would devote all their time, money and knowledge to fuck Nicolas Uribe," said one of the people of the congressman's office received the threat. "Tell him to ask for the resignation of conversations or have an assembly with prostitutes."

Sporadic appearances

Nicolas Uribe said he received the threat in late June, just days before his marriage in Mexico, and transmits it to the public because he is afraid of the truth and it is time to stop the actions of J. J. Rendón. "I do not blackmail me," said Uribe.
Previously, the name of J. J. Rendon had appeared in occasional press mentions.

In a report in the newspaper El Tiempo, a profile made him draw his mysterious personality. "That's weird, even he acknowledges. Practice the Zen Buddhist philosophy, but declaring religiously Catholic, has written books on the rumor mill, studied quantum physics and in spare time practicing samurai skills. "

It said it was "a Venezuelan who walks by Colombia two years ago and which, after gestating part of the party's strategy of 'U' in the 2006 elections, which gave a representation-started moving like a fish in the water by the Ministry of Defense, among other offices of state. "

The newspaper also said the 'work' J. J. Rendón has reached the highest levels. "In a room of the Navy has given them hundreds of officers, including leather soles-general from several lectures on 'The role of government communication strategy' and 'The 100 most frequent mistakes in government communication'."

Denies everything

Among political circles is accused J. J. Rendón of being the mastermind to mount smear campaigns against the former presidential candidate Rafael Pardo Rueda (liberal) and Carlos Gaviria (Polo Democrático). He denies the accusations and says he always acts lawfully. In an interview with Maria Isabel Rueda said: "If everything is within the law, I have no scruples," he said in the talk that was published in Semana. (See interview).

But how did J. J. Rendon of Colombia? We know that today was brought by the Minister of Defense Juan Manuel Santos, when he was the leader of the 'U', one of the strongest parties in the coalition government.

J. Then J. Rendón remained in the 'U' and tried to enter the Casa de Nariño although officially it has no trace by guidelines. In fact, the program director of youth, Ana María Convers, was in the W had to meet several times with him in his hotel, at the request of Vice President Francisco Santos, for J. J. Rendon also specializes "in young people."

The strength of this man of 40 years is politics, which brings all his skills. Time To quote: "Those who have come to power with their support, do not hesitate to qualify as the guru of political consulting, but to his detractors is only the king of black propaganda." In an interview with this newspaper defended himself and explained that he has taken nothing for its work, has no work permit, "because he was investing in a country in which you want to settle it professionally and it has done for his friendship with the minister today Defense and then director of the 'U', Juan Manuel Santos. "

El Espectador columnist Ramiro Bejarano said in one of his research that "Rendon advisor is not only that disastrous game of the 'U', but also a voice is respected in the high government offices and more than a minister . Why? Nobody knows for sure, but the fact is that since it is reported that this enigmatic publicist goes prowling the high official circles, the policy is popularized, because now controvert critics and opponents by rumor, the advice, slander, smear, a calculated spread by the official media that lend themselves to so sordid maneuver. "

This character also has fueled the controversy in addition to Venezuela, Mexico, where he also acted as advisor: "Jota Jota presents himself as a psychologist, journalist and communicator, but his specialty is given about creation, dissemination and spreading of rumors negative with which it intends to damage the reputation of the opponents of those who hire him. " "Ambiguity," he says often "gives legs to the rumor," he wrote of Mexican journalist Francisco Rodríguez.

His tenure in Mexico

The Mexican journalist Ramón Betancourt also accused him in the Aztec country's electoral campaign to be the "king of black propaganda, disinformation, the rumor as a weapon of political propaganda to discredit opponents to annihilate the opposition and the same political party .

In a strong column also said that J. J. Rendón planting rumors to change opinion trends in electoral situations. "The rumor that anticipates something that can happen, or they can precipitate into a false version and beyond, sometimes generated by the perversity of the sender is or the morbidity of it repeats." This recalls the case of Senator Brown, who on the eve of elections had to leave to defend an allegation that he was not allied with the FARC to overthrow the government.

"The terms' homosexual ',' drug dealer ',' pederast ',' junkie ',' rapist", etc.., Etc., Passing on their (as noise) in the campaigns of political opponents of their clients, or raise false perverse stories and photomontages internet, is the daily bread of the gunman and follower of politics, "he said of Betancourt, who also argues that" some international stature communicators have pointed to the new Nazi Goebbels modern-J. J. Rendón-as a covert CIA agent as part of a larger group of political consultants who wander from Miami, all over the world, especially Latin America to interfere in national and local elections on behalf of interests are not at all clear "

This further affirms man who prefers to get on stage and silent shunning the cameras. So, despite all these accusations, the general public his name does not ring. Only when a person comes back and puts it on the public agenda to denounce it with courage, as it did in the last hours Congressman Nicolas Uribe.

However, the question remains in the environment is natural with this controversial history "Who protects the mysterious J. J. Rendón, to continue performing well in Colombia?

http://realidadalternativa.wordpress.com/2010/05/03/%C2%BFquien-protege-a-j-j-rendon-acusado-de-hacer-propaganda-negra-contra-politicos/

~~~
¿Quién protege a J. J. Rendón, acusado de hacer propaganda negra contra políticos?
con 4 comentarios

Nacido en Venezuela y con experiencia en México, ahora a J. J. Rendón lo persigue la polémica en Colombia. / SEMANA

controversia J. J. Rendón, ciudadano venezolano, antichavista, asesor del Ministerio de Defensa y del Partido de la ‘U’, trabaja en Colombia en una cuestionable labor: hacer montajes y propaganda negra contra adversarios del gobierno, según lo señalan varias de sus víctimas. ¿Quién es este hombre?

Al menos por sus más sonoras acciones, a Juan José Rendón Delgado hay que temerle. Eso dicen, hasta ahora en voz baja, fuentes del ministerio de Defensa, del Partido de la ‘U’ y de la Vicepresidencia, donde él suele moverse con absoluta libertad. “Es un experto en propaganda negra”, “es un difamador profesional”, aseguran esos testimonios. Sin embargo, poco a poco su historial ha ido saliendo a la luz pública y cada vez son más las personas que dan la cara para exigirle claridad.

El último de ellos fue el representante Nicolás Uribe, uno de los llamados ‘rebeldes’ del partido de la ‘U’, quien relató en la mañana de este jueves en La W que J. J. Rendón –como se le conoce– lo amenazó con inventarle una historia en la que diría que el joven dirigente político andaba en líos con prostitutas. Una grave acusación, máxime si se tiene en cuenta que el momento de hacérsela Uribe estaba en vísperas de su matrimonio.

Es decir, sabía que si no lo dejaba herido políticamente, sí afectaría su relación sentimental. ¿Por qué lo amenazaba? Básicamente porque J. J. Rendón le exigía que pidiera la renuncia de la directora del programa presidencial Colombia Joven, Ana María Convers. J. J. Rendón tenía unas grabaciones en su poder en las que en una charla informal, Ana María Convers hacía comentarios en contra del gobierno y del vicepresidente Francisco Santos.

Ana María Convers aceptó que las opiniones eran suyas pero que fueron sacadas de contexto para perjudicarla y ponerla a decir algo que en realidad no pensaba. En su relato a La W contó que ella fue grababa por Ana María Ospina. Esta persona tenía en su momento contratos con la Vicepresidencia –entidad a la que pertenece administrativamente el Programa Colombia Joven–; además, según el testimonio de la funcionaria, trabajaba para J. J. Rendón. Las mujeres tuvieron una conversación en la que la segunda la grabó a escondidas y le entregó la cinta a J. J. Rendón.

Según el testimonio del representante Nicolás Uribe, J. J. Rendón fue y llamó a la oficina del parlamentario para exigirle que buscara la renuncia de la directora del programa de jóvenes al considerarla una traidora para el gobierno. “Nos dijo que iba dedicar todo su tiempo, su dinero y su conocimiento a joder a Nicolás Uribe”, dijo una de las personas de la oficina del congresista que recibió la amenaza. “Dígale que pida la renuncia de Convers o tendrá un montaje con prostitutas”.

Esporádicas apariciones

Nicolás Uribe dijo que recibió la amenaza a finales de junio, justo unos días antes de su matrimonio en México, y que la transmite al público porque él no le tiene miedo a la verdad y es hora de poner fin a las acciones de J. J. Rendón. “A mí no me chantajean”, aseguró Uribe.
Anteriormente, el nombre de J. J. Rendón había salido en esporádicas menciones de prensa.

En un reportaje del diario El Tiempo, le hicieron un perfil que dibuja su misteriosa personalidad. “Que es raro, hasta él mismo lo reconoce. Practica la filosofía budista zen, aunque se declara religiosamente católico; ha escrito libros sobre rumorología; estudia física cuántica y en los ratos libres practica técnicas samurai”.

El diario agregó se trataba de “un venezolano que anda por Colombia hace dos años y que –tras gestar parte de la estrategia del partido de la ‘U’ en las elecciones del 2006, que le dio alguna figuración– se empezó a mover como pez en el agua por el Ministerio de Defensa, entre otras oficinas del Estado”.

El periódico incluso aseguró que el ‘trabajo’ de J. J. Rendón ha llegado a los niveles más altos. “En una sala de la Armada Nacional les ha dictado a cientos de oficiales –incluidos curtidos generales de varios soles– conferencias sobre ‘El papel de la estrategia en la comunicación gubernamental’ y ‘Los 100 errores más frecuentes en la comunicación gubernamental’”.

Lo niega todo

Entre los círculos políticos se acusa J. J. Rendón de ser el artífice de montar las campañas difamatorias en contra de los ex candidatos presidenciales Rafael Pardo Rueda (liberal) y Carlos Gaviria (Polo Democrático). El niega los señalamientos y dice que siempre actúa legalmente. En una entrevista con María Isabel Rueda dijo: “Si todo es dentro de la ley, no tengo escrúpulos”, le dijo en la charla que se publicó en Semana. (Ver entrevista).

Pero ¿Cómo llegó J. J. Rendón a Colombia? Se sabe que fue traído por el hoy ministro de Defensa, Juan Manuel Santos, cuando él era el máximo dirigente de la ‘U’, uno de los partidos más fuertes de la coalición del gobierno.

Luego J. J. Rendón se quedó en la ‘U’ y ha intentado ingresar a la Casa de Nariño aunque oficialmente no tiene un cargo sí traza directrices. De hecho, la directora del programa de los jóvenes, Ana María Convers, contó en La W que tuvo que reunirse en varias ocasiones con él en su hotel, por petición del vicepresidente Francisco Santos, porque J. J. Rendón también es especialista “en jóvenes”.

El fuerte de este hombre de 40 años es la política, donde saca todas sus habilidades. Como dice El Tiempo: “Quienes han alcanzado el poder con su apoyo, no dudan en calificarlo como el gurú de la consultoría política, pero para sus detractores no es más que el rey de la propaganda negra”. En una entrevista con ese diario se defendió y explicó que no ha cobrado nada por su labor –no tiene permiso de trabajo– “porque estaba invirtiendo en un país en el que quiere radicarse profesionalmente y porque lo ha hecho por su amistad con el hoy ministro de Defensa y entonces director de la ‘U’, Juan Manuel Santos”.

El columnista de El Espectador Ramiro Bejarano aseguró en una de sus investigaciones que “Rendón no es sólo asesor de ese desastroso partido de la ‘U’, sino que además es una voz acatada en el alto gobierno y en las oficinas de más de un ministro. ¿Para qué? Nadie lo sabe con certeza, pero lo cierto es que desde que se tiene noticia de que este enigmático publicista anda merodeando las altas esferas oficiales, la política se vulgarizó, porque ahora se controvierte a críticos y opositores a través del rumor, la conseja, la calumnia, el desprestigio, calculadamente propalados por los medios oficialistas que se prestan a tan sórdida maniobra”.

Este personaje también ha alimentado la polémica además de Venezuela, en México, donde también ofició de asesor: “Jota Jota se presenta a sí mismo como sicólogo, publicista y comunicador, aunque su especialidad se da en torno a creación, difusión y esparcimiento de rumores negativos con los que pretende dañar el prestigio de los contrincantes de aquellos quienes lo contratan”. “La ambigüedad –dice con frecuencia– les da piernas a los rumores”, escribió de él el periodista mexicano Francisco Rodríguez.

Su paso por México

El también periodista mexicano Ramón Betancurt lo acusó en la campaña electora del país azteca de ser el “rey de la propaganda negra, de la desinformación, del rumor como arma de propaganda política de desprestigio para aniquilar a los contrincantes de oposición y del mismo partido político”.

En una fuerte columna dijo también que J. J. Rendón siembra rumores para modificar tendencias de opinión en situaciones electorales. “Del rumor que anticipa algo que puede ocurrir, como también puede precipitar hacia una versión falsa y trasciende, generado en ocasiones según la perversidad de quien lo transmite o el morbo del que lo repite”. Lo cual recuerda el caso del senador Pardo, que en vísperas de elecciones tuvo que salir a defenderse de una acusación de que él no estaba aliado con las Farc para tumbar al gobierno.

“Los términos ‘homosexual’, ‘narcotraficante’, ‘pederasta’, ‘drogadicto’, ‘violador”, etc., etc., que les endilga (como rumor) en las campañas a los adversarios políticos de sus clientes, o subir falsas historias perversas y fotomontajes al internet, es el pan de todos los días de este sicario y secuaz de la política”, asegura de él Betancurt, quien además sostiene que “algunos comunicadores de talla internacional han señalado al nuevo Goebbels del nazismo moderno –J. J. Rendón– como un agente encubierto de la CIA, ya que forma parte de un grupo más grande de consultores políticos que vagan, desde Miami, a todas partes del mundo, sobre todo a América Latina, para inmiscuirse en elecciones nacionales y locales a nombre de intereses que no están nada claros”

De este hombre se afirma además que prefiere moverse en escenarios silenciosos y que rehuye a las cámaras. Por eso, a pesar de todas estas acusaciones, a la opinión pública en general su nombre no le dice nada. Sólo cuando alguna personalidad vuelve y lo pone en la agenda pública para denunciarlo con valor, como lo hizo en las últimas horas el congresista Nicolás Uribe.

Sin embargo, la pregunta que queda en el ambiente es natural: con este polémico historial ¿ ¿Quién protege al misterioso J. J. Rendón, para que siga actuando así en Colombia?

http://realidadalternativa.wordpress.com/2010/05/03/%C2%BFquien-protege-a-j-j-rendon-acusado-de-hacer-propaganda-negra-contra-politicos/

[Judi Lynn]

79. Part of his Wiki needs a little better translation from the google version:

Dirigentes notorios El Partido Social de Unidad Nacional cuenta con varias figuras de la política tradicional como Carlos García Orjuela presidente del partido quien viene del Partido Liberal y es considerado uno de los caciques electorales del departamento del Tolima,<10> está detenido por el escándalo de la parapolítica. Otra de sus figuras políticas es la senadora Zulema Jattin Corrales, heredera de la casta política de los Jattin del departamento de Córdoba, la senadora es igualmente investigada por sus presuntos vínculos con grupos paramilitares. De igual forma cuenta con José David Name, hijo del cacique José Name de quien se dice heredó sus votos, son ellos miembro del clan de la familia Name que lleva muchos años en la política del Atlántico al igual que Piedad Zuccardi de García, también perteneciente a los clanes políticos de dicha región, todos ellos obtuvieron importantes votaciones.<11> Otras figuras del partido son:

• El militar en retiro Alfonso Plazas Vega, quien ejecutó la operación militar durante la Toma del Palacio de Justicia en 1985 y se hizo famoso por la frase "aquí defendiendo la democracia, maestro". Actualmente es investigado por la desaparición y tortura de varias personas en dicho hecho.
  
  
• La senadora vallecaucana Dilian Francisca Toro, electa presidenta del Senado para el período 2006 hasta el primer semestre de 2007.
  
  
• J.J. Rendón, controvertido asesor político venezolano del que se dice usaba la "propaganda negra" como estrategia, incluso tuvo enfrentamientos con integrantes del partido como el congresista Nicolás Uribe. Rendón conformó junto a Juan Manuel Santos el comité ejecutivo del partido en sus inicios.<2>

Google translation, not so hot:

Notorious leaders Social Party of National Unity has several traditional political figures as Carlos Garcia Orjuela party chairman who is the Liberal Party and is considered one of the chiefs of the department of elections Tolima,<10> is stopped by the scandal parapolitics. Another of their politicians is Senator Zulema Jattin Corrales, Heir of the breed Jattin policy department of Cordoba, the senator is also investigated for alleged links with paramilitary groups. Similarly with José David Name, Son of Chief Joseph who is said to Name inherited their votes, they are a member of the family clan name that has for many years in politics as well as Atlantic Piedad Garcia Zuccardi, Also belonging to the political clans in that region, all of them were important votes.<11> Other party figures are:

• The retired military Alfonso Plazas, Who executed the military operation during the Take Courthouse in 1985 and became famous for the phrase "Here defending democracy, teacher". Currently being investigated for the disappearance and torture of several people on that fact.
  
  
• Senator valle Dilian Francisca Toro, Elected president of the Senate for the period 2006 until the first half of 2007.
  
  
• J.J. Rendón, controversial political consultant who is said Venezuela was using the "black propaganda"As a strategy, even clashed with party members such as Congressman Nicolas Uribe. Rendón formed with Juan Manuel Santos the party's executive committee in its infancy.<2>

More:
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partido_Social_de_Unidad_Nacional

Also, it's easy for people to alter original material in Wikipedia. It's quite possible a lot needs to be here which has been removed already.

[Judi Lynn]

82. Google translation of an El Tiempo article from today:

eltiempo.com
Santos defended J.J. Rendón and said charges against him are due to have been successful
May 4, 2010, 8:14

Speaking to Radio Caracol Juan Manuel Santos said a number of signs that are made from various sectors, contrary to his new adviser.

Nicolas Uribe, who is part of the campaign of former defense minister, acknowledged his differences with the Venezuelan consultant who, according to the congressman, would have threatened to create a rumor his prostitution-related issues on the eve of their marriage because this refused to remove from office one of his workers nearby.

Given this remark, Juan Manuel Santos told reporters they Caracol that Uribe will not withdraw from the campaign. The congressman will occupy a new position which will not have to relate to the Venezuelan public.

As for the allegations made by the Liberal candidate, Rafael Pardo, in that it was Rendon's idea to link him with the FARC, Santos said that now, everything that goes wrong with a candidate, they will say it was the work of Rendón.

Caracol radio's journalists also asked the former Minister of Defence if it was true that JJ Rendon gave the council to say she had smoked marijuana. Santos, who replied that his response was not planned and he had no intention of conquering the youth vote, said that such signs are maintained to think things are false his new adviser.

Santos recalled that J.J. Rendon was very successful in the campaign of the U Party four years ago and so they decided to return to the campaign and help relaunch the party logo.

Asked if he was hiring Rendon to the negative propaganda Mockus. Santos said he is not going to make that kind of campaign and never attack the former mayor of Bogotá personally.

Santos relaunched his campaign and strengthened the senior management of his campaign for the presidency

The candidate of the 'U', Juan Manuel Santos, not only relaunched his campaign yesterday, but restated its strategy as a path to the presidency.

To start, his team received program, comprised of nearly 200 experts in various areas, the Government proposal that he has led in recent months.

The purpose, he said, is to use the 100 days until the
possession of the next president to make the program decrees, draft legislation and executive measures are in place from the first minute of government.

In the statement made yesterday that the candidate told hundreds of supporters to announce the changes, it became clear that the timonazo also means to move more toward the party of 'U' and to the legacy of President Alvaro Uribe.

From now on, the Santos campaign is identified by the logo and colors of the 'U': red, yellow, green and white. He abolished the identified orange.

And their new slogan is: "Together with Juan Manuel." Since yesterday, on the main roads of Bogota, Barranquilla, Cali and Bucaramanga began to erect billboards with phrases like 'Look, that is with you', 'In one, partners' and 'Pa' which is, son. "

More than a

New messages to invite to vote for Santos take hold regional cultural elements. Will also be on the posters, radio spots and television advertising campaign. Two of these new television messages were presented yesterday to the media.

The changes in strategy will not only advertising. The top management of the campaign were reinforced.

Roberto Prieto, an expert in administrative matters, will assume overall management of the campaign. And Alberto Velasquez, who had roles in this field, will be responsible for translating into executive and legislative initiatives the government program in 100 days.

To handle communications come a strengthening journalism. The first to arrive was Richard Fredy Muñoz, a journalist with Canal RCN. Ricardo Galan, who is head of the press, became a strategic communications.

Santos also devote more time to respond to the media.

Angelino Garzón (running mate), Carlos Shot (Head of debate) and Rodrigo Rivera (policy manager), will lead an aggressive field work in all regions of the country.

Renowned expert in political marketing J.J. Rendón (Venezuela), whom the party of 'U' attributes his early success from the advertising point of view, also joined the team.
Some turns of the campaign

1. The orange, which identified the Santos campaign, was changed to match the colors of the 'U': red, yellow, green and white.

2. From today, the candidate's slogan of 'U' is: "Together with Juan Manuel." There will be other messages, depending on the region of the country.

3. Make regional expressions of the new strategy to attract the attention of voters in different areas of Colombia.

4. The billboards, posters, radio spots and television commercials have new posts to boost the candidacy of Santos.

5. Since yesterday have 100 days to the installation of the new President. Santos said a package ready to implement them since that day.

6. Roberto Prieto, an expert in administrative affairs, will serve as general manager in the new campaign team of Juan Manuel Santos.

JUAN FRANCISCO VALBUENA
EDITORIAL POLICY

http://www.colombiadecide.com/items/view/15232

http://www.eltiempo.com.nyud.net:8090/elecciones2010/juanmanuelsantos/IMAGEN/IMAGEN-7692716-2.png

Santos wearing his zippy orange jacket. Perhaps it's not a good color for him, brings out the blotches.

eltiempo.com
Santos defendió a J.J. Rendón y dijo que acusaciones en su contra se deben a que ha sido exitoso
mayo 4 2010, 08:14

En diálogo con Caracol radio Juan Manuel Santos contestó a varios de los señalamientos que se hacen, desde varios sectores, en contra de su nuevo asesor.

Nicolás Uribe, quien hace parte de la campaña del ex ministro de Defensa, reconoció sus diferencias con el asesor venezolano quien, según el congresista, lo habría amenazado con crear un rumor suyo relacionado con temas de prostitución en vísperas de su matrimonio debido a que este se negó a apartar de su cargo a uno de sus trabajadores cercanos.

Ante este señalamiento, Juan Manuel Santos les aseguró a los periodistas de Caracol que Uribe no se retirará de la campaña. El congresista pasará a ocupar un nuevo cargo en el que no tendrá que relacionarse con el publicista venezolano.

En cuanto a las denuncias hechas por el candidato liberal, Rafael Pardo, en cuanto a que fue idea de Rendón vincularlo a él con las Farc, Santos respondió que ahora, todo lo que salga malo de un candidato, van a decir que fue obra de Rendón.

Mas:
http://www.eltiempo.com/elecciones2010/juanmanuelsantos/juan-manuel-santos-defiende-a-jj-rendon_7692667-1

[Judi Lynn]

107. Here's the 1st bonafide J. J. Rendón product I've found!

http://www.send2press.com.nyud.net:8090/images/09-S2P-NW-whtBGsm.gif

Santos Campaign Making History: Juan Manuel Santos is First Politician in South America to Launch Campaign Through the Internet

Wed, 05 May 2010, 15:24:37 EDT
Edited by Debra Tone

BOGOTA, Colombia, May 5 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Political campaigns in Latin-America have always been marked by traditionalism, manifestations, crowded plazas and message distribution through traditional media such as television, billboards, written press and radio. Never before has voter outreach been conducted through the Internet and other new media technologies.

Since Obama's successful presidential campaign in 2008, a campaign noted for its use of Internet based tools in a massive and systematic way, the art of running a campaign has been revolutionized. Today, that revolution has arrived Colombia Juan Manuel Santos, Colombian presidential candidate for the U Political Party, is launching a new campaign and is inviting every Colombian to participate using a video on his Web site www.santospresidente.com, to join his army of volunteers before the presidential primary on May 30th, 2010.

Additionally, he is inviting every Colombian to join his campaign through social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Hi5.

Santos, a native to Bogota and a Harvard University graduate, served as the Minister of National Defense before his run for President under President Uribe.

"We recognize that the power of Internet is underestimated, but we are changing our perspectives, to correct this," Stated Santos. "We will put everything into it and nothing will stop us. We will use the latest technology to promote democracy and show the world what it means to be a Colombia, we will use the Internet to mobilize our followers."

More:
http://www.send2press.com/newswire/2010-05-0505-001.shtml

You have to put a clothespin on your nose just reading it! Phew!

How is it they overlooked the fact Mockus was BIG on the internet long BEFORE this? Small oversight, no doubt.

