(Even more here)

May 16, 2018

Brazil

• Aline Oyamada, Julia Leite, “He’s Vulgar, Offensive and Wildly Popular With Traders in Brazil” (Bloomberg, May 16, 2018).

A little like what was so often heard during the 2016 U.S. campaign about Donald Trump, the refrain “he says what I’m thinking but can’t say” comes up time and time again

Colombia

• Johanna Alvarez Quintero, ““El Asesinato de Quienes Mas Contribuyen a la Paz Es una Verguenza”: Onu” (Semana (Colombia), May 16, 2018).

Kate Gilmore, la alta comisionada adjunta de las Naciones Unidas para los Derechos Humanos, habló sobre el proceso de paz en Colombia. Asegura que el caso Santrich pone a prueba la credibilidad de la justicia

Guatemala

• Antonio Ordonez, “Guatemalan Army Turns Focus to Border Protection” (Revista Dialogo (U.S. Southern Command), May 16, 2018).

In a strategic shift for the institution, the Guatemalan Army deployed troops to the borders and pulled patrols off the streets, beginning in early April

• Felipe Puerta, Steven Dudley, “Guatemala Accusations Amp Up Tensions Between Presidency, Ag’s Office” (InsightCrime, May 16, 2018).

The next few days will be tense and determinant for President Morales

Mexico

• Peter Nicholas, “Trump Says Mexico ‘Does Nothing for Us’” (The Wall Street Journal, May 16, 2018).

“Mexico talks but they do nothing for us, especially at the border. They certainly don’t help us much on trade, but especially at the border they do nothing for us”

• Arturo Angel, “Las 5 Razones por las Que la Ley de Seguridad Interior Es Inconstitucional, Segun Amparos” (Animal Politico (Mexico), May 16, 2018).

La Organización no Gubernamental Centro de Derechos Humanos Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez analizó las sentencias de amparo

• Ted Hesson, “U.S., Mexican Officials to Discuss Asylum Pact” (Politico, May 16, 2018).

Officials from the Trump administration and the Mexican government will meet Thursday and Friday to discuss a possible “safe third country” agreement

Nicaragua

• Carlos Salinas Maldonado, “Cid Gallup: 69% Pide Que Renuncien Ortega y Murillo” (Confidencial (Nicaragua), May 16, 2018).

El sondeo realizado a 1200 personas entre el 5 y 15 de mayo muestra que el 78% de los entrevistados opinan que el país va por mal camino. Una enorme diferencia en relación a la encuesta de enero, cuando el 35% opinaba lo mismo

Venezuela

• “Chavismo Mantiene el Poder Con los Militares, Como las Viejas Dictaduras” (Agence France Presse, ABC Color (Paraguay), May 16, 2018).

De 32 ministros, 14 son militares y dirigen carteras como Defensa, Interior, Petróleo, Agricultura y Alimentación, además de la poderosa petrolera PDVSA

• Venezuela Investigative Unit, “7 Reasons for Describing Venezuela as a ‘Mafia State’” (InsightCrime, May 16, 2018).

Here are seven arguments as to why we think Venezuela qualifies and what the implications are of this troubled Andean nation as a regional crime hub

• Francisco Toro, “Even Winning Venezuela’s Flawed ‘Election’ Won’t Make Maduro’s Grip on Power Safe” (The Washington Post, May 16, 2018).

For a leader so universally loathed to try to steal an election risks setting off a series of events that end with him out of power — perhaps even in jail

• Tom Phillips, “Venezuela Political Prison Seized by Inmates Ahead of Presidential Election” (The Guardian (Uk), May 16, 2018).

A flurry of videos that were posted on social media and could not be immediately verified purported to show El Helicoide’s inmates fleeing their cells and issuing pleas for outside help