(Even more here)

February 27, 2020

Western Hemisphere Regional

• “States in the Americas Cracked Down on Asylum and Protests in 2019” (Amnesty International, February 27, 2020).

States across the Americas clamped down on the rights to protest and seek asylum last year with flagrant disregard for their obligations under domestic and international law, Amnesty International said today upon launching its annual report for the region

Argentina

• Maria Pia Lopez, “Lo Que Dijo el Presidente Sobre las Fuerzas Armadas y Lo Que Siguio” (Pagina12 (Argentina), February 27, 2020).

Recordar el pasado concentracionario no es condenar a quienes hoy estudian en esas aulas para ser militares, sino mostrarles lo que deben repudiar, la herencia a la que deben negarse

Bolivia

• Deborah Bonello, “The World’s Biggest Legal Coca Industry Might Get Shut Down” (VICE, February 27, 2020).

So far, even though there is talk of scrapping Bolivia’s legal coca system, there are no new ideas that could provide alternatives to eradication or legalization

Brazil

• Tom Phillips, “Outrage as Jair Bolsonaro Appears to Endorse Brazil Anti-Democracy Protests” (The Guardian, February 27, 2020).

Hardcore supporters of Brazil’s far-right president are planning nationwide protests on 15 March and have been flooding social media with propaganda videos and fliers attacking members of Congress – and even proposing a return to military rule

• “American Conservatives Have Fallen in Love With the Right-Wing Son of Brazil’s President” (Mother Jones, February 27, 2020).

Eduardo Bolsonaro will be giving workshops at CPAC this week

Colombia

• “La Respuesta de Emilio Archila a Timochenko Sobre Asesinatos a Ex-Farc” (El Tiempo (Colombia), February 27, 2020).

El dirigente de este partido, Rodrigo Londoño, aseguró a través de un video compartido en redes sociales que “el Presidente es indolente, que su inacción lo hace cómplice del genocidio que se está presentando con los exguerilleros”

• “La Implementacion de la Politica de Paz Con Legalidad Es Seria, Verificable y Reconocida por las Comunidades en los Territorios y la Cooperacion Internacional, Afirma el Consejero Presidencial para la Estabilizacion” (Presidencia de Colombia, February 27, 2020).

La Consejería destacó los avances en materia de Reforma Rural Integral, los Programas de Desarrollo con Enfoque Territorial (PDET), y la sustitución voluntaria de cultivos ilícitos

• “Informe de la Alta Comisionada de las Naciones Unidas para los Derechos Humanos Sobre la Situacion de Derechos Humanos en Colombia Durante el Ano 2019” (UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Colombia Field Office, February 27, 2020).

In 2019, OHCHR documented 108 killings of human rights defenders, including 15 women and two LGBTI defenders

Dominican Republic

• Sandra E. Garcia, Aimee Ortiz, “‘Democracy Is in Play’: What to Know About Protests in the Dominican Republic” (The New York Times, February 27, 2020).

After officials suspended a national vote over problems in their electronic voting machines, Dominicans took to the streets in protest

Ecuador

• “Luis Altamirano, Comandante del Ejercito: Pueden Estar Tranquilos Si Hay Protestas en el Pais” (El Universo (Ecuador), February 27, 2020).

Altamirano señaló que las Fuerzas Armadas, en especial el Ejército, está capacitado para las misiones que le sean encomendadas

El Salvador

• Nelson Renteria, “El Salvador Approves Law to Prosecute Civil War Crimes, President to Veto” (Reuters, The New York Times, February 27, 2020).

Bukele called it “an amnesty law that protects war criminals” and said he would veto it

• Nelson Rauda Zablah, “Juez de el Mozote Pide a Estados Unidos los Archivos Confidenciales de la Masacre” (El Faro (El Salvador), February 27, 2020).

