A diplomatic cable released by WikiLeaks sheds light on why the United States opposed passage of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Jan. 28, 2008 cable, from the US embassy in La Paz and entitled "Bolivia: Repercussions of UN DRIP," states: "Although most indigenous leaders seem to view the UN Declaration as a 'feel good' document that will give them more inclusion in the public sector, some leaders are citing the Declaration in support of concrete aims like self-governance and control over land and resources. Post will watch for further developments, particularly with regards to property rights and potential sovereignty or self-rule issues."

Petrominerales, the fourth largest oil producer in Colombia, resumed production Sept. 14 after a stoppage caused by protests, the company announced on its website, saying it "expects to be producing at full capacity within 48 to 72 hours." Calgary-based Petrominerals produces 40,000 barrels per day (bpd) from all its fields. The company's shares on the Bogotá exchange, which had slipped in recent days, started to rise again upon the announcement. The company thanked the Colombian government for "restoring public order to the area and their leadership in organizing community meetings that were held September 13." During the meetings a timeline was agreed upon for "continued diplomatic discussions aimed at developing sustainable solutions for the area."

On Sept. 14, Colombia's Supreme Court of Justice condemned Jorge Noguera Cotes, director of the Administrative Security Department (DAS) from 2002-5, to 25 years in prison for allowing right-wing paramilitary groups access to sensitive intelligence, leading to at least three assassinations of left-wing dissidents. He was convicted on charges of criminal conspiracy, illegal use of privileged information, and homicide. The most prominent of the victims was Alfredo Correa de Andreis, a sociologist and human rights activists gunned down by masked men on a motorbike in Barranquilla in September 2004.

Thousands of teachers and students took to the streets of several of Colombia's major cities Sept. 7 "in defense of public education." The demonstrations aimed to reject a proposal by the government of President Juan Manuel Santos to reform higher education. In the capital Bogotá, some 7,000 protesters took to the streets, while in Medellín some 1,000 teachers and students were protesting. The government of President Santos proposed reforms to Law 30, stating that the reforms will increase financial resources for universities to open spaces for additional students, improve the salaries of professors, and be more competitive in research.

The Peruvian NGO Cusichaca Andina recently won a grant from the World Bank to promote the revival of ancient Andean crops, including quinoa, amaranth, and indigenous varieties of potatoes and squashes. The indigenous crops, in danger of disappearing due to the increasing dominance of corporate hybrids, are thought to be more resilient and better adapted to the harsh local environment—making them potentially strategic in adapting to the challenges of global climate change. Public Radio International's The World reported Sept. 7: "[C]limate change is hitting the high Andes hard. Temperature and precipitation swings are becoming more extreme, the glaciers are shrinking fast, and a tough place to farm is becoming even tougher. So to help them deal with an uncertain future, residents are looking back in time—to before the arrival of Europeans."

Some 1,200 workers at the Cerro Verde copper mine in Peru's southern Arequipa region began a 48-hour strike on Sept. 7, demanding higher pay and threatening to launch an indefinite strike in one week if an agreement isn't reached with the company, owned by the multinational Freeport-McMoRan. While Cerro Verde insisted that production would not be affected, global copper prices rose on the news—although some analysts cited other factors, such as growing Chinese demand. (Dow Jones, Sept. 8; Dow Jones, El Comercio, Reuters, Sept. 7)

Cars and buses were taken off the streets of Bolivia as the country held its first "National Day of the Pedestrian" on Sunday Sept. 4. All motor vehicles, including public transport, were banned for the day in cities across the country, as the streets were given over to youth festivals and sporting events. Said La Paz Mayor Luis Revilla: "We are enjoying this day in homage to the environment, but also and above all in homage to pedestrians. The city is not only for vehicles, but also for people."

An NGO has released a report condemning Colombia’s human rights record as part of a series of articles analysing the relationship between anti-terrorism policies and human rights since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) report notes how shortly after September 11, the US financial aid from Plan Colombia, which had previously been earmarked for fighting drug trafficking, was also used to combat terrorism. At the same time the FARC, the ELN and paramilitary groups were added to the US list of terrorist organizations.