Back to home page  

 Liberada Ingrid Betancourt, 3 ciudadanos norteamericanos y 11 miembros de la Fuerza Pública Colombiana. Julio 2, 2008.

Parece que este día no iba a llegar nunca.  La imagen de Ingrid Betancourt muriendo en las selvas de Colombia era ese recordatorio insoportable de la crueldad de la guerra que hemos vivido por tanto tiempo en Colombia.  Hoy, la imagen de Ingrid Betancourt fuera de cautiverio es una señal de alivio para Colombia. El operativo que hizo el ejército colombiano, algo que nunca imaginamos posible.  Las declaraciones de Ingrid también fueron sorprendentes. Su tenacidad y esas ganas de vivir - y la sinceridad de sus respuestas fueron muy conmovedoras. Bienvenida a la libertad Ingrid. Bienvenidos los soldados y los ciudadanos americanos. Nos llenan de ilusión.  

La Corte Suprema versus El Presidente. Junio 27 2008.

Infortunadamente vemos como las Cortes y el Presidente vuelven a enfrentarse de manera irresponsable para la estabilidad del país. Si bien la Corte tiene argumentos - que ya todos los colombianos conocemos, acerca de las irregularidades en la votación de la reforma constitucional, no es procedente pedirle al presidente que haga algo al respecto.  ¿Cuál es la solución jurídica al problema que minimiza los costos en términos de estabilidad política? Si estuviese en la cabeza de los magistrados el bienestar y el respeto por las instituciones, su pronunciamiento hubiera sido diferente.  El acto legislativo de la reelección fué aprobado en su momento por la Corte Constitucional, y esto no se puede cambiar.  En las decisiones judiciales no existe retroactividad en muchas circunstancias - y la lógica detrás de esto tiene que ver con la estabilidad jurídica.  Es ingenuo además suponer que si Yidis no hubiera votado otros legisladores hubieran cambiado su voto.  No existe un status quo que reemplace lo acontecido, y no hay un punto de retorno.  Las reformas constitucionales son como grandes cirugías. Se corta, se corrige, hay un pequeña ventana de oportunidad para el cambio, pero esta se cierra.

Ahora bien, el referendo propuesto por el Presidente Uribe es una salida apresurada , ya que más que una solución- sólo da pie para más críticas y polarización.  Pero todas las soluciones tienen sus contras. El acudir al Congreso es criticado por la oposición ya que el congreso, en su discurso, carece de legitimidad.  Demandar acciones de las Cortes es violar la independencia de poderes. Y acudir a las urnas, es populista.  Pues no quedan muchas más alternativas de defensa. Por eso es difícil pedirle al presidente que reaccione de una forma diferente. ¿Renunciar? No es una opción - especialmente con los niveles de popularidad que tiene el presidente.  ¿Y dónde queda la legitimidad de las elecciones? 

Para ver la noticia, ver EL TIEMPO.

From El Tiempo 

 


Venezuela: Referendum fails -- 50,7% vote NO to the Constitutional Reforms, (Dec. 3/2007)  

Not a great month for Presidente Chavez.  First, the conflict with the king of Spain.  Then, Uribe and the humanitarian exchange.  And today, his first and most important defeat yet: At 1 am today, he accepted in national television the success of the "NO" vote for the referendum with his government proposal. The opposition celebrates the new transition era. The election outcome just shows the polarization of politics and the difficult years to come till there are new elections.  I am sure that if Fujimori were a friend of Chavez, he would have alerted him of the difficulty of third terms, but again, he would not have listened. Although Chavez says that the proposal for reform will continue. He blames absentees for his defeat. Evo Morales is not doing very good either.  Violence,polarization, and more unilateral use of power is still to come.


Op-ed from el Tiempo regarding last days President Pastrana's appereance on the news  (sep. 26/07)

It is rare to see such direct language from the editor, and it is rare that I agree with it so much! Back to the good all days of debate between liberals and conservatives! So here it is... enjoy! 

