As of yesterday Colombians will require visas to visit Venezuela.
Colombia’s President Alvaro Uribe Velez is planning a visit to the border.
The chancellors of the two countries are still meeting in Lima.
The Wayuu indigenous people who live on both sides of the border, hundreds of whom were displaced last year by paramilitary massacre in Colombia and fled to the Venezuelan side of the border, declaring war on the paramilitaries and on the Colombian government, demonstrated for their right to travel, trade, and cross the border freely – they don’t recognize the border, after all.
As of yesterday Colombians will require visas to visit Venezuela.
Colombia’s President Alvaro Uribe Velez is planning a visit to the border.
The chancellors of the two countries are still meeting in Lima.
The Wayuu indigenous people who live on both sides of the border, hundreds of whom were displaced last year by paramilitary massacre in Colombia and fled to the Venezuelan side of the border, declaring war on the paramilitaries and on the Colombian government, demonstrated for their right to travel, trade, and cross the border freely – they don’t recognize the border, after all.
Good stuff on Venezuelanalysis.com. In particular, a good piece by James Petras, in which he contrasts what he calls the ‘Uribe doctrine’, the US-inspired idea that Colombia can violate neighbours’ sovereignty with impunity, with the idea of national sovereignty that Venezuela is trying to defend, with some help from the other Latin American countries. Petras makes the point that those other countries’ position on sovereignty has been compromised by their collaboration in the invasion and occupation of Haiti. He also suggests that these are all probes and that Colombia has set itself on a path of military confrontation with Venezuela. Then he sets out the limits of such an action. I think all of this is important to read.
Also on Venezuelanalysis is Eva Golinger’s summary of the situation. A good timeline of events for those who need to be caught up.
