April 10th: Pro-immigrant “day of action”

Numerous pro-immigrant rallies and events around the U.S. are scheduled for this Monday. (Click here for a comprehensive list of where events are to take place). While senators refused to pass a compromise bill on illegal immigration, controversy has surrounded the issue of whether or not non-U.S. flags should be carried during pro-immigrant rallies. (Thanks to Hispanic Tips for several of these links).

bush administration, immigration, latin america, april 10, reform, senate

U.N. accuses Haiti of human rights violations

The chief of the U.N.’s human rights division in Haiti accused their government of illegal jailing thousands since the coup against Jean-Betrand Aristede in 2004. In addition, Thierry Fagart has called for many of the detainees to be released, a move that may come about with the inauguration of president-elect Rene Preval in May.

rene preval, united nations, human rights, haiti, caribbean

Police detain three accused of murdering Canadian-Venezuelan brothers

Venezuela’s Justice Minister announced today of the arrest of three Venezuelans accused of kidnapping and killing three underage brothers of Canadian and Venezuelan citizenship. Hundreds of Venezuelans rallied to the streets after the victims were found in the outskirts of Caracas on Tuesday. President Hugo Chavez denounced the kidnapping/murder, yet also warned that opposition leaders are trying to exploit the crime against his administration.

crime, hugo chavez, Venezuela

Dead heat amongst presidential candidates in Peru

Mere days after polls showed that Ollanta Humala would win Peru’s presidential election, a final poll published today showed that the top three candidates are locked in a statistical dead heat with Election Day taking place this Sunday. National Public Radio analyzed the candidates while the Washington Post’s Jefferson Morley looked at international media coverage of the election.

Peru, election, Ollanta Humala, Lourdes Flores, Alan Garcia, politics, foreign media

Two countries vow not to send troops to SOA

Argentina and Uruguay said that they will not send any more of their troops to train in the military facility formerly known as the School of the Americas, (SOA), according to a watchdog group. The SOA garnered notoriety in that some of their graduates became leaders accused of human rights violations, such as Efraim Rios Montt and Roberto D’Aubuisson.

latin america, international politics, uruguay, argentina, human rights, school of the americas

Multi-million dollar aid package from Korea to Latin America

A top Korean official announced yesterday that Korea will provide $200 million in aid to Latin America via the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB). Meanwhile, the president of the IADB has stated his support for China and India to become members.

foreign aid, latin america, korea, india, china, Inter-American Development Bank

Humala still ahead in polls, but may lose possible run-off

With less than a week until Election Day, polls show nationalist candidate Ollanta Humala with a 5% lead over Lourdes Flores and an 8% lead over ex-president Alan Garcia. However, polls also show Flores would easily win a run-off over Humala or Garcia, and this is a likely scenario since no candidate is close to gaining a majority necessary to avoid a run-off.

Peru, election, Ollanta Humala, Lourdes Flores, Alan Garcia, politics

Investors wary over possible changes by future leftist leaders

International bankers are worried by the changes that may come about from gains by the left in Latin American presidential elections this year, though a former U.S. diplomat wonders if such worries are to harsh.

(Graphic shows GDP growth in Latin America and the Caribbean during the 1990s).

latin america, international economy, elections, politics, left, foreign investment

Middle Eastern terrorists linked to Latin American criminal groups

In a speech last month during a meeting of the Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism, a U.S. State Department official pointed out how Middle Eastern terrorists have raised money for Latin American criminal groups. Earlier this year, Colombian police arrested a criminal ring with possible ties to Hammas and Al-Qaeda.

latin america, terrorism, hammas, al qaeda

“Border Film Project” tries to shed some light on illegal immigration

An entry last month in Metafilter looks at the “Border Film Project,” where filmmakers distribute disposable cameras to immigrants trying to cross the U.S.-Mexico border and Minutemen volunteers trying to stop illegal immigration.

mexico, immigration, minutemen, border film project