Colombia Calling - The English Voice in Colombia

In this episode of the Colombia Calling podcast, host Richard McColl engages with academics David Anderson (Associate Professor in Analytics at Villanova University in PA) and Galia Benitez (Associate Professor of International Relations at Michigan State University) to discuss their research on using Large Language Models (LLMs) to analyse violence in Colombia. They explore the challenges of data collection, the human impact of their findings, and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in social science research. The conversation delves into the complexities of measuring violence, the relationship between coca eradication and violence, and the future of research in this area amidst funding challenges. Read the full report entitled: "Using LLMs to create analytical datasets: A case study of reconstructing the historical memory of Colombia." https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.04523 Tune in to this and the Colombia Briefing with Emily Hart. Only for subscribers this week. https://harte.substack.com/

Where is Matavén, you may well ask? So, this week on the Colombia Calling podcast, we discuss an award-winning community tourism project with people of the Piaroa indigenous community and the Colombian Project. Joining us on the podcast is Camilo Ortega, product manager of the Colombian Project. The Matavén Jungle is the fourth largest Indigenous Reservation in Colombia, with an extension of 1,849,613 hectares and located in the north-eastern area of the department of Vichada, between the Vichada rivers to the north, Orinoco to the east, Guaviare to the south and the Chupave canal to the west. Today it constitutes one of the last refuges of the transition forest between the Colombian Amazon and Orinoquía region. This territory has a great diversity of landscapes and different habitats such as floodplains, large stone hills of the Guyanese shield, or open savannah areas in the middle of its jungles. Its name is due to the Matavén river, which crosses this extensive region in a west-east direction. Approximately 10,500 indigenous people live in the Matavén Jungle, distributed among the Sikuani, Piapoco, Piaroa, Pinave, Curripaco, and Cubeo tribes. This characteristic of multiculturalism that exists in the reservation makes this region a space of great importance for the conservation of the existing natural and cultural heritage. https://www.colombianproject.com And this week, the Colombia Briefing is reported by Sophie Foggin. Support us: www.patreon.com/colombiacalling

In this second part of our conversation with Oliver Treviso, we explore his experiences in the final two countries of Colombia and Venezuela. By all accounts, Colombia and Venezuela were believed to be the most risky countries to hike the Andes in, but what did Oliver experience? And so, Richard McColl of the Colombia Calling podcast continues his conversation with Ollie Treviso, who shares his incredible journey hiking through South America. They discuss Oliver's experiences in Ecuador, the challenges he faced while crossing into Colombia, and the kindness he encountered along the way. Oliver reflects on the dangers he encountered, including a mugging, and the resilience he found in the people he met. The conversation also touches on his experiences in Venezuela, where he was welcomed warmly and even invited to speak at universities. As Oliver contemplates his future adventures, he emphasizes the importance of storytelling and the lessons learned from his journey. The Colombia Briefing is reported by Emily Hart: https://substack.com/@ehart

I came into this conversation thinking that I'd be chatting about the trivialities of an expedition through South America and I left in a state of absolute disbelief and awe. Oliver Treviso is a fascinating and incredible individual who has become the first person ever to hike the length of the Andes through Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela. In this first episode, we discuss how this adventure came to be...his experience sailing in a catamaran across the Atlantic from the Canary Islands to Brazil, and by all accounts the boat was hardly seaworthy. Then, a love for South America was kindled and before long, he was back on the continent and hiked for 21 months, for 8000 miles and wearing out nine pairs of shoes. The journey was not without its hazards and dangers, but he made it. We'll record a second episode with Oliver to hear more about his time in Colombia and Venezuela, but for the time being, tune in to an amazing story of human kindness and spirit. Oliver is raising money for, Mind Ystradgynlais, a mental health charity and you can donate here: https://minditv.org.uk/walking-the-andes/ The Colombia Briefing is reported by Emily Hart: https://harte.substack.com Support us: https://patreon.com/colombiacalling

