Ecuador: Polls show reelection win for Correa

Ecuador’s Rafael Correa is likely to win reelection according to the results of several domestic polls.

With Correa needing a minimum 40% to hold on to the presidency, a poll by Cedatos-Gallup showed him having between 49 to 52% of support. His closest rivals are over forty points behind, though the 31% undecided may be vital in possibly forcing a second round.

Another poll conducted by S.P. Investigación y Estudios found Correa with 51% support followed by 13% for opposition candidate Lucio Gutiérrez, 12% for business magnate Álvaro Noboa, and 9% for socialist Martha Roldós. A third poll by Market Asesores gave Correa an almost 45% cushion ahead of Noboa and Gutiérrez.

Election Day is on April 26 but under Ecuadorian law today is the first day of a blackout on public polls.

Correa may end up being the big winner not only if he’s reelected but polls show that his political party will continue having a strong majority in Ecuador’s legislature.

Earlier this month, Correa praised the G20 summit deal:

The agreement, reached at the G20 Summit to tackle the world financial crisis, was "important," Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa said…

"If U.S. and Europe are boosted, it means that they will buy more U.S. and European products, but also foreign products, so there we can place our exports," Correa said.

This means that they will have more saving, financing and investment capacity.

Image- AFP
Online Sources- Reuters, Xinhua, Angus Reid Consultants, El Tiempo, WSJ.com

Juarez serial rape suspect nabbed

Mexican police arrested a suspect accused of raping nearly twenty women in Ciudad Juarez.

43-year-old Texas native Jorge Alberto Mendez Navarro was nabbed after being accused of violating nineteen women ranging in age from 13 to 32. The arrest was part of a year-long investigation by Mexican police after a fifteen-year-old girl reported being raped in the crime-ridden border city.

Local prosecutors strongly believe that Mendez Navarro often crossed the border into Mexico just to commit his crimes:

The suspect, a 42-year-old chemical engineer who lived in El Paso, was a "probable serial rapist," said Alejandro Pariente, deputy prosecutor of Chihuahua state.

The suspect had committed sexual attacks on young women for at least two years in the violent border city of Ciudad Juarez, staking out victims by day and entering their bedroom windows at night, Pariente added.

The prosecutor said that the suspect was also on a register of sex attackers in Texas.

Ciudad Juarez has become infamous for the unsolved deaths of nearly 400 women. The murders of so many ladies have garnered the attention of celebs like Peter Gabriel and the tireless work of women’s rights activists like Esther Chavez. According to Chavez, widespread police corruption and a climate of impunity have served as two huge obstacles against properly investigating the femicides of Ciudad Juarez.

Image- daylife.com (“Women walk past a cross in Ciudad Juarez April 10, 2008, put up in memory of women murdered in the city since 1993. Activists and relatives of disappeared and murdered women in a string of murders in Ciudad Juarez are demanding justice for the crimes.”)
Online Sources- Newspaper Tree El Paso, Times of India, LAHT, The Latin Americanist, AP

Retrials ordered in Dorothy Stang case

It may have taken longer than expected but justice might finally be served in the murder of Dorothy Stang.

Originally from Ohio, Stang was a nun and environmentalist who strongly defended the Amazon rain forest from illegal logging and encroaching land developers. In 2005, she was brutally killed by gunmen who prosecutors believed were hired by local ranchers. In 2007, Rayfran das Neves and supposed mastermind Vitalmiro Bastos de Moura were convicted for murdering Stang yet a court shockingly overturned de Moura’s punishment last year. That decision led to outrage from Stang’s family and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Yesterday a Brazilian tribunal ordered the arrest and retrial of das Neves and de Moura. The judges found irregularities in the previous decisions and officials are confident they will be definitely convicted:

Three judges voted unanimously on Tuesday to have a jury retry both Moura and Neves, the gunman who confessed to killing Stang.

The judges annulled the acquittal on grounds that the jury voted contrary to the evidence, according to a statement from the Para state judiciary.

They also said that defense lawyers had presented illegal evidence attempting to show that Neves acted alone and did not receive orders from Moura. Neves originally admitted to having been hired by Moura but later changed his story.

It remains to be seen if the other accused mastermind in Stang’s murder- rancher Regivaldo Galvao- will soon stand trial. In the meantime, the retrials of das Neves and de Moura will be a welcome step in the right direction.

