August 24, 2018
Western Hemisphere Regional
- Terri Moon Cronk, “Senior Enlisted Leaders Learn Threats, Challenges of Southwest Border” (U.S. Department of Defense, August 24, 2018).
Troxell and his 24-member Defense Senior Enlisted Leader Council traveled about 1,000 miles of Southwest border territory from Aug. 13 to 15 to observe and report back to their leaders about border concerns
Argentina
- Daniel Politi, “Former Argentine President’s Homes Searched in Corruption Inquiry” (The New York Times, August 24, 2018).
The investigation was begun after the newspaper La Nación obtained notebooks belonging to a driver who took meticulous notes about bags of cash he purportedly ferried around the city
Bolivia
- Caroline Stauffer, “Native Peoples Sour on Morales, Bolivia’s First Indigenous President” (Reuters **, August 24, 2018).
After clashes with native groups over development, and controversial maneuvers to stay in office, indigenous voters are now turning against him
Brazil
- Fernando Molica, “Comandante Do Exercito Critica Falta de Acoes Contra Violencia” (Veja (Brazil), August 24, 2018).
De acordo com o general, estamos “nos infelicitando, diminuindo nossa autoestima e alterando nossa identidade”. Acrescentou que o país “não consegue vislumbrar um projeto para o seu futuro”
- Matt Sandy, “Jair Bolsonaro Loves Trump, Hates Gay People and Admires Autocrats. He Could Be Brazil’s Next President” (Time, August 24, 2018).
Newspapers have nicknamed him the Trump of the Tropics for his perceived similarities to the populist U.S. President
Colombia
- James Bargent, Parker Asmann, “Shifting Ex-Farc Mafia Alliances Fuel Colombia Criminal Shakeup” (InsightCrime, August 24, 2018).
The ex-FARC mafia — networks of former fighters from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia – FARC) — have rapidly emerged as central players in the Colombian underworld
- Ariel Ávila, “El Dramatico Diagnostico de los Homicidios en Algunas Zonas del Pais” (Fundacion Paz y Reconciliacion, Semana (Colombia), August 24, 2018).
Una reducción increíble, sin embargo las buenas noticias se estancaron desde 2017, y particularmente en el segundo semestre de ese año
- “Asi se Roban la Tierra en Colombia” (Mongabay, Semana (Colombia), August 24, 2018).
Funcionarios públicos como notarios, registradores y jueces se alían con los criminales para amenazar a los campesinos y obligarlos a vender a precios muy por debajo del valor real de los predios
- “En Agosto de 2018 Sobrepasamos los Desplazamientos de Todo 2017: Acnur” (El Espectador (Colombia), August 24, 2018).
Jozef Merkx, representante de la Alto Comisionado de las Naciones Unidas para los Refugiados, alertó sobre la crítica situación que se vive en Colombia por cuenta del desplazamiento forzado
- Nicholas Casey, “Waging War From a Hotel Basement: Colombian Rebels Offer Hostages and Ask for Talks” (The New York Times, August 24, 2018).
“We’re not asking for socialism,” he said, adding that his rebels are mainly looking for basic protections for peasants and a way that the rebels can lay down arms
- ““Algunos Empresarios, Tras Asesinatos de Lideres”” (El Nuevo Siglo (Colombia), August 24, 2018).
Así lo reveló la vicefiscal general de la Nación, Maria Paulina Riveros, quien denunció que el problema radica en la reclamación de tierras
Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
- “Colombia to Host Meeting With Ecuador, Peru on Venezuelan Migrant Issue” (Reuters **, August 24, 2018).
The three nations would meet on Monday and Tuesday to discuss problems caused by thousands of Venezuelans who cross borders each day and the impact of recently implemented passport controls
Colombia, Venezuela
- Katy Watson, “The Bridge of Desperation” (BBC (UK), August 24, 2018).
The humanitarian crisis in Venezuela has led to one of the largest mass migrations in Latin America’s history
Cuba
- Mimi Whitefield, Nora Gamez Torres, “U.S. Softens Its Cuba Travel Advisory, Still Advises Caution” (The Miami Herald, August 24, 2018).
The Cuban government has said that its hotels are safe, but the U.S. travel advisory still recommends that American travelers avoid the Hotel Nacional and the Hotel Capri
Ecuador, Venezuela
- “Ecuador Anuncia Salida de la Alba en Respuesta a Crisis Venezolana” (EFE, DW (Germany), August 24, 2018).
Explicó que Ecuador mantiene “una posición de principios” y que esta no se alinea con los de “ningún grupo en particular en la propuesta de que el problema de los venezolanos sea resuelto entre ellos, en el marco democrático”
El Salvador
- “Statement From the Press Secretary on el Salvador” (The White House, August 24, 2018).
The El Salvadoran government’s receptiveness to China’s apparent interference in the domestic politics of a Western Hemisphere country is of grave concern to the United States, and will result in a reevaluation of our relationship
Guatemala
- Hector Silva Avalos, Steven Dudley, “President Jimmy Morales’ (and Guatemala’s) ‘Original Sin’” (InsightCrime, August 24, 2018).
The circle is nearly closed. Jimmy Morales, who won power precisely because of his predecessor’s corruption, is now facing down accusations that he committed some of the same transgressions. It was a biblical lesson he apparently missed
Mexico
- Leon Krauze, “Amnesty Is Not the Answer” (Slate, August 24, 2018).
Mexico’s president-elect is promising a new approach to end the country’s brutal drug violence. It won’t be enough
Nicaragua
- “Nicaragua: Officers Linked to Abuses Promoted” (Human Rights Watch, August 24, 2018).
On July 5, 2018, the US Treasury Department had sanctioned Díaz under the Global Magnitsky Act, alleging that under his command “the National Police has engaged in serious human rights abuse against the people of Nicaragua”
- Maynor Salazar, “Ascensos Policiales “Evidencian Brutalidad” del Regimen Orteguista” (Confidencial (Nicaragua), August 24, 2018).
Según Cuadra, el espaldarazo de Ortega a su consuegro Francisco “Paco” Díaz fortalece el esquema de control político familiar que ejerce la pareja presidencial sobre la Policía
Venezuela
- Franco Ordonez, “Exclusive: Trump Takes Aim at Venezuela Lifeline, Which Could Raise Prices at the Pump” (The Miami Herald, August 24, 2018).
While a full embargo on purchasing Venezuelan oil — the so-called “nuclear option” —is being actively discussed, the administration is zeroing in on more surgical sanctions that block the sale of oil and oil processing products