Comments on: Colombia: Paramilitary Scandal, Crimes, and Media ‘Coincidences'

By: Carlos Raúl van der Weyden Velásquez

Carlos Raúl van der Weyden Velásquez — Thu, 03 May 2007 03:51:47 +0000

I must clarify a thing. It seems that the "collar-bomb" thing was not perpetrated by FARC, as o-lu says on the first commentary to this post above, where she links a news article quoting Colombian government, which retracted of the claims accusing FARC. So, casually today Colombia remembers another "creative" crime, the Bojayá Massacre, which occurred 5 years ago, when 139 civilians, sheltered in a church at a remote village, were killed by a "gas cilinder bomb" FARC threw as fighting with AUC paramilitaries.

By: La Columna (presented by equinoXio) » [Podcast] ¿Y nosotros qué?

La Columna (presented by equinoXio) » [Podcast] ¿Y nosotros qué? — Tue, 01 May 2007 15:40:56 +0000

[...] Colombia: Paramilitary Scandal, Crimes, and Media ‘Coincidences’ (Global Voices Online) [...]

By: Teo Ballvé

Teo Ballvé — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 00:38:30 +0000

At NACLA, we have the original article about the mass graves translated on our news site: (warning: graphic images) http://news.nacla.org/2007/04/29/colombia-searches-for-its-dead/

By: Víctor Buitrago

Víctor Buitrago — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 20:08:09 +0000

Villalba could be freed soon, because the benefits offered by Peace and Justice Law, as El Tiempo states today. Paramilitary leaders had a rational attitude about the use of terror tactics over unarmed people. They knew exactly what they were doing. This individual case shows up the horrifying face of a slaughter professional, recruited since he was a teenager, now overwhelmed (I do believe he is so) and shocked about his own actions. The terrorist terrified, and his own psychiatric health, and application of justice for mass murder, seriously damaged. I agree with O-lu, there are not solid but fake proofs about Farc's authority in the collar-bomb case.

By: Bogota Gringo

Bogota Gringo — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 16:19:17 +0000

The paramilitary movement has moved through the country swiftly, but sadly the illusion of disarming the illegal army is just that. It is an illusion, and the paramilitary criminal network is still thriving under the new name Black Eagles.

Violence and crime is reduced but still high, and the paramilitaries synonomis with mafia, still maintain a strong grip and presence throughout the country. I really hope that the future is better for Colombia.

It’s not just Uribe’s administration, because obviously its many states and many members of congress that have been working along side with the paramilitaries. Wether the para’s found politicians, or wether the rich and powerfull paid for murders of oppenents, its all the same.

Rich Companies like bandex (Chiqueta Bananas) supplied the paramilitaries with 3,400 AK machine guns in 2001, and paid them 5 Million for PROTECTION. NO THIS COLABORATION WAS NOT PROTECTION. Protection of a company is when you have security guards. Protection of a company does not include murdering 1,200 citizens which are organized in unions for workers rights. Murdering innocent people is not protection, but it is state sponsered terrorism.

URIBE CLASSIFIES NON PROFIT GROUPS HELPING PEOPLE AS COMMUNIST, GUERILLA GROUPS. LEADERS OF GROUPS AS OF LAST YEAR PUBLISHED IN COLOMBIAN NEWS, ARE STILL PUT ON HIT LISTS AND PASSED AROUND THE COMMUNITIES.

How can Uribe be good for the poor people. He supports terrorizing workers, and organizations that give aid to the poor people. Why? Because all these displaced people were forced homeless. The paramilitaries will be allowed to keep the deeds from the displaced people. New law supports the land stealing political thugs.

Wether its because the rich want to pay workers 25 cents less, or because they want to keep land the paramilitaries stole.

MAKE NO MISTAKE THE URIBE ADMINSTRATION DOES NOT SUPPORT POOR PEOPLE. URIBE STANDS FOR OPPRESSION THROUGH VIOLENCE AND TERROR OF THE POOR PEOPLE. PARAMILITARIES PERHAPS GOT TOO STRONG, SO THEY CUT A FEW HEADS OFF. PARAMILITARIES REMAIN ACTIVE TO THIS DAY. THE GOVERNMENT REMAINS CORRUPT. THE SOLUTION IS COMPLICATED AND POLITICIANS CANT BE TRUSTED.

By: o-lu

o-lu — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 09:05:02 +0000

Carlos R,

Te felicito por este trabajo de traduccion y analisis; solo tengo una anotacion, y te pido que reflexiones sobre ella: afirmas que el “collar bomba” fue puesto por las Farc y enlazas con un video de regular factura (no veo en efecto el interés en trivializar un hecho tan doloroso con la musiquita de Marbelle, ni los recursos visuales sin contenido).

Quiza lo ignores, pero el famoso “collar bomba” no fue obra de las Farc (hay mucha informacion en internet; mira por ej estas declaraciones del alto gobierno: http://www.ayudatareas.com.ar/noticias/3/archivo-b799.shtml ).

Por el contrario, este lamentable hecho y su pésimo tratamiento periodistico son un ejemplo elocuente de por qué debemos leer los medios con pinzas, especialmente cuando se refieren a hechos de guerra.