Project
Information | Archive of News Highlights
N O V E M B E R -- 1 9 9 8
CENTRAL AMERICA
PANAMA
MEXICO
CHILE
COLOMBIA
BRAZIL
Central America
Hurricane Mitch in the News
"Central America Paralyzed by Mitch,"
by Andres Viglucci, Juan Tamayo & Glenn Garvin of the Miami Herald;
"Mitch Left Honduras a Republic Without Bananas," by John
Ward of the Washington Post and
"European Aid Sets An Example," by Andres Oppenheimer of the
Miami Herald.
The tragedy of hurricane Mitch dominated press coverage of Latin America
during the first weeks of November. Numerous articles describe the devastation
suffered by the people of Central America, as well as the impact on
the future of these nations' economies. Check out ISLA's Caribbean Basin
section, as well as the impacted countries for details.
Panama
Noriega Not the Problem
"In Panama, Drug Money's
Clout Outlives Noriega," by Douglas Farah of the Washington
Post.
Farah exposes the pervasive influence of drug money in Panamanian governing
circles since the U.S. invasion arresting General Manuel Noriega. The
May 29 arrest of Colombian drug trafficker, Jose Castrillón Henao,
followed a year long investigation involving six countries, the CIA
and the DEA. The investigation revealed that Castrillón helped
finance the successful campaign of President Ernesto Pérez Balladares
in 1994. Castrillón funneled money through Pérez Balladares'
Vice-President, Felipe Virzi. The U.S. government suppressed all news
of drug-related corruption during this period in an attempt to enhance
its position while bargaining over troop withdrawal, Canal possession,
and military bases.
Mexico
Zapatistas Meet with Congressional
Peace Commission
"Mexico's Zapatistas Make Move Toward Peace," by James Smith
of the Los Angeles Times.
"29 masked commanders, including five women, received thunderous
applause as they strode into the church hall" at the inaugural
session of the movement's "Encounter with Civil Society."
The "Encounter" coincided with meetings between the Zapatistas
and a Congressional Commission (COCOPA). The 2,000 delegates provided
a civilian shield protecting the largest number of Zapatista commanders
to come out of hiding since the movement began.
Both the Times and the Washington Post noted that the
Zapatistas were irate over the COCOPA's "racist treatment"
of their leaders. Facilities for the Zapatistas were quite unlike the
posh accommodations usually available at diplomatic gatherings. The
Zapatistas were provided with rusty cots to sleep on, toilets which
did not function, and no working telephones or fax lines. The poor start
was amplified by the Congressional team's unwillingness to assure support
for and implementation of the peace accords signed by Zedillo. Implementation
of the peace accords was one of the five demands the Zapatistas brought
to the table. The legislative Commission later offered two sealed envelopes
from the government containing conditions for negotiations. The Zapatistas
refused to accept the envelopes sent on the government's behalf, saying
that the COCOPA had not been appointed as a mediating body. More successful
were the Zapatistas' meetings with the civilian delegations, including
NGO's and grassroots activists.
Chile
Justice on the Horizon?
"European's, But Not U.S., Rejoice at Ruling," by Tim Weiner
of the New York Times.
Statements in support of Pinochet's continued detention and future extradition,
resounded throughout Europe. Mary Robinson of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights based in Geneva, remarked that the ruling
"will hearten human rights defenders around the world," and
that the decision "confirmed the emerging international consensus
against impunity." Jacque Chirac, President of France, said "May
justice be done, and may light be fully shed on Pinochet's responsibilities,"
while the French Prime Minister, Lionel Jospin, said "It's a surprise,
it's a joy, and it's bad news for dictators."
"U.S. Officials: Evidence
Lacking on Pinochet," by the Herald Staff and Wire Reports.
