Daily Headlines: November 25, 2013

* Mexico: Mexican health officials claimed that a cholera outbreak is "under control" with only 184 cases of the disease nationwide.

* Dominican Republic: Some 354 Haitians and people of Haitian background were recently deported from the Dominican Republic after three people were killed near the border dividing Hispaniola.

* Puerto Rico: In the latest sign of Puerto Rico's financial woes, the island's unemployment rate rose for the fourth straight month and is at 14.7%.

* Colombia: Former hostage Ingrid Betancourt will reportedly run for the Colombian presidency though she faces stiff competition in order to represent the Green Party.

Online Sources - LAHT; NBC Latino; NPR; GlobalPost

Video Source - YouTube via user ExcelsiorTV

Wag the dog, Colombian style

Was the 2006 surrender of 66 Colombian rebels a staged event arranged with the government’s knowledge? Was the military-led rescue of a group of hostages including Ingrid Betancourt really a cover for secret negotiations? Several recent accusations have cast doubt on a pair of events in Colombia’s armed conflict.

The Attorney General ‘s office has called on former Peace Commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo to be questioned over a supposedly faked demobilization of the “Cacique Gaitana” guerilla front on March 2006. The Colombian government and military command allegedly concocted the scheme where petty criminals and homeless people were recruited to pretend that they were part of the guerillas.

According to remarks made by one of the faux rebels today, his clothes were exchanged for a fake FARC uniform and he received training on subjects like “how to make trenches…(and) how to speak like the rebels.” Other rumors alleged that the machine guns handed over to Restrepo where actually made of wood and painted black.

Restrepo reportedly served as the liaison between the military and alias “Olivo Saldaña”, an imprisoned rebel who was presented as the commander of the Gaitana front. For his cooperation in the fake surrender, “Saldaña” was eligible for government benefits though they were subsequently revoked in light of the accusations.

Former president Alvaro Uribe, who was in power during the faked surrender, defended the demobilization as “transparent” under Restrepo's supervision. But less than two weeks after the Gaitana rebels allegedly laid down their arms then-U.S. Ambassador to Colombia William Wood expressed his doubts over the veracity of the insurgents. Wood’s communiqué, which was uncovered by Wikileaks, brought up discrepancies between the army’s claims and those of the FARC high command and the national police who each denied that the Gaitana front even existed.

Meanwhile, rumors have surfaced alleging that the much-heralded 2008 rescue operation that freed fifteen hostages including Ingrid Betancourt may’ve been prearranged with the FARC. One document revealed by Wikileaks last week claimed that Betancourt’s rebel guard nicknamed “Cesar” negotiated her release one month before “Operation Check” took place. The U.S. diplomatic cable alleged that “Cesar” (real name Gerardo Antonio Aguilar) offered to let Betancourt go in exchange for safe passage for himself and his family to France.

The lawyer for Aguilar and another rebel captor imprisoned since the 2008 operation tried to corroborate his client’s claims:

“We realized that between the government along with “Cesar” and apparently “Gafas” (ed. – another FARC captor) there was a series of agreements to release these people” attorney Rodolfo Rios said to Caracol Radio”.

According to the radio station, Rios said that after the capture of both rebels there were visits to the prison by members of government, the armed forces and the International Red Cross.

Image- Semana.com
Online Sources- El Tiempo, El Espectador, Univision.com, Semana.com, Colombia Reports, RCN Radio, Caracol.com

Colombia: Ex-hostage defends legal moves

The announcement on Friday that former Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt filed a claim against the state has led to shock and anger among most Colombians. Her claim for about $6.8 million in damages may have some legal basis according to the La Silla Vacia website, while other former hostages are considering similar actions. Yet to the Colombian public her gratitude in being rescued by the army as well as her harsh criticism of her ex- guerilla captors has been undermined by the recent legal actions.

One of the harshest critiques against Betancourt over the weekend (outside of the president’s residence) came from Maria Jimena Duzan, a left-leaning columnist who has been highly critical of President Alvaro Uribe. “(If Betancourt wins her case) I promise that I will do up to the impossible to avoid that my taxes fall into her hands,” wrote Duzan in her piece published on Saturday.

