(Even more here)

March 31, 2021

Western Hemisphere Regional

• “2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices” (U.S. Department of State, March 31, 2021).

The corruption of Nicolas Maduro increased the dire humanitarian crisis of the Venezuelan people. In Nicaragua, the corrupt Ortega regime passed increasingly repressive laws that limit severely the ability of opposition political groups, civil society, and independent media to operate. Meanwhile in Cuba, government restrictions continued to suppress the freedoms of expression, association, religion or belief, and movement

Brazil

• Brian Winter, “An Insecure Bolsonaro Prepares for His Own January 6” (Americas Quarterly, March 31, 2021).

The Armed Forces are split between an officer corps that came of age during the disgrace that followed the 1964-85 dictatorship (whose “anniversary” is Wednesday), and generally is loath to be seen as political, and a younger generation whose hatred for the left tends to overcome such misgivings

• Ernesto Londono, Leticia Casado, “Brazil’s Armed Forces Chiefs Resign Abruptly Amid Cabinet Shake-Up” (The New York Times, March 31, 2021).

Retired generals and military analysts in Brazil struggled to make sense of this week’s changes, which neither the president nor the outgoing commanders explained

• Tom Phillips, Uki Goñi, Joe Parkin Daniels, “‘The Heart of Darkness’: Neighbors Shun Brazil Over Covid Response” (The Guardian, March 31, 2021).

“The other day I saw a pretty strong article saying Brazil was starting to be seen by its neighbors as a sort of leper colony … and it’s probably true”

Central America Regional

• “The Influence of Central American Dynasties Is Ebbing” (The Economist (Uk), March 31, 2021).

As the big families lose political influence, they may start to see more clearly the benefits of cleaner governance

Colombia

• Sebastian Forero Rueda, “En Bogota Tambien Persiguen a Excombatientes y Militantes del Partido Comunes” (El Espectador (Colombia), March 31, 2021).

La colectividad denuncia que en los últimos meses se han recrudecido las amenazas y la persecución a sus miembros en la capital, donde viven al menos 750 firmantes de la paz

• Ricardo L. Cruz, “Erradicacion Forzada en Colombia, una Historia de Denuncias y Cifras Cuestionables” (Vorágine, Connectas, Connectas.org, March 31, 2021).

Ellos mismos (la Fuerza Pública) arrancan las matas de aquí y las siembran más allá. Luego pasan, arrancan y vuelven y siembran en otro lado y así, todo el año en esas

• Alfonso Luna Geller, “La Violencia en el Cauca: La Misma Reaccion Oficial para Que Todo Continue Peor” (Proclama del Cauca, El Espectador (Colombia), March 31, 2021).

Es muy evidente la improvisación, la falta de planificación, la falta de persecución sistemática al crimen. A los militares y policías siempre los sorprenden. Parece que no existiera inteligencia militar ni policial

Colombia, Venezuela

• Joshua Collins, “Thousands Flee as Venezuela Launches Rare Attack on Rebel Groups” (VICE, March 31, 2021).

The change in tack from the government of President Nicolás Maduro most likely reflects a conflict in other shared interests: cocaine trafficking and illegal gold mining

• Joe Parkin Daniels, “‘In the Middle of a War Zone’: Thousands Flee as Venezuela Troops and Colombia Rebels Clash” (The Guardian, March 31, 2021).

Witnesses have described human rights abuses at the hands of the FANB soldiers, including home break-ins and forced disappearances

Guatemala

• “Covid-19 No Es un Pretexto para Que Guatemala Niegue Proteccion Internacional” (Amnesty International, March 31, 2021).

El decreto gubernativo 3-2021, firmado por el Presidente Giamattei, restringe el derecho de protesta pacífica, la libertad de reunión y de locomoción, entre otros, en cinco departamentos del país. La firma de este decreto se da tras comunicaciones en redes sociales y medios de que podría formarse una caravana a partir del 30 de marzo

Guatemala, Mexico

• Maria Verza, “Mexican Soldiers Seized After Guatemalan Killed Near Border” (Associated Press, Associated Press, March 31, 2021).

Gen. Sandoval denied that any of the soldiers had been taken into Guatemalan territory, but the spokesman for Guatemala’s army confirmed it and the Guatemalan government released photos of Mexican soldiers with Guatemalan police

• Julio Roman, Efe, “Mexico Confirma Que Soldado Mato al Guatemalteco Elvin Mazariegos por “Error”” (Prensa Libre (Guatemala), March 31, 2021).

Luego de varias horas de negociación los vecinos de la aldea La Esperanza accedieron a entregar a los seis soldados mexicanos y su armamento

Honduras

• “Ascenso y Caida de Tony Hernandez: 14 Anos para Caer en Manos de Eeuu” (El Heraldo (Honduras), March 31, 2021).

Las autoridades estadounidenses trabajaron silenciosa y pacientemente 14 años para atraparlo, once meses en enjuiciarlo y declararlo culpable y un año y cinco meses para sentenciarlo

• Nathaniel Janowitz, “Cocaine Charges Put Honduran President’s Brother in Us Prison for Life. Is the President Next?” (VICE, March 31, 2021).

