By R. Renee Yaworsky
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BOGOTA, Colombia—At least 13 people were injured when a car bomb was detonated near a popular radio station in north Bogota.  The blast is thought to have been the work of left-wing FARC rebels.

The bomb, which exploded early Thursday, damaged an entire block, including the studio of Caracol Radio.  The car bomb had been placed in the country’s financial center, just five blocks from the capital city’s stock exchange and near the American Embassy.

Windows of nearby buildings and cars were shattered in the explosion, which caused extensive material damage.  People sleeping in their bedrooms awoke to glass falling on their heads.

Police say the car had been packed with more than 50 kilograms of explosives.

The Prosecutor General’s Office has reported that a man who confessed to switching the license plates on the car used in the attack voluntarily turned himself in to police.  He denied knowing, however, that the car would be used for such a harmful purpose.

Police also arrested the man who provided the false license plate.  Both men are not suspected of being involved in any illegal organization.

FARC, or the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, has been blamed for the incident and a member of the group is now in custody.  According to RCN Radio, the local prosecutor’s office has already identified the suspects directly responsible for the detonation.

Newly-elected President Santos has announced that diplomacy and mediation will not be employed to end Colombia’s domestic armed conflict until “the government considers the circumstances warrant it.”

“We have not thrown the key to dialogue into the ocean, but the door is closed,” Santos continued.  “[Illegal groups’] deceitfulness in the past has made us incredulous.  Now the government is holding the key, and we won’t give it to anyone until the conditions we have outlined are met.”

Santos explained that the rebels must illustrate through “concrete deeds” that they seek peace.  After visiting the scene of the crime Thursday, Santos called the blast a terrorist act.

FARC has been a violent opponent of Colombia’s government since the 1960s.  Bombings were on the decline under Santos’ predecessor, Alvaro Uribe, who had been president until August 7, 2010.  Uribe had worked to eradicate left-wing guerrilla groups, including the FARC.

Santos has vowed to take a hard-line stance against illegal groups, saying, “Their only aim is to sow fear, and that they will not achieve.  We will continue to fight terrorism.”

For more information, please see:

Bloomberg-Colombia Captures FARC Member After Bogota Car Bombing, RCN Radio Reports-14 August 2010

Colombia Reports-Bogota police arrest two suspects in radio station car bomb case-14 August 2010

Buenos Aires Herald-Bogota carbomb ‘final spasms of a dying dog,’ Santos-13 August 2010

BBC-Colombia offers Bogota car-bomb reward-13 August 2010

Guardian-Colombia capital hit by car bombing-12 August 2010

Voice of America-Colombian President Calls Bogota Car Bombing ‘Terrorist Act’-12 August 2010

By Ricardo Zamora

Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Thousands of Argentine women of all ages suffer at the hands of negligent or abusive reproductive healthcare services each year, Human Rights Watch reported Tuesday.

In a report titled “Illusions of Care: Lack of Accountability for Reproductive Rights in Argentina,” Human Rights Watch explained that doctors and clinics place unnecessary obstacles that women must satisfy before they can access healthcare services to which they are entitled, such as contraception, voluntary sterilization procedures, and abortion after rape. Such obstacles include financial barriers, a husband’s permission for treatment, and unnecessary delays and referrals to other clinics. This results in speculative access to medical treatment, at best.

Human Rights Watch also reported that doctors who deny women treatment or impose arbitrary requirements are often not penalized.

Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch, stressed that “women need dependable care throughout their reproductive lives but in Argentina it’s more like a lottery: You might be lucky enough to get decent care but you are more likely to be stuck with deficient — or even abusive — services.”

Even female victims of rape experience difficulty obtaining abortions or other, less intrusive, medical services. As a result, up to 40% of pregnancies in Argentina terminate by unsafe abortions. Vicanco reports that “Unsafe abortion has been the leading cause of maternal mortality in the country for decades.”