~~~~~
Send2press.com is part of a PR firm in Redondo Beach, named "Neotrope."
http://www.neotrope.net/

Wierd, huh?

[naaman fletcher]

74. Mockus: "If Venezuela became another Cuba, it would be sad for everybody"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=405&topic_id=35557&mesg_id=35557

[Judi Lynn]

80. Mockus and his “Green Tide” Upsetting Uribe-Santos Continuity in Colombia

Monday, May 3rd 2010 - 20:48 UTC
Mockus and his “Green Tide” Upsetting Uribe-Santos Continuity in Colombia

With less than a month for the Colombian presidential election the campaign has reaffirmed the surprising advance of what is known as the “green tide” of hopeful Antanas Mockus, who according to the latest public opinion polls figures ahead of incumbent candidate and former Defence Minister Juan Manuel Santos.

Juan Manuel Santos had been comfortably ahead in all opinion polls since last February, when the Constitutional Court rejected the Referendum Bill for another re-election of President Álvaro Uribe. At that moment, an in-waiting Santos emerged as the natural successor of Uribe and presidential candidate for the ruling Social Party of National Unity (U Party).

And so it was until only a week ago when the former Defence Minister who is campaigning of the continuity of Uribe’s “democracy with security” slogan was ahead of all public opinion polls and vote intention.

Colombian voters will be going to the polls May 30, but if none of the hopefuls manages an absolute majority of votes, a run-off is scheduled for June 20 between the two candidates with most votes. However, since a week ago all opinion polls published in Bogotá indicate that Antanas Mockus (Green Party) is ahead of Santos and therefore poised to become Colombia’s next president on August 7.

According to pollster Ipsos-Napoleón Franco, the former Bogotá mayor for two periods (1995/1998 and 2001/2003) has a vote intention of 38% compared to Santos 29%; in a run off the Lithuanian descendent would manage 50% against 37% of the incumbent candidate.

More:
http://en.mercopress.com/2010/05/03/mockus-and-his-green-tide-upsetting-uribe-santos-continuity-in-colombia

[Judi Lynn]

81. Key political risks to watch in Colombia

Key political risks to watch in Colombia
Mon May 3, 2010 10:40pm IST

By Patrick Markey
BOGOTA, May 3 (Reuters) - A tight election race to succeed President Alvaro Uribe, rebel violence, the push for investment grade and tensions with Venezuela are all points to watch in Colombia this year.

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Colombia's election campaign has seen a dramatic surge for independent candidate Antanas Mockus in the race to replace President Alvaro Uribe in May's election. In his two terms, Uribe took the fight to guerrillas and helped foreign direct investment rise to an estimated $10 billion this year from $2 billion in 2002 when he first came to power. But Mockus, a former Bogota mayor, now has a lead in polls against Juan Manuel Santos, Uribe's former defense minister.

Mockus is drawing support from voters who are tired of scandals over human rights and corruption during Uribe's time, and with his appeal for clean government. Voters are also now more concerned about the economy than security.

The Colombian peso COP=RR dipped slightly with Mockus' rise, largely because he is less well known to investors. But both Mockus and Santos say they will stick to security and pro-business policies, and analysts see little long-term impact on the peso COP=RR and local TES bonds.

Santos is a former finance minister who once helped bring Colombia out of a fiscal crisis. But opponents say he lacks Uribe's charisma. Mockus is well-known for his solid fiscal management of Bogota but also for his off-beat tactics, such as using mimes to educate the city's residents about civic duty. Critics say he can come across as meandering in public speeches, leaving listeners confused.

More:
http://in.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idINRISKCO20100503

Rotters actually believes it's "news" to print Santos is thought to have LESS charisma than Uribe! :wtf: :crazy: :spray: :silly:

http://www.borev.net.nyud.net:8090/JMSantos.yawning.jpg http://www.elecuatoriano.com.nyud.net:8090/noticias/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/alvaro_uribe.jpg

"There are none so blind as those who will not see."

[Judi Lynn]

83. In Colombia, An Unmistakable Green Trend

In Colombia, An Unmistakable Green Trend
by Charles Lemos , Tue May 04, 2010 at 03:32:20 PM EDT
Polling Continues To Show a Green Surge

With Colombia's presidential now less than four weeks away, the Green party candidate Antanas Mockus continues to surge ahead of Juan Manuel Santos, the candidate of the pro-Uribe National Union party better known as el Partido de la U. In the latest poll released on Friday by Datexco showed Mockus now with a 12 point advantage, 39 percent to 27 percent, over Santos.

Still, these results point to a second round run-off three weeks later on June 20th. All polling over the past ten days has been consistently giving Mockus a clear advantage in the second round. There are, however, some caveats to keep mind. Polling in Colombia tends to overemphasize urban areas at the expense of rural areas where the Greens have less of presence and where vote-buying and other electoral irregularities are commonplace. Perhaps some ten percent of the Colombian electorate sells their votes.

However somewhat counteracting this is the tremendous support that Antanas Mockus and the Greens have among members of the Colombian diaspora. While the period for Colombians living abroad to register had expired in December, a class-action lawsuit is seeking to reopen the registration period. It is expected that this will add another 500,000 Colombians to the voting rolls, or doubling the number currently registered.

The last caveat is that no one really knows how many Colombians will turn out to vote. Colombia is a country where the abstention rate is historically high, generally only about half of eligible voters turn out to vote. Of the 29.8 million Colombians eligible to vote, only about 15 to 16 million were expected to vote but electoral officials are bracing now for a slightly higher tally. Perhaps 18 to 20 million may now turn out to vote. Of note, Colombian election officials have estimated that one-third of all registered voters are under 30 years of age.

More:
http://mydd.com/2010/5/4/grr

[naaman fletcher]

84. good news. thanks for the updates. nt.

[rabs]

85. Government denies ASSASSINATION plot against Mockus

Glancing at headlines in Colombian media today, things are moving fast:

-- Minister of Defense Gabriel Silva Luján said government intelligence agencies have no information of a plot to kill Mockus.

http://www.elespectador.com/noticias/politica/articulo201430-descartan-plan-de-atentado-contra-antanas-mockus
---------------------------------
-- Uribe's Interior and Justice Minister Fabio Valencia Cossio says DAS was linked to assassinations of Luis Carlos Galán, Bernardo Jaramillo and Álvaro Gómez Hurtado. (All three were presidential candidates in the past 25 years.)

http://www.elespectador.com/noticias/politica/articulo201478-das-estuvo-vinculado-asesinatos-de-galan-gomez-y-jaramillo-mininter

-----------------------------

Chucky Santos today defended the addition of J.J. Rendon to his campaign, saying Rendon is a very successful political adviser, which is why he has so many enemines. Three of Chucky's advisors have resigned because of Rendon joining the campaign team.

http://www.elespectador.com/noticias/politica/articulo201428-juan-manuel-santos-defiende-llegada-de-jj-rendon-su-campana
\-----------------------

Santos admitted that his campaign was failing on the Internet, (Facebook, Twitter, etc) so he has hired none other than RAVI SINGH, the mastermind of BARACK OBAMA's highly successful Internet campaign in the 2008 campaign. (I suspect Singh is in it for the money, not Santos' ideology.) The Chucky campaign also has hired 25 young uribistas to beef up his support on the Internet, in addition to Singh. (Mockus now has over a half-million followers on Facebook.)

http://www.elespectador.com/articulo201492-juan-manuel-santos-admitio-fallo-su-campana-traves-de-internet

------------------

The Supreme Court today turned down the extradition of former paramilitary chief Freddy Rendón to the United States. The court said he had to respond to the criminal charges in Colombia. He is accused of 451 murders of campesinos and others and of financing the political campaigns of several uribnista congress members and other politicians. Lots of uribistas today probably cringing, because when Rendón starts singing, off to the pokey with them.

http://www.eltiempo.com/colombia/justicia/corte-niega-extradicion-de-el-aleman_7693812-1

---------------------

Homicides in Colombia grew by 16.2 percent in 2009 compared with 2008, 15,50 cases in 2008 to 17,717 in 2009. Does not say much about alvarito's touted "Democratic Security."

http://www.semana.com/noticias-nacion/homicidios-colombia-crecen-162/138457.aspx

---------------------

Just another normal day in Colombia.

[Judi Lynn]

86. Wow, it's a great collection of links. Will be reading these tonight. They are all important. n/t

[Peace Patriot]

87. The name "Rendon" keeps turning up like a bad coin. Coincidence?

"...former paramilitary chief Freddy Rendón...accused of 451 murders of campesinos and others..." --from the above

"Defense Secretary Santos has employeed a campaign strategist, J.J. Rendón to handle the next phase, since he is going to have to step up his rough stuff after learning he is trailing Mockus." --from rabs' comment 72, above.

Then there is "The Rendon Group," notorious liars and black propagandists, who spread the false story that Iraqi soldiers disconnected babies' incubators in Kuwait in the first Gulf War, and was then hired by Donald Rumsfeld, at $100,000 per month U.S. taxpayer dollars, to sell Iraq War II.

I made a brief effort to find out any connective tissue between J.J. Rendón and The Rendon Group but didn't find anything. As I said, coincidence? Or are we missing something? Family connection way back (or not)? The Spanish name has an accent (Rendón) and The Rendon Group doesn't. Is this worth pursuing?

Here's an interesting list--The Rendon Group's (TRG's) clients:

--

Clients of the Rendon Group have included a number of foreign nations, as well as major corporations. Clients have included:

American Housing Consortium (based in Kuwait)
American Business Council of Kuwait
Bulgaria
Colombian army
Indonesia
KPMY/Peat Marwick
Kuwait
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation
Kuwait University
Leonard P. Zakim
NIPCC
Monsanto Chemical Company
United States
United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
The Pentagon
Uzbekistan
Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation (which it helped promote a ban on landmines)
White House Iraq Group
Alpura: Ganaderos Productores De Leche Pura
TRG created a detailed and multi-faceted crisis communications plan for ALPURA, the leading producer of dairy products in Mexico. The program included development and extensive use of crisis planning scenarios that provided ALPURA senior leadership and staff with in-depth media-performance and crisis training.
American Express, Bahrain
Argentina Televisora Color (ATC)
Antigua & Barbuda, Government of Aruba
Balkan Information Exchange
For the Joint Staff and the US European Command (EUCOM), TRG developed and maintained the Balkan Information Exchange, a news and information Web site focused on issues and events in Eastern Europe. The Web site reflected a wide range of international open-source information on the region and was published in six languages. TRG also deployed a three-person team to Kosovo to gather content, especially photographs, for the site.
Bell Atlantic International, Indonesia
Bosnia and Herzegovina Privatization
TRG designed and implemented an information mapping project as part of the public education program in support of privatization in Bosnia and Herzegovina. TRG identified the range of sources of information available to privatization stakeholders and the general public and how these information outlets were perceived in the marketplace, when and how these outlets delivered information, and who received information from individual sources and how the sources were motivated or contaminated.
Bull HN Information Systems
Bustamente Institute, Jamaica
Centre for International Projects, Prague
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
George Washington University
TRG designed, marketed, and managed a five-part conference series on Post-Privatization Management in the global telecommunications, electric power, oil and gas, banking and finance, and transportation sectors. In cooperation with the White House, TRG helped the university conduct two additional aviation-related conferences attended by international public aviation authorities and officials.
Gulf Business Machines, Bahrain
Haiti, Government of
Industrial Center of Argentine
Kuwait, Government of
TRG played an integral part in maintaining the global coalition that liberated Kuwait by designing and implementing a campaign to deliver messages to key international media and governmental decision-makers worldwide. Within days of the 1990 invasion and during the course of Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield, TRG placed teams of crisis management personnel in the Middle East, North America and Europe. TRG personnel were among the first U.S. civilians to enter Kuwait after its liberation by allied forces, and continued to provide assistance for many months after the country achieved freedom.
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation
Kuwait Petroleum Italy
Kuwait University
Liberal Party of Quebec
Marshall Legacy Symposium
The Rendon Group provided media relations for the 50th Anniversary of the Marshall Plan Symposium hosted by The White House and George Washington University. Leaders from 21 former Soviet Union and Central and Eastern European countries met with senior elected and appointed officials of the United States government.
Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism
National Education Association
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
TRG provided strategic consultation and video production services to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) as the agency prepared to deliver its final report regarding the investigation into the crash of TWA Flight 800. TRG worked closely with NTSB investigators to videotape spokespersons at the reconstructed model of TWA Flight 800 in its hangar on Long Island, N.Y. TRG edited new video footage with official animation and existing videotape shot following the accident to create a program that explained the Flight 800 accident in detail.
Netherlands Antilles, Government of
Panama, Government of
TRG was retained by the democratic Panamanian opposition coalition, Alianza Democratica de la Oposicion Civilista (ADO-Civilista), to design and implement a strategic and tactical communications plan for the May 1989 elections. When the Noriega government nullified ADO-Civilista election victory, TRG continued to support the Party's ongoing effort to establish a democratic government in Panama. TRG helped ADO Civilista leaders deliver a forceful and consistent message to the Panamanian public and restore confidence in the new government as it assumed office after the arrest of General Noriega.
Pharmaceutical Laboratories (CILFA)
Sari Pan Pacific Hotel, Jakarta
St. Lucia Labour Party
Toyota, Saudi Arabia
United Nations
U.S. Department of Defense
U.S. Air force - Air Intelligence Agency
TRG conducted an in-depth study of the agency's internal and external communications activities. TRG reviewed current and potential future agency-customer and agency-supplier relationships, and outlined options for improving the agency's strategic communication activities. The study included a review of agency communications materials, executive interviews with senior officials and recipients of agency communications, and other critical research.
U.S. Army
U.S. Strategic Command
U.S. Trade & Development Agency
The White House-President's Council on Year 2000 Conversion
TRG helped Council Chairman John A. Koskinen, and his staff plan, and implement a nationwide public education effort regarding the potential threats associated with the Y2K rollover. By the end of the year 1999, more than 350 Y2K community education events had been conducted in all 50 states, encompassing 210 media markets.
World Energy Conference, Montreal
Zambia Privatization Agency
TRG dispatched a senior communications team to Zambia to work with the Zambia Privatization Agency (ZPA) and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services (MIBS) officials to gauge public perceptions on privatization and design a communications program to improve the public climate for the country's privatization program.
Zambia, Southern University

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rendon_Group

--

The Rendon Group is also tied to Ahmed Chalabi and the Iraqi National Congress (also on the Pentagon payroll).

------------------------------------

I have **NO IDEA** if there is any connection between John Rendon (The Rendon Group), J.J. Rendón (Venezuelan origin, apparently) and Freddy Rendón (accused of 451 murders in Colombia), and there very probably is NO connection, but it's certainly odd that two Rendons (sans the accent mark) are involved in black propaganda in Colombia, one having had the Colombian military as a client and the other having former Colombian Defense Minister Santos (now running for prez) as a client, with the basic PR problem of both clients being the kind of murders that Freddy Rendón is accused of. The La Macarena massacre (up to 2,000 bodies recently found in a mass grave near a U.S. military base in Colombia) apparently occurred mostly on Santos' watch. The Colombian military and its closely tied death squads are notorious for these kinds of killings--extrajudicial killings of local community, labor, political and humanitarian activists and other civilians. And Colombia and its fascist operatives here consequently have a big problem selling a "free trade for the rich" deal between Colombia and the U.S. to the U.S. Congress (whose labor Democrats have objected), as well as continuing the U.S. military aid gravy train ($7 BILLION and counting). Is there a Rendon/Rendón black propaganda gene at work here, or is this just one of those weird things that mean nothing?

[Judi Lynn]

88. It would be so good to be able to find out more about this. How likely is it going to be

you'd ever find that combination of involvement in the military/industrial/treachery level propaganda, anyway? As we know, a LOT of people drop the accent marks on their names in the U.S., also. ld

They clearly know ALL the same people, move in the very same orbits.

Will study those names again, and look for more when I get a better block of time, also.

J. J. Rendón is a nasty, scheming, amoral beast, and the other one is downright evil. I found it very interesting that some of J. M. Santos' own people (who the hell would be cold-blooded, deteriorated enough to work for that monster) actually left when they learned he was bringing Rendón into his campaign.

[rabs]

89. Interesting confluence of Rendon and Rendón you uncovered

My impression is that it is a weird coincidence. The shadowy Rendon Group, based in Washington and Boston, has been around for three decades, advising scores of government around the globe. It predates both the accented Rendón.

-------------------------


Founder John Rendon, a self-described "perception manager," is from the United States.
-----------------------------------
J.J. Rendón, from Venezuela but who works out of Miami, does his dirty work in Latin America. He seems to emulate The Rendon Group but on a much smaller regional scale.

"Beware. J.J. Rendón has arrived.

"I came to provide clarity to the campaign of Juan Manuel."

---------------------------------------------------


The Colombian Freddy Rendón, aka "The German," is a Colombian "demobilized" paramilitary killer.

-------------------------------

So it does not look like there would be any link among the trio, except for their common sinisterness (that a word?).

[Judi Lynn]

186. Thanks for the photo of Freddy Rendón. Creepy guy.

"Sinister" most clearly describes all 3 of these people.

Saw an article somewhere today which described J.J. Rendón as "Santos' Karl Rove". It's not good for the human world to have 2 of these criminals.

[rabs]

90. Getting ugly

A Facebook entry appeared today at 3 p.m. Bogota time in which the author said:

"I commit myself to killing Antanas Mockus before May 30."



The server removed the entry at 5:30 p.m.

The photo is of a lawyer named "de la Espriella," who denied that he had anything to do with the entry.

The Mockus camp asked the government to expedite an investigation, like it did when a student threatened uribito's sons Tom and Jerry and within days the student had been tracked down and arrested.

[Judi Lynn]

91. This is awful. I've heard paras make a lot of death threats before they kill people.

They love to terrorize their targets before they murder them. They can even get peoples' private cell phone numbers and call them there to make threats. They can chase them down in other countries if they try to hide. They find them even if they change their names.

And of course Colombia has a friend of the paras in their President's office who is totally connected to Santos' victory, to carry on his filthy regime, which would undoubtedly be even more violent. I remember as do other DU'ers how he made his own trip to Washington and made lots of speeches, something Defense Ministers leave to the Preidents, as the proper public spokesmen. He informed people here that he WILL invade and bomb Ecuador and any other country if he believes FARCs are hiding there.

This should inform Colombian people of good faith that it's time to cut this kind of politics off NOW, and elect a good man, for a change.

I just don't think we can EVER trust Uribe's government to protect Mockus. He won't do it. There are a trillion reasons he can give for not catching an assassination.

I have to cross my fingers. Colombia needs a good leader. The violent way of refusing the people to have a voice must GO.

[rabs]

92. JM Santos screw-up du jour

Turns out J.J. Rendón entered Colombia on a tourist visa and is NOT eligible to work for the JM Santos presidential campaign at this time.
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Semana this afternoon is reporting that J.J. had to fly back to Miami to "get his papers in order."

Santos' Party of the U. is now saying that J.J. had NOT been officially contracted and that he would only be paid "after the hoped for results are obtained," presumably the election of JM Santos. (If that is so, it's possible that J.J. may never get paid.)
:rofl:

A decision on whether J.J. will be able to work in Colombia will be made soon by the chief of the DAS, according to Semana. (I think we can guess what that decision will be.)

Radio Caracol today reported that J.J. had been fined for working illegally for the Party of the U. (uribistas) without the necessary documents required by Colombian law. That was between July 2007 and January 2008.

And so the daily downward slide continues for Chucky Santos. :rofl:



http://www.semana.com/noticias-nacion/jj-rendon-regresa-miami-poner-papeles-orden/138525.aspx

[ChangoLoa]

93. The warlord is beginning to look like a clown. nt

[Judi Lynn]

94. You'd think a law and order government like Uribe's would have been on top of these details,

wouldn't you? It's a shame to see a shadow of the slightest shadiness on their part!

