(Even more here)

January 6, 2021

Western Hemisphere Regional

• Laura Boyette-Alvarez, “How China and Russia Will Continue to Exploit Weak Democratic Institutions Across the Hemisphere” (International Republican Institute, Dialogo (U.S. Southern Command), January 6, 2021).

The hemisphere’s three greatest vulnerabilities to the malign influence of Russian and Chinese’s soft power are related to failed economic development policies of the past, incomplete decentralization of government power, and anti-democratic regimes’ reliance on foreign actors to control their populations

• Ryan Devereaux, ““Theater of Compliance”: New Report Details How Ice Escapes Detention Center Oversight” (The Intercept, January 6, 2021).

A new report by advocates focused on the Otero facility argues that this is an example of “performative compliance,” a process in which ostensible oversight bodies undermine their own stated purpose

Brazil

• “Brazil’s President Says Country Is ‘Broke’” (Agence France Presse, France 24 (France), January 6, 2021).

With state subsidies to fight poverty now ended, Brazil’s far-right President Jair Bolsonaro on Tuesday said his country is “broke” and he is unable to do anything about it, attributing the crisis to “the press-fueled” coronavirus

Colombia

• “Nuevo Protocolo para Uso de la Fuerza en la Protesta Social” (El Espectador (Colombia), January 6, 2021).

El documento señala, por ejemplo, que, en cualquier caso, primará el diálogo y la mediación en la protesta, incluso “cuando los medios pacíficos de intervención se consideren agotados y se proceda al uso de la fuerza”

Cuba

• Carlos Manuel Alvarez, “Cuatro Tazas de Cafe en Cuba: Tecnica del Interrogatorio” (El Pais (Spain), January 6, 2021).

El periodista y escritor Carlos Manuel Álvarez narra los interrogatorios a los que fue sometido por las autoridades cubanas durante su detención tras las protestas en el barrio de San Isidro de La Habana

Mexico

• Lindsay Poulton, Jess Gormley, “Lupita: The Powerful Voice of One Indigenous Woman Leading a Movement” (The Guardian, January 6, 2021).

Film-maker Monica Wise talks about making her documentary on Mexican indigenous resistance

U.S.-Mexico Border

• “Us: ‘Remain in Mexico’ Harms Children, Families” (Human Rights Watch, January 6, 2021).

The 103-page report, “‘Like I’m Drowning’: Children and Families Sent to Harm by the US ‘Remain in Mexico’ Program,” is a joint investigation by Human Rights Watch, Stanford University’s Human Rights in Trauma Mental Health Program, and Willamette University’s Child and Family Advocacy Clinic

Venezuela

• “Statement From the Lima Group” (Government of Canada, January 6, 2021).

We recognize the existence of the Delegate Commission headed by its legitimate Board of Directors, established by the National Assembly, led by Juan Guaidó

• Reynaldo Mozo Zambrano, “De 52 Presos Politicos Con Complicaciones de Salud 13 Tienen Enfermedades Graves, Indica Foro Penal” (Efecto Cocuyo (Venezuela), January 6, 2021).

Foro Penal subraya que en la mayoría de los casos se les ha negado la atención médica primaria o especializada

• Jorge Rueda, Joshua Goodman, “Venezuela’s Socialists Take Control of Once-Defiant Congress” (Associated Press, Associated Press, January 6, 2021).

While Guaido’s bravery hasn’t wavered, the opposition’s political fortunes have tanked as Venezuelans own hopes for change have collapsed

• “New Us House Foreign Affairs Chief Seeks Fresh Look on Venezuela” (Agence France Presse, Yahoo!, January 6, 2021).

Meeks said that the United States needs to be “working collectively in a multilateral way” with regional players and international organizations

• Juan Forero, “Deal Maker for Venezuela’s Maduro Can Be Extradited to U.S., Court Rules” (The Wall Street Journal, January 6, 2021).

Alex Saab, a Colombian businessman who had been Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s deal maker, can be extradited to the U.S., where he was indicted on charges of laundering money for the authoritarian regime