Police Hostages in Peru Freed; FARC Releases Hostage Video; US Links Venezuelans to Hezbollah, Chavez Protests

By Christopher Gehrke
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, South America

LIMA, Peru – Last Monday, protesters objecting to mining revenue injured at least 20 civilians, 40 police officers.  At least 60 police officers were held hostage in southern Peru.  They were freed about a day later.

Protestors in the state of Moquegua took hostages during demonstrations calling for greater share of mining revenue.  They also blocked parts of the Pan American Highway for almost a week.

President Alan Garcia said Tuesday that he expects the individuals responsible for any violence to be held responsible for their crimes.

For more information, please see:

CNN – Reports:  Police hurt, held hostage amid Peru protests – 17 June 2008

CNN – Police hostages freed in Peru – 18 June 2008

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CALI, Colombia – The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) released what a appears to be a recent video of kidnapped politician Sigifredo Lopez, the only survivor of a group of 12 politicians who were killed by the rebels in 2002.

A BBC correspondent reported that Colombia refused to deal with the rebels and intends to destroy them with their military.  The video showed Lopez wearing a crucifix, telling is family not to worry.  He also said that FARC’s position had not changed, that they were still demanding a safe haven to discuss the release of hostages in exchange for rebels in prison, which President Alvaro Uribe has refused.

Lopez called for the government to meet with the rebels, calling both sides’ refusal to compromise on the safe haven issue an example of “showing the world their cruelty and barbarism.”

Colombia is known as the “kidnap capital of the world.”  One person per day is kidnapped, down from 10 per day in 2002, reports the BBC.

For more information, please see:

BBC News – Farc rebels release hostage video – 22 June 2008

AFP – Colombian hostage calls for rebel-government talks – 22 June 2008

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CARACAS, Venezuela – The United States charged a Venezuelan official and others with helping Hezbollah.  Washington considers the Lebanese group a terrorist organization.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Friday that the U.S. is using these accusations against Diplomat Nasr al Din and Lebonese born businessman Fazwi Ka’an to “see if the world will make a move” against him.  He also said that the US is trying to bring him before an international court.

The U.S. said Wednesday that it was freezing the assets of the two Venezuelans and accused the government of protecting the two men.

For more information, please see:

AP – Chavez refutes US Hezbollah charges – 22 June 2008

Taipei Times – US Hezbollah charge is a pretext, Chavez says – 22 June 2008