Bolivia Uprising, Over 6.000 Cases Left Unsolved by the Bolivian Governments over 37 years; Rio de Janeiro Favela Suffered Attack by Militia; Colombian President’s Cousin Freed from Jail

By Oscar J Barbosa
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

LA PAZ, Bolivia - 6.681 victims have been registered by a Human Rights Organism in Bolivia. These people were assasinated, forcely dissapeared and exiled from the Country. The report published by the organism was presented by Guillermo Viela to the Bolivian Vice Presidency. The document titled “Impunity: The Power’s Practice” describes the many cases left unsolved and the need of the government to disclose thousands of secret files kept from the dictatorships.

The document revealed 4,877 citizens victimized by the dictatorship governments from 1970 to 1982. Another 1,804 victims have been registered in the last decades under democratic governments.

12-Days following the referendum that legitimized Evo Morales’ Presidency, the separatists regions remain uprising against the socialist policies of the government. Rebellious groups, and neo-nazi youths have lead road blocks, attacked Pro-Evo indigenous, and demanded independency from the Country.

For more information, please see:

Los Tiempos - Dictadura y democracia dejó 6.681 víctimas en el país – 22 August 2008

AFP - Roadblocks in Bolivia to protest Morales policies – 20 August 2008

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – The Favela of Barbante, in the Eastern Region of Rio the Janeiro 17 armed militants attacked a house and killing Seven tenants. The police investigation found that these militant groups might have been sponsored by local candidates to regional governments to promote the presence of private militia to protect the people.  Among the suspected assailants there are three military police, two police officers, a firefighter and the son of a local politician.

For more information, please see:

Agencia Brasil - Polícia identifica dez suspeitos de envolvimento em chacina no Rio – 21 August 2008

JC Online - Filho de vereador é acusado de chefiar milícia no Rio – 20 August 2008

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BOGOTA, Colombia – Four months after his arrest on charges of colluding with far-right death squads, Mario Uribe, President Uribe’s Cousin, was released from detention.  President Uribe and Mario Uribe have been close political allies since the mid 80’s.

The prosecutor said there was not enough evidence to incriminate Mario Uribe, letting him leave detention, while remaining unauthorized to leave the country.  Mario Uribe had been denied asylum in Costa Rica in April when he tried to avoid arrest.

Another politician, William Montes was freed upon finding that he was under duress when he signed a pledge to form an alliance with the paramilitaries. Montes had been detained for 15 months under charges of criminal conspiracy.

Paramilitaries are responsible for over 10,000 murders and the theft of millions of acres of land across Colombia, leaving thousands more displaced from their lands. The scandal linking politicians to the paramilitaries has left 29 congressmen in jail on criminal conspiracy.

For more information, please see:

AP - Close ally of Colombia's president freed from jail – 20 August 2008

DiarioCoLatino - Primo de Uribe queda libre en medio de controversia – 21 August 2008