Nicaragua frees 56 more prisoners (June 12, 2019)
News Briefs
- Nicaragua's government freed 56 political prisoners yesterday, in addition to 50 released Monday, reports the Guardian. (See yesterday's post.) Yesterday's releases came with no warning, and leaves 86 political detainees behind bars, reports Confidencial. Opposition Alianza CÃvica confirmed that prominent anti-government activists are among those freed yesterday, but that there are indications the government will not continue releasing political prisoners.
- The United States Congress should press the executive branch to impose targeted sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, against senior Nicaraguan government officials responsible for abuses, Human Rights Watch Americas director José Miguel Vivanco said yesterday in testimony before the US Congress.
- Climate change is decimating agricultural production in Central America's Dry Corridor -- Deutsche Welle reports from Nicaragua where 90% of maize and 60% of bean crops in Nicaragua were lost in 2016.
Venezuela
- Venezuela may finally be ready for a negotiated democratic transition write Abraham F. Lowenthal and David Smilde in a New York Times op-ed that lauds recent talks in Norway and looks at historical democratization processes in other countries. "Solutions to bitter conflicts are possible when circumstances convince key actors on both sides that negotiating a change of regime on mutually acceptable terms is preferable to a painful stalemate. At that point, effective local leadership, backed by strong international support, can forge agreements that work."
- Colombian President Iván Duque aligned himself with the U.S. and took a hard line against Maduro's government -- the approach seems to have been incorrect and could leave Colombia on the sidelines of an eventual transition, argues Sandra Borda in Americas Quarterly.
- Venezuelan authorities said they detained 17 people in relation to the failed April 30 uprising against Nicolás Maduro's government. Attorney General Tarek William Saab said 34 people are under investigation, reports AFP. Fifteen opposition lawmakers have been stripped of their immunity by the regime-dominated Constituent Assembly in relation to the uprising.
- Protesters are on the streets of MaturÃn the capital of Venezuela's oil producing Monagas state, the second day of manifestations due to lack of gas, reports Efecto Cocuyo.
Migration
- U.S President Donald Trump said he'd consider granting temporary asylum to Venezuelan migrants living in the U.S. -- the move is contrary to his administration's ongoing push to eliminate Temporary Protection Status for migrants of other nationalities, reports Al Jazeera.
- Doctors complain that migrants in U.S. hospitals are treated like felons, an approach that interferes with their medical care. (New York Times)
- Trump insists the new migration agreement with Mexico has a secret clause, though Mexican authorities have denied it, reports Bloomberg. (See yesterday's briefs and Monday's post.)
- Mexico's crackdown on migrants crossing its southern border is forcing people trying to reach the U.S. to take increasingly isolated and dangerous paths, reports Animal PolÃtico.
- Mexico promised the U.S. to send 6,000 National Guard troops to secure the border with Guatemala, but the new security force has limited power to act over migrants, reports Animal PolÃtico.
Mexico
- Mexican journalist Norma Sarabia was killed in Mexico's Tabasco state, the sixth journalist murdered in the country this year. (BBC and Animal PolÃtico)
- Veracruz reporter Marcos Miranda Cogco was kidnapped yesterday while taking a family member to school, reports Animal PolÃtico.
- "Despite serious missteps, there's cause to be optimistic about Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s presidency," writes Genaro Lozano in Americas Quarterly.
Haiti
- Haitian media organizations demanded greater police protection in the wake of increasing attacks against journalists in the midst of anti-government protests, reports the Associated Press. On Monday a well-known radio journalist was killed. (See yesterday's briefs.)
Guatemala
- Violence and political maneuvering have marred the lead up to Guatemala's elections this Sunday, in which a slew of candidates have been judicially blocked from running. "Amid the chaos, left-wing parties may have most to lose," writes Jeff Abbott in NACLA.
Brazil
- Brazilian justice minister Sergio Moro is under increasing pressure to resign in the wake leaked documents that appear to show him colluding with prosecutors to ensure the imprisonment of former president Luis Inácio Lula da Silva, reports the Guardian. (See Monday's post.) The revelations lend strong support Lula's supporters who have long argued that the corruption case against him was politically motivated, reports the New York Times.
- An estimated 28 million Brazilians' access to health care has been sharply curtailed in the wake of a diplomatic clash with Cuba that led to the recall of 8,517 doctors working in the public sector, reports the New York Times.
Colombia
- Former FARC guerrilla leader Seuxis Paucias Hernandez, better known as Jesús Santrich, was sworn in yesterday to Colombia's Senate, reports AFP. Santrich has been at the center of a judicial tug-o-war in recent months, see May 30's briefs.
- Colombian lawmakers have opened a preliminary probe into whether former president Juan Manuel Santos accepted illegal campaign contributions from Brazilian construction Odebrecht in 2014, reports EFE.
Argentina
- Argentine President Mauricio Macri announced his reelection bid yesterday. In a bid to broaden his electoral base, he will be running with Peronist senator Miguel Pichetto, a surprise real politik move that left his base reeling yesterday. (Reuters)
Chile
- Chile’s new climate change plan, unveiled by President Sebastian Piñera this week, puts the country on track to play its part in meeting globally agreed goals to limit warming of the planet, researchers said. (Reuters)
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