In light of the backlash against her, Betancourt appeared in a televised interview Sunday night and said that her claim was not an indictment against the Colombian military. She insisted that the “idea was never to attack those who freed” her two years ago but rather to "open the way so that other people who have been kidnapped can get compensation". In addition:

Asked why she was seeking so much money, the former hostage admitted the sum was "astronomical" and "absurd", but she stressed it was "symbolic".

She had acted because the statute of limitations was running out, she said.

Ms Betancourt said she also wanted to tell her side of the story as she had been accused of irresponsibility by undertaking the journey that ultimately led to her kidnap.

The authorities had in fact taken away her bodyguards, she said.

In response, Interior Minister Fabio Valencia Cossio said that her decision to take her claim into a type of arbitration known as conciliation was “intelligent”.

Image- BBC News
Online Sources- Colombia Reports, La Silla Vacia, AFP, semana.com, Al Jazeera English, BBC News, El Tiempo

Obama accepts Nobel Peace prize

In a suprising move, U.S. president Barack Obama was named today as the recipient of the 2009 Nobel Peace prize.

Obama won the award months into his presidency and his bid was one of a record 200+ for the prestigious award. "Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future," said a statement emitted by the selection committee. Obama accepted the prize but confessed that he didn’t “deserve to be in the company of so many transformative figures that have been honored by this prize."

Zimbabwe’s Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and Afghan human rights activist Sima Sama were among the favorites as well as Colombians Piedad Cordoba and Ingrid Betancourt. Ultimately, however, Obama became the third sitting U.S. president to win the award in a decision that one reporter worried was “aspirational (and) not based on accomplishments.”

Despite not being selected, Cordoba extended her congratulations to Obama:

Colombian opposition Senator Piedad Cordoba Friday congratulated U.S. President Barack Obama for being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Cordoba had been tipped as one of the most probable to win the prestigious award.

On her twitter page, Cordoba congratulated Obama and wrote that "with or without the Nobel I will continue to do the same I have done all this time. Work for peace in Colombia."

Obama’s record regarding Latinos and Latin America has been mixed so far. He has been praised for his push towards multilateralism during the Summit of the Americas, desire to close the Guantanamo prison camp, and attempt to breach the political gap with Cuba. But he has also been blasted for waffling on immigration reform, tabling several free trade deals, and (depending on who you believe) either aiding or strongly opposing Honduras’ de facto regime.

Image- ABC News
Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, Reuters, BBC News, YouTube, Huffington Post, Colombia Reports, Vivirlatino

Daily Headlines: September 28, 2009

* Colombia: The country’s FARC rebels pledged to unilaterally free two hostages, while former captive Ingrid Betancourt called for all the hostages to be released.

* Venezuela: First it was "The Simpsons”, but now it’s “Family Guy” that’s undergone scrutiny from the Venezuelan government.

* Mexico: Cris Arreola fought well but ultimately quit in the tenth round of his bout against heavyweight champ Vitali Klitschko.

* Cuba: U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates implied that the January 2010 deadline to close the Guantanamo military jail will be tough to reach.

Image- BBC News (“Police and soldiers' relatives have been calling for (the hostages) release”. Note that the banner says “Deal yes! War no!”)
Online Sources- Canada.com, BBC News, Guardian UK, Reuters, CNN

Still seeking freedom one year after “Operation Check”

Yesterday Colombian officials including President Alvaro Uribe and several former hostages commemorated the one-year anniversary of a rescue mission that freed fifteen people. Uribe claimed that “Operation Check” was made possible via the controversial military operation on FARC guerilla commander Raul Reyes’s camp in Ecuador which set off a regional diplomatic crisis. In addition he praised the operation which freed Ingrid Betancourt, three U.S. contractors, among others and said “I hope we have an ‘Operation Check’ numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6”.

Prognostications that the FARC would be decimated in part due to the rescue may’ve been premature. "Don't underestimate their military importance," said a study released by independent Colombian think-tank Foundation of Ideas for Peace which added that the guerillas are gaining strength in some regions. “With the exception of the July 2008 hostage rescue and a battlefield victory south of Bogotá in March 2008, the military hasn't dealt any further blows to the guerrillas' leadership” observed noted Colombia analyst Adam Isacson in this insightful Foreign Policy article.

