Venezuela's government June 11 praised a decision by the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) in a case over the 2007 expropriation of ExxonMobil assets by the government of Hugo Chávez. Rafael Ramirez, Venezuela's energy minister and the president of state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA), said the previous day's decision should force ExxonMobil to "drastically reduce" the $10 billion it has been seeking.

The Bolivian National Congress on June 8 advanced legislation that would create an independent justice system for indigenous communities. The Law of Judicial Authority, passed by the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of Congress, would create a system of "communal justice" that would expedite the settlement of disputes and end the "colonization of justice," according to supporters.

Hunt Oil of Texas inaugurated its new $3.8 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant at Melchorita Pampa on the Peruvian coast just south of Lima June 10, with President Alan Garcia attending the ceremony. The first shipments of LNG from the plant are scheduled to take place within the next few days, when a specially equipped tanker will set sail for a regasification plant in Baja California, Mexico. Ray Hunt, Hunt Oil's chief executive, told Dow Jones: "This project will serve as an example to the world that Peru is a very attractive place for foreign investment. Capital can go anywhere in the world with the push of a computer button, but investment capital only goes where it is appreciated."

In a 24-hour paro (protest campaign) jointly called by the Cusco Irrigation Board and the Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Agrarian Federation (FARCTAC), campesinos blocked roads across Peru's Cusco region June 8 to demand the reconstruction of irrigation infrastructure that was destroyed in the heavy rainfalls and floods that devastated the region in January. Access was blocked to the neighboring regions of Apurímac, Puno and Madre de Dios.

Retired Colombian army colonel Alfonso Plazas Vega was sentenced to 30 years in prison June 9 for his role in the forced disappearance of 11 civilians in the 1985 army siege of the Palace of Justice, which had been taken over by M-19 guerrillas. The Bogotá judge stated that although Vega did not directly commit the crimes, he was the commander of the military during the raid and was therefore responsible for the actions of his men. Vega was found to have ordered the 11 civilians who escaped from the besieged building to a nearby military school, after which they disappeared.

On June 2, a heavily armed commando of the Colombian National Army leapt over the security fence at BP's Tauramena Central Processing Facility in Casanare department to attack group of striking workers who have been occupying the complex. Oscar Garcia, of the National Oil Workers Union said, "This shows how BP is bent on war against workers who are only demanding that their fundamental rights be respected."

Colombian presidential candidate Juan Manuel Santos of the ruling Social Party of National Unity ("Partido de la U") has won the first round in the May 30 election, but will now face a second-round run-off with Green Party candidate Antanas Mockus. Santos has 46.57% of the 14,760,255 votes counted, followed by Mockus with 21.49%. They are followed by Cambio Radical candidate German Vargas Lleras and the Polo Democratico's Gustavo Petro with about 10% each. The turnout was high, with 49% of eligible voters going to the polls, 4% more than in 2006. (Colombia Reports, May 30)

The government of Bolivia announced a preliminary study for a program of uranium exploration in the southern department of Potosí this month, and broached the possibility of uranium exports to Venezuela. The program, projected at costing $500,000, will be financed by the Potosí departmental government and carried out by the National Mineral Geological and Technical Service (Sergeotecmin). The Bolivian Institute of Nuclear Technology, a moribund agency since its uranium processing plant in Potosí was closed 25 years ago, may be revived if the exploration program is successful.