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Colombia
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FactsBackground: Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others are Ecuador and Venezuela). A four-decade long conflict between government forces and anti-government insurgent groups, principally the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) heavily funded by the drug trade, escalated during the 1990s. The insurgents lack the military or popular support necessary to overthrow the government and violence has been decreasing since about 2002, but insurgents continue attacks against civilians and large areas of the countryside are under guerrilla influence or are contested by security forces. More than 31,000 former paramilitaries had demobilized by the end of 2006 and the United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) as a formal organization had ceased to function. In the wake of the paramilitary demobilization, emerging criminal groups arose, whose members include some former paramilitaries. The Colombian Government has stepped up efforts to reassert government control throughout the country, and now has a presence in every one of its administrative departments. However, neighboring countries worry about the violence spilling over their borders. In January 2011, Colombia assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2011-12 term. note: data are in 2010 US dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $283.1 billion (2010 est.); GDP - real growth rate: 4.4% (2010 est.); 0.8% (2009 est.); 2.7% (2008 est.); GDP - per capita (PPP): $9,800 (2010 est.); $9,500 (2009 est.); $9,500 (2008 est.); note: data are in 2010 US dollars GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 9.3%; industry: 38%; services: 52.7% (2010 est.); Population below poverty line: 45.5% (2009); Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.8%; highest 10%: 45% (2008); Labor force: 21.27 million (2010 est.); Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 18%; industry: 13%; services: 68% (2010 est.); Unemployment rate: 11.8% (2010 est.); 12% (2009 est.); Budget: revenues: $74.2 billion; expenditures: $83.9 billion (2011 est.); Industries: textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds; Industrial production growth rate: 5.5% (2010 est.); Electricity - production: 50.58 billion kWh (2007); Electricity - consumption: 38.59 billion kWh (2007); Electricity - exports: 876.7 million kWh (2007); Electricity - imports: 39.4 million kWh (2007); Statistics: CIA World Factbook. PressDisplaying 1 to 7 of 16 items. Cromos(Centrist newsmagazine), Bogotá Dinero(Conservative, economics), Bogotá El Colombiano(Conservative), Medellín El Espectador(Independent), Bogotá El Heraldo(Liberal), Barranquilla El Malpensante(Literary magazine), Bogotá El Mundo(Liberal), Medellín Colombia in the NewsDisplaying 21 to 24 of 36 items. Super LulaPresident Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva has proven to be a capable executive and is becoming a model for the Latin American democratic left, Sylvie Duchamp writes in an article for Colombia's Revista Cambio. Colombia-Venezuela: Border Tensions RiseAn escalating conflict between Venezuela and Colombia could have serious diplomatic and economic fallout. World Press Review contributing editor Robert Taylor surveys the regional press. Caught in the CrossfireColombia's civil conflict has spread into neighboring countries. We review the Ecuadorian press coverage of this disturbing turn of events. An Interview with Colombian Paramilitary Leader Carlos CastañoEl Tiempo interviews the leader of Colombia's notorious AUC paramilitary group. |
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