For all the joy surrounding the fifteen people freed 366 days ago, hundreds of other hostages remain captive in the Colombian jungle. “For me it is very painful to think that our liberation may serve as a justification to forget them, or to have nothing happen, to turn the page,” said Betancourt days ago. The hard-line by the Uribe administration and the FARC has made it almost impossible for any hostages to be freed and returned to the open arms of their loved ones. Take the case of Colombian soldier Pablo Moncayo who has been held hostage since in 1997:

(The FARC) announced in mid-April it intended to free Moncayo. On Monday, it said it would release a second soldier with him.

But Uribe refused the FARC's demand that Sen. Piedad Cordoba, a close ally of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, be present for any hostage handover. She has attended five previous unilateral releases of a total of 12 hostages since early 2008…

Uribe says he will only accept the International Red Cross and the Roman Catholic Church as intermediaries.

"We don't understand why exactly President Uribe doesn't respect the life of Pablo Emilio," 22-year-old Yuri Tatiana Moncayo, one of the captive corporal's four sisters, told The Associated Press…

“The president isn't going to facilitate any unilateral liberation because he thinks that will boost the FARC's political agenda and hurt the government," said political analyst Claudia Lopez. "It's cruel, but that's the way it is."

Thus, hundreds of hostages continue to be deprived of liberty as they continue to be used as pawns in a sick game between intransigent sides.

Image- Cambio (Gustavo Moncayo- the father of hostage Emilio Moncayo has campaigned vigorously for the freeing of Colombian hostages including walking thousand of miles wearing symbolic steel chains).
Online Sources- AP, Foreign Policy, Monsters & Critics, The Latin Americanist, Semana, El Tiempo

Former hostage attacks Ingrid Betancourt

It’s been nearly eight months since a rescue mission organized by the Colombian government freed fourteen hostages including Ingrid Betancourt and three U.S. citizens. She has campaigned since then to seek the release of hundreds of people held against their will by Colombian guerillas. Yet her efforts have been unfairly condemned by those on the extreme right as well as the far left.

According to the AP, one of the former contractors had harsh words to say about Betancourt during the time they were both hostages:

One of the Northrop Grumman employees alleges she was haughty and self-absorbed, stole food and hoarded books, and even put their lives in danger by telling rebel guards they were CIA agents.

"I watched her try to take over the camp with an arrogance that was out of control," Keith Stansell told The Associated Press in an interview Wednesday. "Some of the guards treated us better than she did."

One of Stansell’s fellow ex-captives- Marc Gonsalves- mentioned in the above article that conflicts were common among hostages though his relationship with Betancourt has always been cordial.

Stansell, Gonsalves, and Thomas Howes have been making the media rounds in order to promote their new book “Out of Captivity”. The text describes the 1967 days they spent as hostages after their surveillance plane crashed in 2003 and they were captured by the FARC guerrillas.

Image- El Pais (Picture of Keith Stansell released in 2007 while he was still held hostage in the Colombian jungle).
Online Sources- ABC News, Colombia Reports, Plan Colombia and Beyond, MSNBC, The Latin Americanist

Bloggers of the World Unite: Starting the year of the Ox

Note: It’s been many months since we’ve featured our perennial post highlighting blog posts that have caught our eye. As an experiment this week we’ll be running this feature daily. We hope you enjoy it.

So without further ado…

• A pictorial look at Chinese New Year celebrations in Mexico City.
• Inquiring minds want to know: who is that man cavorting with Ingrid Betancourt in Miami?
• Remembering a dark day in Peruvian history: the 1983 massacre of eight journalists in the highlands.
• Could putting the next season of the “Real World” in Cancún improve Mexico’s tourism troubles?
• Lastly, why Lionel Messi is one of the world’s best futbolistas:
  

Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, Gawker, Soccer by Ives, La Plaza, Memory in Latin America, Guanabee, YouTube

Ingrid Betancourt skewered by extremes

Five months ago, Colombian politico Ingrid Betancourt was rescued along with about a dozen other hostages from their rebel captors. Since then, she has actively campaigned for the release of hundreds of hostages still held by leftist guerillas and she has traveled to several countries in order to gather international suoport.

Despite her efforts Betancourt has been unfairly targeted by groups on the left and right. Weeks after she was freed, an article on the online version of National Review blasted her as “naïve” and “ungrateful” and accused her of having Stockholm Syndrome. A so-called Spanish citizens group criticized her in November over her support of a negotiated end to Colombia’s conflict.

