(Even more here)

July 13, 2017

Brazil

• Ernesto LondoÑo, “Ex-President of Brazil Sentenced to Nearly 10 Years in Prison for Corruption” (The New York Times, July 13, 2017).

The former president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, was found guilty of corruption and money laundering on Wednesday and sentenced to nearly 10 years in prison

• Samantha Pearson, Luciana Magalhaes, “Former Brazilian President Is Convicted of Corruption” (The Wall Street Journal, July 13, 2017).

Former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the front-runner for next year’s presidential election, was sentenced to almost a decade in prison for corruption, dealing a heavy blow to his leftist Workers’ Party

• “The Conviction of Lula and the Future of Brazil’s Political Purge” (The Economist (Uk), July 13, 2017).

Public opinion remains firmly behind Lava Jato. That is why efforts to scotch it are unlikely to succeed

• Brian Winter, “For Brazil’s Lula, It’s Not Over Yet” (Americas Quarterly, July 13, 2017).

It’s hard not to see in Moro’s words at least a trace of the deference to power, and instinctive preference for compromise, that has long characterized Brazilian political culture – and may ultimately be Lula’s salvation

Colombia

• “94 Caletas de las Farc Ya Fueron Desmanteladas: Onu” (Colprensa, EFE, El Colombiano (Medellin Colombia), July 13, 2017).

La Misión de la ONU en Colombia ha logrado recopilar información sobre los sectores de ubicación de 660 caletas, y se completó el planeamiento de 456 para su extracción

• “Inconformidad Con la Fiscalia por Resultados Sobre Asesinatos de Lideres Sociales” (Verdad Abierta (Colombia), July 13, 2017).

Diferentes organizaciones sociales no están de acuerdo con las metodologías y los alcances de las investigaciones

Cuba, Venezuela

• Marianna Parraga, Marc Frank, “Venezuela Oil Exports to Cuba Drop, Energy Shortages Worsen” (Reuters **, July 13, 2017).

Venezuela’s crude and fuel deliveries to Cuba have slid almost 13 percent in the first half this year, according to documents from state-run oil company PDVSA viewed by Reuters, threatening to worsen gasoline and power shortages in the communist-run island

Guatemala

• Nina Lakhani, “The Canadian Company Mining Hills of Silver – and the People Dying to Stop It” (The Guardian (Uk), July 13, 2017).

There are currently at least 307 active mining licences in Guatemala, mainly in rural indigenous regions, according to Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) figures. Almost 600 more are under consideration

Honduras

• Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Maryland), Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California), “Senators Ask Tillerson, Sessions for Information, Accountability Regarding U.S. Role in Honduran Civilian Deaths During Counterdrug Missions” (U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, July 13, 2017).

We are particularly alarmed that the OIGs found that DEA and INL officials repeatedly and knowingly misled Members of Congress and congressional staff. We request that you provide us with a detailed written account of the steps that you intend to take

Mexico

• Ian Volner, “The Trump Administration Doesn’t Want a Winner for Its Wall Competition” (Foreign Policy, July 13, 2017).

The contractor says he has never seen a bidding process so chaotic and rudderless as this one

• “Appropriations Committee Releases Fiscal Year 2018 Homeland Security Bill” (U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, July 13, 2017).

$1.6 billion for physical barrier construction along the Southern border – including bollards and levee improvements – meeting the full White House request

Venezuela

• Geoff Ramsey, David Smilde, “Political Impact of Lopez House Arrest Still Unclear” (Washington Office on Latin America, July 13, 2017).

Transferring Lopez to house arrest was not, as the government has insisted, merely a procedural matter that illustrates the health of checks and balances in Venezuela

Western Hemisphere Regional

• Joshua Partlow, “Rights Groups Sue U.S. Government, Alleging It Is Turning Away Asylum Applicants at Mexico Border” (The Washington Post, July 13, 2017).

In some cases, the complaint alleges, CBP officials have told people that “Donald Trump just signed new laws saying there is no asylum for anyone.”

• Cora Currier, “Emboldened by Trump, U.S. Border Officials Are Lying to Asylum Seekers and Turning Them Away” (The Intercept, July 13, 2017).

Lawyers and charity groups working on the border documented an uptick in turn-backs and other irregularities with this process beginning in the summer of 2016, and it appeared to worsen after the election