(Even more here)

October 2, 2020

Western Hemisphere Regional

• Mariano Aguirre, “Desafios para una Posible Politica Exterior de Biden y Harris” (Chatham House, RFI (France), October 2, 2020).

Biden y Harris tendrán que ocuparse de un amplio arco de situaciones

• Emily Green, Keegan Hamilton, “Border Patrol Snipers Were Authorized to Use Deadly Force at George Floyd’s Burial” (VICE, October 2, 2020).

CBP’s tactical unit was “geared up ready to deploy” in response to “verbal aggressive language” by protesters, or the throwing of empty water bottles

Western Hemisphere Regional, Colombia

• Mat Youkee, “Us Makes Fresh Pitch to Latin America in Bid to Counter China’s Influence” (The Guardian, October 2, 2020).

Experts say Growth in the Americas programme is attempt to reassert US control – and seems likely to anatagonise Beijing

Brazil

• Bruno Carvalho, Carlos Nobre, “We’re Turning the Amazon Into a Savannah” (The New York Times, October 2, 2020).

Rainforests are unique ecosystems of immense complexity that nurture an incredible diversity of plants, animals and micro-organisms. Bulldozers and chain saws don’t care about that

• Ciara Nugent, “Brazil Is Burning—and the Environment Minister Is Cutting Protections” (Time, October 2, 2020).

Salles announced an end to two legal protections for mangroves and coastal restinga forests, arguing the protections were “excessively restrictive” and “stifled economic development”

• Augusta Saraiva, Robbie Gramer, “Pompeo’s Preelection Politicking Is Wearing Thin, Even With Allies” (Foreign Policy, October 2, 2020).

In Brazil, lawmakers are still trying to come to grips with the damage done by Pompeo’s September visit, ostensibly meant to shore up support for a common front against Venezuela but ultimately about Pompeo’s efforts to boost Trump’s standing with Latino voters in Florida

Colombia

• “Nota de Prensa del Informe Trimestral del Secretario General de Naciones Unidas Ante el Consejo de Seguridad Sobre la Mision de Verificacion de la Onu en Colombia” (Mision de la ONU en Colombia, October 2, 2020).

A pesar de una disminución en las tasas nacionales de homicidio en el primer semestre, la violencia en las regiones más afectadas por el conflicto ha continuado

• “El Fracaso de la Seguridad en Colombia” (El Pais (Spain), October 2, 2020).

Las voces que piden la renuncia del ministro de Defensa crecen cada día y, desde el Congreso de la República, algunos sectores piden una moción de censura

• “Asesinan a Campo Elias Galindo, Historiador y Lider Politico de Medellin” (El Espectador (Colombia), October 2, 2020).

Era activista del partido Colombia Humana, que lidera Gustavo Petro

• “Amenazan a Capitan de la Policia Que Investiga el Caso de Javier Ordonez” (El Espectador (Colombia), October 2, 2020).

Filtraron su foto para publicarla en Facebook y señalarlo de “sapo”

• “Alias “Cachano”, el Rey de los Semisumergibles, Quien Domina el Narcotrafico en Tumaco” (El Espectador (Colombia), October 2, 2020).

El Espectador conoció detalles sobre uno de los tres narcotraficantes que, según organismos del Estado, es el “rey” de los envíos de cocaína

El Salvador

• “El Faro Denuncia Intervencion de Comunicaciones y Seguimiento a Periodistas” (La Prensa Grafica (El Salvador), October 2, 2020).

“No lo hemos denunciado para no poner en riesgo a la fuente que nos dio la información, que nos compartió la información”, aseveró el periodista

• Steven Dudley, Alex Papadovassilakis, “How el Salvador President Bukele Deals With Gangs” (InsightCrime, October 2, 2020).

Throughout the time Bukele was mayor of San Salvador, City Hall and the gangs made several arrangements like this: the gangs would not get money; they would get political and economic favors

Guatemala, Honduras

• Juan Montes, Jose De Cordoba, “New Migrant Caravan From Honduras Heads Toward U.S. Border” (The Wall Street Journal, October 2, 2020).

Caravan could provide ammunition to President Trump’s re-election campaign, but experts say it will likely be broken up

Honduras

• Jeff Ernst, “Could an Ex-Money Launderer for Drug Traffickers Be Next President of Honduras?” (VICE, October 2, 2020).

Yani Rosenthal served time in a U.S federal prison on a charge connected to the drug trade, but now wants to run for president back home

Mexico

• ““el Hummer”, Lider Zeta y Medalla de la Guerra de Calderon, Podria Salir Libre por Presunta Tortura” (La Opinion, SinEmbargo (Mexico), October 2, 2020).

Se presume que la confesión fue obtenida mediante tortura

• David Agren, “Mexico’s Amlo Proposes Referendum on Prosecuting Country’s Ex-Presidents” (The Guardian, October 2, 2020).

Mexico’s president has announced plans for a referendum on whether to prosecute his unpopular predecessors, saying he wants “the people” to give the green light

• Kendal Blust, “Mexico’s Security Secretary to Resign, Seek Governorship in Sonora” (Fronteras Desk, October 2, 2020).

Mexico’s Security Secretary Alfonso Durazo, from the Sonoran town of Bavispe, confirmed Thursday that he plans to resign from his post and return to Sonora to seek the governorship

• “Mexico Supreme Court Oks Vote on Prosecuting Ex-Presidents” (Associated Press, Associated Press, October 2, 2020).

Opponents had claimed it violated the precept that the decision to prosecute should be made by prosecutors, not voters or politicians, as well as the presumption of innocence

• Rosalia Vergara, “El Inm Amaga Con Carcel Si Caravana Migrante Ingresa a Mexico Sin Medidas Sanitarias” (Proceso (Mexico), October 2, 2020).

El Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM) advirtió este jueves que habrá sanciones para las personas extranjeras que ingresen a México sin las medidas sanitarias derivadas de la pandemia por covid-19

• Pablo Ferri, “La Policia Federal Contrato 40 Millones de Dolares Con Empresas Fachada a Seis Meses del Fin del Gobierno de Pena Nieto” (El Pais (Spain), October 2, 2020).

Los Gastos de Seguridad Pública y Nacional son una de las partidas más oscuras del presupuesto. En teoría, su uso está acotado a investigaciones delicadas

Venezuela

• Ibis Leon, “Para Analistas Retiro de Capriles de la Contienda Electoral Es “Coherente”, Pero Insuficiente” (Efecto Cocuyo (Venezuela), October 2, 2020).

El dirigente opositor Henrique Capriles se retiró de la contienda electoral. Su decisión se debe al improbable aplazamiento de las elecciones parlamentarias y, con ello, la imposibilidad de que se garantice observación internacional de la Unión Europea