The latest salvo in her direction was this article from the Party for Socialism and Liberation’s website. In the piece, the author unjustly accused Betancourt of allowing her to be exploited by the media in both the U.S. and Colombia. The piece foolishly blamed Betancourt for using her campaign as a smoke screen for the ongoing problems in Colombia.

Though the article makes legitimate gripes on the Uribe administration and points out Colombia’s ongoing problems, the piece loses all legitimacy in treating the FARC with kid gloves:

Betancourt and other liberal critics have accused both the right-wing Colombian government and the FARC as being equally unwilling to compromise. Betancourt has also said that "in the two years that remain before the next elections, the FARC could change its position drastically and finally enter a peace process." (Latin American Herald Tribune, Jan 14)

In fact, the FARC has committed to peace negotiations as one method toward a political solution of the crisis in Colombia. On Dec. 21, the FARC again offered to release six prisoners of war as a good faith effort to restart negotiations between the Colombian government and the rebels. (AP, Dec. 30, 2008) The offer to release prisoners is typical of many earlier gestures towards the renewal of a peace process. Their gestures have not been reciprocated by the Uribe administration, which stands by its hardline approach built on military violence.

Since being freed, Betancourt has taken a moderate, realistic stance on Colombia’s armed conflict that has infuriated critics on both extremes of the ideological spectrum. If socialist and neocon rags strongly critique her, then it certainly seems like she’s doing something right.

Image- The Telegraph (“Former hostage Ingrid Betancourt embraces her son Lorenzo (right) and daughter.”)
Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, Party for Socialism and Liberation, National Review, philly.com, Plan Colombia and Beyond

Daily Headlines: January 2, 2009

* Colombia: Warner Brothers and Sony Pictures are vying to make a film based on the July 2008 rescue of Ingrid Betancourt and fourteen other hostages from the Colombian jungle.

* Nicaragua: This month Nicaragua will begin operating 19 windmills designed to contribute 6% of the country’s power.

* Peru: Peru’s main stock index plunged by 60% in 2008, more than any other Latin American index.

* El Salvador: Salvadoran troops stationed in Iraq are expected to start returning home by the end of this month or early February.

Image- Guardian UK
Online Sources- AFP, Reuters, Xinhua, MSNBC

Ex-hostage Betancourt thanks Hugo Chavez

Former hostage Ingrid Betancourt met with Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez as she came to the tail end of her tour of Latin America.

During the meeting on Monday she thanked Chavez for his previous mediation in the conflict between the Colombian government and the FARC guerillas. Despite his removal as liaison last year, Betancourt said that his aid was vital in securing the freedom of several former hostages.

Betancourt had more to say on Chavez during a press conference on Tuesday:

"President Chávez is a leftist, revolutionary president who has conducted a peaceful revolution in Venezuela. Obviously, I do not share some things. For instance, a square in Venezuela was named after (deceased guerilla chief) Manuel Marulanda," said Betancourt, AFP quoted.

"I think that the fact that President Chávez has these feelings of ideological proximity to the FARC is a blessing after all, because somebody is to talk to the FARC," she added.

Betancourt also called for other global leaders to be more active in finding a peaceful solution to Colombia’s armed conflict and demanded that the FARC lay down there weapons.

Betancourt- who was liberated in a rescue mission last July- is heading for France. She will be accompanied by an ex-FARC rebel who fled camp in October along with an elderly politico held hostage.

Image- PRESS TV
Sources- The Latin Americanist, El Universal, BBC News, Voice of America, AP, Xinhua

Ingrid Betancourt meets Madonna in Argentina

Former hostage Ingrid Betancourt continued her tour of Latin America with a stop yesterday in Argentina. It was there that she met with Argentine President Cristina Kirchner at the official palace along with an unexpected guest (image):

Madonna met with a president and a former guerrilla-held hostage Tuesday at Argentina's presidential palace, where she filmed "Evita" 12 years ago.

The pop star, in Buenos Aires on the Latin America leg of her "Sticky & Sweet" world tour, showed up early for a visit Argentine President Cristina Fernandez — who was then meeting with one of the world's best-known ex-hostages.

