South America Watch Thread

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caltrek
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Latin American Leaders Call Peru's President Castillo a 'Victim of Anti-Democratic Harassment'
by Brett Wilkins
December 14, 2022

Introduction:
(Common Dreams) Four Latin American presidents condemned the ouster and imprisonment of leftist Peruvian President Pedro Castillo on Tuesday, a move that preceded a national emergency declaration by the country's new government amid a deadly crackdown against what critics are calling a U.S.-backed "legislative coup."

In a joint statement, the leftist leaders of Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, and Mexico—respectively, Alberto Fernández, Luis Arce, Gustavo Petro, and Andrés Manuel López Obrador—expressed their "deep concern over the recent events that resulted in the removal and detention of José Pedro Castillo Terrones, president of the Republic of Peru."

"It is not news to the world that President Castillo Terrones, from the day of his election, was the victim of anti-democratic harassment," the presidents said. "Our governments call on all the actors involved... to prioritize the will of the citizens that was pronounced at the polls."

"We exhort those in our [national] institutions to refrain from reversing the popular will expressed through free suffrage," the statement added. "We request that the authorities fully respect the human rights of President Pedro Castillo and that he be guaranteed judicial protection."

Progressive Chilean President Gabriel Boric, on the other hand, called an attempt by Castillo to dissolve Peru's Congress a "rupture of the constitutional order," while leftist Brazilian President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said Castillo's removal was "constitutional."
Read more here: https://www.commondreams.org/news/2022 ... emocratic
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caltrek
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The Detention and Removal of Pedro Castillo from the Presidency of Peru - Background
by Vijay Prashad and José Carlos Llerena Robles
December 14, 2022

Introduction:
(Globetroter via Alternet) On December 7, 2022, Pedro Castillo sat in his office on what would be the last day of his presidency of Peru. His lawyers went over spreadsheets that showed Castillo would triumph over a motion in Congress to remove him. This was going to be the third time that Castillo faced a challenge from the Congress, but his lawyers and advisers—including former Prime Minister Anibal Torres—told him that he held an advantage over the Congress in opinion polls (his approval rating had risen to 31 percent, while that of the Congress was just about 10 percent).

Castillo had been under immense pressure for the past year from an oligarchy that disliked this former teacher. In a surprise move, he announced to the press on December 7 that he was going to “temporarily dissolve the Congress” and “[establish] an exceptional emergency government.” This measure sealed his fate. Castillo and his family rushed toward the Mexican Embassy but were arrested by the military along Avenida España before they could get there.

Why did Pedro Castillo take the fatal step of trying to dissolve Congress when it was clear to his advisers—such as Luis Alberto Mendieta—that he would prevail in the afternoon vote?

The pressure got to Castillo, despite the evidence. Ever since his election in July 2021, his opponent in the presidential election, Keiko Fujimori, and her associates have tried to block his ascension to the presidency. She worked with men who have close ties with the U.S. government and its intelligence agencies. A member of Fujimori’s team, Fernando Rospigliosi, for instance, had in 2005 tried to involve the U.S. Embassy in Lima against Ollanta Humala, who contested in the 2006 Peruvian presidential election. Vladimiro Montesinos, a former CIA asset who is serving time in a prison in Peru, sent messages to Pedro Rejas, a former commander in Peru’s army, to go “to the U.S. Embassy and talk with the embassy intelligence officer,.” to try and influence the 2021 Peruvian presidential election.
Read more here: https://www.alternet.org/united-states ... oup-peru/
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caltrek
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Bolivia Judge Orders Pre-trial Detention for Opposition Head
January 1, 2023

Introduction:
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — A judge in Bolivia sentenced opposition leader Luis Fernando Camacho to four months of pretrial detention on terrorism charges early Friday, a move that is bound to increase divisions and unrest in the country.

After a virtual hearing that lasted more than seven hours, Judge Sergio Pacheco ordered Camacho, who is also the governor of the Santa Cruz region, to be remanded in custody, agreeing with prosecutors that he was a flight risk and could obstruct an ongoing investigation.

Shortly after the ruling, video showed Camacho being transferred to Chonchocoro, a high-security prison some 25 kilometers (15 miles) from the capital of La Paz as his lawyers vowed to appeal.

The governor was taken into custody Wednesday and is isolated from the rest of the prisoners at Chonchocoro, where the country usually imprisons the criminals it deems to be the most dangerous.

Prosecutors allege Camacho in 2019 orchestrated what they describe as a coup while leading mass protests following elections that the Organization of American States said were marred by fraud.
Read more here: https://www.courthousenews.com/bolivia ... ion-head/
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weatheriscool
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Well, Bolivia seems to be an interesting place to say the least. ;) The opposition wants to blow the hell out of their own country.
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weatheriscool wrote: Sun Jan 01, 2023 11:38 pm Well, Bolivia seems to be an interesting place to say the least. ;) The opposition wants to blow the hell out of their own country.
Sure, let's arrest the opposition. Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia and Brazil are such great countries to live now with the entire opposition under arrest.
And, as always, bye bye.
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caltrek
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Peru Closes Tourist Hub Airport as Nationwide Protests Persist
January 12, 2023

Introduction:
(AFP News via International Business Times) Weeks-long protests that have left dozens dead across Peru continued on Thursday, with escalating tensions in Andean city Cusco prompting the government to preemptively close the tourist hub's airport.

