International

Colombian JEP orders the arrest of Cauca’s governor

Photo: JEP

December 28 |

Colombia’s Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) on Wednesday morning ordered the arrest of Clara Luz Roldan, governor of Valle del Cauca, in a case regarding the lack of protection for victims.

According to the sentence of the transitional jurisdiction, which emerged after the 2016 agreements, the local policy “puts at risk the guarantee of victims’ rights and the materialization of the Final Peace Agreement.”

In that sense, the JEP points out that Roldán would have incurred in lack of control in the fulfillment of the functions delegated to the Governor’s Office by the JEP to protect areas of forensic interest where victims of enforced disappearance could be found in that department.

Given this, the magistrates considered that “his lack of care puts at risk the guarantee of the rights of the victims and the materialization of the Final Agreement for Peace”, signed in 2016 between the Colombian State and the then FARC-EP.

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According to the sentence Roldán will be deprived of her liberty for two days by order of the JEP, although in the interim hearings will be held between the jurisdiction and the Governor’s Office to review compliance with precautionary measures.

The Governor’s Office of Valle, as well as those of other departments, had committed with the JEP to advance actions for “the protection of the rights to truth and guarantees of satisfaction for the victims of forced disappearance”.

The particular case in which Roldán will be deprived of her liberty for two days by order of the JEP is about hearings between the jurisdiction and the Governor’s Office to review compliance with precautionary measures. The Governor’s Office of Valle, as well as those of other departments, had committed with the JEP to advance actions for “the protection of the rights to truth and guarantees of satisfaction for the victims of forced disappearance”.

The judicial proceeding was to take measures in 36 cemeteries in Valle del Cauca since there could be bodies of the so-called “false positives” or other victims of the armed conflict in Colombia.

The so-called “false positives” were extrajudicial executions of civilians by members of the Colombian Army who were then presented as guerrillas killed in combat in order to receive rewards or benefits.

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According to the JEP, at least 6,402 innocent young people were deceived with promises of false jobs and executed by members of the Army to improve anti-guerrilla statistics and receive rewards in return.

International

U.S. Senate Rejects Budget, Bringing Government Closer to Shutdown Amid DHS Dispute

The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday against a budget proposal in a move aimed at pressuring changes at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), following the killing of two civilians during a deployment of immigration agents in Minneapolis.

All Senate Democrats and seven Republican lawmakers voted against the bill, which requires 60 votes to advance, pushing the country closer to a partial government shutdown that would cut funding for several agencies, including the Pentagon and the Department of Health.

The rejection came as Senate leaders and the White House continue negotiations on a separate funding package for DHS that would allow reforms to the agency. Proposed measures include banning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing face coverings and requiring them to use body-worn cameras during operations.

The vote took place just hours after President Donald Trump said he was “close” to reaching an agreement with Democrats and did not believe the federal government would face another shutdown, following last year’s record stoppage.

“I don’t think the Democrats want a shutdown either, so we’ll work in a bipartisan way to avoid it. Hopefully, there will be no government shutdown. We’re working on that right now,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.

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International

Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Halt in Attacks on Ukraine Amid Extreme Cold

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he secured a commitment from Russian President Vladimir Putinto halt attacks against Ukraine for one week, citing extreme weather conditions affecting the region.

“Because of the extreme cold (…) I personally asked Putin not to attack Kyiv or other cities and towns for a week. And he agreed. He was very pleasant,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting broadcast by the White House.

Trump acknowledged that several advisers had questioned the decision to make the call.
“A lot of people told me not to waste the call because they wouldn’t agree. And he accepted. And we’re very happy they did, because they don’t need missiles hitting their towns and cities,” the president said.

According to Trump, Ukrainian authorities reacted with surprise to the announcement but welcomed the possibility of a temporary ceasefire.
“It’s extraordinarily cold, record cold (…) They say they’ve never experienced cold like this,” he added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later commented on the announcement, expressing hope that the agreement would be honored.

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International

Storm Kristin Kills Five in Portugal, Leaves Nearly 500,000 Without Power

Storm Kristin, which battered Portugal with heavy rain and strong winds early Wednesday, has left at least five people dead, while nearly half a million residents remained without electricity as of Thursday, according to updated figures from authorities.

The revised death toll was confirmed to AFP by a spokesperson for the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANPEC). On Wednesday, the agency had reported four fatalities.

Meanwhile, E-Redes, the country’s electricity distribution network operator, said that around 450,000 customers were still without power, particularly in central Portugal.

Emergency services responded to approximately 1,500 incidents between midnight and 8:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, as the storm caused widespread disruptions.

The Portuguese government described Kristin as an “extreme weather event” that inflicted significant damage across several regions of the country. At the height of the storm, as many as 850,000 households and institutions lost electricity during the early hours of Wednesday.

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Several municipalities ordered the closure of schools, many of which remained shut on Thursday due to ongoing adverse conditions.

Ricardo Costa, regional deputy commander of the Leiria Fire Brigade, said residents continue to seek assistance as rainfall persists.
“Even though the rain is not extremely intense, it is causing extensive damage to homes,” he noted.

In Figueira da Foz, a coastal city in central Portugal, strong winds toppled a giant Ferris wheel, underscoring the severity of the storm.