Chávez sends tanks to Colombia border
 

Tensions between the radical government of Venezuela and pro-US Colombia reached new heights on Sunday after Hugo Chávez apparently ordered the mobilisation of his air force and ordered tank battalions to move to the frontier between the two countries.

The announcement, made on the Venezuelan presid­ent’s weekly television show Aló Presidente, came a day after Colombian forces killed a senior commander of the leftwing Farc guerrilla move­ment in an attack in Ecuador, Venezuela’s ally.

Mr Chávez ordered Venezuela’s embassy in Colombia to be closed. “Mr defence minister, move me 10 battalions to the frontier with Colombia immediately, tank battalions. The air force should mobilise.”

Mr Chávez earlier warned Colombia not to repeat its counter-insurgency actions inside Venezuela, suggesting that this could spark a war. However, on his show Mr Chávez apparently upped the stakes. “I am putting Venezuela on alert and we will support Ecuador in whatever circumstances.”

More at:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b7ee9eec-e89d-11dc-913a-0000779fd2ac.html

I wouldn't worry too much. Personally, I think this amounts to little more than posturing and it will blow over. Possibly, the greatest danger to travellers will be reprisals by FARC for the death of Raul Reyes. At this stage I wouldn't change travel plans.

Ecuador too, have reinforced their border.

You don't really notice it here in Medellin, but maybe I will see more when I move south in a couple of days.

Buen camino. Cuidate mucho & keep us posted.

Ecuador sending troops to Colombian border

Regional tensions rise as Venezuela, Ecuador send troops to border with Colombia _English_Xinhua


Regional tensions rise as Venezuela, Ecuador send troops to border with Colombia
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CARACAS/BOGOTA, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Regional tensions increased Sunday as Venezuela and Ecuador boosted military deployment on their Colombian borders, following Colombia's anti-rebel action along its border with Ecuador.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Sunday he was immediately sending troops, tanks and fighter aircraft to the Colombian frontier. "We don't want a war, but we are not going to allow them to violate our territorial sovereignty," he said during his weekly TV and radio program
Chavez said Ecuador was also moving troops to its northern border (with Colombia), adding that his Ecuadorian counterpart Rafael Correa could "count on Venezuela for whatever it needs, in any situation."

Ecuador leader 'linked to rebels'

BBC NEWS | Americas | Ecuador leader 'linked to rebels'

Rafael Correa ordered troops to the northern border
Colombia has said documents found in a cross-border raid suggest links between left-wing Farc rebels and Ecuador's President Rafael Correa.
Colombian troops had entered Ecuador in a raid that killed a Farc leader, Raul Reyes, and 16 other rebels.
...
A spokesman for Colombian President Alvaro Uribe told reporters the documents provided information that "Correa has a relationship and commitments with Farc".

Due the recent escalation tension between Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador I think everybody need to be very careful at the time when road in this border; specially between Venezuela/Colombia.
My better advice is avoid this border for some time until situation clarified; I NOT DISCARD this countries close their border for some time or impose some restriction at travelers.
Due USA's political position in this conflict I suggest AVOID this countries unless you know:stormy::stormy::stormy: any citizen as a contact.

What do you know Garrobito? On what are you basing your advice? It's my understanding that trade between Colombia and Venezuela has not been affected in any way, and if there was any major disruption at Paraguiapoa or Cucuta, I'm sure there would be reports about it. The former coastal route is a massive gateway to Colombo - Venezealano trade. In terms of risk, I think the Southern border with Ecuador rather than the Venezuelan border is of more note.

If you know something that I don't, please feel free to correct me ;)

Chavez has friends in high places
 

This guy Chavez is a big mate of Ken Livingstone (yes, I know most of you have never heard of him), the Lord Mayor of London, no less.
There are "trade" agreements in place between the two of them for sharing of information (and who knows what else?) from London to Venezuela and oil in the reverse direction.

With backing of that nature, he can't fail!! :rolleyes2:

More BBC coverage BTW:-

BBC NEWS | Americas | Colombia neighbours deploy troops

Things are calming down now.


Colombia Files Show Chavez Funded FARC, Rebels Sought Uranium

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=aMPbNS8tsmVo&refer=latin_ame rica


(Texas accent /on) Lemme get this straight....They have oil and are seeking WMDs....Shoot, I bet if we invade it will pay for itself....

"Things are calming down now."

What did I tell you!

What baffles me is how they managed to blow 7 kinds of shite out of Reyes and EVERYONE else there, (apart from 3 WOMEN), and his computer still works? ;)

Last news in Argentine tv,Ecuador breaks relations with Colombia
 

Not official yet but looks that Ecuador is breaking diplomatic relations with Colombia.
Bad that things escalate now.
Hopefully it ends soon with no belic results.
Good luck on the road and be carefull people
KH

If anyone is on or near the Colombia/Ecuador border, or if they have info about crossing it, please let us know what conditions are like, and if US passports and US bike registration is a problem. I have a Panama passport also, but there's nothing I can do about the US registration for my bike.

