Palestine

Egypt builds security barrier on Gaza border

Egypt has commenced construction of a huge metal wall along its border with the Gaza Strip that will extend 18 meters (55 feet) underground in an attempt to cut smuggling tunnels.

Central America

Honduras: reject amnesty for abuses during coup

The proposal by Porfirio Lobo, winner of Honduras’ disputed presidential election, for an “amnesty for all” involved in the coup undermines the rule of law, Human Rights Watch charges.

Central America

Gay activist assassinated in Honduras

Walter Trochez, a well-known LGBT leader in Honduras and activist in the resistance against the coup d’etat, was gunned down by drive-by killers in central Tegucigalpa.

Central America

Honduras: anti-sweatshop campaigns advance

Students at North American campuses are demanding their universities drop licensing agreements with Nike unless 1,800 workers for Honduran contractors get back pay and severance packages.

The Andes

Colombia: attorney and labor leader threatened

Colombian human rights attorney Jorge Eliécer Molano-Rodríguez and labor leader Luis Javier Correa Suárez have both received threats in recent weeks. Solidarity groups call for urgent action.

Southern Cone

Chile: will Frei murder charges affect runoff?

Chile’s presidential race heads for a run-off just as murder charges are brought in the death of candidate Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle’s father—on the likely orders of late dictator Augusto Pinochet.

The Caribbean

Haiti: US indicts five in Téléco bribe case

The US has charged two former Haitian officials and three Florida telecom executives with foreign bribery, wire fraud and money laundering related to corruption at Haiti Téléco.

The Andes

Venezuelan offer to save Bronx jobs rebuffed

CITGO, subsidiary of Venezuela’s state oil monopoly, reportedly attempted to buy a Bronx cookie plant to save the jobs of 136 unionized workers—but the company’s owners ignored the offer.