Some "Going Back" music:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42-N32QhIgA\
http://waslijn.com.nyud.net:8090/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/wayne-cochran-300x300.jpg

http://images.artistdirect.com.nyud.net:8090/Images/Sources/AMGPORTRAITS/music/portrait200/drp100/p116/p11603vaa2a.jpg
I am so sorry.

[Judi Lynn]

95. Politically astute outsider Mockus making ground in campaign for president of Colombia

Politically astute outsider Mockus making ground in campaign for president of Colombia
By Juan Forero
Friday, May 7, 2010

UCARAMANGA, COLOMBIA -- Colombians have long known Antanas Mockus for his antics, such as the time he mooned an auditorium full of rowdy students during his stint as a university president. And how he got married atop an elephant.

Then there were the occasions during his two terms as Bogota mayor when he donned a spandex suit and became Super Citizen to lecture residents about civics.

Some have called him "a little strange," as Mockus acknowledged Thursday in an interview. Soon, Colombians may be calling him president.

Polls increasingly show that Mockus, who is the son of Lithuanian immigrants and whose trademark is an Amish-style beard, might just win the presidency in elections to succeed Alvaro Uribe, a U.S.-backed hard-liner who was prevented from running for a third term. A first round of voting takes place May 30, with a second scheduled next month if no candidate wins 50 percent.

Political analysts and commentators call Mockus's rise a political phenomenon because he differs so markedly in style and substance from Uribe, who marshaled more than $6 billion in U.S. aid to batter the rebel forces that have plagued Colombia. That gave Uribe a 70 percent approval rating, and pundits predicted that his natural heir, former defense minister Juan Manuel Santos, would easily sweep to victory.

Mockus, a 58-year-old former mathematician, likes to say that he is not anti-Uribe but post-Uribe. He has said he would continue popular policies, such as the fight against armed groups, but also pledges to bring civility and transparency to government.

More:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/06/AR2010050606284.html

[rabs]

96. Green is for go ...

Good article that just about sums up all we have been reading in this thread for more than a month now. From the Washington-based Council on Hemispheric Affairs. Looks like people in Washington are sitting up and paying attention now.
------------------------------------

Green is for Go in Colombia
By COHA Senior Research Fellow W. John Green Ph.D.


• COHA op-ed of the week



An extraordinary event may be reflected in Colombia’s electoral polling: conceivably the politics of thuggery, corruption and Bogotá-inspired violence under the ruling Uribe administration, is being successfully challenged by Mockus’ Green Party.

Snippets:

~~ After President Uribe was barred by an unexpectedly feisty Colombian Supreme Court from running for a third term, war hawk Juan Manuel Santos, his former Defense Minister, became his anointed heir. Santos is the stand-in for Uribe’s “Democratic Security” policy, consisting of a hard-line, no compromise nor negotiation approach toward the major guerrilla movements, the ELN and the FARC. The current policy amounts to placing the country on an eternal war footing.

~~ By the last week of the month, polls showed Mockus pulling ahead, and indicated that he would likely defeat Santos in a second round. Mockus has even claimed that he could possibly win a majority in the first round of voting on May 30th.

~~ Mockus, who repeatedly insists that he would not negotiate with guerrillas until they release their kidnapped hostages, ...

~~ The Mockus wave represents a new hope for Latin American left of center politics, and, closer to home, a significant rejection of the Uribe years, as well as promises to break with the policies of the recent past. Still, this may not be an easy victory.

~~ The victory of a united left and center under Mockus–now a strong possibility–is refreshing, exciting, and potentially terrifying, given the likelihood of violent reaction, as all of Colombia’s woeful traditional problems and dangers still remain.

-----------------

http://www.coha.org/coha-op-ed-of-the-week-green-is-for-go-in-colombia/

[Judi Lynn]

97. This is a tremendous array of information, far different from what we would find in corporate media.

It all sounds so encouraging except for the fact they kill leftist politicians in Colombia. Not so democratic, are they? Decades of this filthy dishonest vicious elimination of the opposition.

It was great seeing this quote. It says a heck of a lot about his moral position which could certainly inflame the military against him:

In response to questions about bombing neighboring countries (as Uribe did in 2008 when he attacked FARC camps in Ecuador), Mockus insisted that he would respect the Colombian Constitution and international treaties.

That's so un-Santos, isn't it?

Thanks for this thorough report, rabs. Far above the ordinary articles we find.

[cqo_000]

98. NYT: A Maverick Upends Colombian Politics

By SIMON ROMERO
Published: May 7, 2010

<snip>

Mr. Mockus’s Green Party has campaigned on a platform of social inclusion, battling corruption and finding alternative methods to fight crime, appealing to the many voters who want to focus on issues other than the slow-burning war against cocaine-trafficking rebel groups.

“There’s fatigue with Uribe’s governing style and that of previous governments, as well,” said Elisabeth Ungar, a political scholar at the University of the Andes. “There’s also the expectation that Mockus would focus on a range of social issues, building on his experience as one of the best mayors that Bogotá has had.”


<snip>

“I’m battling for the integration of ideas from the left and right,” he said, explaining that he was in favor of higher tax collection and a strong government role in society, while also advocating the closing of inefficient state enterprises, cutting the public payroll and supporting private industry.



http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/08/world/americas/08colombia.html?src=me

[Judi Lynn]

100. Thanks for this article. It's much better than we have ordinarily gotten from its author,

Simon Romero.

Welcome to D.U.'s Latin American forum, by the way. :hi:

[cqo_000]

101. thanks for the welcome message!

As you can see I don't post often but i read almost every day .... I've learnt a great deal from this forum, so I'm happy to be able to contribute as well. :)

[rabs]

102. Second Judi's welcome

and thanks for posting the NYT article. The NYT is more than a month behind DU Latin America on Mockus !!

Looking foreward to seeing more posts from you. :hi:

[naaman fletcher]

99. Antanas Mockus vows to prevent Chávez's revolution in Colombia

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=405x35711

[rabs]

103. Mockus' running mate Fajardo broke his hip today

... when he fell off his bicycle while exercising. He was to undergo surgery at a hospital in Medellin this afternoon.

Mockus made the announcement on Twitter (probably so as to avoid any rumors).

http://www.elespectador.com/noticias/politica/articulo202205-sergio-fajardo-se-fracturo-cadera-haciendo-ejercicio

[Judi Lynn]

104. Talk about timing! If he falls off a stationary bike, it's clear why he rides INSIDE!

He wouldn't stand a chance outside, AND he'd be a sitting duck for paramiltary snipers.

Hope Fajardo mends quickly for the sake of the country, should Mockus and he win this election.

First time I've ever heard of anyone getting injured on an indoor bike. Well it could have been worse if he hadn't been wearing his helmet!

http://upload.wikimedia.org.nyud.net:8090/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Sergio_Fajardo_Valderrama.jpg/200px-Sergio_Fajardo_Valderrama.jpg

[rabs]

105. Latest poll published by Semana today

Mockus and Santos in first-round tie.


But Mockus still would beat Santos in the second round.

http://www.semana.com/noticias-nacion/empatados/138625.aspx

Twenty-one days to go until the election on May 30.


--------------------

Funny cartoon in Semana; a beat-up Santos talking with J.J. Rendon holding polls:


Santos: "We have to do whatever is necessary to cut off Mockus."
J.J.: "Including legal manuevers?"

[Judi Lynn]

106. Oh, that's a GOOD one. His reputation apparently precedes him.

What a legacy he's made for himself.

Love the Santos image!

(The poll looks a little negative, doesn't it?)

[Dreyfus]

109. False figures of Gallup Poll in Colombia

Hi rabs and Juddi. As Elian old times. Figures of Santos taking 35% and Mockus 34% is totally false and manipulated. Gallup Poll Company is being used for dirty politics in Colombia. His unscrupulous manager, Jorge Londoño has put in jeopardy the Gallup good-will, publishing the figures requested for the more juicy donor check. Londoño, an old Uribe´s friend, received millions in one of the most corrupt acts signed by Uribe and known in Colombia as the A.I.S theft. He´ll use the rubber stamp on whatever Uribe or Santos put it on the table. Only 3 days ago, DATEXCO, an unbiased, honest and non partisan poll Company, gave to Mockus 38% while Santos barely got 26%. Can someone with an average IQ tell me how an obnoxious, Human Rights violator, corrupt and noncharismatic candidate as Santos, could gain 13 points in only 48 hours? The real thing is totally different. We strongly believe in Colombia that Mockus has at least 45% of favoritism while Santos is losing at least 2 points. He should get 24% right now.

[Judi Lynn]

110. So very good to see you, Dreyfus! This is tremendous. What a time to get in touch, too!

There's no one better we would want to watch this coming election or catastrophe with.

No doubt, I'm sure, if Santos was said to win there would be an ENORMOUS exodus by decent Colombians who know they don't want to go through a Santos Presidency.

In the meantime we really hope so much for Mockus' welfare as the election approaches. Hope he has a LOT of bodyguards with him at all times. I have learned since we all met so long ago how MANY better people running for office have been murdered to keep them from winning. What a nightmare.

With so many people from around the world watching this election it won't be as easy for them as it has been in the past, right?

What you said about the poll being misrepresented doesn't shock anyone at all who has watched Santos in action. He is a true monster. And what's the deal with his face? Does he have it ironed every morning to keep it so flat and inhuman? It has alway looked as if he's wearing a mask.

Did you ever see this photo? This one nearly kills me. How creepy!

http://cache.daylife.com.nyud.net:8090/imageserve/03L96KI00Bh2x/610x.jpg
Welcome to D.U. It's so great seeing you, Dreyfus. :hi:

[Dreyfus]

111. Three real demons: Murders and corrupts....and US Golden Boys

What so macabre picture!!!!

In this picture you can see three right wing fascist demons. In the left, Vicepresident Francisco Santos, a former drogadict, a real scumbag with a very low IQ; in the Center is Alvaro Uribe, the infamous Chief Commander of druglords, bloodthirsty paramilitaries and corrupt politicians and in the right, the Uribe's heir, Juan Manuel Santos and cousin of Francisco. Santos is an unscrupulous politician, a mediocre journalist ready to sell his concience to the highest binder and well-known as a compulsive lier and with a absolute lack of loyalty.

Through 8 years, those crooks have run Colombia as their own farm using Colombian Militaries as their own personal bodyguard Army and Colombian Intelligence Agency (DAS) -equivalent to our FBI- to wiretap illegally the magistrates of the Justice Supreme Court and spying opossition politicians including their relatives.

There´s more. Uribe and croonies have used the Paramilitary Groups to kill hundred of thousands of poor humble peasants, owners of small lands, displacing 4 millions of them toward the big cities, creating a huge havoc and skyrocketing the crime rates. But displacing those poor people from their lands obeyed a criminal motive. Paramilitaries, druglords and politicians wanted to spoil the abandoned lands from their original and legal owners. Indeed it was part of the machiavellian Uribe's massive plan "refunding" the Country.

But Colombia lucky star came to help. The valiant Supreme Court emerged as a giant blocking the Uribe's sinister plan and confronting him, in spite of death threats, insults, stage false accusations of corruption and illegal wiretaps. And the brave attitude of the judges was out of the Uribe´s memorando. Supreme and Constitutional Court rejected a third presidential chance for Uribe, but today he still wants to keep the power pushing as proxy Juan M. Santos for President.

Again, bad luck for Uribe. Mr. Mockus raised from the scratch, from nothing, just supported by his honesty and by millions of Colombians pretty tired of the Uribe's crimes.

[Judi Lynn]

114. Really appreciate your comments. You pointed out something a lot of people don't ever learn.

Since people in the U.S. have usually never even heard of the fact the paras terrorize Colombian people living on their own small farms, often the same land their fathers, grandfathers had, with the intention of driving them off their land and keeping that land for themselves.

Since we discussed Colombian paras so long ago, I have learned they are able to get the legal deed to those properties. One way is the paras approach the owner, and tell him they want to buy his house for a very small amount. He refuses, and then they tell him they will simply discuss the matter with his widow. They end up getting the title to the land. Sometimes they have sold the land to the state, sometimes they sell it themselves to various companies, sometimes to the palm tree growing plantations for producing oil, bio-fuel, etc., and sometimes they sell it to mining companies, and so many other uses.

When they chase so many off their own land and they run to the city as you point out it drives up the crime rate because the cities cannot absorb the additional people and can't provide jobs for them.

I had never made that connection to crime before reading your post, but it's so plain to see now I'm embarrassed I couldn't figure it out myself. Of course that would be the result. This is so sad.

If they refuse to leave their own property then they'll simply get killed and the paras will still take the land.

I had been wondering what it was about when I would search for information on Colombia and hear Uribe was at war with the Supreme Court. It didn't make sense because I didn't know what was going on. He thought they were there to do his will, right?

Again, I didn't make the connection that he was intimidating them, spying on them to find out material to use to blackmail them, coerce them into becoming his slaves, doing his bidding, serving him.

It's hard to understand that as many times as investigations go all the way to his family, his cabinet, his cabinet's families, his political party, his senators, he always insists it has nothing to do with him when everyone knows it does.

I've heard they've even had court testimony from former paras in which the paras told of times they were present at meetings in which he discussed massacres they were planning. Was it Dos Erres he was involved in planning? Can't remember.

We have learned the US Department of Defense did an investigation of dangerous characters in Colombia in 1991 or 1992, and they had his name on it, and his dad's name as people who were completely connected to the narcotraffickers. Almost 20 years ago, yet look how much they have adored him. It's because they want to use Colombia from which to operate spying and strategy against the other Latin American countries.

Do ordinary Colombians know they are being lied to in their own media? Do they know the U.S. people are also completely unaware of what has happened? I sure hope so.

Francisco Santos absolutely DOES look completely stupid, as dumb as a sack of hammers. What's wrong with that hair? Yikes!

He always looks like US "comedian," Mary Allen, seen here dancing with First Lady Betty Ford:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com.nyud.net:8090/_VFtvqrZ6e8I/SWqErwGrinI/AAAAAAAAB8w/Ciis1o2rYmw/s400/B1577-17.jpg

[rabs]

112. Updating with recent events

-- The uribista/santista media since last Friday had been screaming that Mockus is an atheist in a country that is overwhelmingly Catholic. (This seems to be a J.J. Rendon dirty trick.)

Over the weekend, Mockus revealed that he in fact was raised as a Catholic, had been an alter boy and came close to to being a priest. ("Yo soy católico, fui acólito y casi soy sacerdote ...)

Today, cardinal Pedro Rubiano Sáenz also denied the uribismo rumors, saying Mockus was NOT a "non-believer" and that Mockus possesses "virtues and noble qualities" that qualify Mockus for the presidency. (A not-so-veiled endorsement.)

Rubiano: "I have known him for some time; I know him as a correct person, not only from hearsay but with conversations with him, we have shared some projects."

Lo conozco de tiempo atrás; lo conozco como una persona recta, no simplemente de oídas sino que he conversado con él, hemos compartido también acciones", sostuvo.

-----------------------------

The three leading polling companies today denied they were manipulating the polls. Apparently they were stung by Mockus who said "filters" were being used to distort the results, as happened when the Gallup poll all of a sudden had Santos one point ahead of Mockus over the weekend. (Polls last week had Mockus ahead by several points.)

-------------------------------

The Interior Minister (a real uribista rat) yesterday said security around the candidates was being amplified. An indication that threats against Mockus are very real.

--------------

Mockus' vice presidential running mate, will be released tomorrow from a Medellin hospital. He broke his hip when he fell off his bicycle last week.

----------------

[Dreyfus]

113. Colombian Paramilitaries used crematory ovens to kill their victims

I found today this hair-rising article about the pro Uribe Colombian Paramilitaries. As I know, Adolf Hitler used crematory ovens to dissapear death bodies. But I have never listened that he used it to kill their enemies or Jewish victims.

Next there is a segment of an article that appeared today in the Colombian Magazine Semana. At the end, you can see the link wher you can read all the rticle. Unfortunately is in Spanish. I had to translate myself the next segment. Just read it and I want you know that your taxes have helped to create all this terrifying history. Uribe, co-founder and main supporter of the paramilitaries, received from the US Government, 7 BILLION DOLLARS in 7 years. Most of this money was used for buying warfare and paying snitches; other money stopped in the Military Officer pockets. But an important portion of those BILLIONS, finished in the hands of the paramilitaries and druglords.

http://www.semana.com/noticias-nacion/paras-tambien-tenian-crematorios-antioquia/138719.aspx

........Already inside the property, the former paramilitary described with details the property: “the first house was unfinished and beside there was like kind of deposit. Behind, like to 70 or 80 meters, it was working supposedly a brick factory. You could see 2 chimneys in the roof. In the entrance there was a first floor with a well trimmed and decorated garden. In the right side, there was one stairs and you descended like five meters. When you arrived at the end, you could see a huge oven, a kind used in industrial bakery.

The huge oven had a hermetic door, with the lockhandle outside. When the door closed, stayed incrusted in a wall metallic frame. It had very thick glasses, as armored. Outside there were 3 buttons. A red button was for starting to burn and the other two to graduate the temperature. Inside, the oven was completelly metallic and had like kind of a strong table with high temp resistances. Also under the table there were a kind of grills. To the sides of the table there were more high temp resistances. To the end of the room there were two electrical fans. They told us that we could not smoke. However, the air smelled like to pork chop burned. Only one person could fit inside the oven. The bodies were tied to the table. When the temperature was raising, the bodies were get up. A lot of people died before entering to the oven." According the calculations, in the week they were driven there between 10 and 20 people. And we had a procedure with them: "When they arrived with people in bags, we touched it so we realize if they were alive or dead" . And they told us: Leave them in the bags so they didn't throw away blood.

This is the legacy that Alvaro Uribe is leaving in Colombia.

[Judi Lynn]

116. That material is deeply upsetting, absolutely. We will NEVER be able to hear one word about it

from the corporate media sources here. They would rather die than to share that much truth with the US American public about the government all our tax dollars is taking, along with the appearance the U.S. Americans approve of what has been happening in Colombia.

The information horrifies, saddens, and enrages people who hear it. Nothing the Nazis ever did could be seen as more wrong, more cruel, more monstrous.

Medellin, Antioquia. I will remember this forever. How could ANYONE stoop so low he would consider doing anything like this to human beings?

Hoping so hard more and more is going to get out about this dirty way of treating people. Everyone connected needs to be in prison right now. No less monstrous than Oswaldo Romo, Pinochet's sickest torturer.

They need to be named, and put on trial, and the courts need to follow the trail right up to the top and arrest everyone else.

Thank you for this extreme information. It must be preserved for future reference, especially when it was so hard to find in the first place.

[rabs]

117. Putting the crematoria in perspective

Dreyfus has sent the following to other Colombians here in the States and in Colombia.

You will not seen this reported in the MSM.

(Translation mine)

---------------------------
No. We're not going to talk about the crematorium ovens of Hitler's Germany. We are going to talk about the crematorium ovens that the paramilitaries constructed in Colombia. The ovens of Hitler's epoch were used to do away with the cadavers of their victims.

But what was done in Colombia, more specifically in Antioquia, is a case of savagery, of human aberration that I think not even Hitler thought of it.

In Colombia the paramilitaries used crematorium ovens in Antioquia ... but they would put the victims in alive !!!!! And for those who do not know who was governor of Antioquia when this savagery occurred: I leave it as homework. I will just give you one clue. He was not permitted to be re-elected indefinitely as president.

-------------------------------

No. No vamos a hablar de los hornos crematorios de la Alemania de Hitler. Vamos a hablar es de los hornos crematorios que los paramilitares montaron en Colombia. Los hornos de la época hitleriana fueron usados para deshacerse de los cadávers de sus víctimas. Pero lo que se hizo en Colombia y más concretamente en Antioquia, es un caso de salvajismo, de aberración humana que creo ni a Hitler se le ocurrió.

En Colombia los paramilitares usaron en Antioquia hornos crematorios...pero metían a las personas vivas!!!!!!!! Y a que no saben quien era el Gobernador de Antioquia cuando sucedió esa salvajada: Se los dejo como tarea. Sólo les doy una pista. No le permitieron seguirse reeligiendo indefinidamente como presidente.

