Adam Isacson

(Even more here)

July 6, 2018

Colombia

• Angela Olaya, “Arrest of Major Farc Dissident Casts Doubt on Colombia Peace Accords” (InsightCrime, July 6, 2018).

Rambo’s presumed return to the criminal world illustrates the risk the Colombian government takes when its implementation of the peace agreement with the FARC is perceived as inconsistent

• Juan Camilo Pedraza, Marisol GÓmez Giraldo, “La Jep Llama a 31 Lideres de Farc a Rendir Cuentas por Secuestros” (El Tiempo (Colombia), July 6, 2018).

La antigua cúpula de la Farc debe acudir ante la Sala de Reconocimiento de Verdad para responder por secuestros y secuestrados hoy desaparecidos

• Joshua Goodman, “Colombians Demand an End to Wave of Activist Killings” (Associated Press **, July 6, 2018).

The protests were organized hastily over social media following an especially bloody week in which at least four activists were slain

• “Editorial: Los Estan Matando” (El Espectador (Colombia), July 6, 2018).

Mientras el actual Gobierno demuestra incapacidad de reacción, en el país están tomando fuerza discursos censurables, pidiendo desde las redes sociales que no lamentemos la muerte de los líderes sociales asesinados porque los asocian con la guerrilla

• “Investigan Si Hubo Amenazas de Policia a Lider Asesinada en Antioquia” (El Tiempo (Colombia), July 6, 2018).

El subcomandante también informó que abrieron una investigación disciplinaria sobre presuntas amenazas del comandante de la estación policial de Cáceres a la victima

Colombia, Venezuela

• “Venezuela, Uno de los Temas Prioritarios en Reunion Duque – Pence” (El Tiempo (Colombia), July 6, 2018).

“Yo nunca he hablado de intervenciones militares ni de propiciar intervenciones militares. Lo que hay que hacer es ejercer presión diplomática contra la dictadura”, dijo el mandatario

Mexico

• Dudley Althaus, “Mexico’s Leftist President-Elect Begins His Outreach to the U.S. and Trump” (The Washington Post, July 6, 2018).

López Obrador’s foreign minister will be former Mexico City mayor Marcelo Ebrard

Nicaragua

• Judith Flores, “Estados Unidos Golpea al Nucleo de Daniel Ortega en Nicaragua” (La Prensa (Nicaragua), July 6, 2018).

Les fue aplicada la Ley Magnitsky, una decisión que fue respaldada públicamente por el vicepresidente Mike Pence

Western Hemisphere Regional

• Rafael Carranza, “More Families Arrived at Arizona Border in June Despite Separation Threat” (The Arizona Republic, July 6, 2018).

June’s numbers suggest that families attempting to enter the country illegally through Arizona were undeterred by the possibility of getting separated

• Aura Bogado, Vanessa Swales, Ziva Branstetter, “Defense Contractor Detained Migrant Kids in Vacant Phoenix Office Building” (Reveal News, July 6, 2018).

After learning that neighbors had recorded video of children entering the building, an MVM spokesperson said the building “is not a shelter or a child care facility. … It’s a temporary holding place”

• Maria Sacchetti, “Trump Administration Seeks More Time to Reunite Some Migrant Families Split at Border” (The Washington Post, July 6, 2018).

The judge ordered the government to deliver a list of the children’s names to the American Civil Liberties Union, which brought the lawsuit, by Saturday and said he would decide Monday whether to grant an extension

(Even more here)

July 5, 2018

Colombia

• Javier AlexÁnder MacÍas, “Lideres, Preocupados por Aumento de Asesinatos” (El Colombiano (Medellin Colombia), July 5, 2018).

El asesinato de los líderes sociales Felicinda Santamaría en el departamento del Chocó y Luis Barrios en el Atlántico, en las últimas 48 horas, sumió

• Santiago Cardenas H., “El Mapa de los 311 Lideres Asesinados en Colombia” (El Colombiano (Medellin Colombia), July 5, 2018).

Al menos 178 líderes sociales han sido asesinados en Colombia desde que se firmó en 2016 el acuerdo de paz entre el Gobierno y las Farc. Aunque la Defensoría del Pueblo cuenta un total de 311

• “Petro Senala a Comandante de Policia de Caceres de Haber Amenazado a su Lider Asesinada” (El Espectador (Colombia), July 5, 2018).