 

El ocio de los ex presidentes colombianos ha sido siempre preocupación del país... y de ellos mismos. Alfonso López Michelsen, ilustre miembro del grupo, los definió como "muebles viejos", pero la verdad es que algunos encuentran ocupaciones importantes y positivas a sus horas libres: lecturas atrasadas, congresos internacionales, libros de memorias, cátedras universitarias, pinacotecas, incluso servicios políticos.

Hay otros, sin embargo, que, por no ser especialmente aficionados a la lectura o el arte, malgastan su valioso tiempo en inoficiosas nostalgias del poder perdido o en salidas destempladas contra los gobernantes de turno, que podrían pasar por simples divertimentos farandulescos. No negamos que algún apunte aislado puede ser simpático. Pero la persistencia en las humoradas consigue desconcertar e incluso irritar muy pronto a los espectadores, a menos que se posea un ingenio y un brillo sobresalientes. No parece ser el fuerte del ex presidente conservador, que en estos días ha dado en la vena de salpicar con sus gracejos las páginas de la prensa, las ondas de la radio y las antenas de televisión. Los primeros chistes contaron con la benevolencia del sorprendido público, aunque fueron considerados, no sin razón, como pesados y pasados de tono por altos asesores del Gobierno. Lo cierto es que la reiteración de las bromas aburre ya un poco, e incluso confunde y molesta a quienes ignoraban que el ex mandatario ha optado, como ya muchos lo señalan, por combinar el protagonismo político con la animación festiva.

Cada quien es libre de distraer su inactividad como quiera o como pueda. Pero la verdad es que hay muchos campos donde un ex presidente laborioso podría prestar su colaboración desinteresada y valiosa al país, en vez de entrar tardíamente y sin particular dotación al noble gremio de los humoristas profesionales.

editorial@eltiempo.com.co

 

Antonio Carlos Magalhães, 1927 - 2007

Antonio Carlos Magalhães was one of the most important politicians in Brazil, member of the PFL. Witness of the first democratic period in Brazil, his life was all about politics and Bahia. He was deputy, governor, Senator, and presidential candidate several times in his life. Despite having a wide number of enemies, he was one of the most respected and feared politicians. In opposition, he was the master of the use of procedures to get his way, always in the middle of the debate. When allied with the government, he was able to get the most out of his relationship with the President.

He made my readings of Congressional records a constant learning experience.

Some of his famous sentences (From Folha Online)

"Eu tenho meios de incomodar o presidente, e o presidente sabe disso."
Comentando que ainda poderia incomodar o presidente FHC. 24/02/01

"O presidente permite a corrupção porque sempre foi leniente com ela e nunca tomou providências. Ele prefere ter uma base aliada mais forte, com corruptos, do que uma base menor, com gente séria. Pode escrever porque estou falando para ser publicado: Fernando Henrique é um homem falso."
Afirmando que o presidente permite a corrupção no governo. "O Estado de S.Paulo". 23/02/01

"A ciência progrediu demais. E, se assim o fez, daqui a cinco ou seis anos vamos ver, pelo DNA, quem foi que lutou pelos R$ 180."
Sobre a declaração do presidente Fernando Henrique Cardoso de que gostaria de elevar o salário mínimo para R$ 180 ou mais, mas fez questão de lembrar que a bandeira era sua.

"Eu tenho o governador, os três senadores, 95% dos prefeitos, 30 dos 39 deputados federais e me mostre alguém que tenha um poder como este onde faz política."
Referindo-se à força política que possui no Estado da Bahia. "Valor Econômico". 02/05/00

"Só não fizemos sexo."
Ao comentar que tem um bom relacionamento com o presidente Fernando Henrique Cardoso. 20/04/00

"Meu sonho é ser senador. 2002 está aí e acho que vou ter uma votação ainda maior."
Sobre uma possível candidatura à Presidência da República. 28/07/99

The opposition in this House has never acted against Brazil. On the contrary, if it was not for us, an important number of bills would have been defeated. But the government should not delude itself! The executive needs to respect the Legislature! He needs to respect the Senate of the Republic!

Antonio Carlos Magalhães, February 6th, 2007


Alfonso López Michelsen, 1914 - 2007

Alfonso López Michelsen died July 11th, 2007. One of the most interesting characters of Colombian politics, member of the Liberal Party, dissident from time to time, played a fundamental role in the political system.