During the sentencing hearing, prosecutors and the judge repeatedly called out the Honduran president for his role in the drug trade along with his brother

• “Former Honduran Congressman Tony Hernandez Sentenced to Life in Prison and Ordered to Forfeit $138.5 Million for Distributing 185 Tons of Cocaine and Related Firearms and False Statements Offenses” (U.S. Department of Justice, March 31, 2021).

In 2013, HERNÁNDEZ was campaigning to become a congressman and Juan Orlando Hernández was campaigning to become president. Around this time, according to testimony at trial, Juan Orlando Hernández solicited $1.6 million in drug proceeds from Ardon Soriano to support himself and National Party campaigns

Mexico

• “Amlo Niega Militarizacion: ‘Fuerzas Armadas Son Leales a Instituciones’” (Animal Politico (Mexico), March 31, 2021).

El presidente dedicó parte de su informe a resaltar las acciones de las Fuerzas Armadas en su administración, pues aseguró que sin ellas no solo no podría enfrentarse a la delincuencia organizada, sino que tampoco se podrían realizar obras de desarrollo, o enfrentar la pandemia

• Alberto Pradilla, “Refugiada y Con Dos Hijas: Victoria, Mujer Asesinada por Policias en Tulum” (Animal Politico (Mexico), March 31, 2021).

Las tres llegaron a Tapachula, Chiapas, donde solicitaron asilo ante la Comisión Mexicana de Ayuda al Refugiado (Comar) el 4 de septiembre de 2017, un año después de abandonar su país

• Daniela Barragan, ““Caida de Litera”, Paros, Asfixia… Migrantes Mueren de Distintas Causas en Estaciones de Gobierno” (SinEmbargo (Mexico), March 31, 2021).

De 2013 y de 2015 a mediados de 2019, al menos 20 migrantes —principalmente centroamericanos— fallecieron en su paso por México

• Oscar Uscanga, “Ofrecio Ejercito un Mdp a Familia de Guatemalteco Asesinado” (Reforma (Mexico), March 31, 2021).

El Ejército mexicano ofreció un millón de pesos como indeminización por el crimen de militares contra el guatemalteco Elvin Mazariegos Pérez en Chiapas, afirmó la familia de la víctima

• “Mexico: Tulum Police Accused of ‘Murder’ Over Death of Woman Knelt on by Officers” (The Guardian, March 31, 2021).

Four police officers in the Mexican resort city of Tulum have been charged with femicide after a Salvadoran woman died while being restrained

• John Shiffman, Brad Heath, Diego Ore, “Exclusive: U.S. investigations into cartels paralyzed by standoff with Mexico” (Reuters, Reuters, March 31, 2021).

U.S. efforts to battle powerful drug cartels from inside Mexico have ground to a halt since January as strained relations between the two countries have frozen attempts to corral drug kingpins, according to current and former senior officials in both nations

U.S.-Mexico Border

• “Over 4,000 Migrants, Many Kids, Crowded Into Texas Facility” (Associated Press, Associated Press, March 31, 2021).

The children were being housed by the hundreds in eight “pods” formed by plastic dividers, each about 3,200 square feet (297 square meters) in size. Many of the pods had more than 500 children in them

• Cecilia Munoz, “Realism About the Border Is in Short Supply” (The Atlantic, March 31, 2021).

To my frustration, many of my friends in the immigrant-advocacy community will not help shape these decisions; most are unable or unwilling to name any category of migrant who should ever be returned

• Nick Miroff, “Biden Administration Allows Media Inside Texas Border Tents Packed With Minors” (The Washington Post, March 31, 2021).

Department of Homeland Security officials permitted the Associated Press and a camera crew to tour the Donna, Tex., temporary processing facility run by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, where 3,400 unaccompanied minors were in custody Tuesday along with 700 members of migrant families

• Miriam Jordan, “‘No Place for a Child’: Inside the Tent Camp Housing Thousands of Migrant Children” (The New York Times, March 31, 2021).

“I’m a Border Patrol agent. I didn’t sign up for this,” Mr. Escamilla said as he looked at some of the younger children, many of them under 12, being housed at the facility

• Daniella Burgi-Palomino, Lauri Alvarez, “Explainer: What’s Going on at the U.S. Border & What Is Title 42” (Latin America Working Group, March 31, 2021).

Document is a PDF

• Kristina Cooke, Mica Rosenberg, “Where Is My Aunt? Kids Separated From Relatives at the Border Strain U.S. Shelters” (Reuters, Reuters, March 31, 2021).

Since November, a handful of nonprofit groups that work with unaccompanied children have compiled tallies showing that as many as 10-17 percent of children in custody were separated from relatives

Venezuela

• Brian Contreras, “Maduro Firma Acuerdos Con Rusia Mientras Venezuela Sigue Esperando las Sputnik V” (Tal Cual (Venezuela), March 31, 2021).

En el marco de la cooperación bilateral entre los gobiernos de Nicolás Maduro y Vladimir Putin, se celebró una reunión de la Comisión Intergubernamental de Alto Nivel Rusia-Venezuela, en la cual Maduro firmó 12 acuerdos con el país europeo

• Geoff Ramsey, “U.S. Seems to Signal 3 Ways for Maduro to Demonstrate Good Faith” (Washington Office on Latin America, March 31, 2021).

Concessions from Maduro on one or all three of these points could allow the Biden administration to justify taking a bigger policy risk—like offering partial sanctions relief in return for a starting broader, credible negotiations