Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Tuesday threatened to completely close the border with Colombia following the murder of two members of the Civil Guard by an alleged Venezuelan ally of Colombian paramilitaries.
The two officials were shot by men on motorbikes just feet away from the border on Monday.
Authorities on the Venezuelan side of the border near Cucuta immediately decided to close two main checkpoints connecting Colombia's Norte de Santander department and Venezuela's Tachira state. These were opened temporarily Tuesday afternoon to allow stuck travelers to cross the borders. Trucks were not allowed to pass.
But Chavez -- since July threatening to block trade over his disagreement with a U.S.-Colombian military pact -- on Tuesday evening said his government was evaluating the situation in the border area and was considering closing it indefinitely.
The border has long been a reason of friction between the country as both paramilitary and guerrilla fighters from Colombia cross it to escape Colombian authorities and move Colombian-produced cocaine to Venezuela for further transport. The Venezuelan states bordering Colombia have soaring crime rates and no more than two weeks ago two massacres were committed on Colombian citizens.
"One of the measures we are studying is to declare an emergency at the border and, well, close it." Chavez said.
Closing the border would further deteriorate the situation for Colombian exporters who already have seen a decrease in income because of the tensions between the two neighboring countries.
theOblate
said:
 |
... I can never understand why so much print is given to Chavez. If he wants to close the border then let him. The loss will have a greater negative impact on Venezuela than Colombia. Any negative impact on Colombia will be temporary. If I were reporting the news I would simple ignore this simpleton. I have read several articles in the Economic Digest and Chavez is basically laughed at except for his oil which no one really wants that badly. The oil is cheap but, difficult to process and get to market. The price ratio is against anyone who buys Chavez's oil and with the uncertainty of his politics doing business with Venezuela is a carp shoot at best. |
Adriaan
said:
 |
... Colombia and Venezuela share US$7 billion in trade and are neighbors. If something or someone threatens this trade it is very relevant for the Colombian economy. If someone closes the border between two neighbors who culturally and economically have such a common history this is more than relevant. You can't say the impact on Colombia is temporary, because you don't know what consequences a trade block has unless you read much about it or unless you can actually see the consequences in figures or through reports. That's why I wrote the article and that's why you read it  I know many people want Chavez to just disappear, but he is here and what he does has great relevance to the region, whether you (or I) like it or not. If you don't read about the guy you're gonna end up being surprised when you don't want to be surprised. |
doug van eps
said:
|
... this guy really wants to start a war with colombia and he does not care who gets hurt in the process, |
Bluebird
said:
|
... I don't think anyone is going to be "surprised" by anything Chavez does! LOL I think that the word is pretty well already out on the street about him!!!!!!!! LOL Thats why angry crowds surround chavistas when they come into Colombia trying to sell their BULL SH*T to the people. |
coach handbags
said:
|
... If two people are also won't cause other tolerant, finally broke up. Two people together, rain, difficult way together passed, what still can stop? Even the least tolerance to do? Don't to love a person, loneliness and do not break up to http://www.coachoutletmalls.comexpectation, this is not you can fall in love, but love in the challenge of the limit that your temperament and thinking, can threat to each other. Wrong, the mistake, you are hurt each other's feelings. |