Image- BBC News
Online Sources- BBC News, LAHT, Reuters, The Latin Americanist, Commondreams.org

Daily Headlines: April 8, 2009

* Mexico: Singer Manu Chao was nearly kicked out of Mexico after he criticized the federal government for “state terrorism” during the 2006 uprising in San Salvador Atenco.

* U.S.: One out of every two naturalized citizens in 2008 was Latino according to National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.

* Haiti: A group of Congressmen has just finished a visit to Haiti where they discussed politics with President Rene Preval.

* Venezuela: Authorities have seized over twelve tons of illegal drugs so far this year according to interior minister Tarek El Aissami.

Image- New York Magazine (Manu Chao performing at a 2007 New York concert).
Online Sources- LAHT, AP, The Latin Americanist, MSNBC, Guardian UK

Today's Video: Being counted

With the 2010 Census coming soon, NBC Nightly News examined its importance as well as worries from some Latinos:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

What do you think?

Online Sources- MSNBC

Congressmen report on meeting with Fidel Castro

On Tuesday, three members of the Congressional Black Caucus discussed their historic meeting with former Cuban president Fidel Castro.

Castro “was very engaging, very energetic, (and) discussed a wide range of issues," said Rep. Barbara Lee. Rep. Laura Richardson observed that Castro “looked directly into our eyes, quite aware of what was happening, and said to us 'how can we help President Obama?'"

Lee, Richardson, and Rep. Bobby Rush met with Castro in Havana on Monday as part of a visiting group of seven congressional Democrats. The conversation was said to be political in nature and touched on possibly normalizing relations between the U.S. and Cuba. "Fifty years of foolishness is over," said Rush in opposition to the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba.

The meeting may end up being much ado about nothing or (hopefully) the first step in thawing decades of icy relations between the U.S. and Cuba. As the BBC News said:

President Obama is expected to announce soon that he is easing restrictions imposed in 2004 by George W Bush on travel and remittances for Cuban-Americans.

Last week, a bill was introduced to Congress which would allow unrestricted travel to Cuba for all Americans.

Meanwhile, in an article published on Sunday, Fidel Castro said his country was not afraid to talk to the US.

But no-one is yet expecting the lifting of America's 50-year-old trade embargo on Cuba, our correspondent adds.

Image- AFP
Online Sources- First Read, The Telegraph, FOX News, BBC News, Reuters

Study: Latinos apprehensive of police

Latinos have very little confidence in police and the criminal justice system according to a study released today.

The report by the Pew Research Center found that 61% of Latinos feel confidence in their local police; 17% less than whites though 14% higher than blacks. In addition, 45% of Latinos surveyed expressed confidence in being treated fairly and a slightly higher number (49%) are sure of being treated fairly by the courts.

The data on Latinos comes from a survey of over 2000 people conducted in mid-2008. Thus, the survey’s timing came at a particularly sensitive time in Latino relations with law enforcement:

The report… highlights a widening disconnect in racial justice: At a time when Hispanics are interacting more with law enforcement due in part to their growing population as well as stepped up immigration enforcement, they are showing skepticism…

The survey was conducted in mid-2008, when immigration prosecutions were rising due to tighter enforcement during the Bush administration. Citing minority distrust of government workers, Hispanic and other groups are urging the Obama administration to push through immigration reform or temporarily halt raids during next year's census to ensure a more accurate count.

Image- ABC News
Online Sources- UPI, AP, Pew Hispanic Center

Guilty verdict in Fujimori human rights case (Updated)

Update:

Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori was sentenced to 25 years in jail for human rights abuses while he was president from 1990 to 2000. (Link via Bloomberg).

Original Post:

Peruvian high court convicted former President Alberto Fujimori for numerous human rights abuses during his decade in power.

The “mega-trial” took place over fifteen months and Fujimori became the first democratically elected Latin American leader convicted of human rights violations in his own country. The judges were firm in their verdict against the figure who now faces a thirty-year jail sentence:

"The charges have been proved beyond all reasonable doubt," said Cesar San Martin, the chief judge…

The verdict related to two massacres, the first committed on November 3, 1991 when a group of armed and masked soldiers burst into a party in the Lima suburb of Barrios Altos, killing 15 people, including an eight-year-old boy.

Several months later, nine university students and their professor were rounded up by the same "La Colina" squad, taken to a deserted area of the city and executed with shots to the back of the head.

