Quote of the Day: Crime and (trying to figure out the) punishment

“Crime is not just about prosecution; it's not just about justice.”

“I am addressing the criminals that I want to talk directly to. I know some of you are watching me.”

--Guatemalan presidential candidates Alvaro Colom and Otto Perez Molina, respectively, comment on crime during last night’s presidential debate.

Immigration was another hot topic highlighted during the debate with two of the candidates calling "heroes" the Guatemalan migrants that enter the U.S.

The election is set for September 9^th and a poll released today has Colom with a 3% lead over Perez Molina.

Sources- CNN, Bloomberg, Guanabee, Prensa Latina

Image- BBC News

Cuban boxers won’t go to championships

The fear of possible defections has led to Thursday’s decision by the Cuban boxing federation to pull out of this year’s World Boxing Championships. According to a statement by the federation:

“We will not expose a Cuban team again to the excesses and provocations that in this case would occur in Chicago, in U.S. territory, an ideal location for merchants and traffickers to act freely with the complicity of U.S. authorities.”

Earlier this month, Fidel Castro wrote that “Cuba will not sacrifice one bit of honor” by participating in the tournament. His warning came in the aftermath of the eleven-day disappearance of Cuban pugilists Erislandy Lara and Guillermo Rigondeaux (image) during the Pan American Games in July.

The World Boxing Championships serves as a qualifying event for the 2008 Olympics, though Cuban boxers have the chance of being in two other tournaments to qualify for the games.

Sources- CBC, Reuters Africa, The Latin Americanist, BBC News

Image- BBC News

Chavez the mediator visits Colombia’s Uribe

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez is visiting Colombian counterpart Alvaro Uribe in a bid to broker a peace deal with Colombian guerillas. Despite the doubts by some members of the Colombian government, Chavez expressed hope that something could be worked out:

“‘I ask God that I can contribute in the issue of this humanitarian swap, in the search for peace, a peace for all of us,’ Chavez said after stepping off his plane in Bogota before meetings with Uribe at the president's farm outside of capital.”

At the heart of the discussion is the hard-line taken by guerillas and government over the creation of a demilitarized zone and how to go about with a possible hostage exchange. Still, there is cautious optimism by the families of hostages on Chavez’ mediation:

“‘The kidnappers say they admire Chavez. They might not obey him, but they do take note,’ (Ingrid) Betancourt's husband, Juan Carlos Lecompte, said. ‘It's the first time I see there could be a small light at the end of the tunnel.’”

Sources- Bloomberg, International Herald Tribune, Prensa Latina, Reuters

Image- RCN

Major U.S.-Mexico border crossing closed

The U.S.-Mexico’s busiest border crossing at San Ysidro, California was shut down by California police nearly two hours ago. Vehicular traffic was brought to a virtual standstill (image) on the verge of the Labor Day weekend as U.S. authorities worried over possible disruptions by protests in Tijuana.

In June, traffic between Tijuana and San Diego was disrupted by nearly 10,000 demonstrators.

Speaking of Mexico and protests, the Teamsters filed a lawsuit on Wednesday to prevent a pilot program allowing Mexican trucks to drive on U.S. highways. The plan- which was supposed to have gone in effect in 1995 under the North American Free Trade Agreement- is expected to start this weekend.

Sources- SignOnSanDiego.com, O.C. Register, SanLuisObispo.com, Bloomberg

Image- SignOnSanDiego.com

Bachelet and Simpson Miller remain on “Most Powerful Women” list

In a testament to the growing power of women and politics in the Americas, the heads of state from Chile and Jamaica reappeared in this year’s edition of the Forbes “100 Most Powerful Women”. Chilean president Michelle Bachelet fell from 17^th last year to 27^th place while Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller jumped eight spots to the 81^st position.

Bachelet has had difficulties in her first year in office facing problems like the Transantiago fiasco and recent violent protests. Yet Forbes praised Chile’s strong economic standing as well as Bachelet's initiatives to improve social services.

Despite problems with crime and possible corruption, Forbes praised Simpson Miller’s efforts to improve Jamaica’s health care system and the promotion of women in sports. Her office is up for grabs, however, as polls show her party tied with the main opposition party only days before the general election this Monday.

Other women in the Americas are attempting to emulate Bachelet and Simpson Miller by being elected as heads off state. Guatemala’s Rigoberta Menchu is a distant 5^th place in the latest polls though her influence could be vital in a likely runoff. Meanwhile, Argentine First Lady Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner is the odds-on favorite to succeed her husband.

For the second straight year, German chancellor Angela Merkel heads the list. She is followed by Chinese vice-president Wu Yi, businesswoman Ho Ching, and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Sources- Forbes, The Latin Americanist, Angus Reid Consultants, Scotsman.com

Image- BBC News

Daily Headlines: August 31, 2007

* A bomb scare forced the temporary evacuation of over 10,000 people from Latin America’s tallest building: the Torre Mayor skyscraper in Mexico City (image).