Petro afirmó que ella fue amedrentada mientas se encargaba de coordinar su campaña antes de las elecciones hacia la Casa de Nariño

• “Las 4 Denuncias Que Hizo Luis Barrios Antes de Ser Asesinado” (El Heraldo (Cartagena Colombia), July 5, 2018).

EL HERALDO reconstruyó el recorrido que hizo el líder social antes de su muerte en Palmar de Varela

• Eduardo Bonces, “Duque se Acerca a los Estados Unidos” (El Colombiano (Medellin Colombia), July 5, 2018).

La preocupación por el aumento de los cultivos ilícitos la heredó el gobierno entrante y con ella la amenaza de descertificación

• “Esto Es Lo Que se Sabe Hasta Ahora de la Masacre de Siete Personas en Cauca” (Semana (Colombia), July 5, 2018).

Para el Ejército, el ELN estaría detrás del múltiple asesinato. Según la Policía, dos de las víctimas eran disidentes de las Farc

Mexico

• “#Seguridadsinguerra Pide a Amlo Abrogar Ley de Seguridad Interior y No Crear una Guardia Nacional” (Animal Politico (Mexico), July 5, 2018).

El colectivo señaló que “esa ley no contribuye a la paz y su simple existencia amenaza e inhibe el ejercicio de los derechos humanos”

• Dennis A. Garcia, Gustavo Castillo García, “Irresponsable, Retirar en Breve a las Fuerzas Armadas de las Calles” (La Jornada (Mexico), July 5, 2018).

Durazo, quien está encargado por Andrés Manuel López Obrador para diseñar las estrategias en la materia, expresa: sería irresponsable (que los integrantes del Ejército y de Marina ya no realicen tareas de seguridad pública) en este momento.

• Carin Zissis, Elizabeth Gonzalez, “5 Charts: Amlo’s Wave Washes Over Mexico” (Americas Society – Council of the Americas, July 5, 2018).

From coast to coast, a wave of MORENA votes washed across the country, cementing the party as the country’s soon-to-be main political force—a remarkable shift

Mexico, Venezuela

• Dave Graham, “Mexican Leader to Invite Trump to Inauguration, Signals Shift on Venezuela” (Reuters **, July 5, 2018).

Replying to a question about the approach his government would take to the crisis in socialist-led Venezuela, Lopez Obrador said: “We’re going to apply the foreign policy of non-intervention of self-determination of nations”

Western Hemisphere Regional

• Jonathan Blitzer, “Parents Are Struggling to Reclaim Their Children From the Office of Refugee Resettlement” (The New Yorker, July 5, 2018).

The Department is no longer disclosing how many children it is holding, but immigration lawyers at the border say that many parents still don’t know where their children are

• Dara Lind, “The Trump Administration Just Admitted It Doesn’t Know How Many Kids Are Still Separated From Their Parents” (Vox, July 5, 2018).

Currently the government is racing against the clock (and possibly cutting corners) to solve a problem it created by separating families without clear documentation of when they were split up

• Caitlin Dickerson, “Trump Administration in Chaotic Scramble to Reunify Migrant Families” (The New York Times, July 5, 2018).

Administration officials previously had said about 2,300 children had been separated from their parents. But over the weekend, the agency came up with its final accounting that showed nearly 3,000 in total

• Efren Olivares, “A Day in the Life of a Lawyer at the Border” (The New York Times, July 5, 2018).

Of 381 families we interviewed, 278 are still separated. At least two children have been deported without their parents. And at least five parents have been deported without their children

• Cindy Carcamo, “For Many Waiting in Tijuana, a Mysterious Notebook Is the Key to Seeking Asylum” (The Los Angeles Times, July 5, 2018).

Its origins are unclear, but it was created after U.S. border officials began to limit the number of asylum seekers allowed to enter the San Ysidro Port of Entry

(Even more here)

July 4, 2018

El domingo asesinaron a dos policías en Las Esquinas, Carazo. Después de tres semanas ellos son la única “ley” en la zona

• Martha Vasquez Larios, “Humberto Ortega: Adelantar las Elecciones en Nicaragua Es Un “Si a la Paz”” (La Prensa (Nicaragua), July 4, 2018).

