Colombian President to U.S.: Stop Meddling

[maddezmom]

BOGOTA, Colombia - Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, one of Washington's best friends in South America, told the United States to stop "meddling" in his country's affairs after the U.S. ambassador urged him to take steps against corruption in regional elections.

U.S. Ambassador William Wood, in a speech in the capital Friday, said the 2003 elections for mayors and governors saw many unopposed candidates because potential opponents were bribed, scared off and, in some cases, murdered.

He said rightist paramilitary groups were often to blame for those abuses and warned the same could happen in elections scheduled for March elections.

The illegal paramilitaries recently signed a peace deal that makes fighters who disarm eligible for benefits such as reduced prison sentences, pardons, job training and stipends. Wood said fighters who seek to manipulate elections should be stripped of their benefits.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051218/ap_on_go_pr_wh/colombia_us;_

[cliss]

1. Message from the world to U.S.:

"Stop meddling in our affairs. Take care of your own problems, which by the way are becoming worse than our own."

[NashVegas]

2. That Ambassador Needs Recalling

Since when do US diplomats speak out against right-wing paramilitaries? Them're Freedom Fighters.

[killbotfactory]

3. US to Columbia: NEVER!

Meanwhile, somewhere in Washington D.C., a person is doing the numbers on what would be gained and lost by having the columbian government overthrown.

[Bacchus39]

5. that would be Colombia

with two "o"s

[Clara T]

4. kick

[Miss Chybil]

6. We've lost our moral authority to say anything to anybody anywhere.

Thanks, Bush.

[oblivious]

7. This is getting quite interesting.

Put this together with the recent very friendly meeting between Chavez and Uribe.

Chavez and Uribe Put Aside Differences
Presidents Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and Alvaro Uribe of Colombia are diametrically opposed in style and ideology, but they have largely put aside their differences and overcome disputes over the years, building what appears to be an uncommon friendship.

...Uribe, whose close ties with President Bush contrast with Chavez's frequent criticism of United States ``imperialism,'' assured Chavez he would not allow Colombia to serve as a base for opponents who may be plotting to overthrow the leftist leader.

...Chavez, a close ally of Cuba's Fidel Castro, called Uribe ``my brother.'' Uribe said when asked about their differences that ``a higher truth'' emerges whenever they debate.

...When a reporter asked Uribe if he was distancing himself from Washington, Chavez smiled widely and turned to the Colombian leader - also interested in what he would say.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5488477,00.html


The AP and Reuters reports of Uribe's admission of his military's involvement in Venezuelan coup plotting do not mention the US involvement, but others do.


Uribe reprimands DAS chief on plot against Chávez
Colombian President Álvaro Uribe publicly admonished Andrés Peñate, chief of Colombian secret police DAS, because he rebutted Uribe's claims that former Venezuelan military planned a plot in Bogotá against President Hugo Chávez.

...On Sunday, Chávez ensured that a US military officer also attended such a meeting.

http://english.eluniversal.com/2005/12/19/en_pol_art_19A645877.shtml

Chavez thanks Colombia for revealing coup plot
CARACAS, Dec. 18 (Xinhuanet) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez praised his Colombian counterpart for telling him of a Colombia-based plot against the Venezuelan government which involved an official from the United States.

...In his Sunday broadcast, Chavez insisted that the meeting had taken place in a military building in Bogota, with an active Colombian colonel and a US official in attendance.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-12/19/content_3939918.htm

Uribe confirms anti-Chávez meeting
BOGOTA, Colombia -- Members of the Colombian armed forces met with Venezuelan ex-military officers opposed to the Chávez government in a Colombian government building, President Uribe admitted on Saturday.

..“An official of the United States participated,” Chavez asserted. “I am sure that Uribe will not tolerate any conspiracy, just as we will not tolerate any against him.”

http://www.thedailyjournalonline.com/article.asp?CategoryId=12393&ArticleId=209183

[Judi Lynn]

8. So glad you brought this information to DU'ers' attention.

It's just going to KILL some people in the States who are right-wing idealogues, when they learn someone they thought they owned perpetually may be reconsidering his position toward Hugo Chavez.

[oblivious]

9. And he's a Harvard grad too, isn't he?

But really, Uribe sounds like a sensible leader and there's just so many reasons for Colombia and Venezuela to get along: oil and gas pipelines in the works, Venezuela the 2nd largest export market for Colombia, 1 million Colombians working in Venezuela.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-vzcol18dec18,1,1160447.story?coll=la-headlines-world

I find it interesting that Colombia has one of the highest tax rates in Latin America (38.5%) and is the third least globalised, yet companies like GE praise its govt for making Colombia attractive for investors. I gues I won't be reading that soon in AP reports though.

http://www.latinbusinesschronicle.com/reports/reports/1205/uribe.htm