(Even more here)

January 25, 2018

Brazil

• “Brazilian Ex-President Lula’s Corruption Verdict Does Not End His Career” (The Economist (Uk), January 25, 2018).

This week’s affirmation of the guilty verdict begins a race by the courts against the electoral calendar

• Dom Phillips, “Brazilian Court Upholds Corruption Conviction for Ex-President Lula” (The Guardian (Uk), January 25, 2018).

Late on Wednesday, Lula addressed a crowd of thousands of supporters in São Paulo, saying that his conviction had been engineered by upper-class Brazilians

Colombia, Venezuela

• Luis Jaime Acosta, “Colombia Desconocera Resultado de Elecciones en Venezuela: Presidente Santos” (Reuters **, January 25, 2018).

“Mi posición es la misma que expresó el Grupo de Lima, rechazar esa convocatoria”

Guatemala

• Michael E. Allison, “Guatemala Needs Help in Its Battle Against Corruption” (The Hill, January 25, 2018).

As it has done before, the U.S. should offer both carrots (continued assistance through the Alliance for Prosperity initiative) and sticks (targeted economic sanctions) to fight corruption

Honduras

• Carlos Dada, “Mision Contra la Impunidad Amenaza Con Irse de Honduras” (El Faro (El Salvador), January 25, 2018).

La Misión contra la Impunidad de la OEA se replantea la continuidad de su trabajo luego de que el Congreso hondureño aprobara una ley que le quita a la misión y a la Fiscalía la potestad de investigar a funcionarios públicos

• “Oas Anti-Corruption Mission Denounces Honduran Law Blocking Investigation of Congress” (Univision, January 25, 2018).

“We came here to do a serious job … but that’s not possible if there are no clear rules to investigate,” he said, visibly upset

• Eric L. Olson, “Can Honduras Avoid a Third Political Crisis in Less Than 10 Years?” (Univision, January 25, 2018).

Very few people beyond official circles and his supporters will be celebrating what most Hondurans consider to be a highly flawed and perhaps fraudulent election

Mexico

• Jay Root, “Texas Smugglers Say Trump’s Border Wall Wouldn’t Stop Immigrants, Drugs From Pouring Across the Border” (The Texas Tribune, January 25, 2018).

Where agents and politicians see future walls, they see ladders, ropes and the promise of higher profits

• “Violaciones a Derechos Humanos en Mexico Alcanzaron Niveles Historicos Durante 2017: Cndh” (Animal Politico (Mexico), January 25, 2018).

“Las autoridades de los distintos niveles y órdenes de gobierno han fallado en su obligación y responsabilidad de proporcionar niveles mínimos de seguridad a la población que posibiliten el cabal goce de los derechos fundamentales”

Venezuela

• Franco Ordonez, “Rubio Calls for un Emergency Session on Venezuela” (McClatchy DC, January 25, 2018).

Sen. Marco Rubio wants Ambassador Nikki Haley to seek an emergency session on Venezuela in the United Nation’s Security Council

Western Hemisphere Regional

• “The Stories of Women in Prison for Drug Related Crimes” (Washington Office on Latin America, January 25, 2018).

They do not occupy positions of power within the drug trade and have not committed violent crimes, yet across the region the number of women incarcerated for drug offenses is increasing at an alarming rate