Vivanco believes that while Argentina’s reproductive health policies are not perfect, they would be much more effective in preventing maternal suffering if implemented and that the Argentine Government is not exerting sufficient effort in monitoring how the policies are implemented and is not punishing doctors who violate them.

The Argentine government responded positively to the publication of “Illusions of Care” and has taken steps to address many of the concerns it highlights. However, it has yet to take action. For example, in May, the National Health Ministry created a educational telephone service which logged complaints and provided information about where to find reproductive health care services. Human Rights Watch reports that, in June, one day after the Ministry announced that it would ensure that abortions where carried out for women threatened by pregnancy and those who have been raped, the government retracted its statements, noting that such treatments were not guaranteed.

“The Argentine government seems to be slowly waking up to the notion that laws on reproductive health mean nothing unless they are enforced,” Vivanco Said. “But unless changes are constant and clear, women and girls will continue to suffer and, in some cases, die.”

For more information please see:

Human Rights Watch – Argentina: Guarantee Women’s Access to Health Care – August 10, 2010

Human Rights Watch – Illusions of Care – August 10, 2010

United Press International – Argentine Healthcare Failing Women? – August 10, 2010

By Patrick Vanderpool
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

 

 

BOGOTA, Colombia – Alvaro Uribe, Colombia’s outgoing President, has filed a complaint in the International Criminal Court against Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.  Jaime Granados, Uribe’s attorney, has also filed a lawsuit against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

According to a statement made by Granados, both the complaint and the lawsuit stem from human rights abuses by Chavez personally and by Venezuela as a state.  The alleged human rights violations at issue focus on the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN) being present within Venezuela’s borders.

Last month, President Uribe presented evidence which he claimed proved that the Venezuelan government allowed FARC and ELN members to operate freely in Venezuela.

The present complaint alleges that these two guerrilla organizations are training and planning attacks in Venezuela that are meant to be implemented in Colombia and against Colombian people.  Furthermore, the complaint alleges that Venezuela is harboring Colombian guerrilla chiefs.  Venezuelan officials dispute both claims.

Uribe’s actions came as he was leaving office to make way for the new Colombian President, Juan Manuel Santos.  Less than a month ago, Venezuela broke diplomatic ties with Colombia, leaving many to speculate about the strain that the complaints will put on the two nations’ relationship.  To further compound matters, Uribe’s successor has indicated that he would like to strengthen ties with Venezuela.  Colombian President-elect Santos did not prohibit Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro from attending his inauguration.

After receiving the sash to take office, President-elect Santos stated “[t]he word war is not in my dictionary when I think about Colombia’s relations with our neighbors.”

There is evidence that President Chavez wants to put an end to the diplomatic crisis that exists between his country and Colombia.  After talks with Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and former Argentine president Nestor Kirchner, President Chavez stated that he was “prepared to turn the page completely and look to the future.”

Some, including Marcela Prieto Botero, of the Institute of Political Sciences in Bogota, believe that the difference in opinion between the outgoing and incoming Colombian Presidents could be more of a benefit than a problem.  Now that Uribe has put the information on the table, Santos is free to use it and press Venezuela on action without having to accept the political accountability of being the first to make the accusation.

For more information, please see;

American Chronicle – Ex-president of Colombia Files Suit against Chavez over Guerilla Support – 9 August 2010

Merco Press – Uribe Files Complaint against Chavez before International Criminal Court – 8 August 2010

VHeadline.com – Complaint Filed against Hugo Chavez at the International Criminal Court – 8 August 2010

By R. Renee Yaworsky
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

POTOSI, Bolivia—Thousands of protesters in Bolivia have been holding an entire city hostage for over 10 days.  The only roads leading out of the city have been blocked by protesters who have also disrupted the rail line to Chile and begun a hunger strike.

Six thousand miners in Potosi, Bolivia, have been protesting President Morales’ policies, accusing him of neglecting impoverished citizens.  The protesters have demanded more regional investment, the creation of a new cement factory, the settlement of land disputes, and a bigger airport.  They also want certain mines to be reopened that officials have closed.