* At least eleven people died after two trains collided outside of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil yesterday afternoon.

* Ecuador’s government became a minority shareholder in the Telesur television network.

* A Panamanian legislator indicted for the murder of a Puerto Rican soldier during the 1989 invasion of Panama is one step closer to becoming head of the country’s parliament.

* Follow-up: Nearly 1600 Colombians who fled to Ecuador over the past week could return home after the government promised increased security.

Sources- AHN, Bloomberg, The Latin Americanist, International Herald Tribune, Forbes, Reuters

Image- BBC News

Quote of the Day: Breaking up is hard to do

“In Florida, (immigration attorney Ralph) Pineda's clients include Dahianna Heard, a Venezuelan woman whose husband was shot last year by insurgents while he worked as a contractor in Iraq. The couple's son, who is a U.S. citizen, faces an uncertain future if his mother is deported.”

--An article from the Associated Press notes that more than eighty foreign-born widows are in danger of being deported from the U.S. due to their husbands’ death before immigration paperwork was approved.

The article highlights the case of Jacqueline Coats- an immigrant from Kenya- who is about to be deported after her U.S. citizen husband passed away last year trying to rescue two drowning kids.

Sources- Guardian UK, News10.net

Protests across the Americas

Over the past week numerous anti-government protests have taken place across Latin America. Here are some of them:

• Nearly 700 protesters were arrested in Chile as marchers clashed with police in the capital, Santiago (image). The protest yesterday was organized by the country’s main labor union against what it deemed as the “neoliberal model” still upheld by President Michele Bachelet.
• Despite the high arrest count in Chile, things got very ugly in Honduras when a teacher was killed. A hotel owner in Santa Rosa de Copan was arrested after “losing his patience” and firing his gun into a multitude of marchers.
• Several groups opposed to Bolivian President Evo Morales called to “defend democracy” during protests in six of the country’s nine states on Tuesday. Some violence was reported as organizers urged people to stay home and shut down businesses.
• Lastly, several hundred Argentines rode motorboats with protest banners along the Uruguay River as they expressed their anger at a controversial pulp mill soon to open near the river. Argentina’s government has joined environmentalists who allege that the Finnish-owned mill will greatly pollute the river which serves as a border between Argentina and Uruguay.

Sources- Bloomberg, AHN, SignOnSanDiego.com, Voice of America, International Herald Tribune, Forbes, Migrant Tales

Image- BBC News

Princess Di photo to be auctioned for Peru

Problems have mounted in providing aid to survivors of Peru’s deadly August 15^th earthquakes; thousands are living in squalor conditions as relief groups have run out of tents and blankets. A spokesman for Doctors Without Borders said that the situation is so dire that “it's like one day after the quake.” Complaints have grown against President Alan Garcia who has yet to deliver on a promised $1900 per homeowner.

In the midst of all those troubles Peruvian photographer Mario Testino said that he will raise money by auctioning an autographed photo of Princess Diana (image). The photo- which appeared in a 1997 issue of Vanity Fair- is appropriate to raise funds for Peru according to Testino:

“I have decided to auction an image of Diana to help the people in Peru because, for me, Diana went out of her way to help people.”

The auction will be held in London on November 20^th.

In the meantime, we continue to ask that you please contribute to the Peruvian aid efforts despite the problems mentioned above. Click here to find out how to donate to charities like CARE and the American Red Cross.

Sources- International Herald Tribune, The Latin Americanist, Reuters, BBC News

Image- CBC

Daily Headlines: August 30, 2007

* 2005: Argentine soccer great Diego Maradona traveled to Colombia for gastric bypass surgery. Friday: Maradona will arrive in Colombia for cosmetic dental surgery.

* Brazil’s government issued a text detailing the crimes and human rights abuses committed under military rule from 1964 to 1985.

* A volcano erupted yesterday on an uninhabited area of the Galapagos Islands.

* Could the use of nuclear power spread across Latin America?

* One of Costa Rica’s most vital reefs is being decimated by algae caused by untreated sewage and other trash dumped into the sea.

Sources- BBC Sport, Xinhua, MarketWatch, Reuters AlertNet, People’s Daily Online, BBC News

Image- SI.com (Diego Maradona cheering from the stands during the 2006 World Cup)

Quote of the Day: The aftermath of Katrina and immigration

“We were like the first to be cleaning all of the destruction up and all of the debris and all of the junk and all of the dirt and all of the mud…Now that there's hardly any work left, now they're arresting us all.”

