THE UNACKNOWLEDGED FRONT

Tireless leader tackles Colombia's woes (Michael Easterbrook, 8/10/2002, Boston Globe)

Colombians had never seen anything like it. Sitting in an ornate room in the presidential palace on a recent Saturday morning was their president and his entire Cabinet, answering citizens' questions during a live television broadcast.

Wearing a blue blazer, President Alvaro Uribe listened attentively as the questions, praise, and criticism poured in, scribbling notes and frequently prodding his ministers to give better answers to callers. He didn't stop until shortly after midnight the following day - 14 hours and 50 minutes after the event began. "In a country with so many problems, it's still early," said Uribe, moments before wishing a good night to his bleary-eyed ministers and whoever else was still watching.

One year into his presidency, Uribe's insatiable work appetite and resolve in trying to end a 39-year conflict, revive a languid economy, and restore faith in government are becoming the stuff of legend and lore in Colombia.

"He has rekindled credibility and hope in the government," said Daniel Garcia-Pena, a former government peace commissioner who has criticized Uribe's policies.

Folks who favor drug legalization are loathe to admit it--as witness their apoplexy over the ads linking drug use to terrorism--but this too is part of the war on terror.

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Peru's Poor Peasants Raring to Hunt Shining Path (Simon Gardner, 8/09/03, Reuters)

When Shining Path guerrillas marched into this tiny hamlet deep in Peru's Andean jungle a fortnight ago, Tito Salazar's mind filled with images of neighbors hacked to death by rebels 20 years ago.

Able to muster just five useless, rust-caked rifles between them, the poor coffee farmer and his fellow villagers in these lush foothills looked on helplessly this time as the 70-strong, well-armed group of rebels vowed they meant no harm.

"'We are no longer terrorists, we are now guerrillas,' they told us. 'We are not going to kill you like before,"' Salazar said. Two days later he was mourning his brother Uldarico, blown up by the notorious Maoist rebels a few miles away.

The Shining Path, or Sendero Luminoso in Spanish, is slowly regrouping after lying dormant for much of the past decade since the capture of its leader. The government relaxed its guard after its success against the group and became preoccupied with other problems, giving rebels an opening.

As the rebels regather, Peru's poor farmers are trying to make a comeback with their own call to arms.

The trouble is, they don't have any.

"What we need are guns. Without them we have had it," said Salazar.

Posted by Orrin Judd at August 10, 2003 9:14 AM