[Judi Lynn]

119. You know, Dreyfus has made a point. The Nazis gassed their victims first,

so as evil as that was, it STILL wasn't as evil as burning them alive. My God.

~~~~~
rabs (267 posts) Fri May-01-09 02:01 AM
Original message
I remembered this information stuck in our minds last year, and some of us have mentioned it in posts since the time it was posted, which, I see, was almost exactly one year ago, and the very FIRST we had ever heard of this additional level of pure evil implemented by Colombian paramilitaries in their war upon the powerless. From that one and only other time we heard of this kind of thing from anywhere on earth:

Colombian Militia Boss: We Burned Hundreds of Bodies
Edited on Fri May-01-09 02:10 AM by rabs

Another horror story out of Colombia; the first mention I have seen of crematoria set up by rightwing paramilitaries (who have been linked to President Uribe) to burn the bodies of their victims. The irony is that today Uribe met with the pope, the former Hitler Youth pontiff, in Rome.

-------------------
Mancuso said the burning of the bodies “was a favor that (now-deceased AUC founder) Carlos Castaño was doing for the authorities.”

He said the decision came after a meeting where politicians, senior military officers and other notables asked the AUC to dispose of victims’ bodies as a way of holding down the number of deaths that could be attributed to the militias.

That discussion took place at a time when evidence of militia massacres was coming to light, according to Mancuso, who said the militias dug up their buried victims and cremated them in ovens set up near the Venezuelan border.

Another former AUC member, Jorge Ivan Laverde, testified last October that the first of the ovens was built in 2001 in Norte de Santander province to incinerate 98 bodies.

More:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3858050#3858083

[Judi Lynn]

115. The opposition's strategy to brand Mockus as an atheist moved him ahead in the public eye

since it produced a glowing personal character statement from a well respected Cardinal. That's priceless.

Using the religious accusation is a cheap trick.

Wish Mockus could afford to get a whole lot of his own bodyguards to avoid dealing with ones chosen by someone who hates him: Uribe.

Hope Fajardo will be healing well as soon as possible.

So glad to get this news. We're so far ahead of the info. available from the US corporate sources. Thank you.

[Judi Lynn]

118. People familiar with Cuban "exile" right-wing blowhard Carlos Montaner, read his Mockus analysis:

Posted on Tuesday, 05.11.10
Is this showoff fit to be Colombia's president?
BY CARLOS ALBERTO MONTANER
www.firmaspress.com

Antanas Mockus, the leading candidate in the next elections in Colombia, is a peculiar man.

He has a well-earned reputation as a mathematical genius and an honest official. He was twice mayor of Bogotá, a job he performed gloriously, leaving a trail of extravagant efficacy.

The problem is that his personal puzzle contains a disquieting piece for someone who's running for president of his country. Mockus displays a clear personality disorder: He's a show-off.

He had his picture taken in a Superman costume; as a university dean, he bared his bum to some students who shouted at him while he delivered a speech; for some unknown reason (it isn't easy to find an explanation for this), he urinated publicly on a university lawn; and he was married in the main ring of a circus.

There appear to be other, similar episodes, but these are the ones the press has cited most frequently.

Is it worrisome to have a president who's afflicted with histrionics? U.S. psychiatry, which sets the guidelines in these matters, describes histrionics as one of the many personality disorders and treats it with psychotherapy or anti-depressants that control the flow of serotonin.

Histrionics is a comical relative of exhibitionism and choleric hysteria. It also shows up in narcissistic personalities.

According to experts, it is practiced by egotistical persons who have tenuous amorous leanings toward others. Generally, they are beings lacking in inhibition mechanisms, totally uninhibited people who have repressed the sense of ridiculousness in their constant effort to summon attention at all costs.

More:
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/05/11/1622984/is-this-showoff-fit-to-be-colombias.html#ixzz0njWw2eay



Jesus Christ on a pogo stick, who on earth could be more narcissistic,more morbidly regressive,
more repellent, more of a "show off" than Carlos "You May Kiss my "Exile" Ass" Montaner?

[rabs]

120. New poll out tonight and looking cockeyed

Supposedly the pendalum has swung toward JM Santos. This comes a week after J.J. Rendon joined the JM campaign.

Tonight's poll has Santos gaining an incredible (unbelievable) 16.5 points in SIX DAYS in a runoff! And Mockus losing five points. :shrug: :shrug: :shrug:

Poll released tonight is by CM& polling company, which Dreyfus informed us was one of the two uribista-favoring pollsters. The other is Gallup/Colombia so the J.J. Rendon black propaganda may be in full-ahead mode.

The DATEXCO poll is more reliable according to Dreyfus. It may come out tomorrow (Friday).
-----------------------------------------

If the elections were held tomorrow, which of the following candidates would you vote for?

1. Si las elecciones para elegir Presidente de la República fueran mañana, ¿por cuál de los siguientes candidatos votaría usted?

Juan Manuel Santos con Vicepresidente Angelino Garzón 38%

Antanas Mockus con Vicepresidente Sergio Fajardo 36%

Noemí Sanín con Vicepresidente Luis Ernesto Mejía 9%

Gustavo Petro con Vicepresidente Clara López 4%

Second round:

2. Si la segunda vuelta presidencial fuera mañana y los candidatos fueran: Juan Manuel Santos y Antanas Mockus usted por quién votaría?

Juan Manuel Santos 47%

Antanas Mockus 47%

Votaría en blanco (blank) 3%

Ninguno Ns/Nr 3% (Neither, do not know, did not respond)


http://www.elespectador.com/noticias/politica/articulo-203132-nueva-encuesta-juan-m-santos-supera-mockus?page=2

-----------------------------

The DATEXCO poll from only six days ago gave Mockus a sizeable lead in both the first and second round.

First Round: Mockus 37.7 Santos 25.8
Second round: Mockus 52, Santos 30.5

Viernes, Mayo 7th, 2010

Mockus saca más ventaja de Santos en nueva encuesta presidencial de Datexco

El candidato por el Partido Verde, Antanas Mockus obtiene el 37,7% de la intención de voto, mientras que el aspirante del Partido de La U, Juan Manuel Santos, logra el 25,2%, según la más reciente encuesta de Datexco.

Así mismo, si los dos candidatos fueran a segunda vuelta, el aspirante del Partido Verde conseguiría el 52% contra el 30,5% del de 'la U'. El sondeo se efectuó del 4 al 6 de mayo y participaron 1.200 personas.

De igual forma, para la primera vuelta del próximo 30 de mayo, Noemí Sanín ocupa el tercer lugar en la intención de voto con 6,7%, seguido por Gustavo Petro con el 4,2%. En el quinto lugar se ubica Germán Vargas Lleras con 3,1% y en el sexto puesta queda Rafael Pardo con 1,4%.

http://www.todelar.com/node/13360

[Judi Lynn]

Clearly something smelly here. The man hasn't embarrassed himself publicly,

hasn't been the subject of any scandal since the last poll when he had an outstanding advantage.

When people like Rendon get involved in campaigns they get really, REALLY underhanded, dirty as they did in Alan Garcia's campaign against Ollanta Humala, and Calderon's against AMLO, and they start calling people "communists," etc. (a sure admission they've got NADA real to use against them, and are thrashing about trying to smear someone). Right wingers NEVER have a positive campaign on which to run, ALL they've ever got is constant character assaults, lies, innuendo, mockery, and filth as their campaign, yet they attempt to present themselves as the bastion of civility. OH, please!

Thanks to you, rabs, for sharing this info., looking foward to the Gallup poll results, and thanks go also to Dreyfus.

[Judi Lynn]

121. Bloomberg's "take": Colombia’s Mockus Loses Lead Over Santos Weeks Before Vote

Colombia’s Mockus Loses Lead Over Santos Weeks Before Vote
By Helen Murphy and Matthew Bristow

May 14 (Bloomberg) -- Colombia’s Green Party candidate Antanas Mockus lost his lead over Juan Manuel Santos less than three weeks before the presidential election, a poll by Centro Nacional de Consultoria showed.

Santos, of the La U party, would get 38 percent in the first round of voting May 30, compared with 36 percent for Mockus, according to the CNC poll published last night by CM& Television. The candidates would each receive 47 percent in the second-round vote June 20, the poll found.

A candidate needs more than 50 percent of the first- round vote to avoid a runoff.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=atfpwVma5.s4

[rabs]

122. Well, let's see Bloomberg eat crow because the DATEXCO just came out

Weird discrepancies in two polls released within 12 hours of each other.

Repeating that our Colombian friend Dreyfus clued us in that CM& and Gallup/Colombian are part of the uribista establishment, while DATEXCO is more independent and reliable.

So, at the risk of boring all with more numbers, here are the results:

First Round

DATEXCO (Independent) poll this morning

MOCKUS 32.8 percent
SANTOS 29.3 percent


CM& (Santos/uribista) poll last night
SANTOS 38 percent
MOCKUS 36 percent

:shrug: :shrug: :shrug:

DATEXCO Second Round (Mockus a clear winner)

MOCKUS 47.9 percent
SANTOS 33.6 percent


CM& Second Round last night

SANTOS 47 percent
MOCKUS 47 percent

:shrug: :shrug: :shrug:


El Tiempo report:

http://www.eltiempo.com/elecciones2010/encuesta-de-datexco-mockus-328-y-santos-293_7708494-1

-----------------------
Btw, Noemi Sanin has fallen into fourth place after being in second behind Santos a month ago. Petro of the leftist Polo Party has taken third.

[Judi Lynn]

123. That's damned interesting! And Noemi Sanin is behind Gustavo Petro, too. So good.

Reported in El Tiempo, too, no less! Unbelievable, isn't it, considering who owns El Tiempo?

Thanks for the news, rabs. Dreyfus' input is appreciated so much, as well.

[Bacchus39]

124. the first line says that the poll was contracted by El Tiempo and Santos'

family owns that don't they?? so which poll is the independent one again in your estimation??

[Dreyfus]

125. Datexco, the only trustable and accurated poll

Indeed Datexco is the only trustable Colombian poll. It's remarkable and healthy the improvement of the leftiest Gustavo Petro, (in fact, he is my candidate), however I will vote by Mockus because he has more chance to grab the Presidency. Colombia needs anyone, but Santos. If this crook and killer is elected, the war with Venezuela is around the corner and whole Colombia could end in a bloody civil war.

I´m sure few readers know that Santos and Uribe infiltered in Venezuela 200 paramilitaries in 2004 with the specific task of killing Chavez. Those killers were lodged in the farm of the Cuban maggot Roberto Alonso, brother of the Cuban singer Maria Conchita Alonso, located to few miles of Caracas. But just days later, the Intelligence Military Agency of Venezuela detected the "paracos" and the Venezuelan Army arrested them. Weeks later, they were deported them via Cucuta, Colombian border city, but anyway they gave valuable info to Chavez detailing how it was going to be the operation and the name of he promotors.

In the next link you can read the barbaric masssacre of San Jose de Apartado, in spite the United Nations had granted their residents the status of Protected Community of Peace. Three small children - one of 2 years old- were decapited and dismembered, as their parents. Material authors of this absurd massacre were a joint of forces of active Militaries and Paramilitaries. The highest Commander of those Militaries was the infamous General Rito Alejo Del Río. Due to the horrible nature of this killings, involving small kids, the US State Department voided the US Visa of the General. However weeks later, his close friend, Alvaro Uribe, honored him through an shamefull apology homage

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/colombia/100309/san-jose-massacre-part-1

[Bacchus39]

126. ok, I'll continue to follow El Tiempo then

I am liking Mockus but its yours and all Colombians choice of course.

[Judi Lynn]

127. Have seen photos of the General you mentioned, Dreyfus. He should be in prison

for the rest of his life.

What a shame Uribe has protected him from the law. It reveals Uribe as a criminal, as well, for anyone who didn't already know.

I've heard Roberto Alonso had to flee to Miami once it was known he was the one who brought those paras to Venezuela and housed them at his ranch.

http://vvoice.vo.llnwd.net.nyud.net:8090/e9/war-on-hugo-ch-aacute-vez.1530649.40.jpg

Mr. Guarimba, assassination plotter, Roberto Alonso.
Gustavo Petro is a true man of courage, honor. I've heard he must employ nine bodyguards to keep with him at all times, as he is hated that much by the fascist scum in Colombia.

We saw the news here that Santos made a well-publicized trip to Washington and made a lot of speeches in which he made snotty remarks about Chavez. He's a truly cheap, shabby, creepy dirtball. His Presidency would be a true nightmare, from the first day to the last, the worst possible president.

Your comments here are truly appreciated, and respected, Dreyfus. It's just great to see your input.

[Judi Lynn]

128. Q&A: Cerebral candidate is surprise front-runner in Colombia

Q&A: Cerebral candidate is surprise front-runner in Colombia
Former Bogota mayor and Green Party presidential candidate Antanas Mockus discusses his unexpected success, Plan Colombia and what he likes about Hugo Chavez.

By Chris Kraul, Los Angeles Times
May 16, 2010 | 6:12 p.m.

Q&A: Cerebral candidate is surprise front-runner in Colombia
Former Bogota mayor and Green Party presidential candidate Antanas Mockus discusses his unexpected success, Plan Colombia and what he likes about Hugo Chavez.
By Chris Kraul, Los Angeles Times

May 16, 2010 | 6:12 p.m.
Reporting from Armenia, Colombia

The surprise of the Colombian presidential campaign has been the surge of Bogota's former mayor, Antanas Mockus, from nowhere to the top of voter preference polls in advance of first-round voting on May 30.

After twice running unsuccessfully, the cerebral Green Party candidate owes his lead to an alliance with another popular ex-mayor, Medellin's Sergio Fajardo, as his vice presidential running mate; the support of young voters; and his use of online social media. Though Colombians admire outgoing President Alvaro Uribe, a significant number of them are fed up with political scandals and want a new direction.

A 58-year-old former university rector and the son of Lithuanian immigrants, Mockus is the quintessential anti-politician, touting ethics and good citizenship. He attributes the reduction in crime during his two mayoral stints to restricting alcohol sales in trouble zones, as well as urging Bogotanos to restrain "the rude person inside of us." Mockus recently disclosed that he suffers from early-stage Parkinson's disease but said his neurologists assured him that he has 10 years before the malady becomes debilitating. He spoke with The Times after a campaign rally here in the heart of Colombia's coffee-growing district.

Speaking of Plan Colombia, the U.S.-funded program to combat drugs and terrorism, U.S. Ambassador William Brownfield said he has never seen two countries more in sync than Colombia and the United States. As president, would you maintain that?

I would like a certain stepping back from current anti-drug policy so that Colombian society can explore all the implications of drug trafficking: the supposed benefits for some sectors and the costs borne by youth, the environment, the justice system and institutions. No one is going to resolve the problem of drug trafficking but Colombians.

Call it your "fresh face," or your nontraditional approach, the bottom line is that you are leading the opinion polls. How do you explain it?

My success comes from cooperation. The alliance with Sergio Fajardo produced an avalanche of public confidence, multiplied by the social networks. Before that, four other candidates and I agreed to abide by a popular vote to represent the Green Party. We understood that alone we weren't relevant.... Our show of unity communicated itself to Colombians, and something interesting happened. We went from failures as individuals to success within a party.

You once explained that your success in reducing crime stemmed from the fact that, as mayor, you approached violence as an epidemiologist would tuberculosis. What do you see as Colombia's most urgent "sickness" and how would you deal with it as president?

The most serious problem in Colombia is illegality and the justification of illegality by citizens who normally behave themselves. Some justify the actions of the FARC in that way…. I'm for strengthening indignation and reducing hate.

You said during an interview you admired Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, which is not the way to win votes in most parts of Colombia. What did you mean?

I said he is a politician who was democratically elected, who was reelected democratically, and who, when he lost a referendum, was capable of recognizing it. A person who accomplishes these three things seemed admirable. But in reality, a better word might have been that I "respected" Chavez.

More:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-colombia-mockus-qa-2-20100517,0,1488849.story

[Judi Lynn]

129. You won't believe this! "Santos wants governing coalition with Green Party"

(Does this mean he doesn't think he can get away with killing him?)

Santos wants governing coalition with Green Party
Sunday, 16 May 2010 07:46 Adriaan Alsema

Colombian presidential candidate Juan Manuel Santos wants the Green Party, led by Antanas Mockus, his main opponent in the polls, to take part in a government coalition if Santos is elected president on May 30, he said on Sunday.

In an interview with newspaper El Tiempo, of which according to Wikipedia the presidential candidate is shareholder, Santos said he is hoping to form a "government of national unity" including the Conservative Party, the Liberal Party and Polo Democratico.

Santos again ruled out a coalition with the PIN party, that despite links to "dirty" politicians was able to receive ten percent of the votes in the March 14 congressional elections.

The former Defense Minister reiterated that he hoped Colombia's current president Alvaro Uribe will take part in Santos' government as Defense Minister.

http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/2010-elections/9741-santos-wants-governing-coalition-with-green-party.html

[rabs]

131. Yeah, as if Mockus would agree to join in a Chucky Santos government

Smacks of a panic attack on the part of Santos. There were two other developments in the same vein last week.

-- An uribista senator (forget his name) proposed that former Colombian presidents be given a seat in the Senate. Not only that, but that LOSING presidential candidates also be granted a Senate seat.

Why? Although he did not say it, having a Senate seat would grant immunity from any possible charges brought against alvarito. And against Santos, if he loses the election to Mockus.

-- Then there is the proposal floated by Chucky Santos himself. He proposed that the national judiciary be put under the control of the presidency :shrug:

That way the president (Chucky) would control investigations such as the ballooning DAS scandal and alvarito's part in it, the "false positives extermination program initiated by Chucky Santos," the yidispolitical scandal (bribes to congress members that allowed alvarito to run for re-elections in 2006), the Agro-Industry scandal that broke a few months ago, the La Macarenas, the paramilico connections to alvarito, the accusations being made by Mancuso and other drug capos now singing like canaries in U.S. prisons and on and on ...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On a lighter note, El Espectador newspaper over the weekend did an online poll on polls. (realize online polls are unreliable, but this is funny.)

¿Usted les cree a las encuestas sobre candidatos?
(Do you believe in the polls about the candidates?)


Sí 30.5% (4,358 Votos:)

No 66.8% (9,538 Votos:)

Ns/Nr 2.7% (391 Votos:) (Don't know, no response)

Total de votos: 14,287

------------------
Btw, alvarito is in Madrid for the EU-Latin America conference. Will check out the Madrid media later to see if he is catching hell from journalists there who will ask questions the Colombian journalists dare not pose.

(edit to insert dropped word. Treason on the part of the eyes ... lol )

[Judi Lynn]

133. Hoping like hell Santos, etc. can't push through those crooked changes.

Hope the people involved in the legislature would realize how starkly underhanded these adjustments would be, and how it could all come back to haunt them soon if they go along with it.

Hope some journalists nail alvarito's ears back for him with some blazing questions.

I'd like to see a shoe or two, as well, if it's not too much trouble!

Thanks!

[Peace Patriot]

132. Uribe as DEFENSE MINISTER!!???

:hide: :wow: :hide:

--

"The former Defense Minister reiterated that he hoped Colombia's current president Alvaro Uribe will take part in Santos' government as Defense Minister."

[Judi Lynn]

134. Can't imagine a worse idea, can you? Good grief! Nearly swallowed my tongue reading that. n/t

[rabs]

135. Yep, that rumor has been floating around for some time now.

Another is that if Santos wins, he could replace his vice president with alvarito, to grant him immunity.

For the uribismo it is imperative to protect alvarito and possibly JM Santos from serious charges that could be brought against them after Aug. 7 when uribe will leave the presidency.

There is an article published today (El Tiempo or El Espectador) in which the presidency again denied it had anything to do with the DAS chuzadas (wiretapping). Every two or three days there is a denial, so uribe must be feeling the heat as the investigations inches closer to him.

In this week's Semana, there is a story about a DAS detective who was assigned to the Supreme Court security detail. Semana does not identify the detective "for security reasons" but says it was attracive woman whose job included sweeping the courtrooms for listening bugs. But in fact, she was PLANTING the devices in the rooms where the top judges met. So we can expect another lame denial from the uribistas close to alvarito.

And so it goes, as Linda Ellerbee used to say.

[Judi Lynn]

136. I remember that journalist. Didn't she partner with Lloyd Dobbins on a news show?

People in journalism seemed so much more respectable then, didn't they? They seemed disinterested in pushing agendas.

That would be amazing, seeing alvarito succeed himself as President by becoming Vice President, then taking overe when Santos for one reason or another steps down. Truly second rate thinking, isn't it?

I remember Pinochet had himself made a Senator so he could escape any kind of legal responsibility, too. Others have done it whom I can't remember. That's so damned dirty. Maybe Stroessner did it in Paraguay, too. Maybe Rios-Montt in Guatemala.

The rightwingers in Latin America get full support from U.S. Presidents to twist the law every way imaginable, but they scream their heads off about things ennacted by leftists which are entire liegal after the corporate media flesh out the articles on them with black propaganda.

The old President-becomes-Vice-President ploy is the most blatant one I've heard, yet.

[Judi Lynn]

130. Colombia Candidate Promises More Taxes

MAY 15, 2010.
Colombia Candidate Promises More Taxes

By INTI LANDAURO And DARCY CROWE
CÚCUTA, Colombia—Presidential candidate Antanas Mockus, who as mayor of Bogotá once asked residents to voluntarily pay more taxes, is making a campaign pledge that would have most politicians trembling: higher taxes.

Mr. Mockus has gone from running a quixotic presidential campaign to becoming one of the top two contenders to succeed President Álvaro Uribe in elections on May 30. He is running neck and neck in the polls with former Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos, who is seen as Mr. Uribe's political heir. The latest polls indicate that Mr. Mockus would win in a runoff.

Mr. Mockus, a mathematician and former university dean, recently addressed thousands of his followers in this sweltering border town with promises of higher taxes and clean government.

Mockus adviser Salomon Kalmanovitz, a former central bank director who is viewed as a potential finance minister, said a Mockus administration would put an end to the tax breaks and loopholes that allow corporations to pay much less than the headline 33% corporate tax rate.

More:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703460404575244594064212782.html?mod=fox_australian

[Dreyfus]

137. Uribe, the crook Colombian President.

Nice to see you, Juddi, Rab, et al. As Colombian, I really appreciate your time, dedication and wishes so the truth comes up.

Perhaps this is new for you and all the readers. Right now it´s running in the Colombian General Attorney offices two criminal investigations that I think it will finish fingering directly to Uribe. The first one is the well commented infamous case of phone interception (wiretap) of the Justice Supreme Court Magistrates. The other one is the Yidis Medina bribing case. So my American friends can realize the magnitude of the wiretaping case, put on your mind the FBI wiretaping and making undercover work against the sacred US Supreme Court, because the President ordered such act so he could use it to blackmail the Supreme Judges.

My friends, this is not a joke, or an invention. It´s a dirty true. Do you remember why Richard Nixon had to resign? Well, this is zillion times more nasty and corrupt.

But thanks the brave Colombian Supreme Court (they have received death threats every single day and insults of the Colombian President all the time), they asked, instructed and supported the actual General Attorney so this Office started a deep investigation inside the Colombian Intelligence Agency "D.A.S".- the Colombian equivalent of our FBI- Well, the corruption that they found was monstrous. Even with killings and disappearings included.

During 8 years, Colombian President Uribe used this Office to spy absolutely all his political foes, including High Human Rights UN officials and ONGs as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, etc. In fact, there was people killed by the proUribe paramilitaries, who got the name and address of victims.....from the DAS. It's like the FBI delivery your personal information to a group of blood thirsty Militia hitmen.

Rigth now there are 8 high DAS officers in jail, no bond, waiting their trail. But already several of them made arraingments with the Prosecutors of less jail time in exchange of their declarations. The point is that everybody is saying that they received orders from the former DAS Director Maria del Pilar Hurtado, who took the documents with the wiretaping info directly to Uribe.

Remember that Uribe became popular the name of Mr. Teflon, because there was no investigation that it could get him. Now we understand why. He knew absolutely all the stages of every opening investigation against him.

[Judi Lynn]

141. Dreyfus, that's a vast level of criminality coming from the President's office.

He has been living as if he believes he is the absolute monarch, far above the ability of the law to ever touch him.

And he does have all of that country-wide killing machine at his disposal, as we have seen when they have killed off politicians, human rights workers, indigenous Colombians, clergy, teachers, union workers, honest, non-violent farmers, etc. His killers are heavily funded by the U.S. government and probably have had the opportunity to use additional spying equipment given to them by our own CIA, etc.

Of course this is so explosive. I have NEVER seen a country's president involved in anything this bad, except for Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov, who has his political prisoners put into boiling water. He also, just like Uribe, is loved by _{George W. Bush.}

Have never heard of the 8 DAS employees until just now. There's so much danger in their situation, because there's every chance the assassins can or will kill them after they testify to make an example of them, and certainly before they testify if they can get access to them. So much value is connected to their testimonies.

I've read former paras giving testimony years ago that they had seen Uribe at a meeting discussing a massacre they were planning against a community. That's been public knowledge all this time, and it really didn't seem to cause any real trouble for Uribe from anything I ever read. Ordinarily that would DESTROY a President!

Can you imagine what would have happened to Richard Nixon if he had been caught wiring the Supreme Court? I'll just bet he would have gone to prison for doing that, as soon as possible. That's a grave crime against the state.

Thank you for your great information. This is going to be a powerful struggle, if there are enough people courageous enough to take on this responsibility of trying to make this creepy man face the law for what he has done.

[rabs]

138. More bad news for Chucky Santos

An Ecuadoran judge today announced that JM Santos will be notified that he will indeed face criminal charges and "preventive" arrest after being accused of homicide in the bombing of a FARC camp inside Ecuadoran territory on March 1, 2008.

Suspect that in the long run, nothing will come of this, but it is just one more embarrassment for JM -- a presidential candidate accused of homicide with only two weeks to go before the election !!!
:rofl:


-----------------------------

Corte de Ecuador notificará a candidato colombiano Santos sobre juicio penal

TeleSUR _ Hace: 14 minutos
La justicia ecuatoriana anunció el lunes que notificará al candidato presidencial colombiano Juan Manuel Santos que enfrenta un proceso penal con orden de prisión preventiva, al ser acusado de asesinato por el bombardeo ilegal contra las FARC en Ecuador en marzo de 2008.
"Se dispuso que se proceda a cumplir con la diligencia de notificación legal", dijo el juez Daniel Méndez, a cargo de la querella instaurada contra Santos en la provincia amazónica de Sucumbíos (noreste.)

-------------------------

Other tidbits gleaned from the Colombian media today:

------------------------------------
The JM Santos campaign was using a song by Colombian superstar Juanes in one of their ads. Today, Juanes told them to cut it out and the ad is no longer on youtube or on Colombian radio/tv. Juanes, who has a huge fan base in Colombia, last month said he would support Mockus.

--------------------------------------
Citing diplomatic practice, Mockus said he would invite Hugo C. to his inauguration if he wins the presidency. Something that JM could not even dare to contemplate. They would probably go to fisticuffs. :rofl:

----------------

Semana magazine has identifed the DAS detective who infiltrated the Supreme Court and bugged judges' conversations. Her name is Nancy Romero and hopefully with her name made public she will not be in danger. The article's headling is "The Mata Hari in the Court."

Semana also reported that two DAS agents were murdered on Oct. 31, 2009 because they were suspected of turning over information about the DAS interceptions. That stymied the investigation for several months because it was seen as a warning to DAS agents. The investigation at this time is back on track.


Semana's cover this week has puzzle with only a few pieces remaining in the investigation of the DAS wiretapping and who ordered them. The puzzle is of the Supreme Court and the headline on the article is, "The Circle is closing" -- presumably on alvarito uribito.

The presidency today again denied that it had had anything to do with the DAS spying as reported by Semana. (The denial du jour.)

[Dreyfus]

139. U R right: Circle is closing around Uribe. But it's dangerous too.

What's up everyboy. Attending the pressure of the Supreme Court members, today the General Atorney sent a subpoena the President Uribe's Personal Secretary and the former DAS director Maria del P. Hurtado. This is the next step before carry out an indictment. I'm talking about the "chuzadas"- (illegal phone wiretaping). If Mrs. Hurtado decides to say the truth for shortening her own jailtime, Uribe could go to prision. As you stated correctly, "the circle is closing"...and fast.