This week, Colombia’s special peace tribunal, the JEP, handed down its first sentences to the soldiers who murdered and framed civilians to boost military statistics – killings which came to be known as the ‘false positives.’ The court has ordered those who committed atrocities to work on community projects, to build works in the territories where they left scars, and to face the communities whose rights they violated, as agreed in the 2016 Peace Accord. I’ll be explaining the ruling in this week’s Colombia Briefing along with this week’s other headlines. To mark this historic ruling, this week’s episode will be an extended and updated audio version of Emily Hart's investigation into those war crimes and the families still seeking justice – an article first published in DG Magazine - read by the author herself. During Colombia’s civil conflict, the army murdered thousands of civilians - framing them as guerrillas and criminals to boost statistics. In exchange for ‘combat kills,’ soldiers received cash, holidays, and promotions. The official number is 6,402 – though many estimate that the real number is closer to 10,000.

Cartagena is the eternal city of Colombian tourism. The Old City, the UNESCO World Heritage ramparts and colonial streets are protected from the ills befalling contemporary Colombia and so, this picturesque and sophisticated destination, with direct international flights from Europe and the United States, is frequently adorning the covers of glossy travel magazines. However, there is more to Cartagena, beyond the chic rooftop bars, the colonial architecture and the incredible restaurants. Travel is different now visitors demand authenticity and experiential options. And, this is where Nina Schlieper of Alternate Travel Cartagena and Bruce McLean of BNB Colombia Tours come in. Working with the local communities and within the area of La Boquilla - a small fishing village outside of Cartagena - Nina's agency works to empower women, teach the heritage and history of the region and generate income and employment in this part of the Caribbean coast. Tune in to this excellent and upbeat episode of the Colombia Calling podcast. https://www.alternativetravelcartagena.com/home/ https://bnbcolombia.com The Colombia Briefing is reported by Emily Hart. https://harte.substack.com

Following fast in the footsteps of Episode 1: "Alvaro Uribe the Early Years and Rise to Power, 1952-1994," Adriaan Alsema of Colombia Reports and myself have now completed Episode 2 for you of this series entitled: "The Hidden History of Alvaro Uribe," part 2. All Colombia-watchers are well aware of the polarising nature of the former two-time president and so Alsema and I have been putting together this series, citing documentation that is all in the public domain as so many of the actual facts are lost in the incessant noise surrounding Uribe. As events have been moving fast surrounding Uribe and his sentencing last month, Alsema and myself also put out an "explainer episode" which can also be accessed here on Patreon. The Colombia Briefing is reported by Emily Hart. Please subscribe to her Substack: https://harte.substack.com

In this episode of the Colombia Calling podcast, Richard McColl and Emily Hart engage with Professor Nicolas Forsans of the University of Essex, a Latin America specialist, to discuss the multifaceted issues facing Latin American cities, including violence, inequality, urbanization, and gentrification. Together, they explore the historical context of these challenges, the role of grassroots communities, and the pervasive issue of extortion. The conversation also delves into the dynamics of organized crime, the impact of gentrification, and potential solutions to these pressing problems, emphasizing the need for economic growth and stronger state institutions. Check out Nicolas Forsans' substack: https://sinfiltroya.substack.com/ and The Colombia Briefing with Emily Hart: https://harte.substack.com

This week, Emily Hart speaks to Lucas Marin Llanes - the director of development at the Latin American Drug Studies Network, and a research affiliate at the Andes University’s Center for Security and Drugs Studies (CESED). There are already some allowances for personal and medicinal use, but last month, Lucas and CESED proposed a whole new framework for legalised commercialisation. The first question is of course, why do it? Lucas proposes that regulation (done right) might be a way to take power from Colombia’s armed groups, and to ensure decent working conditions for rural farmers; it could also ensure the quality and content of the cannabis people are consuming – as well as contributing to a realistic public health policy on the issue. But is it too soon for Colombia – are the security guarantees in place to avoid retaliation against those who want to join legal markets? Is the market built to ensure social justice outcomes - and inclusion for those who have long been a part of the chain of production? And - crucially - is there the political consensus to drive the policy through? And, somewhat paradoxically, is it too late? Has President Gustavo Petro’s government – despite radical work at international bodies – fumbled the project, leaving no time in the remaining year of his mandate to make real change in the country? So how might it be done? And what are the stakes? We’ll be getting into all of it in today's episode. And since Emily Hart is hosting the podcast again – the Colombia Briefing will be subscriber only this week – if you want to make sure you never miss an update, you can head to harte.substack.com and sign up to get the news as text and audio every Monday.

