(Even more here)

December 9, 2020

Bolivia

• Marco Antonio Chuquimia Huallpa, “Defensa Ve Que Justicia Ordinaria Esta por Encima de Justicia Militar en Casos Sacaba y Senkata” (El Deber (Bolivia), December 9, 2020).

El fuero militar que reclaman los procesados por los casos Sacaba, en Cochabamba y Senkata, en La Paz, no corresponde porque los delitos son personales y no institucionales, señaló el Ministerio de Defensa

Colombia

• Ever Andres Mercado, “En Buenaventura Exigen Proteccion del Estero San Antonio Donde Habria Desaparecidos” (El Espectador (Colombia), December 9, 2020).

Organizaciones sociales y víctimas recorrieron esta zona de manglar con el fin de exigir que se proteja, pues la alcaldía del municipio adelanta un proyecto de dragado que podría afectar la búsqueda de sus seres queridos

• Ariel Ávila, “Las Masacres Que Desangran a Colombia” (Fundación Paz y Reconciliación (Colombia), El Espectador (Colombia), December 9, 2020).

El narcotráfico, como ha insistido el Gobierno, no es lo único que explica la degradación de la seguridad

Cuba

• Tim Padgett, “Cuban Artists Are Captivating the World. But Can They Challenge the Regime?” (WLRN, December 9, 2020).

Artists’ sudden, stunning push for free speech and expression in Cuba is resonating with ordinary citizens in ways authorities have rarely seen

El Salvador

• Elizabeth Hawkins, “The 39-Year-Old Massacre That Still Haunts el Salvador” (Slate, December 9, 2020).

Those I’ve spoken to have floated a few theories about Bukele’s apparent change of heart but most boil down to a single one: “He’s the same as the rest”

Guatemala

• Rep. Norma Torres (D-California), “Torres Ensures Accountability for U.S. Aid to Guatemala in Ndaa” (U.S. House of Representatives, December 9, 2020).

U.S. military aid sent to Guatemala can only be used for its intended purpose at the time of transfer

Mexico

• Audrey Travere, Jules Giraudat, “Revealed: How Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel Has Created a Global Network to Rule the Fentanyl Trade” (The Guardian, December 9, 2020).

Fentanyl is extraordinarily profitable to produce: where opium poppies require acres of land and months of care, this highly powerful drug requires only a minimal workforce and infrastructure

• “Cndh: Oportunidad Perdida” (Centro de Derechos Humanos Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez, Animal Politico (Mexico), December 9, 2020).

A un año de su renovación, estamos perdiendo lo rescatable que había en la CNDH y la oportunidad histórica de volverla una instancia realmente relevante y útil para las víctimas

• Dave Graham, David Alire Garcia, “After Weeks of Caution, Mexican President Set to Recognize Biden Win -Sources” (Reuters, Reuters, December 9, 2020).

Mexico’s president is expected to congratulate U.S. President-elect Joe Biden next week on his victory once it is certified

U.S.-Mexico Border

• Rick Jervis, “Thousands of Unaccompanied Minors Arrive at Us-Mexico Border as Border Patrol Grapples With Covid-19 Deaths” (USA Today, December 9, 2020).

Agents are apprehending an average of 153 young migrants a day at the border since October, up from about 80 a day earlier this year

• Michael D Mcdonald, Eric Martin, “Migrant Caravans Head to U.S. Border in Early Test for Biden” (Bloomberg, December 9, 2020).

“What they see is that the one who said he was going to build a wall and hated Latinos is on his way out”

Venezuela

• “International Contact Group Reject Venezuelan Election, but Argentina Did Not Sign the Statement” (MercoPress, December 9, 2020).

The rejection text was signed by Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, the European Union (EU), France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Panama, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay