By Kaitlyn Degnan
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America 

BOGOTA, Colombia — According to Colombia Reports, the Colombian government and representatives from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, are close to reaching an agreement. FARC is a paramilitary organization that has been active in Colombia since 1964. The differences between the group and successive Colombian regimes has led to decades of violence that has claimed over 260,000 lives.

A communique from FARC’s website said that “Peace is knocking at the door of Colombia, and it requires that the armed conflict should be left behind, as something that should not be repeated anymore, to ensure the peaceful future and decent life of the new generations of Colombians.”

One of the issues on the table is the finalization of negotiations regarding victims’ reparations.

FARC also called for the “urgent” dismantle of the “phenomenon of paramilitarism.” The government also supported this. Interior Minister, Juan Fernando Cristo, speaking at a university forum in Tunja, said that FARC could support and defend their ideas, without violence, within the context of Colombian democracy as an official political party.

The final agreement would include a process for the integration of the paramilitaries into political society.

Last week the government presented a “constitutional reform for peace”, which would allow the implementation of a number of agreements reached between the two parties throughout the course of the negotiations.

FARC opposed the reform, instead calling for a Constituent Assembly. The government’s plan already has wide support from Congress, but does not have support from the rebels (who are not represented in Congress).

In his prayers during a historical visit to Cuba this past Sunday, Pope Francis said that “we do not have the right to allow ourselves yet another failure on this path of peace and reconciliation.”

In order to facilitate the peace talks, FARC declared a cease-fire on July 20, and then reaffirmed the cease-fire on August 20. The cease-fire was one sided, and Colombian forces continued to execute operations against the paramilitary’s positions in the country.

Peace talks between the two groups have been ongoing in Havana, Cuba since November of 2012. The two sides are working towards a bilateral peace agreement.

For more information, please see:

Prensa Latina – FARC-EP for Progress in Peace Conversations – 17 September 2015 

TeleSur – FARC Closer to Becoming a Legal Political Movement – 17 September 2015

Colombia Reports – Rebels on verge of reaching transitional justice agreement with Colombia govt: FARC – 18 September 2015

InNews – Colombia: Government Welcomes FARC Stance on Dropping Weapons – 18 September 2015

Sputnik News – UN Continues Contribution to Colombia-FARC Peace Talks – 18 September 2015

The Guardian – Pope Francis prays for peace in Colombia – 20 September 2015

SANTIAGO, Chile — A massive 8.3 magnitude earthquake hit Chile on Wednesday.  The powerful quake in Chile’s central region forced over a million people out of their homes.  At least ten people died when the quake hit and one person is still missing.

Horror struck as residents of Illapel’s homes began to sway and they ran into the streets.  Illapel is an area near the quake’s epicentre.  Coastal towns like Coquimbo recorded waves as high as 4.7m (15ft) hitting the shore after the quake, resulting in a Tsunami alert for the entire Chilean coast.  The alert has since been lifted.

The earthquake hit at 6:45 pm and lasted for more than three minutes.  There have been more than a dozen aftershocks.  According to the U.S. Geological survey the earthquake was the largest to hit that location in over 100 years.  Gloria Navarro, a dweller in the coastal town of La Serena, said people were “running in all directions”.

Officials said that 1,800 people in Illapel were without drinking water.  Electricity providers said hundreds of thousands of their clients in the worst-affected Coquimbo region had no power.

This Chilean earthquake was five times more energetic that the quake that devastated Nepal in April.  However, early inclinations show that the death toll will be a fraction of what it was in Nepal.  Why?  This is the third massive quake in five years, Chile often experiences quakes this massive.  To protect and prepare the country, the building codes are very strict and well enforced and the citizens are knowledgeable about how to react during an earthquake.

After the massive 8.8 quake in 2010, the Chilean government put millions into upgrading the country’s seismic network of sensors, and made improvements to telecommunications systems that share critical information and warnings.

President Bachelet said that “once again we must confront a powerful blow from nature”.  She will travel to the affected areas later on Thursday.

For more information, please see:

BBC – Chile quake triggers mass evacuation and tsunami alert – 17 Sept. 2015

The Telegraph – Chile earthquake in pictures: 8.3 magnitude quake triggers tsunami warning – 17 Sept. 2015

theguardian – Chile earthquake: one million people evacuated after 8.3 magnitude quake – live updates – 17 Sept. 2015

NBC News – One Million Evacuated As Huge Quake Strikes Off Chile Coast – 17 Sept. 2015

By Kaitlyn Degnan
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela’s crackdown on its border with Colombia has extended to a third state. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced that he extended the state of emergency to an additional 10 provinces on Tuesday evening. As of now, border crossings in the Venezuelan states of Tachira, Zulia and Apure have closed, with Apure’s closing occurring Wednesday morning.

