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Miami Herald: Violence In Colombia Down But Not Out

BOGOTA -- Like virtually all Colombians, former Sen. Luis Eladio Pérez was elated last week when commandos tricked the country's largest guerrilla group into freeing 15 kidnap victims.

But Pérez had a special reason to celebrate: He'd been chained to trees in the jungle with the three newly freed Americans and former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt until the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, unilaterally liberated Pérez and three other former Colombian lawmakers in February.

Now Pérez is on the run, however. He flew to the United States on Wednesday after death threats made it clear to him that remaining in Colombia imperiled his life.

''It's a very sad situation,'' Pérez told McClatchy from a safe house Tuesday night in Bogotá. ``I was just getting re-established here.''

Pérez, a close ally of Betancourt, thinks that the FARC issued the threats after a Colombian general implied that Pérez had provided intelligence information to authorities who were planning last week's dramatic rescue. Pérez said he'd played no role, and no evidence has emerged to contradict him.

DANGERS PERSIST

His plight serves as a reminder of the deep and troubling problems that vex this nation, even as a poll shows that 73 percent of Colombians in the four biggest cities think in the wake of the rescue that their country is on the right track.

Colombia remains perhaps the most dangerous country in the Western Hemisphere.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/americas/story/599736.html

By miamimike on Jul 10, 2008, 00:34 in Politics & the war.

gabolicious says on Jul 10, 2008, 05:38:

"Colombia remains perhaps the most dangerous country in the Western Hemisphere"

Ajá... seguro...

=Z

Elección no canonización....

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lfsr1544 says on Jul 10, 2008, 11:11:

"The Miami Herald remains "PERHAPS" the most poorly written garbage in the Western Hemisphere"

"Solo se que nada se"

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harvardexec says on Jul 10, 2008, 15:38:

Ifsr1544: Unfortunately, sensationalism sells papers.

Lucky for you, the Miami Herald will not be around in 10 years (at least not the way you know it today). Look for that big building they have on Biscayne Blvd. to be a hotel in the future.

"I'm going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated."-John McCain

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miamimike says on Jul 10, 2008, 17:13:

The Miami Herald remains "PERHAPS" the most poorly written garbage in the Western Hemisphere"
===================================================================

Not really! They have more then a few Pulitzer Prize winners for Reporters on staff at this very moment. I agree a few not so well known atricle writers could head back to college for English 101. Now Take the Nuevo Herald and I agree 100%. The NH is one paper they could discontinue here in Miami and it wouldn't be missed as far as accurate editorial writing. Staffed by a group of Cuban Mambisa Guajiro has-beens,,,

My Avatar-- Sarah Palin Says " "You know the difference between a pit bull and a hockey mom?? Lipstick!" Now on a Short Verbal Tether by the Honorable John McCain

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Monpirri says on Jul 10, 2008, 17:16:

Remind me to make some big changes in The Miami Herald once my candidate gets elected to US Congress!

Cheers

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

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miamimike says on Jul 10, 2008, 17:22:

Hopefully it will be Senora Taddeo though she is considered a longshot against the Cuban illena Rosa Lehtinen. Still its Ros-Lehtien's most serious challenge to date so she is on notice that her empire may be crumbling. It looks much better for the other 2 challengers challenging the 2 Diaz Balart brothers. At least one, Lincoln Diaz Balart, is in serious trouble and I couldn't be more happy over his political woes.These 2 Brothers are Nephews of ex Dictator Fulgencio Batista so of course they hate Fidel as he(castro) ended the family's cuban gravy train life of luxury.

My Avatar-- Sarah Palin Says " "You know the difference between a pit bull and a hockey mom?? Lipstick!" Now on a Short Verbal Tether by the Honorable John McCain

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Monpirri says on Jul 11, 2008, 05:42:

Once we rid of the legacy, useless and monopolistic empire, we will change The Miami Herald so the new press will advocate for all the people of the state of Florida. jejejajajiji

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

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harvardexec says on Jul 11, 2008, 13:35:

Illena Rosa Lehtinen has been caught, on record, lying many times. My favorite was when she called for assassination of Castro in a video interview, and later denied doing so an a subsequent video interview.

People in Miami don't seem to give a damn about these crooked politicians.

"I'm going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated."-John McCain

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miamimike says on Jul 12, 2008, 02:39:

Harvard--for these Cubans, its in their Blood, to be crooked and to have crooked politicians lead them. In Cuba they had Batista, here they have the Diaz Balarts, Ros Lehtinen. Crime runs rampant in Miami, Its been listed as the Medicare Scam capital of the USA, we have Cuban Terrorist Luis Posada Carriles free on south miami streets. The Miami Cubans look up to Schmucks like these!

BTW, A Col-American Business Woman by the name of Annete Taddeo is challenging Ros Lehtinen for her congressional seat this November!

My Avatar-- Sarah Palin Says " "You know the difference between a pit bull and a hockey mom?? Lipstick!" Now on a Short Verbal Tether by the Honorable John McCain

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Monpirri says on Jul 12, 2008, 08:31:

Right on, vote for Annette Taddeo!!

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

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MaFe says on Jul 12, 2008, 11:25:

"Colombia remains perhaps the most dangerous country in the Western Hemisphere"

Que tristesa no? At the same time it's one of the MOST beautiful in the wolrd!

"All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire. "-Aristotle

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harvardexec says on Jul 12, 2008, 13:58:

MiamiMike...I couldn't agree more.

In addition, South Florida has been the Mortgage Fraud Capital of the United States for the past few years. City of Miami employees AND officials are being arrested every year for stealing and corruption. Cubans represent the majority of people being indited.

The rest of the United States is clueless as to what happens in Florida.

"I'm going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated."-John McCain

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