For his biography,  click here.

 

Todos Libres Ya!

  • Protests to claim the freedom for more than the 3,000 people kidnapped in the hands of armed groups is taking place today, Thursday July 5th, in all cities and regions of the country.

Atrocities of War: FARC just announced today in their website that 11 Valle deputies that were held in captivity since April 2002 had been killed in the cross-fire (June 18th). No report on the presence of National Police or Military Forces in any rescue mission.

This is incredibly sad and absurd. The government is holding the FARC responsible for their murders, after the FARC announced in their website what had happened, however with few details of the events.

 

More things falling... including my purchasing power!

Certain democratic indicators....


From the Economist and El Tiempo

the price of the dollar...

And others going up!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

Falling one after another....

 

Interesting new newspaper: El pasquín

Interesting articles, even if you don't agree with them.

 

Debate organized by the Polo Democrático over the Convivir groups

Paramilitaries: an excellent documentary

Mortality rates due to traffic accidents and poor infrastructure, yet again!!!

New documents related to Alvaro Araujo accusations.


Bush's visit to Colombia

Over the past few days, most news have been related to the visit of President Bush to Colombia. While at Houston airport, I overheard conversations of people coming to protest against the visit. As expected, and not very different from other countries in the agenda of President Bush, there were a number of protests which started Thursday at the National University, and continued till the visit was over on Sunday afternoon. Locals complained by all the security measures, but in the end, the visit was succesful for the Colombian president. However, success for Bush is not as clear, with the exception of his visit to Brazil. Coverage from Europe (BBC, TV España) were giving equal coverage to President's Chavez allies in Bolivia. Skepticism remains regarding the relations between the president and the paramilitary forces.

From Semana, Caballero


Jorge Noguera, head of the National Security Department goes to jail

An official, directly elected by the President, has been jailed. He is accused of being responsible to allow the paramilitaries to enter and use information from the National Security Department (DAS).

Smart move: Fernando Araujo replaces la "Conchi" (Consuelo Araujo) as Foreign Relations Minister

President Uribe had to let go of Consuelo Araujo as foreign minister, after the scandals sorrounding her brother and father's relationship with the paramilitaries became first page news. Although she had been asked to step out before by the Liberal Party and el Polo Democrático, the president had ratified her in the post. Although this was meant to destabilize the government and generate higher political costs during this week, Uribe came up quick with a very effective remedy. Fernando Araujo, exminister during the Pastrana government, was selected for the post. He was rescued over a month ago, after six years of captivity in the hands of the FARC.

Oh my!!! Six Congressmen captured due to relations with the Paramilitaries

Flash back: Proceso 8,000 or 8,888,888...

What are the consequences for the Liberal Party? Horacio Serpa is being hurt. Will this affect the party as a whole? A lot of questions, answers to come.

  • Fernando Botero Zea has been judged by the Supreme Court of Justice again, this time due to a lawsuit filed by Ernesto Samper. Samper acussed Fernando Botero of stealing one million dollars from his presidential campaign. See the article in Semana.
  • Ernesto Samper replies. After the Supreme Court's decision, Samper argues that Botero should be extradited.
  • Fernando Botero appears again. He is in Mexico, where he decides to re-open the old 8,000 process. He considers the decision of the Supreme Court to be unfair and "political".
  • Horacio Serpa replies to Fernando Botero's acussations. See the videos here.
  • Semana's article on this issue.

Ecuador's first steps:

  • President Rafael Correa's proposal for a referendum on a new change to the 1998 Constitution was approved in the unicameral legislature. See BBC coverage, and a good opinion piece by Andrés Mejía Acosta.

Gay Rights!!!

President Uribe has made some harsh remarks on members of one party in the opposition, el Polo Democrático. Here are some reactions.

  • Op.ed. Rodrigo Pardo: Is our president too violent, or is this just a communication strategy?

Todo menos, la verdad.

  • From Semana, on the same subject.

¿Por qué anda tan agresivo el presidente Uribe?