However, personally I think the Attorney General and Supreme Court consider prudent do not push the end of the case before August 7, when Colombia gets the new President. There are many dangerous individuals with strong Uribe's ties,(narcos, paramilitaries, parapoliticians, militaries)extremely worried because they know their business, own safety and freedom is in jeopardy if Mockus wins. Uribe means for them impunity and inmunity.

If Uribe is condemned before August 7, it exists a huge chance of a Coup d'tat created for such groups. And they would put back Uribe in the power like a civil dictator.

[Dreyfus]

140. These figures are amazing!!! Speak volumes

¿Cómo les fue a cada uno de los candidatos en los debates de este martes 18 de mayo?
How was the performance of the candidates in the debates of Tuesday 18 - May?
(Email fast poll- Revista Semana)

Antanas Mockus
Candidato del Partido Verde
Excellent: 988 (59%)
Good: 240 (14%)
Bad: 211 (13%)
Acceptable: 134 (8%)
Regular: 100 (6%)
Total votos: 1673

Gustavo Petro
Candidato del Polo Democrático
Excellent: 872 (58%)
Good: 359 (24%)
Acceptable: 117 (8%)
Bad: 89 (6%)
Regular: 68 (5%)
Total votos: 1505

Rafael Pardo
Candidato del Partido Liberal
Good: 672 (46%)
Acceptable: 316 (22%)
Excellent: 245 (17%)
Bad: 152 (10%)
Regular: 81 (6%)
Total votos: 1466

Germán Vargas Lleras
Candidato de Cambio Radical
Good: 552 (38%)
Acceptable: 391 (27%)
Excellent: 195 (13%)
Bad: 183 (13%)
Regular: 139 (10%)
Total votos: 1460

Juan Manuel Santos
Partido de La U
Bad: 775 (48%)
Regular: 345 (21%)
Excellent: 245 (15%)
Acceptable: 184 (11%)
Good: 79 (5%)
Total votos: 1628

Noemí Sanín
Partido Conservador
Bad: 745 (48%)
Regular: 431 (28%)
Acceptable: 266 (17%)
Good: 93 (6%)
Excellent: 19 (1%)
Total votos: 1581

It's extraordinay the improvement of the center-left Party, Polo Democratico, Gustavo Petro.

[Judi Lynn]

143. No kidding! This is spectacular. Gustavo Petro did GREAT, didn't he?

Was startled seeing Juan Manuel Santos' numbers, and it took me a minute then to realize they have the different categories listed from the largest numbers in each category to the smallest. It went all crazy when they got to Santos! He was VERY unimpressive, very unpleasant, apparently, and Noemí Sanín bombed out, herself. :nuke:

Mockus and Petro both got their highest numbers in "excellent!"

This really says so much about where Colombia's heart REALLY is, doesn't it?

Those figures are a real eye-opener, after we've been shown the earlier results of other polls. Thanks for posting this new information.

[Dreyfus]

147. Gustavo Petro is going up. Fast.

Juddi, Petro has been my favorite, even above Mockus, but unfortunately el Polo Democrático was demonized by Uribe during 8 years depicting them as Guerrilla supporters and Chavez pals. The motive why I support Mockus is because he has real chances to defeat the corruption represented by Santos although I do not trust too much on his vicepresident.

However, it´s amazing to see the new figures showing "el Polo" as the third political force in Colombia.

[Judi Lynn]

151. Dreyfus, I've seen that stupid association made about him already, as well.

He must have appeared to be more powerful long ago to Uribe, to cause him to start trying to demonize him as being connected to rebels.

I have read over and over in the last few years that anytime someone gets branded as a rebel supporter he/she can depend upon the fact there will be death threats coming after that.

There has also been a pattern between denuciations by Uribe against people and their murders. He has used his office to send out accusations against politicians, etc. and a lot of them get murdered after that. What a vicious little man. Can't imagine why anyone would sink low enough to support Uribe.

It's impressive knowing el Polo Democrático is that strong these days. It's no small accomplishment. Hope they will keep on growing, too.

[Dreyfus]

153. You are right.

Juddi, If Santos wins, he and Uribe will take Colombia to an abysm and when the Colombians awake and realize of the danger, it will be too late. Colombia can end divided in small provinces.

[Judi Lynn]

155. That Santos/Uribe possibility sounds like pure hell. I would hope that so many people understand

what another presidency with the same people would do to their country they would turn out in huge numbers to vote againt it.

With Santos in the driver's seat, a man whose low nature is written on his face, they can expect pure hell. Uribe would gladly assist him. I'll bet they even imagine since Uribe opened the door to 2nd terms, Santos would run again, and with paras standing in the voting centers, we should EXPECT Santos would win again, as Uribe did before. Then, is it possible Uribe could run all over again?

It could go on and on forever.

Here is a great article I found and have posted about paramilitaries going into the voting areas in Colombia:

COLOMBIA: "Mark Him on the Ballot - The One Wearing Glasses"
By Constanza Vieira

BOGOTA, May 8 (IPS) - "With Uribe, we thought: this is the guy who is going to change the country," the 41-year-old fisherwoman told IPS.

That is why her fishing and farming village of 800 people in the central Colombian region of Magdalena Medio decided overwhelmingly to vote for current President Álvaro Uribe in the 2002 presidential elections, when he first ran.

The woman agreed to talk to IPS on the condition that she be asked neither her name (we will call her "L.") nor the name of her village.

~snip~
The odd thing was that in both the 2002 and 2006 elections, despite the fact that the villagers had already decided to vote for Uribe, the far-right paramilitaries, who had committed a number of murders since 1998, when they appeared in the region that was previously dominated by the leftwing guerrillas, pressured the local residents to vote for Uribe anyway.

The paramilitaries did not kill people to pressure the rest to vote for Uribe, as they did in other communities, but merely used "threats," said L.

"If you don't vote for Uribe, you know what the consequences will be," the villagers were told ominously.

And on election day, they breathed down voters’ necks: "This is the candidate you’re going to vote for. You’re going to put your mark by this one. The one wearing glasses," they would say, pointing to Uribe’s photo on the ballot, L. recalled.

"One (of the paramilitaries) was on the precinct board, another one was standing next to the table, and another was a little way off, all of them watching to see if you voted for Uribe," she added, referring to the less than subtle way that the death squads commanded by drug traffickers and allies of the army ensured that L.’s village voted en masse for the current president in both elections.

More:
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=42290

[Judi Lynn]

157. This situation is so BIG it's taking time for me to understand how huge it is.

A few minutes ago I was thinking that they are keeping it quiet now to protect Santos as he approaches the election, but it does go far, FAR deeper than that, after all.

It would be impossible to know how many people consider their lives at stake over this story.

Thank you and rabs so much for your information and comments.

[Judi Lynn]

142. So Mockus says he would invite Hugo Chavez to his inauguration. Super good.

That must have been a bitter pill for Santos to take. Chavez wouldn't be safe in that country, I'll bet if J. M. Santos won.

I still keep remembering Santos' last trip to the U.S. which he undertook on his own, as if he were already the President of Colombia. I'll bet you he already believed last year he would be the next President in an easy victory!

After he bombed Ecuador he made certain the world heard him claiming he would bomb ANY country if he learned there were any FARCs within their borders. It's wonderful seeing him get slapped down, FINALLY, over this!

Claiming again he had nothing to do with the spying on the Supreme Court makes Uribe look like such a liar. If he has had nothing to do with ALL the politicians close to him, nominations to his cabinets, etc., etc., it makes him look like the worst judge of character in the entire world.

Didn't know about the two murdered D.A.S. agents, either. Even in death they serve the interests of the little creepy President.

[Dreyfus]

144. Alvaro Uribe Velez, # 82.

If you check this link, you'll see a list of druglords ellaborated by the DEA in 1991. Just check in
"Click here to read the document". Big surprise in the number 82 !!!!!!

www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB131/index.htm

[Judi Lynn]

148. Have never seen this document. This is something to keep for future reference.

Have been looking through it for quite a while tonight. Was delighted to see what they also had to say about his father, considering all the corporate media ALWAYS portray his father as a good citizen who was murdered by the FARC! So deceitful.

I also recognized a couple of other names, very surprised to see one of them on the DEA list: Yair Klein, considering he used to be an officer in the Israeli military, considering he is known to have been working training the paramilitaries in Colombia, and he has trafficked weapons all over the world. I assumed he always got a free pass from the U.S. government, but there he is on the DEA list.

At one place in this document it actually said that at that time Colombia had stopped allowing extradition to the U.S. I recall they also said #82 was a major force as a senator in preventing extradition of narcotraffickers.

As soon as I saw what was in this link I instantly filed it away on the spot. It is such a valuable tool to have available.

Thanks so much for posting it, Dreyfus. :bounce:

[Dreyfus]

152. Uribe could be extradited to US.

Uribe has tried many times to misguide the people saying that he´s the President that has extradited more drugdealers. Although this is partially true, however he "forgot" to say that he exchanged his own extradition making an under-table arraignment with the Feds where he would work unconditionally for the United States. His menial behavior explains why Uribe was the only Lat Am President that supported without restrictions the Irak war, plus giving for free 7 American bases in Colombian soil.

Juddi, Demos shut up the door in the Uribe´s nose everytime he expressed his intention of getting the TLC. I understand Demos leaders as Obama, Pelosi, Clinton, Al Gore, Reid, Dodd, Rockefeller, etc know perfectly the Uribe´s criminal file. But they are respecting a Presidential order enacted by George W Bush, stating the Uribe´s file should be kept as Highly confidential and sealed under the sacred premise of National Security Reasons. (Confidential Noforn Winitel.

Did you see now how the puzzle is matching?

[Judi Lynn]

154. That sounds completely logical. The U.S. military wants total access to Colombia,

since they can use it as a fortress against the rest of South America if the solidarity builds even stronger. Uribe sold Colombia for promise of his immunity from problems surrounding his own personal history.

The Democrats in Congress have steadfastly refused the trade agreement because they are getting pressure from people across the country to NOT condone Uribe's terrible actions against the people who protest his primitive treatment of the powerless. The Democrats who have been in power a long time DO know what's up, but they are not pursuing any investigations. We all remember what happened to Minnesota's superb Senator Paul Wellstone during his visits there, and what happened afterward.

I'll bet _Bush's father, when he was the head of the C.I.A. knew all about Uribe's father, too! _{George W. Bush} did all kinds of inappropriate things, things the people would NOT like, and kept them all undisclosed using that "National Security" excuse!

It's a real shame Uribe has been able to slip out of all responsibility for his actions, and that another country has been able to use his actual vulnerability to gain access to Colombia when it would be proper if they stayed the decent distance, did NOT butt in, did NOT use Colombia against the other countries which are going in a different direction BY CHOICE of the people.

http://www.hurriyetusa.com.nyud.net:8090/haberler_foto4/bush_uribe.gif http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com.nyud.net:8090/images/2007/03/11/image2556975g.jpg http://www.cbc.ca.nyud.net:8090/gfx/images/news/photos/2007/03/11/bush-colombia-cp-161514.jpg http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov.nyud.net:8090/news/releases/2009/01/images/20090113-7_p011309cg-0452-250h.jpg http://www.eltiempo.com.nyud.net:8090/colombia/politica/IMAGEN/IMAGEN-4753679-1.jpg

http://cache.daylife.com.nyud.net:8090/imageserve/0bn13CD2Hc6iB/610x.jpg

Good grief, these guys look like Uribe's parents!

AP Photo 11 months ago
Spanish Crown Prince Felipe, left, shakes hands with Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe at the
presidential palace in Bogota, Wednesday, May 27, 2009. The royal couple is on a five-day
visit to Colombia.

[rabs]

145. Latest poll, and sabotage of a poll

Latest poll out today (Gallup/Colombia, so take it with a grain of salt. Poll was of 1,200 people, face-to-face, not by telephone, so that may have intimidated some polled.)

First Round

Santos 37.5

Mockus 35.4

Second Round (Mockus wins)

Mockus 48.5

Santos 43

Interesting that even the dubious Gallup/Colombia poll has Mockus winning in the second round. It could be that the Mockus lead is so big that it cannot be swept under the rug by any manipulation.

-------------------

Last night there was a presidential debate with all six candidates. After the debate, SEMANA magazine began an online poll about how the candidates had done. During the overnight hours, the poll was normal with the candidates getting the results expected.

But this mid-morning, a "unidirectional" flood of voting, 50,000 votes in less than an hour for Santos caused SEMANA to yank the poll and apologize to readers. Commenters saying it looks like a J.J. Rendon dirty trick for Santos.

(Edit to add that this poll is the one mentioned by Dreyfus in post 140 above.)

[Judi Lynn]

149. That's a whole lot of votes to appear within an hour. Probably no harder than it is to hack in votes

at a voting place, which has been shown to be totally possible right here in the U.S.

Yup, they didn't hire J.J. Rendon for nothing, did they? This seems to be directly in his ability range.

Remember the former criminal in charge of Republican dirty, below-the-radar strategist, Lee Atwater begged forgiveness in his last days, confessed he had done terrible things, and said he was deeply wrong to have done them. It's hard to believe someone that nasty really meant it. He was probably just frightened and trying to lie to some invisible powerful force who might think he should be punished. Lying again!

I'm glad you've reminded us that this guy is on the job now. It's important to remember that. They don't hire him for his moral, good advice. He's only got a short time to work, too.

It's good to know Semana DID take down those results, anyway.

[rabs]

146. Two swords over alvarito's head

The former head of the DAS, María del Pilar Hurtado, and alvarito's current top presidential aide, Bernardo Moreno, will be called to testify in the growing investigation of the DAS spying of judges, opposition politicians, journalists and human rights defenders.

The question is whether Hurtado and Moreno will reveal who ordered the "chuzadas" (electronic spying) in order to save themselves from going to prison. There are numerous emails that implicate both and lead directly to the presidential palace. (The DAS head reports directly to the president -- URIBE.)

Little by little it is getting closer and closer to alvarito.

---------------------------

La Fiscalía General de la Nación anunció este martes la decisión de llamar a interrogatorio al Secretario General de la Presidencia de la República, Bernardo Moreno, y a la ex directora del DAS, María del Pilar Hurtado, dentro del proceso que se adelanta por los seguimientos ilegales en contra de magistrados, políticos de oposición, periodistas y defensores de derechos humanos.

[Judi Lynn]

150. Great to get a look at their photos. Can't tell by their faces which way they would go,

but they must both be totally TERRIFIED every minute running up to their testimonies. They are worth far more DEAD to many people in Uribe's government now, and their allies, the murderous narcotrafficking paramilitaries.

It wouldn't be good to be in their shoes.

If these two both reported directly to Uribe, it also means he was lying completely when he claimed he had no idea at all that Jorge Noguera was giving lists of targets for assassinations of union members, etc. to the paramilitaries.

Of course we might expect to see a cheap trick used again, the disappearance of critically important evidence. That's ALWAYS possible, if not likely, in trials concerning the interests of right-wing politicians, just like the disappearance of important parts of the original evidence taken to the jail when Luis Posada, and those other assassins were booked in Panama. They checked them in formally, but they disolved into thin air once they hit the evidence room.

Sure hope this case against the little creep won't fall apart, rabs. He needs to go directly to jail!

http://www.truffleshuffle.co.uk.nyud.net:8090/store/images/Monopoly_Go_Directly_To_Jail-T-link.jpg

[Judi Lynn]

156. Drop in Murders Aids Mockus as Colombians Turn ‘Against Fear’

Drop in Murders Aids Mockus as Colombians Turn ‘Against Fear’
May 21, 2010, 8:18 AM EDT
By Helen Murphy

May 21 (Bloomberg) -- Colombian presidential candidate Antanas Mockus was stumping in Manizales when lunchtime came. So he stopped at a highway restaurant for soup and fried plantain.

That once was perilous in a country where four presidential candidates have been assassinated since 1987. Things have begun to change under President Alvaro Uribe, who has a 63 percent approval rating ahead of the May 30 vote to elect his successor.

The U.S. credits Uribe’s policies to neutralize drug-funded rebels with slashing the number of murders to 15,817 last year from 28,837 in 2002. Candidates, while still cautious, now enjoy greater freedom of movement in urban areas, making the current race the safest in 30 years, the government says.

Mockus has gained most from improved security, said Monica Pachon, an political analyst at Universidad de los Andes in Bogota. Polls show him in a statistical tie with former Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos as voters turn to issues such as education and corruption that Mockus stresses, Pachon said.

“There is a correlation between more security under Uribe and the people’s rebellion against fear,” said Mockus, 58, in a May 11 interview at the roadside eatery in the coffee-growing region around Manizales, accompanied by two dozen police officers and armored vehicles. “There’s confidence that things are better, so now people want something new.”

~snip~
Runoff Matchup

If no candidate wins a majority, the top two finishers will face each other in a June 20 runoff. In the May Gallup poll, when voters were asked who they would support in a runoff, 48.5 percent favored Mockus and 43 percent backed Santos.

Mockus, the candidate of the opposition Green Party, says he wants to prepare the country for a post-Uribe era as the half-century conflict winds down.

“We want Colombian history to be written with a pencil and not with our blood,” he told a crowd of supporters in the central plaza of Manizales.

More:
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-05-21/drop-in-murders-aids-mockus-as-colombians-turn-against-fear-.html

[naaman fletcher]

159. I guess this means,

that you now agree that crime is way down in Colombia under Uribe?

[Judi Lynn]

160. Didn't write the article, clearly. That was the author's conclusion he used for a starting place

for the rest of his article concerning the fact the Colombian people support Mockus, not the bloodthirsty, morally DEAD asshole Santos.

Perhaps you missed an earlier article:

New and Devastating Evidence on the Criminal Character of the Colombian Regime has been Exposed
By Manuel Rozental
Saturday, May 22, 2010

"The Circle is Closing" is the title of the report just released by Colombian magazine Semana <. It refers to how indeed the circle is closing on the Presidential Palace in Colombia, where the headquarters of a "criminal enterprise" involving Colombia's secret services (DAS), function under the direct orders of President Alvaro Uribe and his advisors. This latest report provides evidence, not only of involvement, but direction, orders and full control from the Presidential Palace and the President's closest friends and advisors of illegal and criminal operations. This criminal machinery has no parallel in history and a lot is to be unveiled yet. The Government and the President initially denied, then expressed concern and finally indignation at the accusations and against the evidence. The testimonies and documents provided and exposed in this report (and added to the already abundant existing proof) are conclusive.

From Colombia's top office and higher post, a criminal state structure has been established (it is still in place and being covered up). This structure is dedicated to spying, defamation, corruption, intimidation, threats, assassinations, disappearances and much more. Those affected by these actions include Supreme Court magistrates, human rights lawyers, members of parliament, political opposition leaders, academics, journalists, union members, indigenous, afro-Colombian, women, peasant leaders and advisors and many civilians and community members. Aurelio Suarez described these criminal activities as a "fraction of what the CIA-Nixon-Watergate scandal involved."< All of this comes under the direction of Colombia's presidential palace and the highest people in power. The evidence against those involved makes it impossible for President Uribe to keep maintaining that he did not know. The circle is indeed closing.

But this is only the DAS scandal. Then there are the thousands of assassinations known as "false positives;" the abuse and the misuse of the judicial system to attack civilians and democratic social and political leaders; the corruption of the largest and most notorious government initiatives, where funds for the poor and social sectors are systematically transferred to drug lords, paramilitaries, wealthy industrialists and entrepreneurs and friends of the President and his ministers; the buying of votes in Congress to obtain constitutional reform; and the approval of many legislative acts, including FTAs, to benefit a few at the expense the many in open violation of the Colombian Constitution and all international treaties, agreements and charters of rights and freedoms. Add to that the assassination of key witnesses; the payback of favours to the Government with land, government posts and jobs and funds; the massive and illegal accumulation of resources; the illegal assignment of contracts to the President's relatives, including his two sons. In all of this, the mainstream media is complicit in these facts by covering them up: the farce of the paramilitary disarmament, whereby massive amounts of capital from the drug trade have been laundered; brutally acquired land legalized; crimes against humanity, including systematic cannibalism, massacres, mass graves and more to be discovered, have been minimally exposed and mostly ignored. When key witnesses and paramilitary commanders have begun to expose their involvement and cooperation with governments and transnational corporations, they have been extradited abroad and silenced. Meanwhile, paramilitary aggression continues and is worsening through threats and assassinations throughout the Colombian territory.

Over the ground laid by previous Governments in coordination with their national and transnational counterparts, during the last 8 years, the Colombian Government has dedicated its every effort to transforming the Colombian State into a criminal enterprise. The structure of the Colombian regime is rotten. It is a State against its obligations, against the Colombian people, against the Colombian economy, against nature, against humanity. All this is known even while those in power maintain control of the State. If "democratic security" and "Investor Trust," the hallmark policies of this government, were to be removed, expelled from the structure of the Colombian regime, and if the required legal proceedings and investigations were allowed to advance as they should, one cannot begin to imagine the horror and perversity revealed to be at the core of this model regime, designed "hand in glove" for -and most likely by- major foreign government and corporate counterparts.

More:
New and Devastating Evidence on the Criminal Character of the Colombian Regime has been Exposed
By Manuel Rozental
Saturday, May 22, 2010

"The Circle is Closing" is the title of the report just released by Colombian magazine Semana <. It refers to how indeed the circle is closing on the Presidential Palace in Colombia, where the headquarters of a "criminal enterprise" involving Colombia's secret services (DAS), function under the direct orders of President Alvaro Uribe and his advisors. This latest report provides evidence, not only of involvement, but direction, orders and full control from the Presidential Palace and the President's closest friends and advisors of illegal and criminal operations. This criminal machinery has no parallel in history and a lot is to be unveiled yet. The Government and the President initially denied, then expressed concern and finally indignation at the accusations and against the evidence. The testimonies and documents provided and exposed in this report (and added to the already abundant existing proof) are conclusive.

From Colombia's top office and higher post, a criminal state structure has been established (it is still in place and being covered up). This structure is dedicated to spying, defamation, corruption, intimidation, threats, assassinations, disappearances and much more. Those affected by these actions include Supreme Court magistrates, human rights lawyers, members of parliament, political opposition leaders, academics, journalists, union members, indigenous, afro-Colombian, women, peasant leaders and advisors and many civilians and community members. Aurelio Suarez described these criminal activities as a "fraction of what the CIA-Nixon-Watergate scandal involved."< All of this comes under the direction of Colombia's presidential palace and the highest people in power. The evidence against those involved makes it impossible for President Uribe to keep maintaining that he did not know. The circle is indeed closing.

But this is only the DAS scandal. Then there are the thousands of assassinations known as "false positives;" the abuse and the misuse of the judicial system to attack civilians and democratic social and political leaders; the corruption of the largest and most notorious government initiatives, where funds for the poor and social sectors are systematically transferred to drug lords, paramilitaries, wealthy industrialists and entrepreneurs and friends of the President and his ministers; the buying of votes in Congress to obtain constitutional reform; and the approval of many legislative acts, including FTAs, to benefit a few at the expense the many in open violation of the Colombian Constitution and all international treaties, agreements and charters of rights and freedoms. Add to that the assassination of key witnesses; the payback of favours to the Government with land, government posts and jobs and funds; the massive and illegal accumulation of resources; the illegal assignment of contracts to the President's relatives, including his two sons. In all of this, the mainstream media is complicit in these facts by covering them up: the farce of the paramilitary disarmament, whereby massive amounts of capital from the drug trade have been laundered; brutally acquired land legalized; crimes against humanity, including systematic cannibalism, massacres, mass graves and more to be discovered, have been minimally exposed and mostly ignored. When key witnesses and paramilitary commanders have begun to expose their involvement and cooperation with governments and transnational corporations, they have been extradited abroad and silenced. Meanwhile, paramilitary aggression continues and is worsening through threats and assassinations throughout the Colombian territory.

Over the ground laid by previous Governments in coordination with their national and transnational counterparts, during the last 8 years, the Colombian Government has dedicated its every effort to transforming the Colombian State into a criminal enterprise. The structure of the Colombian regime is rotten. It is a State against its obligations, against the Colombian people, against the Colombian economy, against nature, against humanity. All this is known even while those in power maintain control of the State. If "democratic security" and "Investor Trust," the hallmark policies of this government, were to be removed, expelled from the structure of the Colombian regime, and if the required legal proceedings and investigations were allowed to advance as they should, one cannot begin to imagine the horror and perversity revealed to be at the core of this model regime, designed "hand in glove" for -and most likely by- major foreign government and corporate counterparts.

More:
http://www.zcommunications.org/the-circle-opens-out-by-manuel-rozental

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=405x36861

[naaman fletcher]

161. I saw that article

I don't support Uribe, I simply made the factual statement that crime is way down under Uribe. I believe that one can judge facts independent of ideology. That is, one can hate uribe and still acknowledge as a factual matter that crime is way down under his Presidency.

[Dreyfus]

166. Great, great article!!! Thanks.

Thanks Juddi for posting this great article. It's totally true. This is a sad and awful, but accurate picture about "Colombia with Uribe". I would like to see an article like that in The Economist, WSJ, or the New York Times. During years they have just published news putting Uribe in the highest, besides Jesus Christ.

[Dreyfus]

163. Colombia crime skyrocketed with Uribe

Absolutely no. Between Jan. 2002 and Mar. 2010, in Colombia has been killed 122,000 people.I´m just talking about people killed violently. In the big cities, as Bogota, Medellin, Cali, Cartagena and Barranquilla, the violent crime skyrocketed. In Medellin or Cali, you can't leave freely in the night. But the worst is the huge, almost obscene impunity.

Only 6% of those 122,000 murders were arrested, put on trail and condemned the killers. The rest, 94% rest in a total impunity. I guess it's not necessary to say that mostly those killers and hitmen are proUribe Paramilitaries......Indeed, as Colombian myself, I can't understand how it's possible that a corrupt gay, a lier and a killer as Santos can get right now so many points. It's out of mind.

[naaman fletcher]

170. No way..

You are totally wrong, all stats show a massive drop in crime. The big cities can now be travelled to, we have been over the stats in the LA forum.

[Judi Lynn]

171. You're telling this to a Colombian some of us have known for 10 years,

longer than D.U. has been in existance.

Smooth move.

One thing EVERYONE who has known about him is that he is most clearly Colombian, and knows what the hell he's talking about. He told many of us things we didn't know about until we finally found confirmation years later.

Yeah, you're right, and this Colombian citizen is wrong. You're right because the corporate media tells you Uribe has cleaned up crime and everything is cool. Sure.

Bloodshed returns to Medellin
By Nadja Drost - GlobalPost
Published: May 20, 2010 06:23 ET

http://www.globalpost.com.nyud.net:8090/sites/default/files/imagecache/torso/photos/215/Colombia-Medellin-violence-2010-05-11-2.jpg

Soldiers patrol the violent Comuna 13
neighborhood in Medellin, Sept. 18, 2009.
(Albeiro Lopera/Reuters)

MEDELLIN, Colombia — Even the prescience of 13-year-old Luis Serna Varela couldn't save him.

He worried he would find himself caught in a shootout, or even with his finger pressed to the trigger of a gun, just another teenager unable to escape the gang warfare in his poor neighborhood atop Medellin. He asked his mother one morning: "Why don’t we leave from here?”

Now it's too late for his mother to do more than wonder about what she could have done differently. Luis went to buy eggs and cheese for his family’s breakfast in January when he was killed by a stray bullet.

He is yet another homicide victim in a city where 10 year olds carry guns and where the police's "necro-mobile" patrols the streets nightly, collecting dead bodies.

More:
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/colombia/100331/medellin-violence-part-1

