"Colombia: torn between peace and war." Thursday Night Talk with LASC

dublin | rights, freedoms and repression | event notice Wednesday July 30, 2008 11:59 by [email protected] - Latin America Solidarity Centre

Thursday Night Talks offer you an informal, social space to share your experiences and knowledge of Latin America with LASC members, volunteers and the general public

An informal discussion with José Antonio Gutiérrez, from LASC.

Since Plan Colombia was implemented, under the iron fist of president Alvaro Uribe, the Colombian insurgency has experienced a massive military upsurge. Nowadays, the insurgent forces are under heavy pressure from 380,000 soldiers, 1,000,000 informers and U$ 5 billions. Many believe that an end to the conflict is at hand while others remain sceptical.

On the other hand, since the election on Uribe, significant changes have taken place in the institutions: while to some they are a natural aspect of a counter-insurgency strategy,to others, it represent an open attack on the 1991 Constitution and the intention to build an authoritarian state, with a facade only of democracy. The Colombian conflict, nonetheless, remains at the heart of political contradictions in the South American region, and its development has had deep impacts on neighbouring countries, particularly, on Venezuela, Ecuador and Perú.

We invite people to a Thursday Night Talk on the current Colombian situation with José Antonio Gutiérrez, who has been part of a human rights mission in Colombia.

Where: The Irish Aid Volunteering & Information Centre, 27-31 Upper O'Connel Street, Dublin 1
When: Thursday, 14th August, 7:00pm sharp
NB: the event is free of charge, but numbers will be limited for safety; late-comers may not be admitted.