Inter-American Watch
Wednesday, November 10th, 2021
(Casto Ocando, Editor)
Peru
President Castillo’s secretary under criminal investigation for alleged influence peddling
Peru’s Anti-Corruption Office announced it was starting a formal investigation of the President’s Secretary General, Arnulfo Bruno Pacheco Castillo, among others, for the alleged crime of influence peddling. The investigation is a result of the complaint filed by Major General José Vizcarra Álvarez, former Commander General of the Army, who said Secretary Pacheco, reportedly on behalf of the Minister of Defense, Walter Ayala, as well as President Pedro Castillo, asked him for the irregular promotion of two colonels for their loyalty to Castillo.
(Gestion, in Spaninsh: https://gestion.pe/peru/politica/pedro-castillo-pffaa-procuraduria-denuncio-ante-la-fiscalia-a-secretario-de-palacio-por-presunto-delito-de-trafico-de-influencias-ndc-noticia/?ref=gesr)
High ranking generals of the Peruvian army report irregularities, favoritism in military promotions
Brigadier Generals Julio Domínguez Pasco and Marco Campos Gerónimo denounced that during the process of promotions in the Army, improper acts were recorded to favor certain officers who were applying for the rank of Major General. In a letter sent to president Castillo, general Domínguez said he was subject of “harassment and threats” during the promotion process. A lawyer representing both officials said they have evidence of the irregularities.
(La Republica, in Spanish: https://larepublica.pe/politica/2021/11/10/fuerzas-armadas-generales-ep-reportan-al-presidente-favoritismo-en-ascensos-pedro-castillo/)
Pedro Castillo says he has “unrestricted respect” for the Peruvian Armed Forces, amidst scandals of influence peddling in the military
In the midst of questions about the reported presidential influence on the promotion of general “friends” through his secretary Bruno Pacheco, president Castillo said he “ratified” his “unrestricted respect” for the institution of the Peruvian Armed Forces, in a tweet that included a pictures of him sorrunded by the Joint Chief of Staff on Tuesday.
(Caretas, in Spanish: https://caretas.pe/politica/presidente-castillo-manifiesta-su-apoyo-y-respeto-a-las-fuerzas-armadas/)
New appointed Anti-Narcotics official opposed to coca crop eradication programs sponsored by U.S.
Ricardo Soberón, the new head of Devida, Peru’s anti-drug agency, is known as an opponent of the U.S.-sponsored policy of eradication of illegal coca crops, since the time he presided over the agency during the government of Ollanta Humala, back in 2011-2012.
(Caretas, in Spanish: https://caretas.pe/politica/designan-a-ricardo-soberon-opositor-a-la-politica-de-erradicacion-de-cultivos-de-coca-como-nuevo-jefe-de-devida/)
Argentina
High-ranking FARC operative arrested in Argentina
Facundo Molares Schoenfeld, an argentian also known as Camilo el Argentino, a designated member of the dissident FARC group “Segunda Marquetalia”, was arrested in the small town of Travelin de Chubut, south west of Buenos Aires, after a joint operation between Interpol Colombia and Interpol Argentina. According to authorities, a.k.a. Camilo was seeking to expand FARC operations in Argentina, “in compliance with the guidelines of alias Ivan Marquez and alias El Paisa”.
(El Tiempo, in Spanish: https://www.eltiempo.com/justicia/conflicto-y-narcotrafico/capturan-a-disidente-de-las-farc-en-argentina-631095)
Analysis: Valuing Argentina’s peso: it could cost the Peronists an election
Argentina’s embattled currency could cost the ruling Peronist party an election – and its key majority in the Senate. The peso, on par with the U.S. dollar two decades ago, is now officially worth just one cent. Go to the popular local black market for dollars – which has flourished amid tight capital controls – and it’s worth just half that amount again.
(Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/business/valuing-argentinas-peso-it-could-cost-peronists-an-election-2021-11-09/)
Argentina’s warning to Latin America: “I Am you, tomorrow”
Argentina’s next two years will certainly be a rough ride. The country is so indebted it has lost access to international financing. Fresh out of a default and with multilaterals maxed out, it is racing against time to roll over upcoming payments to the IMF. Argentina is struggling to recover from the pandemic with historically low social indicators and no economic plan in sight beyond reversing policies from the previous government
(Americas Quarterly: https://www.americasquarterly.org/article/argentinas-warning-to-latin-america-i-am-you-tomorrow/)
Ecuador
Ecuador’s government concerned drug trafficking cartels could endanger local journalists and foreign correspondents
Ecuadorian security authorities warned journalists, correspondents, and media representatives of the growing dangers for them due to the increasing drug trafficking operations in the country, and informed them about the development of a protocol to deal with situations of violence related to this threat, and the calls to protest in the streets against the government.
(CNN en Español: https://kesq.com/news/2021/11/09/el-gobierno-de-ecuador-preocupado-por-los-peligros-para-la-prensa-ante-la-escalada-del-narcotrafico/)
Alex Saab laundered $2 billion with the help of former president Rafael Correa, Ecuadorian congressman alleges
According to the investigations carried out by the president of the Commission, the legislator Fernando Villavicencio, Alex Saab, accused by the U.S. for acting as front men for the Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, used the Sucre Compensation System established among Ecuador and Venezuela, to launder money through payments for fictitious or undervalued binational exports.
(Los Tiempos, in Spanish: https://www.lostiempos.com/actualidad/mundo/20211106/saab-habria-ayudado-lavar-us-2-mil-millones-gobierno-correa)
Ecuadorian company controlled by Nicolás Maduro’s front man Alex Saab owes more than $500k in taxes in Ecuador
Global Construction Fund (Flogocons), a company owned by Alex Saab, accused by the U.S. of acting as a front man for the Venezuelan dictator, exported almost $300 million in reported ficticious operations to Venezuela without paying a dime to Ecuador’s IRS.
(Ecuador Times: https://www.ecuadortimes.net/ecuador-alex-saabs-company-did-not-pay-taxes-in-the-country/)
Bolivia
More than 120 arrested on the first day of the strike called by the opposition
The Bolivian Police detained 125 people on the first day of the anti-government strike called by the opposition throughout the country, which has led to the blocking of roads in several points of the country.
(ADN Político, in Spanish: https://www.adndigital.com.py/bolivia-mas-de-120-detenidos-en-el-primer-dia-del-paro-convocado-por-la-oposicion/ )