Some 18,000 of over 5 million Colombians living in Venezuela have crossed the border and returned to Colombia during the month long crisis. Some claim that they were beaten by Venezuelan security forces before crossing rivers to leave the country. Many feared reprisals from the Venezuelan government if they stayed.

The crisis began about a month ago, when Maduro closed a number of border crossings and deported 1,400 Colombians as part of an anti-corruption operation. Maduro has blamed Colombians in the country for Venezuela’s economic woes – the country has been in recession for some time.

Historically, the Venezuelan/Colombian border has been a hotbed of illegal activity, with smuggling and guerilla activity flourishing in the region. Both illegal smuggling and legal trade have suffered due to the border closures.

The declaration of a state of emergency in Venezuela suspends certain constitutional rights, and allows homes to be searched without a warrant.

Throughout the course of the crisis, diplomatic ties between the two countries have worsened, with Colombia recalling its ambassador from Caracas, and the Venezuelan ambassador leaving Bogota shortly after. Tensions rose significantly last week after Colombia claimed that Venezuelan military jets crossed into Colombian airspace. Venezuela has denied the claim.

Maduro and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos have each separately called for meetings to discuss the border crisis, and both have expressed willingness to discuss the issue.  Ecuador and Uruguay are currently working to broker a meeting.

A “humanitarian corridor” has been created which will allow Colombian children in Venezuela to attend school in Colombia. Work has also been done to facilitate the reunification of families split by the crisis.

For more information, please see:

Voice of America – Poll: Nearly Half of Colombians Fear Venezuela War Over Border Crisis – 15 September 2015

BBC – Venezuela extends state of emergency to third border state – 16 September 2015

Reuters – Colombia’s president says Venezuela gestures could solve border spat – 16 September 2015

The Wall Street Journal – Colombia’s Leader Says He’d Meet with Venezuela to Resolve Crisis – 16 September 2015

New Zealand Herald – Venezuela extends border crackdown to 3rd state – 17 September 2015

By Kaitlyn Degnan
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

SANTIAGO, Chile — Chile will take in refugees, President Michelle Bachelet announced Monday. Speaking at a religious ceremony, she said, “Throughout our history, we have always had our doors open to those, sometimes coming from far away places, bringing their history and cultural to the construction of our nation.”

The foreign ministry confirmed the statement on Tuesday, saying that the refugees would come from Syria. A statement released by Foreign Minister Heraldo Munoz stated that “it will happen as soon as possible,” and that the country could initially take in 100 families.

The plan, reportedly presented to the government by a former minister of Syrian descent, would provide shelter for 50 to 100 families, and has the support of the Chilean Arab population.

Chile is expediting the visa process for those Syrians that have requested them.

Many world leaders, including spiritual figures like Pope Francis, have called on countries and communities around the world to take in refugees.

A number of other South American countries have also agreed to take in Syrian refugees, including Argentina and Venezuela. Argentina eased entrance requirements last year, but according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, less than 100 Syrians have arrived in Argentina so far. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has announced that the country is prepared to grant asylum to 20,000 escaping the Syrian conflict.

Brazil has taken in 2,000 Syrian refugees so far, with over 1,400 granted asylum in 2014 alone.

However, not all resettlement schemes have been successful. Uruguay, who accepted a number of refugees last year as part of a resettlement program, is facing criticism from the refugees themselves. The resettled families, who have been living in Uruguay since October, have been protesting outside of the presidential offices, saying, “this is not a place for refugees.” The families say that they are “isolated and struggling,” which may be due to Uruguay’s minute Arab population and high costs of living.

For more information, please see:

US News & World Report – Argentina cabinet chief says the country’s doors are open to Syrian refugees fleeing war – 4 September 2015

Reuters – Chile mulls plan to take in Syrian refugees: newspaper – 6 September 2015

Latin Post – Syrian Refugee Crisis: Chile to welcome undisclosed number of refugees – 8 September 2015

Reuters – Chile government says it will take in Syrian refugees – 8 September 2015

Voice of America – Venezuela offers to take in 20,000 Syrian refugees – 8 September 2015

Yahoo News – Bachelet says Chile will welcome Syrian refugees – 8 September 2015

Yahoo News – Latin American nations offer to take in Syrian refugees – 8 September 2015