The nation of Colombia has suffered through one of the world's longest running civil wars, which has claimed over 40,000 lives and displaced millions over the past 40 years. On June 15, 34 workers were massacred on two remote ranches in La Gabarra, 300 miles northwest of Bogota. The mayor of the town says it appears to be the work of FARC, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the country's largest guerrilla group. Almost 20 years ago, thousands of members of Colombia's progressive Patriotic Union party (or UP by its Spanish initials,) were systematically killed by forces connected with the government. Twelve years ago, the head of a Colombian human rights group, Reiniciar, which means "to start again," began investigating the murders. The case is now being reviewed by the Human Rights Office of the Organization of American States in Washington, D.C. The commissioners have recently affirmed that there is sufficient evidence to bring a charge of genocide against the Colombian state.

John Lugo was a student organizer in Colombia during the 1980s who joined the UP. Soon after becoming active with the party, he was arrested by the government. He was later released, but received repeated death threats and fled to the U.S. Lugo now lives in Connecticut, where he remains active in the struggle to bring peace and justice to Colombia.

Between The Lines' Melinda Tuhus spoke with Lugo about the origin of the Patriotic Union Party, its platform, and what human rights activists hope they will achieve in their efforts to hold government officials accountable for the thousands of UP members murdered.

John Lugo of Colombia Action Connecticut is also a producer at WPKN radio. To support Colombia Action's efforts or to get more information, contact them at colombiaactionct@hotmail.com. Additional information on the human rights situation in Colombia can be found at www.colombiajournal.org

Related links:

• "Another 40 Years?" by Garry Leech, Colombia Journal, June 7, 2004
• Colombia Human Rights Network
• National Mobilization on Colombia

The G-8 leaders also discussed a range of other issues, which included endorsing of a plan to encourage international cooperation to develop an AIDS vaccine; working to combat famine across the developing world and a commitment to deploy more peacekeeping forces to quell conflicts in Africa. But despite press reports that the G-8 would sign on to a plan put forward by British Prime Minister Tony Blair to cancel the dept of the world's most impoverished nations -- the leaders opted only to extend by two years an existing initiative to reduce those debts.

Protesters who have in recent years staged large demonstrations opposing the policies of the G-8, the World Trade Organization, World Bank and International Monetary Fund, were hard to find in Georgia due in part to the remoteness of the summit site and an extremely heavy police presence. But members of non-governmental organizations who have worked hard in recent years to promote debt cancellation were at the summit to pronounce the G-8's failure to dump the debt as a tragedy that will cost many lives. Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Njoki Njehu, director of the 50 Years Is Enough Network, who explains why an initiative to cancel 100 percent of the debt for the world's poorest countries is crucial to saving the lives of millions.

Contact the 50 Years is Enough Network by calling (202)-IMF-BANK or visit their website at www.50years.org

Related links:

• "Jubilee USA Network"
• "International Forum on Globalization"

This week's summary
of under-reported news

Compiled by Bob Nixon

• Conservatives target federal Judge James Rosenbaum for questioning harsh drug sentences, releasing a 22-page report full of allegations against him. Meanwhile, House Republicans successfully tack an amendment to a bill, making it harder for any federal judge to divert from guidelines set by the U.S. Sentencing Commission. ("Rosenbaum Inquisition," The Nation, Dec. 29, 2004)
• St. Lucie County in Florida has a 40 percent increase in childhood cancer. However, Florida Light and Power, which operates a local nuclear power plant that releases strontium-90 into the atmosphere, denies it is responsible. ("The Nuke Next Door," E Magazine, May/June 2004)
• Brian Williamson, Jamaica's best-known gay rights activist found stabbed to death in his Kingston apartment. Activists say his death is a hate crime, while police say it was a robbery. ("Jamaican Gay Activist Murdered," BBC News, June 10, 2004)
  

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Credits:
Senior news editor: Bob Nixon
Program narration: Denise Manzari
News reader: Ruben Abreu
Segment producer: Melinda Tuhus
Distribution: Anna Manzo, Harry Minot, Jeff Yates
Senior Web editor/producer: Anna Manzo
Web producer: Jeff Yates
Newswire editor: Hank Hoffman
Web editor: Bill Cosentino
Executive producer: Scott Harris
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