Digging up Colombia's ugly past

In the name of anti-guerrilla warfare, Colombian paramilitary forces spread terror in the countryside over two decades. Their units now disbanded, some have gone back to the sites of the killings to repent.

FOCUS

Our guest today is Pascal Drouhaud, Latin America specialist at the Institut Choiseul.

14/02/2012 - BAHRAIN

Bahrain marks first anniversary of uprising

A year ago, the Arab Spring's wave of protests reached the tiny Gulf island kingdom of Bahrain. This week, the country's Shiite protesters are marking the anniversary of their uprising, and repeating demands for constitutional reform and better access to high-level jobs. Despite its small size, Bahrain lies on the frontier between Western powers and their allies on one hand, and an expansionist Shiite Iran on the other.

14/02/2012 - SPAIN

Spanish govt to tighten abortion laws

"Neither at 16, nor at 18 - abortion - abolition." This was the slogan on a giant banner unravelled on the night of Mariano Rajoy's election victory in Spain. Now the Spanish government has announced that it aims to restrict access to abortion to cases of rape, serious health problems for the foetus, or psychological fragility of the mother. It would take the law back to the time before Rajoy's Socialist predecessor Zapatero made abortion a right.

13/02/2012 - SYRIA

Arab League seeks UN intervention in Syria

One week ago, Russia and China vetoed a UN Security Council draft resolution seeking the end of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's rule. Now the Arab League has passed its own resolution calling for UN and Arab League peacekeeping troops to be stationed in Syria. Once again the plan faces Russian and Chinese opposition, while Westerners are wary of sending troops to the Middle East powder keg.

10/02/2012 - GREECE

Greeks say country being bled dry

How much more austerity can the Greek population bear? The Greek parliament has approved a new package of belt-tightening measures needed to earn the country a second EU/IMF bailout, this time worth 130 billion euros. Yet amidst the riots and protests that have raged in Athens, Greeks say their living standards have been degraded, and that the cutbacks have sounded Greece's death knell.

10/02/2012 - MEXICO

Mexican indigenous group battles with famine

The Tarahumara people from northern Mexico are struggling to survive a chronic food shortage after one of the most severe droughts ever to strike their remote homeland. They are no strangers to famine, but this time the drought has combined with freezing temperatures to force many away from their mountain communities to seek food handouts elsewhere. Their plight has prompted an outpouring of aid across Mexico.

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- Colombia

Digging up Colombia's ugly past

In the name of anti-guerrilla warfare, Colombian paramilitary forces spread terror in the countryside over two decades. Their units now disbanded, some have gone back to the sites of the killings to repent.

Bahrain marks first anniversary of uprising

Spanish govt to tighten abortion laws

Arab League seeks UN intervention in Syria

Greeks say country being bled dry

Mexican indigenous group battles with famine

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