Perhaps there is no better example of the environmental devastation which many indigenous Peruvians have been angered by, but are often dependent on, than the smelting facilities in La Oroya, Peru—called one of the 10 most toxic sites in the world. Simon Romero has a terrific piece in the New York Times this morning which explores disputes over the enormous Doe Run smelter in La Oroya (owned by New York billionaire Ira Rennert), writing “The tensions here over the lead emissions and the smelter’s financial meltdown is precisely the kind of dire mix of foreign investment and environmental contamination feared by indigenous groups elsewhere in Peru.” Facing financial trouble that its billionaire owner says have prevented the facility from doing environmental upgrades, the smelting operations at the plant may close for three months, putting nearly 3,000 jobs in the impoverished region at risk. Such a possibility led to strikes this week, and there is now a possibility that some compromise might be reached, perhaps even giving workers part control of the facility. Romero’s discussion of the contradictory sentiments toward the plant show just how difficult an issue mining is in Peru and in many other Andean countries, for that matter. “While some here seethe against Mr. Rennert and the company, Doe Run Peru, others defend them for providing work, making for a sharply divided town,” writes Romero. In perhaps the most illustrative quote of general feelings in the area, however, a local environmental leader asks, “What I still fail to understand is why we are exposed to the risks of an American investment, but not to the environmental protections enjoyed by the citizens of the United States.”
In the LA Times, Chris Kraul focuses on the other major dispute in Peru which has received primary attention in the past weeks. Reporting on the situation after the massacre in Bagua, and after the Peruvian government’s revoking of controversial land decrees, the LAT writes that indigenous groups appear to have won round one against the government “in a knockout,” using the words of one Peru analyst. Kraul writes that “the violence tarnished Peru's image abroad and forced Peruvians to confront what some analysts described as indigenous peoples' second-class status in society and politics.” While indigenous groups lifted roadblocks after the government moves last week, many do not see the issue of extractive development yet resolved. One leader cited in the piece said last week that his group wanted a half dozen other decrees revoked as well. Meanwhile, President Alan Garcia continues to receive criticism for his position on mining and development. As the LAT writes, “he has described the laws that the indigenous object to, including the two that were revoked, as essential in meeting criteria for a bilateral free trade agreement with the U.S. that went into effect in January.” Deep mistrust still remains on both sides.
On dissidents in Cuba, the Washington Post features a story and an opinion on five pro-democracy activists on the island who recently received an award from the National Endowment for Democracy. However, much of the article focuses on the fact that President Obama did not return a request from the NED to meet with the dissidents while in Washington, D.C. The President’s office did send a message to the event, at the last minute (and after the Post inquired about the President’s non-response to the NED), saying it was his “sincere hope that all political prisoners who remain jailed, including three of today's award recipients, will be unconditionally released and allowed to fully participate in a democratic future in Cuba.” In their editorial, the WaPo says President Obama did not meet with the Cuban dissidents, not because he “is too busy to concern himself with Latin American politics.” In fact, he met with President Michele Bachelet of Chile the day before. Rather, in the Post’s opinion, “for now, Mr. Obama's diplomacy is clearly centered on their oppressors.”
Moving to developments in Central America, the Honduran parliament voted this week to ask the OAS to remove its election observers from the country ahead of a vote on constitutional reforms. The referendum is to take place this Sunday, writes the AP in the Miami Herald. The nonbinding vote will ask Hondurans if they desire another vote to call an assembly which would rewrite the Honduran constitution. Honduran president Manuel Zelaya has long-argued that his country’s 27 year old constitution is the source of many of Honduras’s social problems. But the country’s Supreme Court has broken with the president, ordering the police and armed forces not to support the referendum vote.
And, the Wall Street Journal, has a feature piece this morning from Colombia about the entry of bird enthusiasts into areas once considered a war zone between security forces and FARC rebels. Discussing the new phenomenon of eco-tourism in Colombia, the paper writes “birding tours are proliferating, reserves are sprouting up in former combat zones, and ornithologists are discovering new species and reacquainting themselves with ones not seen in years.” And, interestingly, it seems many birders are very pro-Uribe in their politics. “In hindsight, say birders, the best thing to happen to Colombian birding was the ascension in 2002 of conservative President Álvaro Uribe.” While I am not sure if new birding eco-adventures are connected to the country’s new tourism campaign, they do seem to be one more component of Colombia’s attempt to restore its international image. As the campaign’s catchy slogan goes, “the only risk is wanting to stay.”
There are also a series of other articles today worth mentioning as well. The AP is reporting that the U.S. and Venezuela will restore diplomatic relations a nine month freeze. While the State Department said no time frame has yet been decided, Venezuelan officials said it would happen very soon.
The AP also has more on the UN’s annual drug report. As reported earlier, Colombia’s cocaine production fell, while Peru and Bolivia’s numbers were slightly up. Of particular note, however, were the words of the director of the UN’s office on drugs and crime. He noted that “organized crime related to drugs has become a threat to a number of countries.”
Speaking of the threat of organized crime, in Mexico, President Felipe Calderon said Wednesday that the issues of corruption and organized crime threatened the future of democracy in his country. He called for increased accountability for public officials at a conference on security issues, adding “To turn one’s head, to act as if you don’t see the crime in front of you, as some politicians want to do, is no option for Mexico.” According the MH, corruption and crime are not the only challenges facing Mexico. Yet another disease is spreading quickly through the country. This time it’s dengue fever, says the paper, writing: “In 2000, there were 1,781 reported cases of dengue fever in Mexico. Last year saw a total of 33,000, according to the Public Health Department. This year, the rate is up 15 percent.”
Also in the MH, a profile of Douglas Fraser, the Air Force officer who will take over control of U.S. Southern Command operations, replacing Admiral James Stavridis. Among his top priorities will be “shutting down the Guantánamo prison camp and combating the trafficking of people, weapons and drugs across borders.”
Finally, three other opinions in today’s papers. Andres Oppenheimer, columnist at the MH, writes that by year’s end Chile will become one of the world’s 30 richest countries. Gushing praise on the country, Oppenheimer says Chile’s success has come from “a national consensus to pursue a market economy, democracy and social policies.” The NYT has an editorial about the GAO guns report which says 70% of those guns recovered in Mexico have origins in the U.S. The NYT urges the U.S. to tighten gun restrictions by repealing measures that “prevent a national gun registry and bar local enforcement agencies from sharing in federal tracing information.” And in yesterday’s MH, Gen. Barry McCaffery lays out his case for next steps towards one day normalizing relations with Cuba. “Change is now inevitable as Castro edges off the stage of history. The critical issue for the United States is whether we are going to be a constructive guiding agent in this process of change,” he writes.
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