Central America. Time writes from Nicaragua that “frustrated by broken promises of autonomy and generations of exploitation by outsiders,” traditional leaders on the rural Atlantic coast (aka Mosquito Coast) are calling for secession from Nicaragua and the creation of the Communitarian Nation of the Moskitia.
The Guatemala Times critiques the process for selecting judges in the country, arguing that “the nominees for magistrates are linked to political parties and other powerful interest groups” (…) and this is one of the main reasons why impunity reigns in Guatemala.” A new law was recently presented that would provide transparency for the nomination process of the Magistrates.
And the CS Monitor has a good piece explaining why Panama “tilts right” as most of the region moves left.
Argentina. Spain’s El País writes that the Kirchner’s have framed June’s legislative elections as a choice between the current government and chaos. Speaking last week, Nestor Kirchner remarked: “Let it be clear that if there were not a majority in Congress, Argentina would fall back into a hole and into the crisis of 2001.”
Inter Press Service reports that a new report by the national ombudsman’s office, in collaboration with international health organizations, shows that over 50% of all children in Argentina are at risk of illness due to a lack of clean drinking water.
At Foreign Policy, Michael Shifter writes about the other disease outbreak in Latin America, that of dengue fever in Argentina…and the potential consequences for the Kirchner government.
While losing popularity among some sectors of the population, EFE reports that Argentina’s largest union, the CGT, still backs the Kirchner government.
And Mercopress has an interesting piece, recalling the meddling history of a famous U.S. diplomat in Latin America, Spruille Braden, most famously U.S. ambassador to Argentina during the first Perón years.
Bolivia. A very good interview with President Evo Morales on GritTV with Laura Flanders while Morales was in New York for Earth Day last week; the Bolivian president discusses his conception of socialism, economic policy, nationalization of natural resources, and more.
The BBC reports that Evo Morales announced the takeover of a subsidiary of British oil company BP last week, a part of his nationalization campaign.
Meeting with former President Jimmy Carter, AP reports that Evo Morales said he wants to reestablish diplomatic relations with Washington.
Brazil. The AP reports that a dictatorship law which, in its day of enforcement, censored news media, composers, playwrights and writers was annulled last week.
IPS writes on energy issues in Brazil, reporting that “the Brazilian government announced it is overhauling the country's energy basket with more emphasis on renewable resources, while continuing to plan for future expansion of local production of traditional fossil fuels.”
The BBC reports that Brazil has begun clearing land in the north of the country after a Supreme Court ruling said that the Raposa Serra do Sol reservation should be solely for indigenous people.
The AP writes that Jimmy Carter, visiting Brazil as well this week, was honored with a human rights award in Sao Paulo.
El País reports that CEPAL economists are hopeful that Brazil’s economy may already be recovering. Exports grew 14.8% in April, compared to the previous month, and Brazil’s trade balance had a surplus of $3.7 million in April.
Brazzil Mag reports that Iran’s leader, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad unexpectedly cancelled his visit to Brazil, originally scheduled for Wednesday. It will be rescheduled for after June 12 elections in Iran. And Brazilian president Lula da Silva may visit Iran following an Ahmadinejad trip to Brasilia. Responding to critics, including the Sec. of State Hillary Clinton, Brazil’s foreign minister said “we dialogue with those we are not in agreement with; if not it would be a monologue.” Also, don’t miss an article at World Politics Review on “Iran Looking Towards Latin America” as “it faces harsh diplomatic headwinds in the Middle East.”
Chile. Bloomberg reports on how Chile saved money during the good economic times to get through a downturn.
And IPS on Chile taking the lead in promoting global nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.
Colombia. Plan Colombia and Beyond says a recent report by the highly respected Colombian NGO CINEP and a new memo from the Colombia-Europe-United States Coordination [PDF] indicate that the government’s claim that the problem of “false positives” is no more may be false.
Samuel Logan’s Security in Latin America blog highlights a recent story about Colombian police and army troops discovering and destroying two refineries used by the FARC to process stolen oil.
And the Colombia Journal blog analyzes a recent string of human rights abuses being reported in Colombia, from false positives to massive displacements.
Cuba. Brookings has a new report this week on a “new policy of critical and constructive engagement” with Cuba.
The Miami Herald’s Cuban Colada blog says a proposed ban on using state dollars for university student trips to Cuba will not be in Florida’s state budget this year.
The Committee to Project Journalists lists Cuba as one of the top 10 worst places to be a blogger.
An In these Times piece reflects on the romanticism of the Cuban Revolution after 50 years, writing: “Being disillusioned with the long-term results of the Cuban Revolution shouldn’t prevent us from acknowledging the many real accomplishments that it has achieved – especially in the fields of health and education. But ironically, because the left’s long-standing romance with Cuba and other Third World revolutions is mostly a thing of the past, we have become much better equipped to continue the long journey to bring fundamental change to our own society.”
