Some 1.8 million Mexicans voted overwhelmingly in an unofficial, non-binding referendum on July 27 to reject President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa’s proposals to allow more involvement in the state oil monopoly, Petroleos Mexicanos (PEMEX), by local and foreign private companies. The… Read moreMexico: “no” vote on Pemex “reform”
Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez was in Spain on July 25, where he proposed discussions about Europe’s new policies towards immigrants from Latin America—and also used the visit to mend fences with President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and King Juan Carlos… Read moreChávez, Juan Carlos hug and make up
On July 22, Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez Frias met with Russian president Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow as the two countries signed agreements for joint work on energy projects in Venezuela. Chávez said the accords would promote “a strategic alliance in… Read moreChávez does Moscow, seeks “strategic alliance”
The Haitian Senate voted on July 31 to ratify the appointment of economist Michele Duvivier Pierre-Louis as prime minister. Twelve of the 18 senators present voted in favor, and five abstained; as required by the regulations, Senate president Kelly Bastien… Read moreHaiti finally gets a prime minister
A mission representing several Brazilian government ministries arrived in Haiti on July 19 for a two-week visit aimed at developing a plan for combatting hunger in the country. A pilot project will be modeled on Brazil’s Program of Acquisition of… Read moreHaiti: Brazil offers food program
Computers confiscated by US customs agents in Texas at the beginning of July finally arrived in Cuba on Aug. 1 in a cargo of 100 tons of humanitarian aid raised by the New York-based group Pastors for Peace in its… Read moreCuba: US computers reach Havana
From the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (CISPES), July 29: As student groups prepare to commemorate the anniversary of an infamous massacre of students by government forces on July 30, 1975, political violence continues in El… Read morePolitical violence increases in El Salvador
Retired Colombian army colonel Guillermo Armando Gordillo confessed to the Fiscalía (attorney general) his participation in the slaying of eight people, including three children, at the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó on Feb. 21, 2005. The Fiscalía said… Read moreColombia: army colonel admits participation in Peace Community massacre
Five years ago we were told the Justice Department had a “short list” of suspects in the 2001 anthrax attacks, with indications of a sinister intersection of high-level military research and the neo-Nazi ultra-right. Now we learn the name of… Read moreAnthrax suspect takes his secrets with him?
Raúl Hasbún, alias Pedro Bonito, a banana plantation owner turned paramilitary chieftain, gave preliminary testimony in Medellín about his participation in several massacres, including against the Peace Community [of San José de Apartadó]. Massacres were a practice to ensure control… Read moreColombia: banana executive admits participation in Peace Community massacres
Two more Colombian paramilitary commanders pleaded guilty July 29 in US federal court to drug conspiracy charges. Ramiro Vanoy Murillo, 60, and Francisco Javier Zuluaga Lindo, 38, entered their pleas before US District Judge K. Michael Moore in Miami. Under… Read moreColombian paras cop plea in Miami; “New Generation” wreaks terror in Nariño
No, it’s not a football match. Our July issue featured the story “Shake Djibouti: Eritrea Crisis Destabilizes Imperialism’s Horn of Africa Beachhead” by Sarkis Pogossian, on the brief war between the two states in June. Pogossian writes: “While Eritrea increasingly… Read moreEritrea vs. Djibouti: our readers write
