Inter-American Watch
Wednesday, February 2nd, 2022
The Americas
In 2021, most countries in Latin America and the Caribbean experienced a marked increase in murders
Resurgent violence was to be expected after some of the world’s longest COVID-19 lockdowns were lifted. Much of the population found themselves sinking deeper into poverty. With schools late to reopen, teenagers returned to the streets with little to do, making them prime targets for recruitment.
Insight crime: https://insightcrime.org/news/insight-crimes-2021-homicide-round-up/
Antwerp, the European capital of cocaine from South America
The Belgian port city has emerged as the epicentre for cocaine smuggled into Britain and the rest of Europe from South America.
Daily Mail: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10460757/Welcome-Antwerp-cocaine-capital-Europe.html
Colombia security forces kill 15 members of mexican Clan del Golfo crime group
Colombia’s armed forces killed at least 15 members of the Clan del Golfo, a criminal organization connected to drug trafficking and illegal mining, during a raid on Tuesday, military sources said.
Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/colombia-security-forces-kill-15-members-clan-del-golfo-crime-group-2022-02-01/
Summary of the action plan for US-Mexico bicentennial framework for security, public health and same common
The United States and Mexico are committed to transforming our cooperation to better protect the health and safety of our citizens and promote the development of the most vulnerable communities in both countries, prevent criminal organizations from harming our countries, and pursue and bring criminals to justice.
US Embassy Mexico: https://mx.usembassy.gov/summary-of-the-action-plan-for-u-s-mexico-bicentennial-framework-for-security-public-health-and-safe-communities/
Fearing corruption charges, Honduran Defense minister requests asylum from Biden
As the left resumes power with President Xiomara Castillo’s inauguration, the official seeks shelter in the United States.
The Intercept: https://theintercept.com/2022/01/31/honduras-defense-minister-asylum-biden-xiomara-castro/
Chileans protest against Venezuelan migrants
Thousands of people in northern Chile have staged a protest against migration from Venezuela.
Demonstrators marched through the city of Iquique waving Chilean flags and demanding the expulsion of what they called foreign criminals. Some tore down tents that had housed migrants, while at least one person was beaten by the crowd. There has been an increase in people arriving in Chile after fleeing Venezuela’s economic collapse.
BBC News: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-60197980
Peru
Peru’s Castillo rattles Andean country with new Cabinet shake-up, after Prime Minister Vasquez quits
Peruvian President Pedro Castillo said on Monday that he would replace Prime Minister Mirtha Vasquez and shuffle his center-left Cabinet, while it was unclear whether his investor-friendly finance minister would continue in his post. Vasquez said on Twitter she had resigned “due to the impossibility of reaching consensus to benefit the country.” Castillo, a member of a Marxist-Leninist party, will now nominate his third Cabinet in just six months in office, which will require confirmation from the opposition-led Congress.
Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/peru-president-castillo-replace-cabinet-moderate-pm-2022-01-31/
Peru’s Castillo names new Prime Minister who pushes for redrafting the Constitution
Peruvian President Pedro Castillo named Hector Valer as his new prime minister on Tuesday, a surprise appointment of a moderate lawmaker who belongs to a bloc whose main agenda is to push for the redrafting of the country’s market-friendly constitution.
KFGO.com/Reuters: https://kfgo.com/2022/02/01/perus-castillo-names-new-pm-who-pushes-for-redrafting-the-constitution/
President Castillo’s Marxist allies propose a “War Cabinet” to help him govern Peru
“The country requires a war General as Prime Minister, a solid cabinet, to deal with citizen insecurity; lack of work; corruption and sabotage”, expressed former premier Guido Bellido, after meeting with Castillo this Monday.
Infobae, in Spanish: https://www.infobae.com/america/peru/2022/02/01/guido-bellido-y-congresistas-de-pl-se-reunen-con-pedro-castillo-tras-salida-de-mirtha-vasquez-de-la-pcm/
Bolivia
The keys of the operation that dismantled the drug trafficking network protected in Bolivia, according to DEA
The investigation indicates that Dávila along with Omar Rojas Echeverría used their official positions in Bolivia and connections to gain access to Bolivian airfields in order to facilitate large cocaine shipments by other members of the drug trafficking organization and to organize protection by law enforcement of those drug shipments.