This week, Emily Hart speaks to Abby Reyes – human rights lawyer, environmental activist and author, as well as Director of Community Resilience Projects at the University of California. Abby was inextricably drawn into Colombian history in 1999 by the murder of her partner, Terence Freitas. Terence was kidnapped and killed by the FARC guerrilla, alongside two other indigenous rights activists - killings which sent shockwaves through political and activist circles both here and in the United States. The three had been working with the U’wa indigenous community in the northeast of the country, where Occidental Petroleum - a US-based corporation - was threatening to start operations in ancestral U’wa territory. In the years following, as well as grappling with grief, Abby joined in activism with the U’wa from the United States, facing Occidental on Capitol Hill: she later even testified as an accredited victim at the Colombian peace tribunal, the JEP. The dense interweaving of the personal, political, and historical, make for a moving and unique set of experiences which Abby narrates in her extraordinary new book: ‘Truth Demands: A Memoir of Murder, Oil Wars, and the Rise of Climate Justice.’ The Colombia Briefing will be subscriber only this week – so those of you who have already signed up will be getting it through WhatsApp and email as usual - but if you’re missing your hit of news and want to be sure you never skip an update, you can head to the Colombia Calling Patreon or to Emily's Substack – harte.substack.com. -- Check out Colombia Calling, the longest-running English-language podcast about Colombia. Richard McColl's latest book The Mompos Project: A Tale of Love, Hotels and Madness in Colombia Richard McColl's book on Colombian history and politics Colombia at a Crossroads: a Historical and Social Biography La Casa Amarilla, Mompos Hotel San Rafael, Mompos Colombia Calling podcast Latin News podcast

In this episode of the Colombia Calling podcast, host Richard McColl discusses the upcoming elections in Colombia with Sergio Guzmán and Isy Hawes from Colombia Risk Analysis. They delve into the political landscape, the challenges of analyzing the elections, the key candidates, and the impact of security concerns. The conversation also touches on the role of the United States in Colombian politics, the importance of coalition building, and the potential legacy of President Petro. The discussion highlights the fragmentation and polarization within Colombian society as the country approaches a pivotal election year. This episode was recorded before the events of 11 August when Senator Miguel Uribe died from his injuries sustained from an assassination attempt on 7 June in Bogota. The Colombia Briefing is reported by Emily Hart.

This week, Emily Hart speaks to multi-award-winning translator Frank Wynne about Latin America’s most beloved cartoon - Mafalda - and how he brought her to life in English. Dubbed ‘a hero of our time’ by Italian philosopher Umberto Eco and ‘Charlie Brown with Socialism’ by the New York Times, Mafalda is a precocious six-year-old girl living in 1960s Argentina - full of questions and observations about the world and the adults who surround her. She loves democracy; she hates soup and yoyos. Though often lighthearted and sprinkled with slapstick and wordplay, her curiosity and questions are more than they initially appear: illustrator Joaquín Lavado, known as ‘Quino’ uses her seemingly innocent interrogations to skewer the hypocrisies and nonsense of contemporary politics. In the voice of a cartoon child, these questions and criticisms ran under the radar, but in 1970s Argentina, even her voice felt too critical: Quino left the country, which then suffered a coup and a subsequent military junta. He later said he would have been arrested had he continued to publish Mafalda; many of his friends and collaborators were. Though the cartoon strip only ran for ten years, and Quino himself died in 2020, Mafalda has a huge and lasting legacy across the world - from Argentina where it began, to Chile where it was banned, and here in Colombia too: you can see statues and graffiti of her in Buenos Aires, and buy her merchandise down the banks of the River Seine. Frank will be telling us about this Latin American icon and the process of translating her into English – the first translation ever published, which came out in June of this year. He'll be tackling the tensions inherent in translating comedy – especially in cartoon strip form – as well talking about the stealthy satire and societal critique which Mafalda was able to enact: a crucial humanist and critical voice, disguised as a child. We’ll also talk about how Mafalda’s relevance reaches way beyond her context and time, about modern censorship and satire amid deepening repression, and why now is the perfect time for Mafalda to reach English-speaking audiences - particularly (perhaps) in the United States. Frank also tells us who Mafalda would have been if she was born today, and who she’d have been if she grew up… Plus the Colombia Briefing - also reported by Emily Hart.

Blending travel writing, history and reportage, our guest on this week's Colombia Calling podcast is award-winning journalist and author Shafik Meghji who tells a tale of footballers and pirates, nitrate kings and wool barons, polar explorers and cowboys, missionaries and radical MPs. From a ghost town in one of the world's driest deserts to a far-flung ranch in the sub-polar tundra; rusting whaling stations in the South Atlantic to an isolated railway built by convicts. '[An] appealing fusion of travelogue and history, excavating the roots and remnants of British influence in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay.' - The Observer ‘This is travel writing as much as history. Meghji has the true travel writer’s eye for the comic, pathetic and tragic, and for the places where they collide. . . This is writing full of rust, wind and sadness. It captures splendidly the air of South America and the long, withdrawing roar of an empire whose influence once reached far beyond its political borders.’ — The Times So tune in to hear our conversation with Shafik. https://www.shafikmeghji.com/ And, the Colombia Briefing is reported by Emily Hart https://substack.com/@ehart

In order to understand the issue of the cocaine trade in Colombia, we need to look at three factors: 1. Drugs Policy as a Geopolitical tool. 2. Markets: A Political Economic issue. 3. Narratives: the Myth of the Narco. On the Colombia Calling podcast this week we speak to Estefanía Ciro Rodríguez, expert on drug politics, the cocaine economy and the Colombian armed conflict. We discuss la Escombrera in Medellin, Pablo Escobar, Álvaro Uribe Vélez, Arms trafficking by the Sinaloa cartel and the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación to Colombia, genetically modified coca, cocaine seizures, the price of cocaine, and why Colombia as a nation needs to look in the mirror. Check out: https://alaorilladelrio.com The Colombia Briefing is reported by Emily Hart. Support her on Substack: https://substack.com/@ehart and Support us on: https://www.patreon.com/c/colombiacalling

This conversation on the Colombia Calling podcast delves into the complexities of the Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal organization that has evolved significantly over the years. Chris Dalby, an expert on organized crime, discusses the origins of the gang, its relationship with the Venezuelan government, and how it has adapted to the migration crisis. The conversation also addresses misconceptions about Tren de Aragua in the U.S., particularly regarding its alleged connections to terrorism and its impact on Venezuelan migrants. Dalby emphasizes the need for a nuanced understanding of the gang's operations and the socio-political context in which it operates. Tune in to this and the Colombia Briefing with Emily Hart.

In this episode of the Colombia Calling podcast, host Richard McColl speaks with Andres Gomez Suarez about his new book 'We Are Not Made of Sugar', which reflects on his childhood experiences during the violence in Colombia, particularly the genocide of the Patriotic Union. They discuss the importance of memory work, reconciliation, and the ongoing peace processes in Colombia, including negotiations with the Comuneros del Sur. The conversation delves into the personal and collective impacts of violence, the role of peace building, and the challenges faced in creating a sustainable peace in the region. Buy his book: https://a.co/d/2I0NexU The Colombia Briefing is reported by Emily Hart.

When British foreign correspondent Richard McColl purchased, on a whim, a ruined colonial building in the rural Colombian town of Mompós, he imagined a lifestyle of relaxation, with idle afternoons reading the works of Gabriel García Márquez, writing glib observations and enjoying the hypnotic momentum of a Caribbean tropical narrative, swaying in a hammock and the promise of an ice cold beer never far away. He was mistaken. His first restoration yields a hostel, which later becomes a hotel and then spirals into further projects including the restoration of three more colonial houses, experiencing challenges that make him reconsider his upbringing, education and outlook on how he fits into his adopted homeland. With two hotels in Mompós, he experiences the joy of new friendships and a despair over the predictability of guests. With a journalist's eye for a story, McColl navigates the history of Mompós and how its society is a microcosm of today's Colombia, with its feudal system still very much in place, inherent prejudices, stigma surrounding the politics, the people and the past, all coming to the fore. Buy the book: https://a.co/d/ezGbsP3 The Colombia Briefing is reported by Emily Hart.

Few figures in Latin American politics polarize opinion like Colombia’s former president, Álvaro Uribe. Right now, Uribe, Colombia’s president from 2002 to 2010, faces charges of bribery, procedural fraud, and bribery in a judicial proceeding. Prosecutors must determine whether he instigated others to manipulate witness testimony in an attempt to mislead the judiciary for his benefit. So, along with Adriaan Alsema, director of Colombia Reports, we take a deep dive into the "early years" from Uribe's birth in Salgar, Antioquia and up until his campaign to become governor of the department, taking in his education, his role on the Medellin city council, director of Aerocivil, Mayor of Medellin and many family connections. Allegations of ties to drug cartels and paramilitaries have dogged him since the early 1980s, when the civil aviation agency he then led was accused of giving air licenses to drug traffickers. Declassified State Department cables from a decade later show U.S. officials were told the up-and-coming politician had ties to cartels. In future episodes we will look at further details surrounding Colombia's most powerful political force. The Colombia Briefing is reported by Emily Hart.

Remember the story that made the headlines for several weeks about the four Huitoto children, lost for forty days in the Colombian Amazon after the aircraft they were travelling in crashed? Well, our friend Mat Youkee has written the definitive book on this event, a triumph of the human spirit and survival, but he also delves into the history of the Amazon, the exploitation and mythicism therein. Tune in to a fantastic episode detailing the lives of the four Mucutuy children, the lives of many indigenous families of the area, their struggles in the armed conflict and much more. Buy the book! https://a.co/d/j5E0P05 Mat Youkee has lived in Panama and Colombia since 2010, working as a freelance journalist and professional investigator. He has covered Indigenous-rights issues in Colombia, Panama, Chile, and Argentina for The Guardian. His reporting has also appeared in The Economist, The Telegraph, the Financial Times, Americas Quarterly, Foreign Policy, and other local and international publications. And, tune in to the Colombia Briefing with Emily Hart: https://harte.substack.com

Former DEA agent Chris Feistl and literary collaborator Jessica Balboni discuss the new book: "After Escobar: Taking Down the Notorious Cali Godfathers and the Biggest Drug Cartel in History," on the Colombia Calling podcast with Richard McColl and Emily Hart. Arriving in Colombia in 1994, a year after Pablo Escobar had been killed, Chris Feistl was charged with the task of dismantling the all-powerful Cali cartel. In this new book, he details his failures, successes and close calls. Jessica Balboni joins us as well to discuss the writing process. Buy the book! https://a.co/d/fXriXC1 Chris Feistl was a DEA Special Agent for twenty-six years, serving in diverse assignments throughout the US as well as twelve years in Colombia, South America, where he investigated major drug cartels that were supplying tons of cocaine and heroin destined for the US. Starting as a new agent in Miami, he finished his career as an Assistant Special Agent in Charge in Phoenix in 2014. Jessica Balboni is a Boston-based writer and editor with a diverse background in media that spans artistic, academic, corporate, and nonprofit sectors, including roles held with the Food Network, The Rockefeller Foundation, and ESPN. The Colombia Briefing is reported by Emily Hart.