Fujimori was also found guilty in relation to the kidnapping of a Peruvian journalist working for a Spanish newspaper and a businessman, both critics of his government.

The trial was filled with intrigue and controversy including Fujimori being reprimanded for napping during proceedings and facing the testimony of former right-hand man Vladimiro Montesinos.

Ironically, one of the main beneficiaries of today’s guilty verdict could be Fujimori’s daughter, Keiko, who may garner support from her father’s sycophants and possibly launch her presidential bid. Yet the big winners today were the justice that has been served against someone who arrogantly thought he was above the law as well as the victims of the massacres and murders during Peru’s armed conflict.

Image- BBC News
Online Sources- BBC News, Al Jazeera English, The Latin Americanist, Reuters

Ecuador demands return of “kidnapped” inmate

Ecuadorian officials have sought the return of a businessman currently on death row in Florida.

66-year-old ex-businessman Nelson Serrano was convicted and received the death penalty for the murders of four people in 1997. Ecuador has no death penalty yet the problem is not his punishment, according to Deputy Ecuadorean Interior Minister Franco Sanchez. Rather, the point of contention is over Serrano’s arrest which occurred while he was living in Ecuador:

"The issue is not his guilt or innocence," said Deputy Ecuadorean Interior Minister Franco Sanchez. "This is called a kidnapping, not an arrest"…

Ecuador maintains Florida officials bribed police there to help capture Serrano, and that he was kept overnight at the Quito airport in a dog kennel to avoid detection. They also say he was beaten so badly a flight attendant tried to stop him from boarding the plane until an assistant state attorney and a law enforcement agent from Florida intervened.

The allegations on Serrano’s alleged mistreatment were denied by Floridian authorities. "We made sure we did everything by the book once we got there…We didn't want anything to go wrong," said Florida Department of Law Enforcement agent Tommy Ray. Ray admitted that $300 was paid to Ecuadorian police in Serrano’s arrest but claimed that it was a “reimbursement” rather than bribery.

Image- AP (“Francisco Serrano, son of Nelson Serrano, who was convicted in Florida of first degree murder in 2007, speaks at a news conference Monday, April 6, 2009 in Miami.”)
Online Sources- The Ledger, miamiherald.com, The Latin Americanist

Daily Headlines: April 7, 2009

* Venezuela: President Hugo Chavez’ trip to Asia continued with the signing of several major energy deals with Japan.

* Latin America: Stocks throughout the region slipped yesterday partly due to fears of a Brazilian recession.

* Chile: Could ex-President Eduardo Frei regain the Chilean presidency in December’s elections?

* Costa Rica: Chinese police broke up a human trafficking ring after noticing a surge in visa applications to the Costa Rican embassy in Beijing.

Image- AP (“Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, left, shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso at the latter's official residence in Tokyo Monday, April 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Kazuhiro Nogi, Pool)”).
Online Sources- CNN, The Latin Americanist, Reuters, forbes.com, Javno

Today’s Video: Tragedy in Italy

Update:

According to Italy's government the death toll has increased to 207 people though that number is expected to rise. (Link via Guardian UK).

Original Post:

It only took a scant twenty seconds. But in that brief span of time the earth shook violently today in central Italy and has thus far cost the lives of 150 people:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Several groups have established relief efforts where you can help those affected by this terrible tragedy. Here are two organizations which would appreciate any help you can provide:

• GlobalGiving
• National Italian American Foundation
  

If you know of any other ways to help the victims of the earthquake in Italy please mention them in the comments to this post. (We will subsequently add them to this post.)

Online Sources- MSNBC, BBC News, GlobalGiving, National Italian American Foundation

Notable Quotables: Stay

“If I were they, I would think carefully before setting foot outside the United States. They are now, and forever in the future, at risk of arrest. Until this is sorted out, they are in their own legal black hole.”

--- British human rights attorney Philippe Sands remarked in reference to the six former White House officials indicted by Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon.

As we recently mentioned, ex-attorney general Alberto Gonzales and five others have been named in a criminal case regarding human rights abuses at the Guantanamo Bay prison.

Garzon is best-known for issuing an arrest warrant against former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet several years ago. Garzon’s tireless crusade has earned him the wrath of supporters of the late Spanish fascist strongman Francisco Franco as well as criticism from Venezuela’s government.