Unitel, in Spanish: https://unitel.bo/informe-especial/las-claves-de-la-operacion-los-andes-y-la-red-de-narcotrafico-protegida-por-un-jefe-antidrogas-segun_166200
San Matías, the Bolivian city dominated by the largest drug gangs in Brazil
The small town of San Matías, on the border between Bolivia and Brazil, has witnessed 170 crimes in 20 years, most of them “settling scores” unsolved. Bolivian special forces admit that the town, a key passageway for cocaine, is the site of a war between the Vermelho Command and the First Capital Command.
Sputnik, in Spanish: https://mundo.sputniknews.com/20220201/san-matias-la-ciudad-boliviana-dominada-por-los-mayores-grupos-narco-de-brasil-1121025541.html
Leadership of Evo Morales weakens: six reasons
At least six facts show that the leadership of former President Evo Morales is weakening both within the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) and outside that party. The questions to the former president became evident in the struggle that emerged in search of adjustments in the cabinet of President Luis Arce.
Pagina Siete, in Spanish: https://www.paginasiete.bo/nacional/2022/2/1/al-menos-seis-hechos-muestran-que-liderazgo-de-evo-se-debilita-322246.html
Sea for Bolivia: Peru’s Castillo backtracks on proposal
The president of Peru, Pedro Castillo, backed down in his intention to call a referendum to find out if Peruvians want to grant maritime territory to Bolivia. He indicated that in the interview he had last week he expressed himself badly and apologized to Peruvians.
Pagina Siete, in Spanish: https://www.paginasiete.bo/nacional/2022/2/1/mar-para-bolivia-pedro-castillo-da-un-paso-atras-322247.html
Argentina
Amid the tensions, Alberto Fernández goes on tour to meet Putin and Xi Jinping
President Fernandez will meet with the leaders of Russia and China, two important allies for the country that are facing strong questions from the United States.
La Nacion, in Spanish: https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/en-medio-de-las-tensiones-alberto-fernandez-partio-al-encuentro-de-putin-y-xi-jinping-los-detalles-nid01022022/
China to finance $8.3 billion project to build a new nuclear power plant in Argentina
The Government signed with the Chinese authorities the contract for the construction of the fourth Argentine nuclear power plant, Atucha III. It is the most ambitious investment project of the Asian country in Argentina. Works are expected to start at the end of this year.
Pagina12.com, in Spanish: https://www.pagina12.com.ar/399046-camino-a-la-mayor-inversion-china-en-el-pais
Demonstrators march on Supreme Court to demand judicial reform
Several thousand demonstrators marched in Buenos Aires on Tuesday to demand a reform of the judicial system and changes in the Supreme Court, amid accusations between the government and the opposition that the Judiciary has been used by the one side to persecute the other side.
Buenos Aires Times: https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/demonstrators-march-on-supreme-court-to-demand-judicial-reform.phtml
Argentine legislator proposes asking the DEA for help to fight against drug violence
Walter Ghione, Santa Fe deputy for the UNO party, raised a request to the Provincial Executive to summon the United States Anti-Drug Agency (DEA) in the fight against drug trafficking. The proposal was madein the midst of the commotion for the triple crime and the violence that shocks the city of Rosario, the third largest in Argentina.
Clarin, in Spanish: https://www.clarin.com/sociedad/violencia-narco-rosario-diputado-santafesino-propone-pedirle-ayuda-dea_0_0H9sKeiaJf.html
Ecuador
The Hill: The US should take note of potential trade deal between Ecuador and China
Lasso’s meeting with Xi this coming Thursday February 3rd, should be a wake-up call for the Biden administration. Lasso is a pragmatic leader, so Ecuador will not wait for the U.S. to make up its mind. His flight to China is boarding soon. It is now up to the U.S. to develop a regional trade and development agenda that meets Ecuador’s needs and competes with China.