~~~~~

Colombia's plan to hire students as army informers faces flak
Irish Sun
Friday 29th January, 2010
(IANS)

Bogota, Jan 29 (IANS/EFE) The Colombian government's plan to recruit college students as military informers has evoked criticism across the country.

President Alvaro Uribe's decision to turn university students in the crime-ridden northwestern city of Medellin into army informers was an act of desperation and a sign that the violence was out of control, presidential candidate of the opposition Liberal Party Rafael Pardo said.

Pardo, a former defence minister, said that making a specific group part of the security forces' intelligence network means 'putting it at risk, making it less effective and also provoking retaliation'.

Independent presidential hopeful and former Medellin mayor Sergio Fajardo said the plan is 'a monumental error that runs counter to what education should be all about'.

Guillermo Baquero, president of the Colombian Association of University Students, said that he did not believe the measure will reduce crime or get to the root of the problem.

Medellin's mayor Alonso Salazar told Caracol Radio that he has asked the government for a larger police force, but that his administration will never rely on a network of civilian informants.

In statements cited by the web edition of Bogota daily El Tiempo, Salazar urged Uribe to 'reconsider' the idea.

Medellin based army unit commander General Alberto Jose Mejia, however, told reporters that the decision to enlist a thousand university students in Medellin as army informers 'is not about militarising' young people.

Alvaro Leyva, who has been seeking the Conservative Party's presidential nomination for 2010, said the measure would have to be implemented 'very carefully' because there is the risk of 'taking advantage of the inexperience of youth, proceeding without much thought and involving people that aren't currently wrapped up in the conflict'.

'Turning students into 'tattletales', I don't know if that's the most dignified thing for a student; I'd respect them and not turn them into accusers,' Conservative Party presidential hopeful Jose Galat said.

Uribe said Tuesday in Medellin that roughly 1,000 university students would form part of a network of informants and receive payment of about $50 monthly in return.

Authorities say there were 2,178 homicides in Medellin in 2009, a 108 percent increase over the previous year.