(Hat tip: The Daily Dish.)

Image- Der Spiegel (Alberto Gonzales testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2007).
Online Sources- The New Yorker, The Latin Americanist, Guardian UK, The Daily Dish

Follow-up: Garcia Marquez denies retirement claims

To paraphrase Mark Twain: “reports of my retirement have been greatly exaggerated.”

As we mentioned last week, the agent of Gabriel Garcia Marquez said that he will retire from writing. "I don't think that García Márquez will write anything else", mentioned Carmen Balcells to Chilean newspaper La Tercera on the possible future of the famed author.

“Gabo” subsequently denied the rumors that he was putting down his pen forever. According to a very brief interview published in Colombia’s El Tiempo:

El Tiempo: Maestro, could you answer some questions for El Tiempo?"

Gabriel Garcia Marquez: Call me later; I'm writing,

We called him later at his Mexico City studio and he accepted answering only two questions.

Is it true that you will no longer write?

“Not only is it untrue but the truth is that I do nothing else but write.

But it has been said that you will not publish any more books?

My job is to write, not to publish. I'll know when the pastries that I have in the oven are ready to be eaten. – [ed. personal translation]

In retrospect, as the Guardian UK noted, Balcells’ comments are “somewhat galling for her, given that she also revealed García Márquez represented 36.2% of her agency's income.”

Image- Reuters
Online Sources- El Tiempo, The Latin Americanist, LAHT, Guardian UK, brainyquote.com

Chavez lauds Arab-LatAm union

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez spoke out in Qatar about a two-day summit of South American and Arab countries, supporting what he said is the "coming together" of the two regions.

Chavez blamed the U.S. for creating Al Qaeda in an effort to "impede the unity of the Arab world."

At the summit, Chavez proposed a few ideas, including creation of the "petro," or currency backed by oil and gas reserved, and creating an OPEC bank.

Chavez also swung by Russia and China.

Later, he offered to "reset" relations with the U.S., and specifically said the upcoming Summit of Americas in Trinidad and Tobago -- which U.S. President Barack Obama will attend -- will be a nice place to "reset relations of all kinds between the United States and Venezuela. . . I am inclined to push the reset key."

Source: greenleft.org.au, presstv.ir

Photo: presstv.ir

T & T Summit nears; Obama's regional rep on the line

Todays' piece by Abraham Lowenthal in the Boston Globe synopsizes the rising chorus of experts calling for Obama's unique opportunity at the April 17 - 19 Fifth Summit of the Americas. "Above all else," Lowenthal implores, Obama should take the opportunity to "listen."

Little doubt exists that Obama will be able to do this much, and do it well.

The speculation abounds, however, on whether Obama will use the opportunity to make any major proclamations. It seems unlikely that he'll give more than passing mention to Cuba (which will not be sending official envoys) -- though he may announce something beforehand. How much he'll devote to regional powers Mexico and Brazil (with whose leaders he's already met) over reaching out to smaller countries or less amenable leaders remains to be seen. It will be interesting to gauge his inevitable mention of immigration policies and hints at what he would like to see changed (though will probably have little power bring to fruition).

The media will be on the lookout for the chance handshake (or the money shot -- a hug) with Chavez -- Morales or Ortega, would do, however.

A number of other recent entreaties on how Obama should approach the summit are available below:

• VP Joe Biden's take.


• Undersecretary of State Tom Shannon's take.


• Inter-American Dialogue President Peter Hakim's take (and testimony).


• A Trinidadian skeptic's take.

Daily Headlines: April 6, 2009

* Bolivia: "It's like giving money to the wolves, or to entrust the care of the flock: the wolf is not going to keep the sheep, it will devour them,” said President Evo Morales in opposition to last week’s $1 trillion G20 deal.

* Argentina: Tens of thousands of people lined the streets of Buenos Aires on Thursday and bid farewell to recently deceased ex-President Raul Alfonsin.

* U.S.: Thousands of protestors rallied in south Florida and called for the granting of temporary protected status for Haitians.

* Colombia: A former commander of Colombia’s rightist paramilitaries claimed that he “never felt pursued by either the army or the police or any other state institution.”

Image- BBC News (Thousands of people took to the streets of the London last week to protest during the G20 summit).
Online Sources- LAHT, PRESS TV, Palm Beach Post, The Latin Americanist, Reuters