El general en retiro y exjefe del Ejército de Nicaragua, Humberto Ortega, hermano del presidente designado Daniel Ortega, redactó una carta en la que propone adelantar elecciones presidenciales para el 2019 como la salida pacífica a la crisis

Venezuela

• Joshua Goodman, “Trump Pressed Aides on Venezuela Invasion, Us Official Says” (Associated Press **, July 4, 2018).

Eventually, McMaster would pull aside the president and walk him through the dangers of an invasion, the official said

Western Hemisphere Regional

• Kevin Sullivan, “For Texas Border Town, Immigration Isn’t a Problem — It’s a Way of Life” (The Washington Post, July 4, 2018).

The policy is seen as unwanted and unfair in this border city of 142,000 whose population is 90 percent Hispanic and so fully bilingual that roadside anti-littering signs say “No dumping basura”

• Debbie Nathan, Ryan Devereaux, “Immigrant Mothers Were Moved Outdoors During Kirstjen Nielsen’s Secretive Visit to Detention. They Shouted for Help to No Avail.” (The Intercept, July 4, 2018).

ICE confirmed to The Intercept on Tuesday that more than 60 women were moved during the secretary’s visit, though the agency claimed the move was for the purpose of “recreation”

• Ben Protess, Kitty Bennett, Manny Fernandez, “Some Contractors Housing Migrant Children Are Familiar to Trump’s Inner Circle” (The New York Times, July 4, 2018).

A review of regulatory filings, campaign donations and lobbying records reveals a number of important links between people in Mr. Trump’s orbit and the groups poised to earn financial rewards from his immigration policies

Chile

• “Victor Jara Murder: Ex-Military Officers Sentenced in Chile for 1973 Death” (Reuters, The Guardian (Uk), July 4, 2018).

A judge handed down the sentences after leading a long-running inquiry into Jara’s death on 16 September, 45 years ago

Colombia

• “Conpes para Reincorporacion de Ex-Farc Promete 6,3 Billones de Pesos” (El Tiempo (Colombia), July 4, 2018).

El alcance de esta política va hasta el 2026 y desde este mes se encuentra en marcha

• Olga Patricia Rendon Marulanda, “Las Guerras Vivas Que Enfrentara Ivan Duque” (El Colombiano (Medellin Colombia), July 4, 2018).

La estrategia de defensa del próximo gobierno deberá concentrarse en la lucha contra cuatro organizaciones, diferentes entre sí, que todavía le hacen la guerra al Estado

• “El Horror No se Va del Cauca: Masacre en Argelia” (El Espectador (Colombia), July 4, 2018).

Pobladores de Argelia recordaron que hace apenas una semana un grupo que se autodenominó Comando Popular de Limpieza (CPL), hizo público un panfleto amenazante

• Joshua Goodman, “Senator Blocks Trump’s Choice for Colombia Ambassador” (Associated Press **, July 4, 2018).

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, led a small chorus of conservatives who raised doubts about Joseph Macmanus’ nomination

Mexico

• Jorge Carrasco Araizaga, “Militares a Prueba Con Lopez Obrador” (Proceso (Mexico), July 4, 2018).

Dijo que no usaría la ley de Seguridad Interior que legalizó las actuaciones del Ejército y de la Marina en la última década y evitó cualquier contacto con el Estado Mayor Presidencial (EMP)

• Misael Zavala, “Aceptaria Alejandro Solalinde Ser Titular de la Comision Nacional de los Derechos Humanos” (El Universal (Mexico), July 4, 2018).

El padre y defensor de los migrantes, aclaró que no cree en el poder ni en el dinero, por lo que de ser Ombudsman destinará su sueldo a proyectos productivos

• Julián Aguilar, Patrick Svitek, “Cruz Suggests Mexico’s Election Of “Far-Left Socialist” Lopa©Z Obrador Means U.S. Needs a Border Wall” (The Texas Tribune, July 4, 2018).

Cruz said Mexican President-elect Andrés Manuel López Obrador, 64, had been running on an “anti-American campaign for a long, long time.”

Nicaragua

• Leonor Álvarez, Martha Vasquez Larios, Mynor Garcia, “Paramilitares Orteguistas Matan Bajo su Ley en Nicaragua” (La Prensa (Nicaragua), July 4, 2018).