Earlier today, Chilean president Michele Bachelet met with Betancourt in Santiago. “When I come here I feel Chilean since so much pain has passed between us”, said Betancourt who also thanked Bachelet for nominating her for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Betancourt’s anti-kidnapping campaign has so far included stops in her native land and Ecuador where President Rafael Correa vowed to do “everything in our power to ensure these people are freed.”

Betancourt will continue her tour by traveling to Brazil and Venezuela; rumor has it that she will personally meet with Hugo Chavez and discuss a possible humanitarian exchange.

Image- AP
Sources (English)- The Latin Americanist, AFP, AP, Al Jazeera English
Sources (Spanish)- La Nacion

Colombians march for freedom

Thousands of Colombians took to the streets today calling for the liberation of their countrymen in the jungle. Though the turnout was far less than in similar marches held earlier this year, protestors still rallied in solidarity with those held against their will by armed illegal groups.

According to one estimate there are roughly 2800 people held hostage in Colombia; a quarter of which were kidnapped by the FARC guerillas.

Numerous former hostages took part in the rallies that were called for in October by ex-detainee Ingrid Betancourt. At a rally in Madrid, Spain she urged the FARC to lay down their arms and peacefully free the hostages:

“Are thoughts are with those hostages who are probably chained to trees and living in humiliation. We carry their cross and the chains that we hope will soon break…”

“Ours is a chain of love to free the hostages” added Betancourt… - [ed. personal translation]

Aside from Madrid, smaller protests took place in other international locales like Caracas and New York.

Image- El Espectador
Sources- The Latin Americanist, El Tiempo, IHT, Colombia Reports, Bloomberg

Today’s Video: Betancourt’s honor in Spain

Note: We’ll be back on Saturday with a few posts.

Today was the ceremony for the Prince of Asturias Awards named in recognition of Spain's Crown Prince Felipe. Despite the objections of fringe Spanish groups, Colombian politician and ex-hostage Ingrid Betancourt received one of those awards. She spoke out on arms trafficking, the drug trade and violence during her recognition speech:

"We ask that the drugs which are produced in Colombia and other regions not be allowed to be transported through our lands because the wealth it generates is feeding terrorism and increasing kidnappings"…

"We ask that our people stop arms trafficking because those same arms are used against our populations, to take the lives and freedom of our loved ones," added Betancourt, who wore a rosary she made out of wood while in captivity in the Colombian jungle wrapped around her wrist…

"I will not feel totally free, or happy, as long as one of my companions remains jailed in the jungle," she said.

The below video shows a portion of her impassioned speech where she pleads for international support for her comrades still held hostage:

The awards also recognized the state-run National Network of Youth and Children Orchestras of Venezuela (Arts) and Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal (sports).

Sources- The Prince of Asturias Foundation, YouTube, AFP, The Latin Americanist,

Spanish "citizens group" blasts Ingrid Betancourt

It has been over three months since Ingrid Betancourt was rescued with twelve others from being held captive for years in the Colombian jungle. She has become the de facto spokeswoman for hundreds of hostages still held by the FARC guerillas and has campaigned vigorously on their behalf.

Yet there are those who have tried to unfairly knock her down as was the case earlier today in Spain:

The Ermua Forum - a Spanish citizens group which has repudiated (Basque separatists faction) ETA- requested Wednesday that Ingrid Betancourt return the Prince of Asturias Award. They claim that her award was “unjustifiable” since she declared in favor of negotiating with terrorists.

In a press release, the Ermua Forum differed “radically” from the opinions of the former candidate... [ed. Personal translation]

So what did Betancourt say that so riled up the Ermua Forum? According to the AP:

Betancourt said there are two schools of thought on terrorism: "One says that you don't talk to terrorists. The other, in which I believe, says that precisely because they are terrorists, we must talk"…

Betancourt said it was important not to let terrorist groups become isolated but to constantly demand that they explain what they do.

"The solution is not to close the door but on the contrary to force it open," Betancourt said.

The notion that diplomacy is always equal to appeasement is short-sighted and counterproductive. While Betancourt backed the concept of negotiating with terrorists she also blasted the FARC for holding nearly 3000 hostages and denounced them for repeated death threats against her. She has consistently criticized them after her liberation which ought to cancel out the laughable claim that she has Stockholm syndrome.