--Isabel Aredo- a Peruvian immigrant in Biloxi, Mississippi- comments on the Latino immigrant influx to the Gulf States in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Two years after the storm ravaged New Orleans and several southeastern states, those areas are dealing with the consequences of thousands of immigrants that migrated to assist the reconstruction process.

(One recent QOTD looked at the impact of Latino immigrants on the cuisine in New Orleans).

Sources- The Clarion Ledger, Reuters, The Latin Americanist

Image- NPR (2005 image of “Jose Gandara and his partner (who) haul discarded refrigerators to the Jefferson Parrish landfill for $200 a day.”)

Candidate killed as Guatemalan political violence intensifies

A candidate running for local office in Guatemala was killed in the latest example of political violence. Clara Luz Lopez- who was part of the political faction backing Rigoberta Menchu’s presidential bid- thus becomes one of approximately forty candidates or senior party officials murdered in Guatemala according to The Telegraph.

Menchu- who won the 1992 Nobel Peace Prize- stopped her campaign due to low popularity and lack of funds. Yet with less than two weeks to go in the elections she criticized the violence that has gotten out of hand:

“It is not the first attack, nor is it the first (person) who loses his her life in this campaign…Encouraging violence leads to more violence.”

Center-left candidate Alvaro Colom continues leading the polls for the presidency though his 22% is far behind the majority needed to avoid a runoff.

Sources- Telegraph.co.uk, BBC News, Prensa Latina, Angus Reid Consultants, People's Daily Online

Image- Telegraph.co.uk (According to the caption: “Congressional candidate Hector Montenegro holds a picture of his murdered daughter Marta Cristina”)

Juan Luis Guerra leads Latin Grammy nominees

Dominican singer Juan Luis Guerra led the nominations for this year's Latin Grammy Awards. In a ceremony this morning in Miami, Guerra was chosen five times including for album of the year and record of the year.

Not far behind him were Puerto Rican pop star Ricky Martin and hip-hop/reggaeton duo Calle 13 with four nods each. Other notables that were nominated include Miguel Bose, Zoë, Daddy Yankee, and Kinky.

Last week Guerra was announced as the winner of the Latin Grammy's Person of the Year award based on his music and charitable work.

The Awards ceremony will take place on November 8^th from Las Vegas.

Sources (English)- International Herald Tribune, The Latin Americanist, grammy.com

Sources (Spanish)- Primera Hora

Image- VivirLatino

Elian redux? - Parents battle over Cuban girl’s custody in Miami

A custody battle currently taking place in south Florida may possibly boil over like the affair over Elian Gonzalez in 1999 and 2000. However, the complexities of the case reveal a different story.

Cuban fisherman Rafael Izquierdo is in court seeking custody of his biological daughter who was taken legally to the U.S. in 2005 with his consent by her mother- Elena Perez. Shortly after, Perez attempted suicide and the state of Florida took custody of the girl. She would soon be adopted by Joe Cubas- a former sports agent who represented several Cuban defectors including Orlando “el Duque” Hernandez.

Cuban-American activist and attorney Pedro Freyre told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel that the case will not be like the hullabaloo over Elian:

"It is being decided as Elian should have been ... instead of being decided in the streets of Miami," he said. "The fact pattern in this one is different, and it just got handled differently from the beginning."

The ardor of the Cuban exile community also appears to have cooled since the Elian case, Freyre said. That could be partly because of a generational shift, he said.

"We're all a little older and wiser and disconnected," said Freyre, who is not involved in this case.

In testimony yesterday the girl’s half-brother alleged that Perez was very physically abusive towards him and his siblings but also described Izquierdo as “not a bad guy.”

Image- BBC News (Elena Perez sits in court behind Rafael Izquierdo)

Sources- BBC News, Times Online, Baltimore Sun, International Herald Tribune, PBS

Daily Headlines: August 29, 2007

* Scientists discovered a new “golden frog” (image) whose home is a small area in central Colombia.

* China continues to make inroads into Latin America; the latest example being plans for increased oil exploration in Peru.

* Chile’s Supreme Court has upheld a life sentence for a retired officer convicted of overseeing the deaths of twelve guerillas in 1987.

* Mexico’s economy grew by a less-than-expected 2.5% in June.

* Millions of dollars in foreign aid from Sweden to Nicaragua will be phased out over the next four years.

Sources- MSNBC, Bloomberg, International Herald Tribune, Reuters

Image- FOX News

Video of the Day: Getting rid of Fidel

With rumors of Fidel Castro’s health buzzing about, we present the trailer for a controversial British documentary on him entitled “638 Ways to Kill Castro”. The 2006 film examined the many failed attempts by the C.I.A. to eliminate the Cuban leader in the near fifty years since the island's Revolution. The snippet from the film provides interesting insight into the post-Revolutionary relations between the U.S. and Cuba (video link):

Sources- BBC News, Guardian UK, YouTube