Inter-American Watch
Wednesday, December 8th, 2021
Interamerican Institute for Democracy continues its effort to inform US audiences of attacks on Freedom and Democracy in Latin America
The Inter-American Institute for Democracy (IID) continues its initiative to alert the public in the United States and Latin America about new threats fo freedom and security from authoritarianism and organized crime in the Western Hemisphere. The initiative aims to educate U.S. policy-makers and opinion-leaders about the current threats to the democratic system in the Latin American region. These come from an alliance of countries known as XXI Century Socialism, led by Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Bolivia, among others, which have joined forces with criminal organizations like drug cartels or money laundering operatives, whose operations undermine civic and constitutional institutions and corrupt the work of government.
IID: https://iid.dmni.net/iid-resumes-effort-to-inform-us-audiences-of-attacks-on-freedom-and-democracy-in-latin-america/
Ecuador
Peru Congress rejects motion to impeach President Castilo
Peru’s Congress voted against a motion to start an impeachment process against President Pedro Castillo on Tuesday, giving the under fire leftist leader some breathing room. The unicameral legislature vote saw 46 lawmakers in favor and 76 against the motion, with four abstentions. It had needed 52 votes to pass, which would have forced an impeachment trial with a higher threshold to remove Castillo from office.
Reuters: https://news.yahoo.com/peru-congress-rejects-motion-impeach-010317122.html
A Cuban super spy is now Havana’s ambassador to Peru
The Cuban regime appointed Carlos Zamora, an active member of the Cuban Intelligence Directorate with the rank of colonel, as new ambassador to Peru. According to former Cuban intelligence operative Enrique García, Zamora is “a spy with vast experience, accumulated in his more than 50 years of espionage activities, and today he is in a better position than others to carry out his work, for the benefit of the interests of the Cuban dictatorship. If the government of Peru decides to destroy democracy from within, it will have the best adviser in the world in Zamora. Evo Morales and his relationship with Zamora are a good example of that.”
Today in 24: https://today.in-24.com/News/686145.html
Diplomat who served in Russia is now the new Pedro Castillo’s ambassador to Venezuela
Librado Orozco Zapata had served as Peru’s ambassador to El Salvador since 2018. Previously he served in the Peruvian embassies in the former Soviet Union, the Russian Federation, Hungary and Canada, and also as officer in Peru’s mission to the UN.
Rio Times: https://www.riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/mercosur/peru/librado-augusto-orozco-zapata-appointed-ambassador-of-peru-to-venezuela/
Poll: 74% of Peruvian distrust President Castillo about his secret meetings outside presidential palace
74% of Peruvians indicated that they do not believe in the version offered by Castillo, who, upon being discovered by the clandestine appointments he held at the house of a businessman friend of his, in the Lima suburb of Breña, said that they were visits “of a personal nature”
Peru21, in Spanish: https://peru21.pe/politica/pedro-castillo-brena-encuesta-datum-84-de-peruanos-en-desacuerdo-con-citas-del-presidente-fuera-de-palacio-noticia/
Pedro Castillo: “we don’t have communist or chavista thoughts”
Peru’s president said his government will guarantee the governance and institutional framework of the country. “We are not an obstructionist government. We have not come to implement a political model other than what the people are asking for and crying out for. We are a fully democratic government. We do not have communist or chavista thoughts,” he emphasized.
Caretas, in Spanish: In addition, he stressed that his government will be respectful of the powers of the State and that it will guarantee the governance and institutional framework of the country.
Ecuador
Violence grows in Ecuador as illegal weapons enter from Peru and Colombia
In Ecuador, the cross-border flow of industrially-sourced weapons increases crime and exacerbates the current prison crisis. So far, in 2021, more than 2,000 homicides have been recorded, with less than a month to go before the end of the year. This figure surpassed the 1,372 deaths recorded in 2020 and represents almost double the 1,187 in 2019.
The Rio Times: https://www.riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/mercosur/ecuador/violence-grows-in-ecuador-as-illegal-weapons-enter-from-peru-and-colombia/
Argentina
Report: Southern Triple Border key hub for money laundering and terroristm financing
Former Paraguayan prosecutor and expert in economic crimes Josefina Aghemo warned that the Triple Border area is considered a key nucleus for money laundering, often used to finance organized crime networks and terrorists.
Infobae, in Spanish: https://www.infobae.com/america/2021/12/02/la-triple-frontera-es-un-nucleo-clave-para-el-lavado-de-dinero-y-el-financiamiento-del-terrorismo/
Alberto Fernández accepted Biden’s invitation to a summit that could make Argentina’s allies uncomfortable
Biden invited more than a hundred countries, although there were selective omissions such as China and Bolivia, two allies of Argentina. In addition, he included Taiwan in the list of participants, which led to questions from the Xi Jinping government. According to the invitation, the objectives of the forum are “defense against authoritarianism, the fight against corruption and the promotion of respect for human rights”, the latter a euphemism that Washington often uses to criticize the political regimes of Venezuela , Nicaragua and Cuba.
La Nacion, in Spanish: https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/alberto-fernandez-acepto-la-invitacion-de-biden-a-una-cumbre-que-podria-incomodar-a-los-aliados-de-nid07122021/
Argentina to chair the UN Human Rights council in 2022
Argentina will chair the United Nations Human Rights Council next year for the first time in its history, following the election of career diplomat Federico Villegas Beltrán as the body’s next president. The election of Ambassador Villegas as the intergovernmental body’s president, agreed unanimously by the council’s 47 member states as a UN convention in Geneva on Monday, means that Argentina will play a key role in the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide over the next 12 months.
Buenos Aires Times: https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/argentina-to-chair-the-un-human-rights-council-in-2022.phtml
Bolivia
United Nations Committee Against Torture calls for urgent reform of Bolivian courts for lack of independence
The report, prepared by 10 independent experts who monitor the implementation of the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, refers to “the lack of independence and autonomy of the Judiciary and the Prosecutor’s Office, as evidenced in judicial proceedings for sedition and terrorism brought against political opponents.”
The Rio Times: https://www.riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-politics/un-committee-against-torture-called-for-urgent-reform-of-bolivian-justice-for-lack-of-independence/
Brasil
Brazilian conservative president Jair Bolsonaro wins Times Magazine 2021 Person of the Year reader poll
Of the more than 9 million votes cast for by readers for whom they think is the person or group who had the greatest influence on the year—for better or worse—Bolsonaro received 24% of the vote.
Time Magazine: https://time.com/6124458/person-of-the-year-reader-poll-results-2021/