The Clinton administration feels there is no hard evidence that Pinochet
is responsible for crimes which might subject him to extradition by
the U.S. Apparently, the Justice Department, the National Security Council
and the State Department were discussing extradition of Pinochet due
to his involvement in the Latelier case. A U.S. investigation concluded
that the chief of Pinochet's secret police was involved in the conspiracy
to kill Orlando Letelier. Lawrence Barcella, prosecutor in the case,
declared last week that it was "inconceivable" that Pinochet
was not involved.
"Into the Murky Depths of
'Operation Condor'," by Lucy Komisar of the Los Angeles Times.
"Operation Condor" is behind the Spanish request for the extradition
of Pinochet, yet this article by Lucy Komisar is among the very few
in the U.S. press with information on this terror network. The U.S.
government is currently releasing declassified documents to the Spanish
judiciary, however it refuses to send all relevant papers in State Department,
Pentagon, FBI and CIA archives. Perhaps this is because the CIA and
the Chilean secret police (formerly known as the DINA) were working
together, according to U.S. Embassy political officer John Tipton. Lucy
Komisar, author of this gripping article, is working on a book on U.S.
human rights policy which includes a detailed case study of Chile.
Colombia
Human Rights Awards for Colombians
"Four Activists Deplore
Tide of Violence" by Frank Davies of the Miami Herald.
Jaime Prieto Méndez, Bernice Celeyta, Gloria Flores and Mario
Calixto received the Robert Kennedy Human Rights award for "speaking
out, organizing and risking their lives daily," according to the
Miami Herald. Prieto Méndez has been a human rights activist
for 22 years. Despite their efforts, they are none too optimistic. They
feel that civilians are in more danger now than ever. They are very
concerned that negotiating for peace in the midst of so much conflict
may "intensify confrontation and criminal action against the civilian
population." Certainly that has been the case in their own situations.
Mario Calixto formed a group documenting abuses by both guerrillas and
death squads, and offering legal relocation to peasants. He now lives
in exile and his organization was forced to shut down. Bernarda Celeyta,
helped 9,000 displaced miners and peasants extract an agreement from
the government that they could return home. Last week, four of her colleagues
were killed, leaving serious questions about the accords. Gloria Flores
worked with Celeyta for the past six years. She asserted that the government
has not shown the "political will" to dismantle paramilitary
groups linked to the army.
Brazil
Does Brazil Need to be "Rescued"?
"In Brazil, the Goal is
Fiscal Discipline," by Katherine Ellison of the Miami Herald.
The impact of IMF reforms on the general populace can be fatal. A case
in point, is the cut to health spending President Cardoso is proposing.
Even before the cuts, Ms. Ellison tells of an ill woman forced to begin
standing in line at 4:00 a.m. and wait two hours in line to make an
appointment for two months later! Cuts, rather than controls characterize
the IMF conditions for receiving a loan, and the repercussions are all
too familiar to Brazilians. Even industry is expecting the worse from
the proposed reforms, as a new tax on all financial transactions will
now double the cost of such a transaction.
"Can Brazil Afford to Be Rescued?"
by Mark Weisbrot of the Washington Post.
Mr. Weisbrot's critical opinion piece is a clear departure from the
notion of an IMF "rescue". While the IMF package is the big
news in both October and November mainstream press coverage, analysis
of the proposed reforms and "danger signals" in an economy,
is scarce. Weisbrot makes the point that the Brazilian budget deficit
is currently "6.1 percent of the economy (or GDP). To put this
in perspective, the United States government ran a budget deficit of
6.1 percent of the GDP in 1983, with no harm done. One might argue that
either of these deficits is too high over the long run, but there is
no urgency in cutting them. It is sometimes feared that budget deficits
in this range will cause accelerating inflation, but this is clearly
not the case in Brazil, where inflation is at 3 percent." He concludes
by noting that any money from the IMF was contingent upon U.S. imposed
economic policy reforms. The fact that Brazilian economic policy has
been decided in Washington, rather than Brazil, brings immediate questions
about democracy, as well as a forecast for upcoming confrontations in
both the Brazilian legislature and the streets.
See the ISLA November 1998 volume
(print format) for the full version of these and other articles.
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