I'm planning on flying from Panama to Bogota around the 21st of March.

Officials: US Data Helped Colombia Hit Ecuador FARC Camp -AFP

Company News Story&

BOGOTA (AFP)--U.S. intelligence helped Colombia carry out a weekend strike against a FARC rebel camp inside Ecuador, Colombian officials said Monday.
Colombian police chief General Oscar Naranjo told reporters "it's no secret" that his country's agencies have "a very strong alliance with federal agencies of the United States," though he didn't specify which ones.

--------
Man. I swear. I'm no Chavez fan but can't we just leave people the hell alone for once.

Laser - I understand that the intelligence came from the source of the hardware purchase in Miami.

Damn, I loved Colombia when I was there last year. I'm now riding back north through Brazil to Venezuela (and was half-hoping to go back to Colombia, but I guess that's out). I will be crossing into Venezuela in the next couple of weeks and will be watching this to see what others have learned. Please share your experiences.

Please share yours!

It will be several months before I'm down there, and I hope the politics won't play havoc with those passing through. I'd hate to miss Colombia and Ecuador. Venuzuela, too, but that wasn't on my list of must-see places.

C'mon fellas!
 

Chill - "The Gran Colombia", Venezuela, Colombia & Ecuador are not at war and will not be, any time soon. It's about as feasible as France, Germany & Spain coming to blows over some barbecued jungle meat, if you see what I mean ;]

These border crossings have always been a tad difficult, relations of late strained anyway, for a myriad of reasons, but there is no reason that I can see, (I live here), not to swing by.

Let's not pick up on the political hysteria - we are universal travellers, moto-adventurers man! Transcend it and be rewarded, otherwise we might as well start turning the clock back on this glorious little corner of the Americas.

I'll be crossing into Venezuela, briefly, in a week or so - sin dudas!

Suerte.

Chao

I will arrive at the Ecuadorean border (from Colombia) in 2 or 3 days. Will post afterwards...

Just like the good old days
 

It's just like the good old coldwar days, with the lefties and the righties slagging each other:-
BBC NEWS | Americas | Colombia raid 'must be condemned'
A right-wing Govn with strong backing from the US, facing it out with two left-wing countries with common borders - lovely stuff.

Colombia now have the essential evidence via a captured laptop from Ecuador (a moral in there to all of us about what we keep on our computers :rolleyes2: :nono:). Maybe we will learn more about what Venezuela has given to Ken Livingstone, and what the good citizens of London have to do to support the Venezuelan Govn - maybe Red Ken will call for volunteers to go to the Colombian/Venezuelan border?

Hi guys

Just came out of Colombia 4 days ago by plane to Panama. Absolutly no problems inside the country. Its been the best experience on my SOuth American trip so far. Not many tourists, super friendly people, beautiful country and great weather.

Check out this rapport I made from a huge demonstration. The Colombian people against FARC":

Quito
 

Hi Peter,

We're now in Tena, Ecuador, planning to be in Quito this weekend before heading over the Colombian border. If you fancy a beer in Quito, drop us an e-mail (emandhame at yahoo dot com).

Cheers, Hamish

This thread will turn to crap anyway...
 

but there are two sides to the FARC/Uribe thing. I've just returned from the march & vigil for the other victims of the war, (which you won't hear about). I am talking about hunderds of thousands of families displaced and thousands murdered by the State and paramilitaries.

I know this isn't the place to aire this, but the other side needs to be put. As I said, this thread will probably turn nasty anyway. Here goes nothing.

Hey Stretcher Monkey - you can't just pull the pin out like that!

I can't say that there isn't another side to the argument - it's a 40 year civil war. But let's not have a go at Uribe - without him you probably wouldn't be living in Bogota and we would not have had the privilege of visiting Colombia on our bikes without getting to know the FARC a little better. He's not perfect but he has arguably governed better than anyone else has done in the past 20 years.

The situation is not perfect but it's getting better.

I think this would be an exciting time to be in these countries, but I'm slightly bent.

So nobody vistited Colombia before Uribe? Mick couldn't have lived in Bogota under Pastrana, who sued for peace? Don't be ridiculous - Matt, sorry, but you're talking one-sided propoganda, not truth. Read the reports - learn who is responsible for the majority of civillian deaths and mutilating tortures in Colombia - clue - it ain't the guerillas...

My view - if Uribe continues like this, he will turn Colombia into the Israel of the Andes. It's very ****ing significant that Reyes was the FARC's most serious advocate of the peace process...

Suerte, Dan

Molly, I can see you in the wings...
 

In truth, I don’t think that Uribe being in power had any bearing on my decision to cross that border from Venezuela just over 3 years ago, nor on my decision to live here now. I go to places here that I am constantly warned against going to, but that is my informed choice.

Undoubtedly, Uribe’s hard-man approach has indeed made life, at least until now, safer for the majority of those living in the major cities, and those travelling the main roads. He has done that through his pact with the US, which has provided funding by way of Plan Colombia, and indeed the ascent of “the war on terror”.