http://story.irishsun.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/2411cd3571b4f088/id/594688/cs/1

~~~~~

Colombia in denial about errors of paramilitary demobilization
Friday, 05 February 2010 08:04 Pablo Rojas Mejia

~snip~
When the right-wing paramilitaries began to demobilize during the first years of the Uribe presidency, they were responsible for the majority of organized criminal activity in Colombia. They controlled large swaths of the country’s territory, including urban areas, and ruled over a vast, nationally integrated criminal empire, often with the support and tolerance of the authorities. With the demobilization of most paramilitary groups having happened years ago, Colombia was supposed to have entered a post-paramilitary era. Their criminal enterprises were supposedly dismantled and their strongholds brought under the control of the state.

At least two problems have derailed the demobilization scheme. One is the fact that many mid-level paramilitary leaders slipped through the (massive) cracks in the program, did not demobilize and have since taken over the drug trade. Indeed, there is evidence that many paramilitary leaders, including some who demobilized, prepared for a possible regrouping and instructed mid-level warlords to keep control of drug trafficking operations. Slowly but surely, their neo-paramilitary drug gangs have taken the place of the old paramilitary structures in many parts of Colombia and, as the HRW report shows, they continue to violate human rights. Many - but not all - of the foot soldiers for these emerging gangs are demobilized paramilitaries.

The second problem is that, in many parts of Colombia, the security forces have not challenged the power of paramilitary groups, but instead continue to tolerate and support them. In some cases, neo-paramilitary drug gangs have corrupted the security forces. In others, the authorities continue to ally themselves with paramilitary groups in the fight against guerrillas. Rather than attack the remnants of the paramilitary power structure and the drug trafficking activities that fund it, some members of the security forces have allowed them to reemerge.

In short, without sufficient mechanisms in place to prevent the rebirth of Colombian paramilitarism, the demobilization scheme has allowed former warlords to reconsolidate the paramilitary power structures. Impunity, drug money, government corruption and the continued tolerance of paramilitarism on the part of lower-ranking military and government officials are helping to create a new generation of Colombian paramilitaries.

For Colombia’s cities, the failure of the national demobilization scheme to put an end to paramilitarism means that the corruption and violence associated with organized crime will likely continue to increase. Medellin is an extreme case, but other major cities are under threat as well. Today, petty street crime is a more serious concern in Cali than mafia warfare, but at least part of the recent rise in the city’s homicide rate has to do with its strategic location in Colombia’s south-west, home to many important drug gangs and neo-paramilitary groups. Some of these groups also have “blocs” operating in Bogota, where they are allegedly involved in extortion, drug dealing and social cleansing as well as the harassment of journalists, union leaders and human rights activists.

http://colombiareports.com/opinion/the-colombiamerican/8058-colombia-in-denial-about-errors-made-with-paramilitary-demobilization.html

[naaman fletcher]

172. so?

I don't care if he is Colombian or not. Crime is way down in Colombia. I travel there and know hundreds of Colombians. Now, Protocol lives in Venezuela, yet you didn't accept his views, so why should I accept the views of one Colombian?

[Judi Lynn]

173. As a stickler for finding the truth,you'd want to see this:No U.S.-Colombia pact if violence goes on

No U.S.-Colombia pact if violence goes on-rights group
Hugh Bronstein
BOGOTA
Wed Feb 3, 2010 2:02pm EST

(Reuters) - Colombia must act to halt rising violence, including against trade unionists, if it is to secure U.S. congressional approval for a long-delayed trade agreement with Washington, a U.S. human rights group said on Wednesday.

Murder rates have climbed in Colombia over the last year as authorities say thousands of criminals, led by former right-wing militia chiefs, reorganize their cocaine-smuggling and extortion organizations.

Human Rights Watch said in a report that the emergence of these successor groups was predictable due to Colombia's failure to dismantle paramilitary networks when the groups were demobilized between 2003 and 2006.

Colombia is lobbying hard for a U.S. trade deal, but Tom Malinowski, head of Human Rights Watch's Washington office, said Democratic lawmakers would block it until President Alvaro Uribe did more to stop violence.

"There is a potential majority in the House (of Representatives) to approve a trade deal with Colombia. But for that majority to materialize the government has to try to solve these problems rather than trying to spin its way out of them," Malinowski said.

More:
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6124UT20100203

[naaman fletcher]

176. so?

I agree violence is rising lately. My contention is that violence has dropped dramatically under the Uribe presidency (as much as I hate him). This story does not contradict that.

It is a matter of simple logic.

How much violence was there in 2002, and how much now?

Stories like this do not logically contradict my assertion.

[Bacchus39]

178. you are correct, that's one of the main reasons Uribe is popular, like him or not

and chronic violence in Venezuela is one of the reasons Hugo is falling.

[Dreyfus]

184. Colombia is unsafer with Uribe. A lot unsafer.

My friend, your statement is not right. It's the manipulation of the truth.

Uribistas forget to tell you there're four hundreds thousands soldiers (let me repeat it: 400,000 soldiers) permanently, day and night, patrolling the Colombian roads. The Army is in charge of the safety in the roads between the big cities. In other words. It's an artificial and unreal sense of safety, but that Uribe' demagoguery has spread in Colombia saying that the roads are safe now".

But If you move into the big or middle size cities, you will note how the high crime has skyrocketed. And this fact has an logical explanation: Uribe and his paramilitary hordes have displaced 4 million people into the big cities. Additionally you should put 30,000 boodthirsty killers IN THE COLOMBIAN STREETS. They are low rank paramilitaries, but expert killers, capable to open the womb of a pregnant woman, still alive, or cutting the legs and arms with a chainsaw of a 2 years old baby, also ALIVE.

Let me ask you, buddy. Where do you think that all those nasty killers are gone, when Uribe extradited their bosses to the United States avoiding the risks that they could accuse him as Paramilitary partner? They didn't go to any monastery or Church, my friend. Those hyenas, accustomed to drink the blood of their victims (this is wildy real!!!!), they are living in the cities, working as hitmen to the best binder!!!! They still are working for the DAS. They still are obeying Uribe's orders. They still are killing union leaders, oposition leaders, ONG members, Human Rights Lawyers. Those animals are not in any jail, or in the jungle. THEY ARE INSIDE THE CITIES, LIVING AS THEY HAVE NEVER KILLED ANYBODY. Check my hometown, Barranquilla. A 1.5 million population, 10 years ago, the total of killings were less than 20 per year. Just in 2009, in Barranquilla were killed 670 people!!!!! And 90% of those killings involved the paramilitaries.

Please my friend, Uribe changed from the criminal action of the guerrilla (of course they're culprits of 35% of killings in Colombia) for the multicriminal action of proUribe-narcos-paramilitaries, culprits of 65% of the killings in Colombia.

To say that Colombia is safer with Uribe is as saying the United States improved his nasty record of drogadiction when Nancy Reagan said: Say No to the drugs.

[Bacchus39]

174. Santos is gay????

"Indeed, as Colombian myself, I can't understand how it's possible that a corrupt gay, a lier and a killer as Santos can get right now so many points"

[Dreyfus]

180. Is Santos Gay? YES.

Bacchus, although I'm a kind of person that I don't care what everybody does privately with his/her own body, in the Santos case is different. I think that anyone aspiring the Presidency in any country, must be transparent, honest and normal person, without "new lifestyle" or "strange inusual private behavior". Now, if you speak openly that you're gay, it shows you are honest and sincere. But at least you are not misleading the voters.

Santos is a gay still playing into the closet. He knows that in a so ultra-archi- Catholic Country as Colombia, if he says that he's gay, he would have to resign as candidate at spot.

Now, if you check the picture in the post # 110, you'll see something disturbing in the Santos face: He likes to use make up, strong liner in the eyesbrow and around the eyes. Lately he injected botox under the eyes. His wife splited from him almost 15 years ago. According some kinda gossip, the reason of the separation was that he recognized he was bisexual. A couple years ago, a well-known Miami TV entertainer called Jaime Bayly, an open gay, said on his TV program that "my best close friend in years, has been Juan Manuel Santos". Baylys added that he has enjoyed many times the companion of "JuanMa", visiting the gay Discos of South Beach in Miami, including "romantic watching dawn" (literally) in the beaches". This is not a gossip. Personally I heard to Bayly says these remarks.

If all this is not enough, six monhs ago Bayly left Miami and his popular right wing TV program...and I'sure you won't even imagine where he moved....Bogota, very close to the Santos luxurious apartment in the exclusive sector El Chicó.

Well, you can make now your own conclusions.

[Bacchus39]

182. ha!!! amazing. never heard that before.

I thought you may have mistyped the word "guy".

I agree if he is gay it should not be kept a secret for a presidential candidate. I am liking Mockus anyway and never liked Santos (gay or not).

I know you have a different opinion, but I personally thought from what I've seen in Colombia and in talking with Colombians and Colombians in the family, that Uribe did a good job. that said, I think it was the right decision not to allow a third term, and for Uribe not to challenge it. Time to move forward.

Hope the election goes well for all of Colombia. I hope to visit again this year.

[rabs]

183. In recent days there have been at least two interviews of Santos' ex-wife

I suspect that it is a J.J. Rendon ploy to make Santos appear as a "family man" because in years previous there has been no mention of her (that I have ever seen.) So Dreyfus' observation that they have been separated for some 15 years makes sense.

Her name is María Clemencia Rodríguez. But in the two interviews that I saw last week, there are NO photos of her with JM. In fact I have never seen any photos of them together.

In this week's edition of the glossy GENTE magazine, this sentence stood out; María Clemencia talking about her husband.

“no le corre sangre por las venas sino agüita aromática”,

"he does not have blood running through his veins, but aromatic little water"

------------------------

For her to say that is highly unusual (and insulting), because in Spanish when it is said that a person does not have blood running in his veins, it means that he/she is "indolente," i.e. lazy, slothful.

Btw, in Chile the word "agüita" means a herbal tea, such as mint tea. So maybe JM Santos has mint tea running through his veins. :rofl:

------------------

Just contacted a psychologist in Santiago and he says "indolente" also means someone who does not care about the feelings or pain of others. Fits JM Santos to a tee.

[Judi Lynn]

187. Your words cleared up something which was driving me nuts for years, Dreyfus.

That guy has the wierdest eyes in the world! His whole damned face is so strange. I have often thought he looks insane.

The remark about the eye make-up was so striking I nearly fell from my chair. THAT's something I noticed years ago. What on earth was odd about his eyes? Now it all makes sense. Make-up! Damn. That explains so much at once. Clears up the mystery.

http://i2.cdn.turner.com.nyud.net:8090/cnn/2008/WORLD/americas/07/23/farc.rescue/art.santos.afp.jpg http://www.bremenbaseball.com.nyud.net:8090/whm/west-wing/national-security-adviser/national-security-adviser-c2008.jpg
The hard part to accept about his behavior in the light of more accurate information is that I have read, time after time, that the paramilitaries have gone out of their way to also murder people they assume are homosexual, just as they have murdered women they think are prostitutes, and have murdered street vendors, etc. Social cleansing! That part is so hypocritical.

[Judi Lynn]

179. Within a few seconds in a search, I found this comment in the "comments" section of El Espectador

from a citizen, Uribato:

Opinión por:
URIBATO
14 Febrero 2010 - 2:23pmJuan Manuel Santos puede que sea gay pero eso para sacar a este pais de la crisis es irrelebante, lo que si importa es que hace parte de la misma mafia que domina este pais y no creo que cuando este de inquilino de la casa de nariño cambie todo para brindarles mejores oportunidades a todos los colombianos. Con Santos se podra acabar la guerrilla pero no la miseria, la pobreza y la violencia; Con Juan Manuel la economia del pais podra crecer pero la distrubucion del ingreso sera mas inequitativo. Mientras el pueblo siga en la ignorancia todo seguira igual porque el cambio lo conseguiremos todos y no un mesias. Si Alvaro que tuvo todo el apollo para lograr cambiar este pais y posecionarlo como modelo de desarrollo y bienestar social y no quiso hacerlo no habra otro que tenga tanto apollo

http://www.elespectador.com/impreso/politica/articuloimpreso187513-cartas-de-juan-manuel-santos

Clearly it's a topic that's been getting passed around, isn't a total secret, if it ends up in comments in that paper.

[Dreyfus]

164. Colombian Army has 400,000 soldiers, but there are 25 millions making pennies...

Juddi, I have to clarify that the Colombian Army, through the Uribe's regime, passed of 80,000 units, to 400,000!!!! But nobody talks about it. Just you hear about Chavez weapons and so.

FYI, After Brasil, Colombian Army is the biggest in Lat Am. Meanwhile, there're 25 million Colombians making less than 2 dollars per day. No other Lat Am Country, keeps so deep and wide the gap between richs and poors.

[Judi Lynn]

167. Didn't know this, Dreyfus. We are wildly uninformed by our own media on ANY matter

which has political importance. We get fed artificial news!

It's crazy Colombia has a larger army than the larger countries, except for Brazil. Of course, they've got that convenient excuse they can always use to get hundreds of millions more of foreign aid dollars per year by claiming they have to have more money to fight the FARCs.

So it looks like they keep the military aid, and don't really share much of it with their oversized army of soldiers, either.

That's completely easy to believe around these criminals!

Thank you for throwing some light on the "low crime" crap we've been hearing. Where do the government's figures come from? The same government which uses paramilitary assassins, torturers, thieves and bullies to terrify the Colombian citizens, drive them off their farms, and into the cities where they can't find work.

It's a shame some people just can't figure this out!

[naaman fletcher]

191. your colombian friend totally discredited

I remember you said I should listen to Dreyfus since he lives in Colombia. Now he just threw out two totally bogus numbers. He has zero credibility. Of course you don't care because facts for you are defined by whether or not they support your political position, as opposed to the more traditional definition of "fact".

[Dreyfus]

196. Check my post 193. It's done especially for you.

Check my post 193. It's done especially for you.

[Bacchus39]

175. 25 million Colombians making less than 2 dollars a day. sure.

what is the population of Colombia, 40-45 million. lets assume that half are in the work force. therefore, all Colombians make less than $2 a day. You sure about that number????? Colombia also has a minimum salary I know.

they still make more than Cubans though.

[Dreyfus]

193. Those figures are not Bull...., moron. I'm not a crook uribeast.

All right. Time to clarify figures. I will take two different resources. DANE, aka Departamento Nacional de Estadísticas (National Office of Statistics) and some figures of International Organizations, a lot more credible that pro-Uribe DANE.....

Colombia population: 45 million.

1)There are 8 million living under inhuman levels of poverty making less than 2 dollars per day. Included this group we have Indian natives (all tribes) and Blacks of Chocó and Urabá. Additionally we have 4 millions of displaced peasants become beggars living in huge misery rings of dangerous slums and hovels around cities as Bogota, Cartagena, Cali, Medellin, Barranquilla, etc. I highlite those peasants were displaced mostly by the paramilitaries.

2) About 12 millions of Colombians are making 3 to 10 dollars per day. (1 dollar means 2,000 Colombian pesos). They are unqualified people, working in nontraditional jobs as garbage collectors, flower and candy sellers; fruit sellers in every intersection and the beaches; driving mototaxis (bikes); washing cars; shoemakers, tiremen, gardener, etc. Remark: While in the United States, any occupation can grant a small decent salary, in Colombia these kinds of occupations make very low wages.

3) Colombia has a huge middle class of 24 million people, but day after day, they're moving closer to the #2 segment. Should Colombia continues with right wing neo-conservative governments as Uribe's regime, middle class will disappear eventually in few years. Making the things worse, Uribe repealed dozens of social laws erasing benefits to low income pregnant mothers, unemployment, canceled overtime wages, early retirement, emergency medical services, that Unions fought hard long time for benefiting poor people. All those benefits are history now.

4) I'm not going to mention the rich class in Colombia, because the gap between rich and poor is so big, that I consider an obscenity and an insult against those poor and hardworking people suffering the effects and consequences of the Uribe's violence, his ineptitude in the financial field and the depictive negative view with the Colombian hard worker. .

Those figures are not bull, as this moron tries to say. They are awfully real. Now, if you are a faggot Uribe’s lover, or you're a bigot Republican, you will simply say that...It's false.

I use to say: If Colombian Uribeasts find Uribe raping a toddler, they will applaud him like a seal cheerleading so abominable act.

In 1999, Colombia assigned 3.6% of its GDP to defense, according to the National Planning Department. By 2007 this figure had risen to 6.1% of GDP, one of the highest rates in the world.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Army_of_Colombia 235.538 units in 2009.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombian_National_Armada 34,690 units in 2009
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombian_Air_Force 9,000 units in 2009
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombian_National_Police 143.557 units in 2008

[Bacchus39]

177. I see about 235,000 active. Colombia has the second largest population in South America

and the second largest military. OK.

[Dreyfus]

194. 235.000 active is an incomplete figure

Check out my post and you will see the right figures, not the lie that you posted. Your figure represents just the active Army, but you didn't mention the Navy, Marines, Air Force personal and mainly, the Colombian Police Force that in Colombia has the same training, weapons and tasks that any military. I assume, you aren't Colombian so you can't understand that in Colombia the Police Force depends directly of the Department of Defense.

When I mention the huge amount of active Militaries that Colombia has right now, I did it because the readers should know that just few years ago, Colombian Military was composed of only 80,000 soldiers and 60,000 police officers. Today they are combined 400.000.

In 2002 Uribe created a scale of bonus and payments to the Colombian officials, where a General can make over 8,000 dollars per month. Comparing with million of Colombians making barely 150 dollars per month...it's an obscenity.

And making the things worse, those pro-Uribe Generals took extra money by each "guerrila corpse" showed in the Military barracks. But It happened those alleged "guerrila corpse " were really humble innocent poor people, nothing to do with the guerrila, that the Militaries killed for getting extra bonuses. Excuse me but my guts boil and I feel nausea every time I touch this diabolical subject.

BTW, do you want to know where's right now the General Montoya, one of those "General killers"? Watch out. As reward for the killings, Uribe sent him as Ambassador to Dominican Republic.

[Judi Lynn]

158. Colombia set to elect the world's first Green leader

Colombia set to elect the world's first Green leader

A former philosopher with some unusual policy ideas looks certain to take the country's presidency
By Esmé McAvoy
Sunday, 23 May 2010

If Antanas Mockus wins the Colombian elections – and polls indicate that he will – he won't be your average president. Not only did he make his name when rector of the National University by dropping his pants and mooning a packed auditorium of rioting students, but he has recently been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. And then there's his party. If the 58-year-old is elected, he will be the first Green head of state in the world.

Next Sunday, Colombians will vote for a successor to the outgoing president, Alvaro Uribe, and Mr Mockus, a philosophy professor and mathematician, is favourite to win, leading his rival, the former defence minister Juan Manuel Santos, by up to nine points in polls. The son of Lithuanian immigrants, and twice mayor of Bogota (1995-97, 2001-03), he might never have entered politics were it not for that pants-dropping incident in 1994. He was forced to resign from his post as rector but, in a bizarre twist, it triggered a groundswell of support. Suddenly a symbol of honesty, he stood for mayor of Bogota on a ticket to cut corruption and curb the city's violence, and won by a record majority.

His approach is playful, wacky even, but few can fault his two terms as mayor. To tackle the city's chaotic traffic, he deployed teams of street mime artists to show both drivers and pedestrians how to behave. It was so successful he was able to dispense with the corrupt municipal traffic police and employ more mimes instead.

Mr Mockus's current "green team" is impressive. It includes Enrique Peñalosa and Luis Eduardo Garzon, two popular ex-mayors of Bogota, while his running-mate, Sergio Fajardo, was former mayor of Medellin. A fellow mathematician-turned-politician, the charismatic Mr Fajardo worked similar miracles to his boss in Medellin, today a modern city with a state-of-the-art metro, clean streets and reduced crime.

More:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/colombia-set-to-elect-the-worlds-first-green-leader-1980495.html

[rabs]

185. Campaign ends, saber rattling, polls, hackers and other stuff

One week before Colombia's May 30 elections, candidates for the 2010-2014 presidency were forced by law to end their campaigns. The latest polls are too close to predict who will win the most contested elections in the country's modern history.

In the last seven days before the elections, none of the candidates is allowed to organize or attend rallies. The presidential hopefuls are allowed to continue promoting themselves through advertisement and interviews with the media.

The polls are inconclusive about who has the most chance of succeeding Alvaro Uribe, who has led the country since 2002. The four main pollsters conclude that government-candidate Juan Manuel Santos will win the first round, but that a second round will be necessary. Three of the pollsters say this second round will be won by outsider Antanas Mockus, while one says the second round will also be won by Santos.
(Colombia Reports)

-------------------------------------


Commander of the Colombian army Gen. Freddy Padilla calls it quits. News breaking so not known whether uribito will accept his resignation. Last week six retired generals said in a very strong statement the morale of the Colombian army troops was at a low point. This may be what prompted Padilla to quit; it also sparked rumors of sabre rattling. (El Tiempo)

--------------------------------






Candidate Antanas Mockus would win a runoff to his main opponent Juan Manuel Santos if elections were held in Colombia today, the latest poll before the May 30 elections show.

According to the poll by broadcaster RCN and weekly Semana, Santos received 34% of the intentional votes, while rival Mockus received 32%. (Colombia Reports)


(There will be no more polls this week, they are prohbited by law.)


-------------------------------

http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/2010-elections/9846-hackers-plan-to-disrupt-colombian-elections.html
Oh, oh, here come the Venezuelan hackers. Last week the DAS said it had detected 10 hackers in Venezuela who had screwed up the March 14 parliamentary elections. No proof provided, natch.

--------------------------------

Colombia to close borders for elections
Colombia will close its borders for 12 hours during the nation's presidential elections scheduled for Sunday May 30. Heightened security measures will be in place throughout the voting process.

(Govt. last week said 350,000 police and military will protect polling stations. Borders closed: Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil and Panama.) Colombia has about 250,000 military and about 150,000 police.

-----------------------
More than 3,000 extra-judicial executions between 2002-2009 (Uribe years)
Denuncian más de 3 mil ejecuciones extrajudiciales entre 2002 y 2009
http://www.elespectador.com/noticias/judicial/articulo-204807-denuncian-mas-de-3-mil-ejecuciones-extrajudiciales-entre-2002-y-20

---------------------------------

Mockus campaign today inaugurated online radio in which Mockus is interviewed constantly. Nice music too.

http://www.partidoverde.org.co/portals/0/emisora/popup.html

---------------------------------

Key witness in massacre of at least 110 campesinos was assassinated Sunday night.

Alexánder Quintero, coordinador de la asociación de víctimas de esa masacre, fue baleado en la noche del domingo en el municipio de Santander de Quilichao, al norte de Cauca.
Lunes 24 Mayo 2010. (Semana)

-----------------------

Nine Colombian Marines killed yesterday in firefight with FARC. (El Tiempo)

------------------------

[Judi Lynn]

188. What an exceptional post, rabs. As I am having to run in and out until later,

I will have to study it in several attempts before later.

Thank you so much. Astounding.

[Judi Lynn]

189. By planting the idea Venezuelan hackers are trying to gain control of their elections,

they are preparing the way for the charge Venezuelans thwarted the democratic process and made it appear Mockus won! I'll bet that's the scheme!

~~

Is it possible military morale is low at the moment because they fear there will be more disclosure of the links between the military and the death squads?

~~

Thanks for the tip about the Mockus online radio with interviews and music. We didn't know about this.

~~

Google translation of short El Tiempo article on the witness/activist who was assassinated:

Leader murdered victims of slaughter of Naya

Alexander Quintero, president of the Association of Community Action Boards of Alto Naya, located between Cauca and Valle, was murdered last Sunday.

Since 2001, he had assumed the spokesman for the families of hundreds of Indians and killed by pararamilitares afroescendiente communities.

The leader, 36, a tireless struggle ahead to ensure that victims had access to truth, justice and reparation, and especially for the survivors who returned to Naya could continue with their projects of life, recalled the former director of the National Commission Reparation and Reconciliation, Elmer Mountain.

Despite his constant complaints, Quintero, had no special protection.

The crime was recorded on Sunday at 9:00 am step in the home of the Association of Santander de Quilichao.

http://www.eltiempo.com/colombia/occidente/asesinan-a-lider-de-victimas-de-masacre-del-naya-_7723988-1

This SHOULD serve as a motivation to Colombian people of good will to get as far away as possible from the Uribe government and its henchmen, the paramilitaries.

So sad to learn. Thank you, rabs.

[Dreyfus]

195. 114,508 people murdered in just 7 years.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/10/14/colombia.hitmen/index.html
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_mur_percap-crime-murders-per-capita

South America > Colombia > Crime. (2002- 2009)

COLOMBIAN CRIME STATS:

Gun violence > Homicides > Overall homicide rate > per 100,000 pop. 114.508
--------

Still there is a moron saying over here that Colombia violent crime declined with Uribe.

Do you know what it means 114,508 people killed in only seven years, in a 45 millions Country and still there are stupid bigots saying that Uribe is the messiah? Did you know the corruption during the Uribe's tenure, jumped above 1,000 %?

[ChangoLoa]

200. Sorry Dreyfus, I think you didn't read those stats as you should have and they seem to be from 2000

The stat you're showing has a problem and I think that your interpretation too. Where did you get the "(2002-2009)" part?

First of all, it talks about the homicide rate per 100,000 pop., showing 114.508. It doesn't say 114,508 people got killed in a 7 year period, just that 114.5 out of 100,000 got killed violently yearly for a year they don't show in NationMaster.

Secondly, NationMaster sends us to a wikipedia page where the rate is almost two times smaller: 62.7 per 100,000 pop. and concerns the year 2000.
(Click on sources for the stat you quoted in the NationMaster site and you'll be directed to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_violence ).

* see the "Source: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2000<8>" in the Wiki page we're sent to when we click on "sources".


Homicide rates are usually difficult to find and even more to use for international comparisons. Political connotation, data manipulation, etc. Until now, the most recent, complete and sourced stats I have found for international homicide rates is in Wikipedia too but on a different page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate

It says:

1. Honduras: 58 (2008)
2. Venezuela: 52 (2008)
3. Sierra Leone: 50 (2002)
4. El Salvador: 49 (2007) (up to 72 according to elfaro.net)
5. Jamaica: 49 (2006)
6. Guatemala: 45 (2006)
7. Trinidad: 42.3 (2008)
8. Angola: 40 (2002)
9. South Africa: 37 (2008)
10. Colombia: 36 (2008)

Scary to see that 10 out of the 15 most violent countries in the world are in our region, isn't it?

By the way, when you arrived to this forum I asked you what was your perception about the homicide stats in Colombia since I tend to distrust the data provided by Uribe's govt and especially on this matter. Maybe you didn't see my question or didn't find the time to propose an answer.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=405x35210#36151

Saludos.

[Dreyfus]

205. Changoloa, nice to see you.

Hi my friend, Nice to "talk" with you.

You can find several figures that will confirm my previous post. Between 2002 and 2009, there were aprox. 115,000 Colombians killed. It's a lot, especially for a President that the United States Government put on his hand I BILLION DOLLARS EVERY YEAR, since 2002. To speak that in a Country with 45 million population, there are 15,000 people murdered every year, is something that nobody can feel proud. Except Uribe.

http://www.elespectador.com/noticias/judicial/articulo144861-numero-de-asesinatos-colombia-bajo-2008
En 2008 se registraron 15.250 asesinatos en Colombia

Un total de 15.250 asesinatos se registraron en Colombia durante 2008, 1.068 menos que en 2007, cuando se documentaron 16.318, informó este martes el Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal y Ciencias Forenses (INMLCF, estatal).

Table 1 Colombia's Progress against Violence, 2002-2007


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2002 2007 Change
Common homicides 28,837 17,180 -40%
Civilians assasinated by illegal armed groups 2,087 358 -83% ****
Trade unionists killed 205 25 -88%
Kidnappings 2,882 515 -82%
Total terrorist attacks 1,645 381 -77%

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Colombian Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Social Protection.