Instead of petty critiques why not follow her example and seek a meaningful solution?

Image- PRESS TV
Sources (English)- AP, Plan Colombia and Beyond
Sources (Spanish)- Semana, El Tiempo, El Espectador, Canal Caracol

Daily Headlines: October 9, 2008

* Mexico: Rest in peace Jose Luis Garza; the 992-pound Mexican died yesterday of heart failure.

* Latin America: Organization of American States head José Miguel Insulza warned that violent crime in the region is on the rise and kills more people than AIDS.

* Haiti: U.N. peacekeeping troops will likely remain in Haiti for another year according to one U.N. official.

* Colombia: "Let them (the hostages) rest assured that we will not stop, we will not give up in silence and we will never, never stop taking action until they are freed," pleaded former hostage Ingrid Betancourt at the European Parliament yesterday.

Image- CNN
Sources- Times Online, AP, MSNBC, Guardian UK

Daily Headlines: September 23, 2008

* Colombia: “I have no intention of doing politics in Colombia,” admitted former hostage Ingrid Betancourt (image) in an interview yesterday where she also said that her return to Colombia has been impeded by death threats.

* Mexico: Mexican stocks fell in trading yesterday due to worry over the planned $700 billion bailout plan in the U.S.

* Latin America: Trade within the Latin American region has grown “significantly” according to the Latin American Integration Association.

* Brazil: The official inquest into the murder of Jean Charles de Menezes by London police began with testimony over how officers mistakenly thought he was a terrorist plotter.

Image- Christian Science Monitor

Sources- Reuters, CNNMoney.com, Monsters & Critics, The News Journal, The Latin Americanist, BBC News

Daily Headlines: September 3, 2008

* Colombia: “The audience with the pope was a dream for me,” noted former hostage Ingrid Betancourt after an emotional meeting with Pope Benedict on Monday (image).

* U.S.: The Justice Department's inspector general issued a report condemning ex-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales for mishandling classified documents yet stops short of pressing charges against him.

* Chile: Wild weather has hit Chile where over 12,000 people have been displaced due to torrential rains.

* Cuba: Pentagon officials admitted that three detainees were “transferred” from the Guantanamo Bay prison to their home countries.

Image- Times Online

Sources- Monsters & Critics, New York Times, IHT, AFP, Reuters

Today’s Video: Colombians united against kidnappings

On Colombia’s Independence Day over four million people marched in Colombia and around the world against violence committed by criminal groups. The rallies in cities like Bogota, Washington, Medellin, and Paris were done in solidarity with the hundreds of kidnapped people who remain trapped in the Colombian jungle. Former hostage Ingrid Betancourt led the event in the French capital and called on the FARC to free all their captives, while Colombian president Alvaro Uribe hosted his Brazilian and Peruvian counterparts in the Amazonian city of Leticia.

It was in Leticia where musicians Shakira and Carlos Vives performed as part of the rally there:

Sadly, the clamor and cries for peace have been largely ignored by Colombia’s criminal groups; “we will never be the ones…to lay down our weapons” said a communiqué issued today by a pair of FARC commanders. Meanwhile, five rural farmers were gunned down on Sunday in an area where “new paramilitary groups and narcotraffickers” battle for the control of coca growing lands.

Sources- RCN, YouTube, Monsters & Critics, AFP, Reuters

Colombia Admits to Appropriating Red Cross Symbol in Betancourt Rescue

Colombian President (and Hugo Chavez's new bff), Alvaro Uribe, apologized earlier today for his soldiers using the Red Cross emblem on their uniforms during the rescue mission that liberated former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and 14 others. The misuse of the international organization's symbol violates the Geneva Convention and can be considered a war crime.

"We regret that this occurred," President Alvaro Uribe said in a speech following reports that the Red Cross emblem was displayed on a vest or T-shirt worn by a Colombian intelligence officer who took part in the rescue mission.

Falsely portraying military personnel as Red Cross members is against the Geneva Conventions as it could put humanitarian workers at risk when they are in war zones.

The Red Cross, said through it's Colombian spokesperson that their symbol must be respected, especially as they continue to work inside Colombia.


Sources : Yahoo!, The Latin Americanist