Canal Caracol Colombia

In October, the FARC kidnapped a journalist and cameraman from Canal Caracol in Santiago, Putumayo Department. ...

Judicial authorities frequently were subjected to threats and acts of violence. According to the National Association of Judicial Branch Employees, numerous judicial branch employees received threats against their lives, and some judges and prosecutors assigned to small towns worked out of departmental capitals because of security concerns. There were reports that judicial workers were killed during the year. For example, on August 11, unknown assailants shot and killed Ronaldo David Redondo, a former superior court judge and La Guajira Department magistrate, in front of his home in the departmental capital of Riohacha. The crime was under investigation at year's end. On November 13, gunmen shot and killed state attorney Mario Canal on a highway near the city of Popayan, Cauca Department. Canal had been investigating crimes allegedly committed by captured FARC leaders. Witnesses, who were even more vulnerable to intimidation, often lacked faith in the Government's ability to protect th ... [Read More]

Press Conference at the CNP Headquarters

Miller Rubio (Canal Caracol): Are you aware, or do you have information about, a "drug summit" led by the paramilitary leader Carlos Castaño, which would have allegedly concluded with a process to surrender to U.S. justice? ...

Juan Luis Martinez (Canal Uno): You mentioned the FARC as a terrorist organization and U.S. commitment to fight terrorism. What is the U.S. commitment to the Colombian National Police and the Colombian authorities to fight the FARC as a terrorist organization and as a drug-trafficking organization? ... [Read More]

Colombia

On September 17, the ELN kidnaped over 50 patrons of Cali restaurants. Roughly a dozen were released within a few days. After combined negotiation and military pressure, the remaining survivors were released by November, although three had died while in captivity due to illness after lengthy forced marches while the kidnapers attempted to evade the army. Over the objections of the army commander in charge of rescue, the Government allowed the captors to remain free in return for release of the remaining hostages. Brigadier General Jaime Canal Alban, commander of the 3rd Brigade, resigned to express his disagreement with the Government's decision. ... [Read More]

US Department Of State Post Report

Colombian television includes Government and commercially run broadcasters. The leading commercial broadcasters are Caracol TV and RCN TV. They enjoy the largest audiences and the greatest popularity. Government broadcasters include Canal Uno, Canal A and Señal Colombia. Programming includes national and international news, sports, telenovelas, and films. ...

The Republic of Colombia (about 440,000 square miles), roughly the size of Texas, Arkansas, and New Mexico combined, is in northwest South America. Its location on the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, proximity to the Panama Canal, and economic potential give it a position of international importance. ... [Read More]

(C) Mexico and Central America

The NAS Director and project officer visited Caracol, a NGO that works with street kids on drug education and job training, and observed computer equipment purchased with FY-97 and FY-98 funds. Equipment is used for developing training and educational materials and tracking the project's casework. Samples of finished products were provided to NAS visitors. Caracol also furnished a complete accounting of NAS-funded expenditures. The NAS purchased a LAN system with case management software for the Federal Investigative Agency (AFI) of the Office of the Attorney General. AFI has been the principal entity responsible for locating and arresting fugitives from U.S. justice. Installation of the computer equipment has been postponed as the PGR negotiates the purchase of a building for the AFI. ... [Read More]

US Department Of State Post Report

Although Belize City now has a modern water treatment plant, and sanitation has improved greatly in recent years, things are still well below U.S. standards. All Embassy houses have water distillers. About 90% of urban households are connected to the citywide sewage system, but sewage still runs in some open canals which empty into the sea. Some Embassy-leased housing have septic tanks. Although there is regular removal of city garbage, it is common to see it strewn about. ... [Read More]