AS you can see, the source is not the most reliable. You can't ask the fox how many chickens stay in the farm. For example, can someone with an average IQ, believes in 2007 the Paramilitaries, guerrilla, narcos and the Colombian Army, only killed 358 civilians? Just in this year, (2007) there were at least 6 atrocius massacres as San Jose de Apartadó.

However, the pattern is the same.....at least 15,000 people killed per year. Those percentages are completely manipulated.

[Judi Lynn]

207. Perfect comparison, Dreyfus. I don't know how any of those guys expect others to swallow that crap

they push about how much finer Colombia has been with Uribe reigning over the country. along with a FLOOD of money from the U.S. taxpayers handed over to him every damned year, narcotrafficking/paramilitary connected family members, members of his cabinet, his political party, a criminal-controlled military, wildly vicious military-connected paramilitaries, evil practises like "false polisitves" to keep the country living in terror, even paramilitaries who go into the voting centers on election day to intimidate the voters.

It's a real privilege to read your comments, and rabs'. You are both very respected human beings. Thank you, so much.

[Dreyfus]

209. 7 BILLION DOLLARS, taxpayer money. In 7 years...vanished!!!

Thanks for your comment, Juddi.

Just I would like to add that starting 2002 till 2009, Alvaro Uribe received from the Bush Administration, 7 BILLION DOLLARS OF AMERICAN TAXPAYERS. However, this is not the worst. It's the fact all that money was delivery without any kind of conditions or restrictions. I mean, no audits, no supervision, no receipts. Nobody in the world could convence me that a nasty crook as Uribe, that allowed thaat his sons used illegaly his influence to make millions in few hours, he didn't slice an important piece of "cake", kept safely in any Swiss account.

[Judi Lynn]

211. You're surely right. Uribe sold the country to U.S. interests, like a pimp. n/t

[ChangoLoa]

219. It's insane, Dreyfus

It's almost like Colombia had been fighting since the time of the Buendia family. In the last two centuries, how many years of peace? Today, our situation is extremely worrying. Colombia and Venezuela combined represent one of the most violent areas in the world and the potential violence that could emerge from the two countries' rising confrontation is hardly imaginable. At least 15,000 killed in Colombia and 15,000 more in Venezuela every year for 75 million people... 40 per 100,000 pop. We live in a permanent massacre and things could get a lot darker. With Santos and Chavez I fear really hard times to say the least. With Mockus, I see the diffusion of a very positive effect in both countries.

Good luck for tomorrow, my friend. My fingers are crossed as they will be next september.

Saludos.

[ChangoLoa]

221. I can't believe what happened yesterday!

Carajo! Looks like horrible days are coming.

[Judi Lynn]

192. Colombian Military Chief Resigns

Colombian Military Chief Resigns

http://www.laht.com.nyud.net:8090/colombia1/uribe_silva_gonzalez_padilla.jpg

BOGOTA – The commander of Colombia’s armed forces, Gen. Freddy Padilla de Leon, has resigned less than a week ahead of the country’s presidential election, sources in the army and President Alvaro Uribe’s office told Efe.

The media are speculating about the reasons for his resignation effective Aug. 7, the day Uribe’s successor takes the oath of office.

Padilla’s term as military chief was due to end Dec. 31.

“The resignation was accepted and will become effective on Aug. 7,” an official source told Efe without going into the reasons why Padilla was stepping down.

His decision came just days before Sunday’s presidential ballot and with much of the country in a state of alert against possible attacks by leftist guerrillas.

Polls show Uribe’s designated successor, former Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos, in a dead heat with Green Party candidate Antanas Mockus, a former two-term mayor of Bogota.

More:
http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=357441&CategoryId=12393

[Dreyfus]

197. Padilla is gone. But he didn't go completely clean.

Juddi, a "little bird" told me that the real motive inside the Padilla's early resign is because Uribe wants to put distance between Padilla- included into the "Falsos Positivos" saga,- from Santos campaign.

Padilla's liability is hard to chew even for moderated pro-Santos Uribeasts.

[Judi Lynn]

190. Mockus rejects support of parapolitician Rocio Arias

Mockus rejects support of parapolitician Rocio Arias
Tuesday, 25 May 2010 10:41 Brett Borkan

Green Party presidential candidate Antanas Mockus rejected on Tuesday the support for his campaign by disgraced ex-Senator Rocio Arias, one of Colombia's most infamous "parapoliticians," who was convicted of ties to paramilitary groups.

Speaking to W Radio, Mockus responded to the question of "What do you think of the support that was expressed by former Senator Rocio Arias towards your campaign," by answering, "Thank you, but no! I do not want the support of the ex-Senator, because of what she represents and has done. We have checked all of our records and we have nothing on file of her giving any financial support to our campaign, nor from her daughter."

Earlier on Tuesday, the ex-Senator, who was released from prison in October of 2009 after serving 27 months for making pacts with paramilitary death squads, offered her support for Mockus in his bid for the presidency.

"I believe that the conditions are right for him to be an excellent president. He is a transparent, clean, sincere, honest and capable man, and those are sufficient reasons to support him," Arias said in an interview with El Espectador.

Arias, clarifying that her support is completely "voluntary" and that she has no official relations with the Green Party campaign, went on to explain that to her, Colombia is at a point in its development in which it needs a change, and a "breath of fresh air."

More:
http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/2010-elections/9880-mockus-rejects-support-of-parapolitician-rocio-arias.html

[Dreyfus]

198. Petro VS Mockus re-run

This is the kind of attitude that I can't understand of Mockus. Mrs. Pineda paid 27 months of jailtime and...why is he going to condemn her forever? Like Petro changed his perception of the political war, he surrended his rifle and he switch it for the Senate I can't see why Mrs. Pineda couldn't change too.

I don't know but I smell the Mockus petulance attitude is growing up along his popularity. He slapped the door in the Petro's face and he doesn't seem realize that he can't win the election without Petro's help.

BTW. Somebody in El Tiempo wrote a very interesting post. He believes that Santos favorite figures are totally manipulated and staged by proSantos-Uribe Polls Companies. He stated that mostly people with Mockus are former Uribistas. If this is true, it would mean that Santos figures never has been over 26%. Therefore if we watch that finally the Poll Companies gave to Petro some positive percentages, this fact could it means many things. One, Petro has gained a lot of points, so many, that the Polls couldn't anymore hide it. According last polls, Petro was trailing Santos/Mockus alleged tie, above Noemi....It means Petro was getting the third place....Ok. Watch out. El Tiempo poster guy said that he can bet that the rerun will be between Mockus.....and Petro.

This sound like heaven music for my hear.

[rabs]

199. Dreyfus, are we looking at the first E-election in South America?

Looking at Mockus facebook, he now has 693,271 followers. I read when the Green Tsunami surged only about six weeks ago that each follower pledged to get at least 10 voters for Mockus. That would mean almost 7,000,000 voters.

Santos, on the other hand, has only about 150,000 followers and many of those are alleged to be being paid. When the Santos campaign awoke to the inroads Mockus was making on the Internet, it hired Ravi Singh, who was the architect of the Obama campaign in 2008. The question is what is Singh doing there? There has been NO story in the Colombian media of his role in the Santos camp. Wonder if Singh had a work permit in Colombia, as J.J. Rendon did NOT.

The polls as you say are all over the place. If in fact Petro would come in second, that would put a completely different focus on the race. (I watched the debate two night ago and by far Petro and Mockus are the most intelligent candidates.)

Told you the other night that what puzzled me was the declaration by the head of the National Registry that the Sunday voting results would be available in "78 minutes" after the polls closed. That raised a red flag for me -- are the results already cooked? Remember that the parliamentary elections of March 14 produced massive confusion and delay in the counting of the votes.

The Mockus people keep insisting that it could be a first-round knockout, elimating the need for a second round runoff. The polls indicate otherwise, but still ....

I don't know if that is possible, but if it were to occur, analysts will be looking at the Facebook/Twitter effects in this election for years to come.

Guess you saw where uribe has been ordered by a court to provide SWORN testimony in the DAS scandal.

[Dreyfus]

206. Uribe, a hearing with Ordoñez, his pal.

Yes, but the hearing is with his pal, the Procurador.

[Judi Lynn]

201. We've all watched, over the years, as polls and articles are arranged to reflect what brutal regimes

would prefer to hear. That goes back such a long way, doesn't it?

By the time Richard M. Nixon was pouring a fortune into Chile's media, starting with Edwardo Augustin's El Mercurio, placing CIA employees on their staffs, etc., all easy to trace now (but not then, clearly), manipulating public perception of events was already under control.

Why would the U.S. stop doing something which brought it so much success back then? Really!

That's why hearing truth from people who DO know, whose word is beyond reproach, as yours has been for all the years some of us have known you, is so respected, and so important.

I heard of Petro in research before I heard you know of him. He is an amazing, super courageous man, Colombian. He's taking his life in his hands ever day he leaves his house. He's one guy who is tough enough ON HIS own to not need a fantasy life by using the country's human weapons to kill off everyone he doesn't like.

Was not surprised to learn you support him strongly. I hope his future will be safe, and he will live to see Colombia rise up out of the fear it has had to endure all these years.

[Judi Lynn]

202. Guardian: In praise of… Antanas Mockus

In praise of… Antanas Mockus
This Sunday Colombians may do something extraordinary: elect the world's first Green party head of state
The Guardian, Friday 28 May 2010

This coming Sunday Colombians may do something extraordinary: elect the world's first Green party head of state. Antanas Mockus, who is currently leading in polls in the presidential race, defies every stereotype about Colombia and most of those about politicians too. He has always specialised in the unexpected and the countercultural: a bearded academic, mathematician and philosopher who once quelled student unrest by mooning at protesters. Born to Lithuanian parents, Mockus looks like a potential mayor of Riga, but instead proved himself a transformative mayor of Bogotá, a city that has become a model of civic improvement. In the 1990s it was a dangerous and unlivable city, but a series of imaginative mayors brought it back from the brink. Mockus treated the job as a great experiment in civic responsibility. Mime artists mocked traffic violators, and road deaths halved. One campaign cut water use by 40%, while another led 63,000 people to pay a voluntary 10% tax to improve services. A Night for Women encouraged men to stay at home while 700,000 females enjoyed the city. His first run for the presidency ended in failure; his second looked set to do the same until a remarkable surge in recent months. He is likely to face the defence minister, Juan Manuel Santos, in a runoff ballot to replace the retiring president, Álvaro Uribe, who took a tough populist line against terrorism. Mockus could not be more different to him. Victory would be a tribute to his country's recovery from crisis.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/may/28/in-praise-of-antanas-mockus

[Judi Lynn]

203. Army Killings Rear Head in Presidential Campaign

Army Killings Rear Head in Presidential Campaign
By Constanza Vieira

BOGOTA, May 27, 2010 (IPS) - Colombian presidential candidate Antanas Mockus said he "shares the horror" over the so-called "false positives" -- young civilians killed by the army and passed off as guerrilla casualties in the military's counterinsurgency campaign.

The phenomenon is "an extreme manifestation of the short-cut culture, the anything goes culture," the former Bogotá mayor, who has a real shot at winning the presidency in Sunday's elections or -- more likely -- in a June runoff, told foreign journalists Wednesday.

Members of more than 30 army battalions recruited young men with false job offers and took them to faraway locations, where they were shot and dressed up as left-wing rebels (or less frequently as far-right paramilitaries) and passed off as combat casualties.

This "body count" system used incentives like weekend passes, cash bonuses, promotions and trips abroad to reward soldiers and officers for "results" in the country's nearly five-decade civil war.

The phenomenon really took off after right-wing President Álvaro Uribe first took office in 2002, and reached a peak when Mockus's main rival, Juan Manuel Santos, was defence minister from July 2006 to May 2009.

More:
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=51613

[Dreyfus]

204. Link to WP article about Santiago Uribe.

Hi Juddi, Rab, Chango, et al.
I think the next link will be extremely interesting for you, because is the original Washington Post article where the Uribe's brother, Santiago was accused directly by a high rank Police Officer, Juan Carlos Meneses, that Santiago Uribe paid him US 2,000 monthly so the high officer could move the officers to other locations, allowing to Uribe carry out killings and dissapearances of people allegedly with guerrilla ties.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/23/AR2010052303821.html?sid=ST2010052304124

[Judi Lynn]

208. Newsweek: The Natural

The Natural
Meet the Lithuanian trouser-dropping, spandex-wearing, mime-deploying, public-showering, elephant-riding university rector who is about to become president of Colombia.

by Mac Margolis
May 27, 2010

His parents are from Lithuania. He spices his interviews with bons mots from French philosophy. The Abe Lincoln beard and political theatrics—he got married atop an elephant, and showered with his wife on television to promote water conservation—are straight from Comedy Central. But if the pollsters and pundits are correct, Antanas Mockus, from Colombia’s microscopic Green Party, has a fair shot at becoming president of Latin America’s fifth largest and historically most conflicted nation. The latest voter survey, by Colombian pollster Ipsos Napoleon Franco, puts Mockus in a dead heat with former defense minister Juan Manuel Santos for the May 30 election—and even winning a runoff vote on June 20, if no one polls a majority in the first round. And no one seems more surprised than the Colombians themselves.

Just four months ago, the presidential race was shaping up as a romp, with Santos holding a lordly lead in a ragtag field. That made sense; Santos rode shotgun to the ultrapopular president Alvaro Uribe through most of the past eight years, when brass-knuckle policies retrieved the crime- and drug-addled nation from the edge of ruin. For this nation of 45 million—weary of curfews, kidnappings, drive-by murders, and a woolly guerrilla insurgency that has spanned the better part of five decades—security counts. No wonder Uribe is leaving office with a 70 percent approval rating, putting him alongside the rock star of the region’s politics, Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Grateful as they are, Colombians have come to expect more, and many younger voters are weary of the political cat-fights, truculence, and whiff of corruption that had come to brand Uribe’s later years. High among their frustrations was the scandal of “false positives”—when security forces allegedly killed peasants and then dressed them up in guerrilla gear to boost Bogotá’s body count in the war against the FARC rebels. They were also grated by Uribe’s aggressive, if undeclared, bid (through his congressional allies) to win a constitutional amendment allowing him to run for an unprecedented third term. (The court said no.)

Enter Aurelijus Rutenis Antanas Mockus Šivickas, a 58-year-old mathematician, philosopher, and, crucially, political outsider. Once upon a time, he could be dismissed as an eccentric and a borderline buffoon; as a university rector he once dropped his trousers to answer student protestors. Mockus nonetheless had a virtuoso’s ear for politics. As mayor of Bogotá (from 1995 to 1998 and again from 2001 to 2004), he bicycled to work and climbed into superhero spandex to exhort Bogotános to be supercitizens. He also deployed an army of mimes to admonish Bogotá’s unruly drivers, flashing the yellow and red cards (which symbolize soccer penalties) at traffic scofflaws.

More:
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/05/27/the-natural.html

[Dreyfus]

210. Uribe never got 60% of favoritism. It has been a poll manipulation

Juddi, in Colombian there is a brave and outstanding journalist named Maria Jimena Duzzan. Only 3 weeks ago, she wrote a fantastic article (pity is just in Spanish) in Revista Semana, where she stated: "Through 7 years, Colombia received day by day a rain of alleged polls showing a kind of Uribe favoritism above 70%!!!! However, Uribe made a Referendum in 2004, and he lost. He supported Peñaloza in the election for Bogota Mayor...and Peñaloza lost..... In the elections of 2006, (the same one that Uribe got the approval of the Congress, after he bribed key Senators Yidis Medina and Teodolindo Avendaño)Uribe got 7.3 million voters, even with the help and support of paramilitaries plus 300,000 of fake votes that former DAS Computer head, Rafael Garcia, installed fraudulently in the election system.

Colombia population is 45 million but people apt to vote is just 29 millions....However, in 2006, ONLY 12 MILLION PEOPLE VOTED IN COLOMBIA. If you see, there was a huge abstention of 17 millions. But pro/Uribe bribed Poll Companies, manipulated the 12 million figure making a false percentage.

They compared 7 millions over 12 millions. Of course, 7 in 12 results up 60%. The real figure they must use, was 7 millions over 29 millions. Now the percentage is down 30%. This is the real vote favoritism of Uribe. And if you want to prove it , just see the Santos figures: Close 30%.

If this is true, that Uribe has kept a 60 or 70 %, Santos would have, right now, 60 or 70 % of the favoritism

Do you kow, MATHS are no partisan and do not allow dirty games. They are exact.

[Judi Lynn]

212. True! The whole country, almost, would want everything to go just as it did under Uribe,

by electing Santos, if that had been true.

The corporate US media has always shouted that manipulated view of Uribe, claiming constantly Uribe has been WILDLY popular in Colombia, by far the most popular, successful President ever. Over and over again. Constantly. They also have acted as if there's no real threat to Colombians from the paramilitaries, leaving the intentional impression all the drugs, all the violence comes because of the FARCs.

The complete idiots among us, those who are too lazy to think things over, and to look for the answers just swallow it all, and even get emotional about it, even though it's all pure invention, pure propaganda, pure crap.

It's amazing to see this happening in a world we have believed to be so advanced. It's advanced, all right, very sophisticated in the ways of providing fast answers for stupid people!

[Dreyfus]

214. Absolutely agree

You hit the nail in the head, Juddi.

[Dreyfus]

213. Uribe and his participation in El Aro massacre

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.aporrea.org/internacionales/n93767.html&ei=aDgATNa4KMGclgeg5uHUCQ&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCAQ7gEwAQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dfrancisco%2Bvillalba%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1R2ADSA_enUS336%26prmd%3Din

http://www.elespectador.com/node%252F138547


“THEY TRAINED TO KILL DISMEMBERING ALIVE PEASANTS
(Se entrenaban para matar picando campesinos vivos)

The following article, is a real history of horror, a macabre relate
about how the narco-paramilitaries in Colombia trained their people. It’s not a coincidence that mostly those crimes against the humanity it has happened in the Alvaro Uribe's regime.


Francisco Villalba

'Bravery' tests. It’s the way paramilitaries called to the trainings that imparted to their recruits so that they learned how to dismember alive people.
Initially, the authorities distrusted the versions of peasants that denounced this practice and they attributed to these teachings the disappearing of people.
But when the own combatants began to admit it in their indictment before the General Prosecutor Office, the myth became in heinous crimes of " lesa humanity".

Francisco Enrique Villalba Hernandez (aka ' Cristian Barreto'), one of the authors of the massacre of El Aro, in Ituango, Antioquia, received this kind of training in the same place in which he learned to manage weapons and to manufacture homemade bombs.

*****Today, prisoner in the jail La Picota of Bogotá, Villalba has described detailed, during long interviews, how he applied this instruction.

"By the middle of 1994 they sent me to a training in the farm "The 35", in El Tomato, Antioquia, where it was located the main field of instruction", he says in his story to the Attorney General Office. In the farm, the "working" day began to 5 in the morning and the instructions he received, it was coming directly from top paramilitaries commander, as ' Double cero' (Carlos Garcia, murdered for another paramilitaries of the Cacique Nutibara, a rival group).

Villalba assures that for training of cutting in pieces alive people, they used poor peasants that paramilitaries captured during their bloddy operations of neighboring peasant towns. "They were old people (men and women) that we took them in trucks, alive, hands tied", he describes. The victims arrived to the farm in covered trucks. They got off the vehicle and paramilitaries took them to a room. There, the victims remained several days awaiting the start of the training.

"Now it's ready to start the instruction": Paramilitaries distributed the victims in four or five groups and there they dismembered them", Villalba says in the inquest. "The instructor told to paramilitary prospects: “You stop here and so-and-so there. He gives support to the novices that are learning to cut an alive human body. This is important, because whenever paramilitaries takes a town and they decide to cut in pieces somebody, it is necessary to offer top support to those that are making that work."

The victims, women and the men, were taken out in underwear, with the hands tied, they took them to the place where the instructor waited to begin the first recommendations:

"The instructions were to mutilate them alive. First the arm, after a leg, eyes, genitals, and finally the head. They came out crying and begging that we don't hurt them because they had family."

Villalba describes other process: "Victims were opened from the chest until the belly to take out the guts and viscera that should be removed with bare hand. Then they were removed legs, arms and head with machete or with knife. The prospects in instruction had to take out themselves.

The training demanded it, according to him, to prove the anger and to learn how to disappear to the person." During the month and half that Francisco Villalba says that it remained in the course, he participated several exercises dismembering people.

"They chose the prospects ready to participate in the training. One time, one of the students refused to participate. Immediately paramilitary commander ' Double Cero' stand up and told him: ' Bring me the machete, I'm able to do it". Then he dismembered the prospect as a lesson for the rest. One day, paramilitary commanders ordered to me to decapite a young woman. They had already mutilated the legs off her. Previously, she had begged for her life asking them not to kill her because she had two little children."

The bodies were taken there to graves inside the farm The 35, where according the Attorney General, paramilitaries buried more than 1,000 people. According Villalba, in his declaration before the Prosecutor, it was normal that paramilitary trainers pick up in bowls the blood of their victims giving to drink to the prospects.

I think it’s no necesssary to say that those subhuman monsters were the main supporters of Alvaro Uribe on his election and his reelection

By Francisco Villalba. (Paramilitary.)


IMPORTANT NOTE:
****Three years ago, Francisco Villalba surrendered to the General Attorney and he declared under oath, voluntarily before the Sala Penal de la Camara de Representantes (Criminal Room of the House Representative, the only Office in Colombia with impeachment powers).

In his declarations, Villalba accused directly the Uribe’s brothers, Alvaro and Santiago, of the massacre realized by paramilitaries in the peasant town known as El Aro. He said this massacre was planned and financed by the Uribeses because they believe the guerrilla had some kidnapped people inside El Aro. Villalba explained that Paramilitary Chief Salvatore Mancuso and him, had a meeting with the Uribe’s brothers….in the farm Las Carolinas. Also he explained in his declarations that the Uribeses introduced a man named Pedro (Pedro Juan Moreno Villa, - See Google) who would be the liaison between the brothers and the Paramilitaries. It’s remarkable that in the moment the paramilitaries was killing the El Aro residents in the soccer field, the yellow/white helicopter of the Antioquia Government, was over flying the town. There were over 60 witnesses that saw the chopper. Mancuso said the same thing in his declarations from the United States jail.

Do you know the name of the Antioquia Governor in that date? Alvaro Uribe Velez. And Pedro Juan Moreno was his Government Secretary.

In 2008, Francisco Villalba was condemned to 33 years in prison. However, nobody in the Uribe’s Administration can explain why he was on his house in Medellin, in April –2009, where he was murdered by 2 hitmen. So far, nobody has been arrested for this crime.

In 2006, Pedro J. Moreno and Uribe hold a very nasty argument exchanging insults and threats. Witnesses say that Moreno menaced Uribe about “to say the truth”. Weeks later, the helicopter of Mr. Moreno suffered a very suspicious “accident” plummeting and killing his owner. In Google you can read more about this strange “accident” and why everything shows it was sabotage.

[Judi Lynn]

217. I've heard of Francisco Villalba, and when I read this post, I could not stop the tears.

I had never heard he got murdered, too, after he testified and gave evidence about what he knew. He was such a brave man to decide to go ahead and tell the world what he had done as a paramilitary member.

The details you have provided are overwhelming. Have heard for a year or two that Alvaro Uribe had been implicated in the El Aro massacre, and it tells you the power Uribe has wielded in Colombia that this information has been so well concealed. They won't be able to keep the lid on these atrocities forever. One day the world is going to know just what he is, and even the right-wing controlled media won't be able to cover it up.

It's re-assuring to know I can remember this paramilitary's name, and this excellent account since I have it all safely filed away in my own files now thanks to your post #213.

It is AMAZING any of this was revealed in El Spectador without anyone at the paper getting killed over the decision to riun it! Amazing. Thank god they did it.

Thank you for posting this important information, as painful as it is, it MUST be told.

[rabs]

215. Elections by the numbers

but before the figures, Hillary Clinton is to attend an OAS meeting in Lima in less than two weeks. But before the Lima meeting Hil will be in Bogota on June 8 and 9. Many Colombians are pissed off because her visit may come in the midst of a second-round runoff and the stopover is being seen as U.S. intromission at a very delicate time. Why she would spend two days in Colombia at this time is a puzzle at this time.

------------------------------

-- Voters, almost 30 million eligible. Of those 415,118 live in 56 countries around the world.

-- 14,404,508 are men, 15,578,771 women.

-- Polling tables, 72,725 at 10,271 polling stations in 32 departments, plus embassies, consulates in 56 countries.

-- Nine presidential candidates.

-- There will be more than 100 international observers from almost 30 countries, from the UN, OAS and the EU.

-- More than 1,200 national and international journalists have been accredited. They represent 40 media outlets in Asia, Europe, United States, South America. In Bogota there are 477 journalists accredited from 95 newspapers, TV, radio, news agencies and Internet bloggers.

-- Abroad, 154,971 Colombian citizens will be able to vote at 333 polling tables; 116,400 are in the United States, 116,400 at 253 tables in Venezela and 55,095 in Spain.

-- Security: 350,000 military and police and 11,000 private security guards (???).

-- Voting period: eight hours both nationally and abroad (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

-- The National Election Registery is expecting 15 million to 16 million people to vote.

-- In the 2006 re-election of uribe, only 12,041,737 voted, 45.05 percent, with abstention at 54,95 percent. (Dreyfus in another post pointed this out.)

-- The electoral organization has 440,000 judges, with another 60,000 substitutes if needed. There will also be 73,000 "electoral witnesses" from the political parties.

-- Cost of the first round is estimated at 50 million dollars.

-- Second-round runoff would be on June 20. New president assumes office on Aug. 7.


Source: EFE news agency (Spain).

http://www.semana.com/noticias-elecciones-2010/cifras-jornada-electoral/139496.aspx

[Dreyfus]

216. Favoritism of "70%", but only 30% of votes? Go figure, as Juddi said before.

Thank you pal. Your figures are totally accurate. Especially you touch some key points, as the monstrous abstention in 2006, in spite the "ultra favorite" Uribe was the incumbent. Do you believe sound logical that an incumbente with a cackled alleged favoritism of 70%, can grabs only the 30% of the Colombians authorized to vote?

The other point is the confirmation of the Armed Forces in Colombia: Almost 400,000 soldiers and police officers. (In Colombia, Police Force is a kind of legal paramilitary. They use military weapons, receive military training, they have the same military, ranks, same tasks and they depend of the Defense Minister).....7 years ago, they were 120,000 men, combined.

I highlite this because somebody else said days ago in a previous post, that my figures were bogus.

[Judi Lynn]

218. They are pushing Hillary into Latin American business far more than Bush did!

And _{George W. Bush} was definitely not a popular name in Latin America at all, if you recall the enormous demonstrations of resistance and resentment and dislike for him which happened everywhere he went in South America, including Colombia, and in Central America as well (remember the Mayan priests conducted a purification ceremony at a temple to remove the yuck from the place after he left). There was NO WHERE he went were the people didn't take the time go grt out in the streets to unwelcome him. Some signs said "We didn't invite you" and there were so many signs saying "fuera Bush" and in Brazil, "fora Bush!"

So now Hillary's going the same route: making the trips to tell everyone to get away from Chavez, just like Colin Powell and Condoleeza Rice did, and they BOTH were, along with _Bush, that that just wasn't going to happen.

[rabs]

220. Polls closing at 6 p.m Eastern

According to Registeria Nacional full results expected in three hours (which I find doubtful). Looks like heavy turnout.

Electoral Observation Mission in first communique has reported vote-buying by the Santos people in Antioquia and Cauca departments, plus in Bogota.

BOGOTÁ, 30 May. (EUROPA PRESS) -

La Misión de Observación Electoral (MOE) para las elecciones presidenciales que se celebran este domingo en Colombia denunció la compra de votos a favor de la candidatura del político del Partido de la U, Juan Manuel Santos.

El primer informe de la MOE sobre la jornada electoral en Colombia denunció la compra de votos a favor del candidato del oficialismo en los departamentos de Antioquia (oeste), Cauca (suroeste) y en la capital.