El juez que tramita el caso de El Mozote pidió a varias agencias estadounidenses, entre ellas la CIA y el Departamento de Defensa, que entreguen toda la información clasificada sobre los operativos y sobre los militares señalados por la masacre ocurrida en 1981

Guatemala

• “Bipartisan House Leaders Urge Guatemalan President to Reject Undemocratic Ngo Law” (U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs Democratic Office, February 27, 2020).

“Guatemala has a vibrant civil society which contributes to its democracy. We believe that Bill 5257 could undermine the efforts of legitimate civil society organizations”

• Sergio Morales Rodas, “Ken Cuccinelli: Guatemala Es Responsable de Costear Procesos de Asilo por Aca” (Prensa Libre (Guatemala), February 27, 2020).

A la fecha, más de 700 migrantes han retornado al país bajo el Acuerdo de Cooperación de Asilo (ACA) que Estados Unidos firmó con Guatemala en julio

Honduras

• “Allanamientos y Capturas Deja la Operacion Jupiter Ii en Honduras” (El Heraldo (Honduras), February 27, 2020).

A lo largo del territorio nacional se han realizado acciones para combatir el narcomenudeo, portación ilegal de armas y otros ilícitos

Mexico

• Paulina Villegas, Kirk Semple, “Women in Mexico Are Urged to Disappear for a Day in Protest” (The New York Times, February 27, 2020).

Fed up with escalating gender-based attacks and murders, activists called for a daylong national strike by women to demand greater support for their rights

• “Riqueza y Bano de Sangre Van de la Mano en Guanajuato, Con Vias Que Atraen a Empresas y a Narcos” (Associated Press, SinEmbargo (Mexico), February 27, 2020).

El estado resulta atractivo para los carteles de las drogas por la misma razón que para las casas automotrices: Cuenta con carreteras y trenes que van directo a la frontera con Estados Unidos

• “Manana Saltara el Cochinero en Nueva York: La Fiscalia Dira por Que Quiere Preso a Garcia Luna” (SinEmbargo (Mexico), February 27, 2020).

El mismo juez que condenó a Joaquín Archivaldo Guzmán Loera será el encargado de escuchar lo que los fiscales tiene que decir sobre el ex funcionario mexicano

U.S.-Mexico Border

• Lolita C. Baldor, “Congress Warns Pentagon Not to Move Money to Fund Trump Wall” (Associated Press, Associated Press, February 27, 2020).

Despite congressional opposition, Trump faced no consequences when making similar transfers last year

• Simon Romero, “Tribal Nation Condemns ‘Desecration’ to Build Border Wall” (The New York Times, February 27, 2020).

The remains of chopped-up saguaros are now visible along a swath of the Sonoran Desert in southern Arizona, part of what Native American leaders warn is a range of environmental and archaeological threats

• Fernie Ortiz, “‘Remain in Mexico’ Program for Asylum-Seekers Expands to Arizona Port of Entry” (Border Report, WRBL, February 27, 2020).

The Department of Homeland Security announced Thursday it is expanding the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) program in Arizona.

• Ruthie Epstein, Shaw Drake, “Ban on Attorney Access for Asylum Proceedings in Inhumane Cbp Jails Key to Trump’s Attack on Asylum” (American Civil Liberties Union, February 27, 2020).

PACR/HARP requires the detention of asylum seekers in dangerous CBP facilities known as “hieleras” (or “iceboxes” for their freezing temperatures) with no meaningful way to obtain or consult with an attorney before their proceedings

Venezuela

• Anne Applebaum, “Venezuela Is the Eerie Endgame of Modern Politics” (The Atlantic, February 27, 2020).

In reality, the country offers no comfort for youthful Marxists or self-styled anti-imperialists—or for fans of Donald Trump

• Gustavo Ocando Alex, “Oposicion y Madurismo Exploran Acuerdo para “Formula 2-2-1” en el Cne Venezolano” (Voice of America, February 27, 2020).

La designación de un nuevo poder electoral en Venezuela por parte de la Asamblea Nacional opositora progresó de manera sorpresiva y expedita desde la semana pasada