The German Premier, Angela Merkel, visited Bogotá last Saturday coming from Lima where she participated in the 5th Latin American, Caribbean and European Union Summit. She said also that in her meeting with President Rafael Correa of Ecuador, she expressed that it is important that the Colombian neighboring countries participate in its fighting against terrorism. The German Premier recognized the Colombian progress in its social problems and asked justice for the victims of the Colombian violence.

Daniel Ortega said that if something wrong happens to the two Colombian women asilate in his country, he will make Alvaro Uribe the responsible for that.

The Nicaraguan president, Daniel Ortega, said officially that the Colombian goverment will be responsible if something bad happens to the three women who survived the military attack to the Raul Reyes FARC camp in Ecuador and who are asilated in Managua. The three women, one from Mexico, were transfered from Quito to Managua in a military aircraft that crossed the Colombian aerial space. Bogotá said that such act was unfair.

Venezuela said that Colombian troops came inside its territory, Colombia denied

The Minister of Defense of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, denied that Colombian troops have come illegally into Venezuelan territory as Caracas said. In an official communicate to Bogotá, Caracas reported that Colombian troops went inside its territory 800 meters.

We can say that there (in the border territory) there is a river, a very wide river and it is practically impossible that it happened as they say, said Santos.

Another FARC leader gave up

Nelly Avila Moreno, known as Karina in the FARC guerrillas and leader of the 47th Front operating in the Caldas and Antioquia states, gave up to the Colombian authorities in Sonson municipality. Avila is considered one of the most important FARC leaders and she was invited by President Uribe to demobilize.

The week of Afro-Colombians

The Afro-Colombian communities began their festivities in their “Semana Afrocolombiana“. Statistics said that Afro-Colombians (those who are African descendants), count about 10% of the Colombian populations, but the number could be bigger. The Afro-Colombian communities are among the most poor groups of the country.

Bogotá will have more infrastructures for transport in 2010

About USD 359 million will be the investment in infrastructures for transport in Bogotá by 2010, according with a report of Caracol Broadcasting today. The city will have new avenues, bridges, pedestrian areas and five parks.

Armenia, something new in the Colombian soccer

The Armenia team of soccer was the new surprise in the national eliminatory last Sunday. The team, that never has been at the finals, defeated Pasto 2-0 and let out the most powerful Cucuta and Millionarios teams.

Building bridges in turbulent parts of the world

Lahore/Jerusalem: 29th December 2007 –Australasia News. Two of the world’s ‘hot spots’ are the Middle East and Pakistan. It is interesting to note two efforts by Salesians in those regions, best described as ‘building bridges’.

Chancing upon a radio interview between Radio Caracol (Bogotà, Colombia) and Fr Miguel (Lahore, Pakistan) in the wake of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto – one realises how a Salesian amidst the current turbulent and distressing situation in Pakistan was able to offer a finely balanced viewpoint between the facts he had at hand about the event (fewer than what the rest of the world knew through the media), his observations on what was happening around him, and a sense of what Don Bosco’s work is contributing and can contribute to building up Pakistan, even while other unknowns are attempting to destroy it.   

The interview took place shortly after the assassination – Fr Miguel was able to confirm Ms Bhutto’s death, and a range of other details the rest of the world now knows through the media. The interviewer was interested in the situation of the Catholic and generally Christian population (around 1 million in a population of some 165 million or more), their reactions to the campaign and the event. Fr Miguel pointed out that while it would have seemed that many Christians were attracted to Ms Bhutto’s campaign promising them bread and work and her reaching out to minority groups, the treatment of the Christian minority group by the current President has also been relatively fair.  Fr Miguel was also able to turn much of the interview into a positive ‘wrap’ for Salesian contribution to Pakistan.

In Jersualem another Salesian continues to ‘build bridges’, despite the political and humanitarian difficulties around that city.  The recent ANS news item admirably describes the ‘bridge building’ between Israelis and Palestinians that has long been the work of Fr Aurelio Mulè Stagno, through music.  Fr Aurelio does point out, however, that it was not all sweet harmony – things rarely are like that!

Despite the best of connections and good will, authorities did not give permission for one key choir member to come to Jerusalem (they were coming from Bethlehem), and another was given a permit which did not square with the known time of performance.  The Choir master’s dilemma was that he was dealing with a 4 part mixed-voice cantata where sometimes the singers had to split into 8 voices.  Just one missing component makes that problematic.

Of course, the premiere of this ‘Call to peace’ as the event was labelled, was a resounding success. Bridge builders, after all, overcome obstacles, and Fr Aurelio points out that despite finding certain attitudes more akin to walls than bridges, he offered all in attendance words of encouragement: “We pledge to build bridges rather than walls, which is why I organise these concerts in the first place, and also why I vow to continue regardless”.