Bolivian officials Nov. 11 formally requested that the US issue extradition orders for former Bolivian president Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada to face "genocide" charges for his repression of October 2003 protests over corporate exploitation of the country's natural gas resources that left at least 60 dead. The officials called for the extradition of Sánchez de Lozada's former defense and energy ministers under a 1995 extradition treaty with the US.

The US has halted aid to three Colombian army units after officers and soldiers were implicated in the killing of civilians, a senior US official told Reuters. "We have determined that three army units are no longer eligible to receive assistance, a step we took based on the government of Colombia's information that these units were involved with gross violations of human rights," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

From The Hill, Nov. 11:

Newly designated White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said Sunday that the incoming Obama administration opposes attaching the Colombia Free Trade Agreement to an economic stimulus package in order to get the approval of the Bush Administration.

Venezuela plans to build five military bases along its border with Colombia, Justice Minister Tarek El Aissami announced Nov. 9 on a visit to the mountainous border zone, saying the bases will help President Hugo Chavez's government fight drug smuggling, extortion and kidnapping. The bases will run along the Sierra de Perijá, a range that follows the 2,300-kilometer border. Chávez says Venezuela is doing all possible to crack down on Colombian guerillas, paramilitaries and other criminal groups that operate along the frontier. (Canadian Press, Nov. 9)

Mitsubishi, which plans to release its own electric car soon, estimates that the demand for lithium—a critical ingredient in the batteries—will outstrip supply in less than 10 years unless new sources come on line. And those sources are in the remote southern altiplano of Bolivia. "The demand for lithium won't double but increase by five times," according to Eichi Maeyama, Mitsubishi's general manager in La Paz. "We will need more lithium sources—and 50% of the world's reserves of lithium exist in Bolivia, in the Salar de Uyuni," the forbidding Andean salt flats. He adds that without new production, the price of lithium will rise prohibitively.

Threats from resurgent paramilitary groups continue against the San José de Apartadó Peace Community in Colombia's conflicted Urabá region. On the morning of Nov. 7 at the San José vereda (hamlet) of Playa Larga, some 50 rifle-wielding paramilitaries in camo gear and characteristic armbands detained resident Jairo Berrio Arango. He was forced to undress as the gunmen held a rifle to his head and threatened to kill him on the spot. When his father arrived on the scene and pleaded with the gunmen, they said they wouldn't kill him now—but that they had six San José community members targeted for death, and that they should flee immediately to avoid assassination. They said they had the cooperation of the army. Five families have already fled the vereda of Esperanza, where Berrio Arango's family is from. (San José de Apartadó Peace Community statement, Nov. 8)

Hugo Chávez says he is ready to talk to Barack Obama despite the president-elect's past criticism of the Venezuelan leader. "We are convinced that the hour has arrived to establish new relations between our countries and our regions, based on the principles of respect for sovereignty, equality and true cooperation," the Venezuelan government statement read. Bolivian President Evo Morales likewise said, "I am sure that relations between the Bolivian government and the US government are going to improve."

Gen. Mario Montoya, commander of Colombia’s armed forces, resigned Nov. 4 after an investigation tied dozens of military personnel under his command to a growing scandal over the killing of civilians by the military in an apparent attempt to inflate the number of insurgents killed in combat by security forces.