Supporters of ousted president Pedro Castillo have marched and barricaded streets around the South American country demanding new elections and the removal of current leader Dina Boluarte.

The demonstrations have at times turned violent, and clashes with security forces have left 42 people dead, including a police officer who was burned alive in a vehicle, while hundreds more have been injured.

Almost half of the victims died in clashes Monday night in the southern Puno region, where 17 people were due to be buried on Thursday.

Major flash points have occurred near the country's airports, guarded by security forces after protesters stormed runways during an initial wave of uprisings in early December.
Read more here: https://www.ibtimes.com/peru-closes-to ... st-3656493
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caltrek
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Thousands Descend on Lima Demanding Resignation of Unelected Peruvian President
by Brett Wilkins
January 19, 2023

Introduction:
(Common Dreams) Thousands of Indigenous and other Peruvians descended on the capital Lima on Wednesday to demand the resignation of unelected President Dina Boluarte, show support for imprisoned former leftist leader Pedro Castillo, and condemn government forces for killing dozens of protesters over the past six weeks.

The demonstrators—who include Aymara and Quecha people from Andean regions, trade unionists, and other activists—traveled to the coastal capital in caravans during the second week of a general strike as part of a new "March from the Four Corners." The first such march took place in 2000 against then-President Alberto Fujimori, a U.S.-backed right-wing autocrat.
Read more here: https://www.commondreams.org/news/protests-lima-peru
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Machu Picchu closed indefinitely amid deadly protests in Peru
14 hours ago

Hundreds of tourists have been left stranded in Machu Picchu following protests in Peru.

Unrest sparked by dissent over the country’s new president has resulted in dozens of deaths this week.

The government closed the famous site in the Andes mountains and the Inca Trail hike leading to it to protect tourists and the general population.

There are 417 tourists stuck in Machu Picchu who can’t get out, more than 300 of whom are foreigners, Luis Fernando Helguero, the tourism minister, said at a news conference.

Some of the tourists stranded in Machu Picchu have chosen to leave by walking to Piscacucho, the nearest village, “but that involves a walk of six, seven hours or more and only a few people are able to do it,” Mr Helguero said.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/worl ... 66786.html
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caltrek
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Argentina Raises Minimum Wage as Triple-digit Inflation Pulls More Into Poverty
James Francis Whitehead
March 31, 2023

Introduction:
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (Courthouse News) — Argentina’s wage council approved a 26.6% increase in the minimum wage by June in an attempt to keep up with historic levels of inflation, despite trade unions criticizing the increase as enough for workers dealing with the soaring cost of living.

The staggered increase will lift the current minimum wage from $69,500 pesos ($335 dollars at the official rate) to $80,342 ($384) in April, $84,512 ($404) in May and $87,987 ($421) in June.

The current poverty line for a family of four is $177,000 pesos ($847), according to the country’s national statistics agency. It also calculated that the threshold for extreme poverty, defined as monthly income less than the price of the basic food basket, is $80,500 — the same level as the new minimum wage for April.

The current poverty rate in Argentina is 39.2%, with 8.1% of the population in extreme poverty. The figures are exacerbated when it comes to child poverty. According to the latest figures from UNICEF, two in three children in Argentina are either poor or deprived of basic human rights like access to education or adequate housing.
Read more here: https://www.courthousenews.com/argenti ... -poverty/
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caltrek
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Integrating Climate Mitigation and Environmental Peacebuilding Objectives in Columbia Through Sustainable Land Use Systems
by Héctor Morales Munoz et. al.
May 17, 2023

Abstract:
(PLOS) Land is an essential natural resource for climate mitigation and peace. It is commonly connected with sources of GHG (Greenhouse Gas) emissions and with drivers of (violent) conflict. Therefore, climate mitigation and peacebuilding strategies are co-designing sustainable land-use systems (SLUS) with affected communities to integrate land-based climate mitigation and peacebuilding objectives. SLUS is practiced within agricultural production systems that meet sustainability principles (environmental, social, and economic). Nevertheless, there needs to be more program evaluation frameworks, especially measurable indicators, that integrate these two objectives (achieving peace and climate mitigation). This study aims to develop a methodology and criteria to evaluate the precise mechanisms of SLUS influencing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and drivers of conflict. A mix-method approach was used in two case study regions, Cesar and Caquetá, Colombia, where SLUS strategies where implemented. First, we conducted three workshops, two in-person and one virtual (n = 103). Secondly, we held semi-structured interviews (n = 115) to make an analysis of the conflict. Our research focused on the drivers of land-based emissions and conflict drivers targeted by the SLUS implementation. Lastly, through a household survey (n = 929), we illustrated the impacts of SLUS in peacebuilding at the farm level. Results show that SLUS, such as cocoa agroforestry, can contribute to climate change mitigation and deliver co-benefits in four core factors: (i) socio-economic inclusion by creating jobs and diversifying livelihoods, (ii) dialogue and conflict transformation by allowing negotiations around the participatory design of farms, including conservation agreements, (iii) natural resource governance, and (iv) cooperation by creating knowledge exchange and a community of practice.

Read more here: https://journals.plos.org/climate/arti ... .0000075
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