Although the paramilitaries are not as active as they were, they are still with us to a lesser extent, notably in the form of the Black Eagles. In the remote area of Chocó, the poor are, as I tap this out, being displaced in the name of global entities.

Anyway, I don’t think I can be accused of being libelous when I say that he has been brutally pragmatic. The fact is, this country has some of the highest and most widespread levels of poverty in the world, and the gulf between rich and poor is enormous, and yeah, the time I have spent here has left me in no doubt onto which side the likes of us fall. To be honest, to be the direct beneficiary, along with privileged Colombian society of this guy’s policies doesn’t sit comfortably with me. There is in truth, in much of cosmopolitan society an unyielding fanaticism for this man, which can make conversation with friends cringingly awkward. As Piedad Cordoba, the Colombian senator said: “Every Colombian has a little paramilitary soldier in their heart”.

Make no mistake, despite today’s kiss and make-up, I have real fears for this wonderful country, if Uribe continues to alienate Colombia’s sister countries. I question the timing of this action on FARC and why according to the government, this was the sixth attempt on this particular target, Raul Reyes.

Anyway, as Dan will tell you, I’m not really a political animal. I’m more of a drinker! The main reason I’m here is because I love the people and I hate to see, largely an unseen number of them, treated this way.

Come anyway…

Textbook CIA
 

This is a perfect CIA /Military Intel operation, taken on two fronts.

One is military, where satellite data are used to track the FARC. Now add informers and spies inside on the ground and along their routes. US trained Re-Con outfits will keep an eye at a distance. And when ready, they strike.

This job was text book CIA all the way. If you like Bush and his policies in Iraq, the Middle East and in the US, well then you'll love what they are doing here.

The 2nd prong is propaganda, staged perfectly and dramatically to coincide with "the event". Something CIA are expert at and are willing to spend A LOT of money to get it done. There are plenty of takers of that money who are willing to help, like the guy in Mike's UTUBE video swearing no Colombians are pro FARC. FARC are certainly not a majority but they have supporters,
and I don't mean Venezuela. The whole computer thing is most assuredly a set up. Too clean.

So why all this effort now? One guy: Chavez. Bush wants Chavez dead and he has less than a year to get it done. He's tried already several times, he'll keep trying. He will even provoke a war between neighbors to achieve that end. This will all play into the long term US plan. (another post)

Colombia is loaded with right wing para military groups, and as alluded to before, they have murdered WAY more people than the FARC ever dreamed of. Lets call it what it is: Genocide. Right now it appears the govt. are winning the propaganda war. The poor,rural indigenous have no real voice in Colombia.

Follow the money. Someone will be getting very rich off this adventure.

This is a very complex situation politically, one which I could not hope to fully grasp. I know few hard current facts other than what is available on media outlets. Hopefully cool heads will prevail everywhere and they will realize the whole thing is being propagated by the United States in the name of "help". Don't believe a word! The United States only helps themselves.
Remember, Dick Cheney is still in charge (Bush's Brain) and will be until his dying breath. A very very dangerous traitor to the USA.


Patrick:mchappy:

March to remember the other victims - 6 March
 

Bogota, 6th March

Ask how many bikers (and tourists) were visiting Colombia before Uribe won power in Colombia. That is my point. The situation in Colombia vastly improved following Pastrana's term - Dan, of course you could go before but it would have been a much riskier experience. Just 3 years ago people were flying from Panama into Quito now almost everyone is visiting on their Americas trip. This has to be a positive indication of an improvement.

Uribe has been tough on FARC. There's sure to be a personal element to this if you've had close family assassinated by them. I'm no supporter of Uribe but do recognize the situation for the majority of Colombians has improved during his term in office. The country is more stable than it has been for many years. Do I approve of or condone of all his methods? Of course not. Politics is dirty but even dirtier during a civil war.

It appears the whole thing has blown over. Everybody is kissing and making up.

Seen on the streets of Lima, Peru.

Hugo Chavez mocked in Lima, Peru. photo - rtwrider photos at pbase.com

I just crossed the border today.
 

And had to dodge bullets from both Farc, Colombian AND Ecuadorean soldiers!

Would have been a great story huh?

The truth is that nothing seems out of order. No more soldiers than to be expected at any border.

No more lines than to be expected at any border (actually less)

Low level of paperwork. As fast and efficient as you can hope for.

So quit your worries and come visit. There is no tension at all that I can feel from people.

I even drove by a road that runs right up agains the border for many many kilometers! (I asked for advice first, but everyone I asked said that it was safe)

Have fun!

Peace Without Borders
 

Well, shiver me timbers, this thread didn't turn into an anti-Chavez rant.

War? Nah...Colombian Pop god, Juanes, celebrating unity on the Colombian/Venezualan border today, Roughly translated some of the rhetoric reads:

"Greetings to the Presidents Uribe, Correa & Chavez... You are the youth, are the future. We are waking up, let us dream."- twisted.

YouTube - Juanes / Me enamora

Viva Chavez!!