“We’re taking this to the bitter end,” one hunger striker said.  Potosi Town Council president Remberto Gareca told AFP, “This strike . . . is the people’s answer to the lies of the government.”

The southern mining city has been barricaded by roadblocks constructed of boulders, virtually holding numerous citizens and tourists hostage, unable to leave.  Over 100 foreign tourists, mostly Europeans, are still trapped and waiting to be set free.  Also held captive are about 500 Bolivians.  Potosi is a city of about 200,000 people, all of whom are in danger of being affected.

One thousand people have been stranded a couple miles north of Potosi for over a week.  One of these told AFP, “We’re cold, hungry and afraid.”  Protesters were holding dynamite to intimidate those held captive, saying they would make an explosion if anyone tried to escape.

The blockade has already sparked a shortage of food in the city.  There are concerns about tourists’ health, as Potosi has a high altitude and may cause some people to get ill.  Older people and those with existing health problems are the most at-risk.

There have been reports that protesters have threatened to blow up any bus that attempted to leave the city.  On Friday, protesters piled rocks on a local airport runway to prevent a plane from landing to aid tourists.

“Our rules are tough here,” one protester explained.  “We don’t let any vehicle through.  There are 6,000 of us.  We’re organized.”

The governor of the local district has been supportive of the protesters, even participating in the recent hunger strike.  Also participating are many regional officials, union and farm leaders.  As of yet, the Bolivian government has not moved to amend the situation.

For more information, please see:

ABC – Tourists trapped in blockaded city – 8 August 2010

AP – Protest traps tourists in Bolivian highland city – 7 August 2010

AFP – Bolivians on hunger strike, cut rail links to Chile – 7 August 2010

By Patrick Vanderpool
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

 

 

SÃO PAULO, Brazil – Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has called on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to send an Iranian woman facing execution by stoning to Brazil, where she would be granted asylum.

The Brazilian President, known popularly as Lula, shares a friendship with President Ahmadinejad and was quoted as saying “nothing justifies the state taking someone’s life, only God can do that.”

The woman facing execution, 43 year old Sakineh Ashtiani, was convicted of adultery in 2006, although she denies having any extramarital relationships.  An international public campaign has been forged against the execution.  Lula is being specifically targeted as a means to stop the execution because the two leaders have developed a personal connection since Brazil undertook diplomatic efforts supporting Iran’s uranium enrichment activities a year ago.

In Brazil, citizens have held protests expressing their concern with the human rights issues that are at stake with Ashtiani’s case.  Brazilian citizens have also circulated a petition to garner support for their cause.  The petition contains more than 114,000 signatures, including signatures from many Brazilian celebrities.  Initially, Lula was not willing to intervene and claimed that Iran’s laws and decisions needed to be respected.

The United States is standing behind Brazil’s efforts and is urging President Ahmadinejad to consider Lula’s offer.  Philip Crowley, spokesperson for the Department of State, said “[i]f Brazil is willing to accept… this woman, we would hope that Iran would consider that as a humanitarian gesture.”

While Lula has previously lobbied President Ahmadinejad to free foreign prisoners when human rights issues were involved, the stoning situation marks the first time that the Brazilian President has interfered after Iranian law was applied to an Iranian citizen.

According to a recent report in the Jahan News, an Iranian newspaper, President Ahmadinejad is not entirely open to Lula’s offer.  The report referred to the Brazilian President’s offer as a “strange request” and said it amounted to “interference in Iran’s national affairs.”  Although there are reports that the Iranian Government have agreed not to stone Ashtiani to death, other forms of execution are still a reality, including beheading and hanging.

For more information, please see:

AOL News – Report: Iran Cool To Brazil’s Asylum Offer in Stoning Case – 3 August 2010

AFP – US Backs Brazil Asylum Offer For Iran Woman Facing Stoning – 2 August 2010

NY Times – Brazil’s President Offers Asylum To Woman Facing Stoning In Iran – 1 August 2010

Reuters – Brazil Offers Asylum To Iranian Woman Facing Stoning – 31 July 2010