And the Washington Post reports that state trade officials in Maryland and Virginia are already positioning themselves to build markets for their goods in the event Cuba and the U.S. normalize trade relations further.
Dominican Republic. The Latin Americanist blog reports that a woman’s right to an abortion was banned last week in the Dominican Republic by that country’s legislature.
Ecuador. A CBS 60 Minutes report last weekend examines the multi-billion dollar case against Chevron that is getting much attention of late.
And Mark Weisbrot writes in his Guardian Unlimited column on the re-election of Ecuador’s popular left-wing President, Rafael Correa, arguing countries like Ecuador and Bolivia are now “more politically stable than they have been for decades. (Ecuador has had nine presidents over the last 15 years). They are also more democratic than they have ever been.”
Mexico. The weekly round-up of stories from Mexico this week:
· On U.S.-Mexico relations, a new report from the Rand Corporation says the United States should forge a strategic partnership with Mexico that emphasizes reform and long-term institution building as a way to battle the ongoing drug war and other security challenges.
· Also, on U.S.-Mexico relations, a new report from the Wilson Center has a series of policy options on U.S.-Mexico security cooperation, economic integration, migration, and border management. The Wilson Center’s Lee Hamilton calls Mexico “a vital partner in our broader engagement with Latin America” in an op-ed this week as well.
· And, on the Mexico drug war, a backgrounder from the Council on Foreign Relations.
· On drug laws in Mexico, Mex Files reports on a bill that passed the Senate, and is headed for the Chamber of Deputies. It would decriminalize possession of up to 5 grams of marijuana, 5 grams of opium, 50 milligrams of heroin, 40 milligrams of methamphetamine, 500 milligrams of cocaine and 2, 500 milligrams of cocaine.
· On drug murders this week, the AP says police found 11 bodies dumped in Guerrero state, including seven wrapped in plastic bags and thrown off a bridge.
· On tunnels to the U.S., Time has an interesting piece this week on their use for getting immigrants, drugs, and weapons over the border.
· On U.S.-Mexico-Canada relations, an opinion piece in the Globe and Mail argues for increased tri-lateral cooperation between the three countries of North America.
· On swine flu, in photos, a photo gallery of clips from the last week in Mexico.
· On military human rights abuses, The Economist this week writes: Mr Calderón has made reforming the judicial system a priority (…) But he has not touched their military counterparts,” something he must due, the paper argues, to keep Mexicans trust.
· On training Mexican police in the U.S., the AP reports that three Mexican police officers finished training in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
· And, on the idea of Mexico as a “failed state,” Shannon O’Neill of CFR writes that the Mexican government’s handling of the swine flu crisis should dispel any beliefs that it is a “failed state.”
Paraguay. Inter Press Service interviews Line Barreiro, a women’s rights activist in Paraguay, recently Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women in Paraguay.
Peru. El País writes about the fear of “Colombinization” in Peru as the Shining Path makes a return in parts of the country.
And, also in El País, a report about the fallout after the Fujimori conviction, interviewing Gustavo Gorriti director of the Instituto de Defensa Legal (IDL) who was kidnapped in 1992 and believes the “organized crime” of Fujimori presidency could return to power in the form of his daughter, Keiko.
Uruguay. I write in Upside Down World about the campaign to annul an impunity law in Uruguay which moved closer toward a national vote last week.
And La Republica reports that the executive in Uruguay has sent to parliament a bill that would recognize the state as responsible for human rights violations during and leading up to the 1973-1985 dictatorship and would offer reparations to victims.
Venezuela. In an interesting piece on the state of the opposition in Venezuela, Pablo Morales writes the following at NACLA: “law and order, infrastructure development, and respect for human rights—these are the main planks of the new opposition,” according to opposition leader Leopoldo López. Morales argues that the “thousands of nonprivileged Venezuelans, enfranchised and energized, now constitute a voting bloc too significant to ignore” and will force the opposition to consider them in strategizing any alternative to Chávez.
In the Washington Times, Jeffrey Kuhner, president of the Edmund Burke Institute, says “President Obama has put democracy and human rights on the back burner at least in Latin America” by seeking a rapprochement with Cuba and Venezuela, among others.
The AP reports on the Venezuelan military helicopter crash that killed 18 soldiers last week.
The AP also covers the violent end to an anti-Chávez May 1 demonstration last week.
The Council on Hemispheric Affairs analyzes land reform plans in Venezuela and Bolivia.
And Inside Costa Rica reports that the Bank of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA), led by Venezuela, will allocate $17.9 million to regional health, culture, energy projects and $13 million to agriculture. Esteban Martel, executive director of the Cuban branch of ALBA Bank, says the beneficiaries are Nicaragua, Bolivia, Cuba, Venezuela, Honduras and Dominica.
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