International
Investigation of the San José galleon, the great scientific challenge that Colombia embarks on
Colombia embarked on one of the greatest scientific challenges in its history: the investigation of the Spanish galleon San José, sunk by English privateers off the coast of Cartagena de Indias in the 18th century and found in 2015 at a depth of more than 600 meters.
The authorities began this work with great enthusiasm, for which different institutions were articulated such as the Ministry of Cultures, the Navy and the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History (Icanh).
“Associated with archaeology, culture and heritage, it is the first time we have made such a great effort and in this Government, particularly, to believe in the institutions and in the ability we have to do something to show the world. It is a special challenge,” the head of Maritime and River Interests of the Colombian Navy, Rear Admiral Hermann León, told EFE.
That institution put at the service of this purpose the ship ARC Caribe and all its technological capacity to “be able to go down to 600 meters deep” to observe the wreck, a task to which only Colombian specialists will dedicate themselves.
For the investigation, which will be of six phases, the Government of Colombia has also already made a decision that will make its work easier: to declare as ‘Protected Archaeological Area of the Nation’ the area where the galleon is, whose coordinates are secret to prevent treasure hunters from reaching there that can steal what was in the San José.
“This is the first protected archaeological area of Colombia in the underwater space, it is the first in America at this depth. Colombia is doing a research project as it has not been seen before under the universal principles of heritage protection and they must be assured that this is a scientific project to bring the best of that knowledge to Colombians,” the Rear Admiral added.
The San José, built in 1698 in Guipúzcoa (Spain) and belonging to the Spanish Navy, was sunk on June 8, 1708 during an attack by a fleet of English privateers when it was on its way to Cartagena de Indias loaded, according to chronicles of the time, with about 11 million coins of eight shields in gold and silver that it had collected at the Portobelo fair (Panama).
Spain, based on the rules of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), claims the ownership of the galleon for being “a state ship,” with its flag.
The Colombian Government, which declared the San José “asset of submerged cultural interest,” does not rule out collaboration with that country to treat the wrech as a shared heritage.
The director of the Icanh, Alhena Caicedo, explained to EFE that the investigation of the galleon is the result of “an intention to transform what the history of Colombia implies, to transform the assessment of the archaeological heritage and to give the San José galleon a sense of national identity.”
“The idea is to remove that somewhat mythological nuance that has made it a rather controversial treasure, in which people are trying to see if there is gold, if there is silver, if there are precious metals and not if there is an archaeological text that can give us very interesting answers about what the history of Colombia and the Caribbean has been,” Caicedo said.
For that reason, the focus is on protecting the archaeological heritage, on “guaranteeing a cultural value” for Colombia in order to show a more local than European story.
For that purpose, the director of Icanh explained, the research takes into account the voices of different actors, ranging from indigenous people who claim their rights over the spit to academics who are experts in heritage issues.
“We want to guarantee through this high-level scientific research that there are multiple voices, multiple ways of thinking about history and memory, multiple stories, if you want, that allow us to complicate the readings that we sometimes have about the past in order to have a much more interesting future reference,” he added.
International
Petro expresses concern over fatal shooting during mass protests in Lima
Colombian President Gustavo Petro voiced his “concern” on Thursday over recent events in Peru, following the death of a protester reportedly shot during a massive demonstration in Lima against the government and Congress.
“I must express my concern over the events in Peru. A young artist has been killed in citizens’ protests,” Petro wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
The Colombian leader also noted that in Peru, “a popularly elected president remains imprisoned without conviction,” referring to Pedro Castillo, who led the country from July 2021 to December 2022 until he was removed by Congress following a failed attempted coup.
“This is a blatant violation of the American Convention on Human Rights,” Petro stated, adding, “I hope Peru seeks social and political dialogue to legitimize its public institutions.”
On Wednesday, Peru experienced widespread protests in several cities, with the largest demonstration in Lima in recent years, driven by citizens’ concerns over corruption and public insecurity.
During the capital’s mobilization, the Ombudsman’s Office confirmed the death of Eduardo Ruiz, 32, and reported clashes that left over 100 injured, including 78 police officers and 24 protesters, as well as ten arrests.
The Attorney General’s Office, investigating Ruiz’s death “in the context of serious human rights violations,” confirmed that the protester was shot.
International
Peru’s interim president José Jerí refuses to resign after protester’s death in Lima
Peru’s interim president, José Jerí, stated Thursday that he has no intention of resigning from the post he assumed last Friday, following the removal of former president Dina Boluarte, despite growing unrest over the death of a protester during massive demonstrations in Lima on Wednesday.
“I will not resign,” Jerí declared outside the Government Palace in Lima, where he returned on foot after making a surprise visit to Congress headquarters alongside Prime Minister Ernesto Álvarez.
Earlier, after leaving the Legislative Palace, the president acknowledged that the country is going through “difficult times” and condemned what he described as “a small group attempting to impose an agenda different from the citizens’ expression of discontent.”
Jerí expressed condolences for the death of Eduardo Ruiz, a 32-year-old man who died during Wednesday’s protest against the government and Congress, amid growing anger over corruption and insecurity.
“We stand in solidarity with his family,” he said, without offering further details about the incident, which has sparked outrage among Peruvians.
The president also described the demonstrations as “a legitimate civic expression” that later turned violent due to “certain groups seeking to provoke chaos by exploiting a peaceful citizen movement.”
“In a state governed by the rule of law, the rights of both demonstrators and security forces must be protected,” Jerí emphasized, adding that “as a result of that situation, this unfortunate death occurred outside the main area where the protest was taking place.”
International
Mexican government prioritizes 191 communities after deadly floods
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed on Wednesday that the death toll from recent rains and floods across several central states has risen to 66, while the federal government has activated air bridges and prioritized assistance in 191 isolated communities.
“Unfortunately, 66 people have died, and 75 remain missing,” the president said during her morning press conference. She added that the official death toll will be updated later in a new report.
As of Tuesday, authorities had reported 64 fatalities. Sheinbaum also announced the creation of a public information center to centralize official data on the deceased, missing persons, damaged homes, and cut-off communities.
According to the president, the number of missing persons has decreased thanks to coordination with state authorities.
“Through calls to phone line 079, 103 people who had been reported missing have now been located,” she explained.
Priority Municipalities
The president noted that the federal government has classified 191 communities as ‘priority’, a designation based mainly on the percentage of homes affected.
Petro expresses concern over fatal shooting during mass protests in Lima
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Peru’s interim president José Jerí refuses to resign after protester’s death in Lima
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