The Hill: https://thehill.com/opinion/international/592215-the-us-should-take-note-of-potential-trade-deal-between-ecuador-and
Ecuador’s Congress sent special investigative report on Alex Saab to U.S. government
The report of the Supervisory Commission on the Sucre System and Álex Saab cases was sent to the United States Department of State.
Primicias, in Spanish: https://www.primicias.ec/noticias/politica/informe-fiscalizacion-saab-eeuu-entrega/
Seizure of illicit weapons grew 65% in four years in Ecuador
Between 2017 and 2021, the seizure of illegal weapons went from 4,728 to 7,786. That growth coincides with the security crisis and the increase in violent deaths in the country.
Primicias, in Spanish: https://www.primicias.ec/noticias/en-exclusiva/ecuador-decomiso-armas-ilicitas-crece/
A 15-year-old sicario was arrested in Guayaquil after shooting a man from a motorcycle
A 15-year-old teenager was arrested Sunday afternoon in Guayaquil after shooting a 30-year-old man who was injured. The young man managed to escape but two plainclothes police officers arrested him. According to witnesses, the crime occurred when the boy and another man on a motorcycle arrived at 23rd and S streets, to ram the victim and try to kill her hit man style.
Infobae, in Spanish: https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2022/02/01/arrestaron-en-guayaquil-a-un-sicario-de-solo-15-anos-tras-dispararle-a-un-hombre-desde-una-moto/
Analysis
Carlos Sanchez Berzain: We must iodentify and prosecute dictatorships’ despicable prosecutors and judges
The dictatorships from Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia, and Nicaragua yield power by practicing state-sponsored terrorism that has, as one of its important methods, the manipulation of judicial prosecutions to persecute, imprison and sentence the innocent. Through the judicialization of political repression, these dictatorships turn political leaders and human rights’ defenders into criminals and instill fear. This criminal methodology is executed by despicable prosecutors and judges that must be internationally identified, sanctioned and prosecuted.
Interamerican Institute for Democracy: https://iid.dmni.net/we-must-identify-and-prosecute-dictatorships-despicable-prosecutors-and-judges/
Radio/TV Marti: What is Maduro looking for with his “Iron Hand” against criminal officials of his party?
The arrests of two mayors and a deputy of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela during an operation against drug and fuel trafficking seek to whitewash the image of the government of Nicolás Maduro before the world and in the face of the 2024 presidential elections, analysts explain.
RadioTVMarti: https://www.radiotelevisionmarti.com/a/américa-latina-venezuela-qué-busca-maduro-con-su-mano-de-hierro-contra-funcionarios-criminales-de-su-partido-/312662.html
Editorial: Paraguay is acquiring characteristics of a narco-state
The main newspaper in Paraguay, ABC Color, published this Tuesday a harsh editorial in which it warned that the country “is already having all the characteristics of a narco-state because no one dares to purge the organisms infected by the mafia,” after 28 murders by hitmen were recorded in the first month of the year, the last in the music festival “Ja”umina Fest.”
Infobae, in Spanish: https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2022/02/01/el-paraguay-esta-adquiriendo-caracteristicas-de-un-narcoestado-el-contundente-editorial-del-principal-diario-del-pais-sudamericnao/
Andres Pastrana: Santos, Samper, Gaviria and Petro defend the cause of drug trafficking
“In Colombia, a country with the virtual monopoly of cocaine in the world, three former Colombian presidents and a political candidate for the presidency are the most notorious defenders of the cause and active drug traffickers. Mr. President, through fallacious argumentative resources, Juan Manuel Santos, Ernesto Samper and César Gaviria and Gustavo Petro celebrate what they call the failure of a war on drugs to justify policies that de facto legalize the production and trafficking of narcotics in Colombia”. Pastrana sentenced.
Infobae, in Spanish: https://www.infobae.com/america/colombia/2022/01/26/santos-samper-gaviria-y-petro-defienden-la-causa-del-narcotrafico-andres-pastrana-en-la-convencion-conservadora/
