Any evenhanded comparison of the Colombian and Venezuelan governments’ human rights records would have to note that, though Venezuela’s record is far from perfect, that country is by every measure a safer place than Colombia to live, vote, organize unions and political groups, speak out against the government or practice journalism.

After reluctantly agreeing to let Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez mediate between his administration and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, Colombian president Álvaro Uribe halted Chávez’s months-long effort in November, accusing him of violating protocol by directly contacting a Colombian military leader.

• Analysis
• Human Rights
• Andean Region