After being on close watch since early 2015 after supporting an attempted coup against the Venezuelan gov. the former mayor of Caracas, Antonio Ledezma, a 62 year old vocal opponent of current President Maduro (currently facing corruption charges), has just recently been reported to have escape his “long-term” confinement within his own house in Venezuela (mainly due to health issues), being seen fleeing cross the Colombian border, soon entering Spain and supposedly being met by his family. While according to Colombian immigration authorities Mayor Ledezma did enter the country legally after crossing the Simon Bolivar Bridge separating the two countries, it was stated by Mayor Ledezma that his escape was “in attempts to continue fighting to restore the Venezuela’s democracy from exile,” even going so far to say that that his decision was his alone. However the issue of corruption that has befallen numerous Latin American countries, has many questioning whose actions are truly just, especially when examining the case of Venezuela. In my own personal opinion, as Mayor Ledezma actions may very well be just, numerous heavily armed police officers surrounded Ledezma’s residence as soon as news of his escape broke out across the country may believe otherwise. Yet why would the Venezuelan government target a man who, seemingly mission is to bring out the best for the Venezuelan public? With Ledezma wanting to repair the Venezuela government, whose corruption ties may lie even deeper than one may truly think the fact that the country is struggling under Maduro administration, especially when it comes to staying current and up to date on its foreign debt, President Maduro actions may just be all in attempts to cover up his “hidden” actions. While Venezuela has guaranteed that their presidential elections next year will be fair and transparent, after the widespread international condemnation of vote rigging, the real question becomes, does Ledezma stand a chance to save the Venzeula government, to which could be filled with possibly deeper corruption ties to Maduro and police networks themselves? If caught Ledesma may not get the chance to make this change that seemingly appears would help get the Venezuelan government back on track to what it should be before the Maduro administration.
Author: Ju.Rodgers
Venezuela Blacklisted?!
As multiple Latin American countries continue to deal with the growing stigma of operating under a corrupt government, The U.S Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, just added Venezuela to the list of “blacklisted” countries for “disregarding the will of its people. Going even further to state that the US “would not stand by while the administration of President Nicolas Maduro destroyed democratic order,” as President Maduro’s chief of staff and two ministers have been targeted under such “allegations” of corruption, the US have already imposed another 10 sanctions on Venezuelan officials as it accuses it of undermining democracy, corruption and censoring the press. Bringing a total number of Venezuelans sanctioned to 40 by the US, the Trump Administration isn’t taking such assumptions of corruption lightly. Seeing the U.S Treasury department act so quickly in after only receiving information that the assembly had sworn in the winners of the October regional election after the supposed vote being “marked by numerous irregularities that strongly suggest fraud” is what in actuality, helped Mr. Maduro’s ruling win the majority party of governorships. But with the U.S acting so quickly, when no “hard” facts have been proving to be true, may actually hurt the relationship between the U.S and Venezuela, when numerous Latin American countries are already starting to hold grudges against America. With America acting so quickly to disregard the Latin American country, could actually be hurting itself in the long run, as pressures will continue to grow, with the US discussing a possibly oil ban, which would strongly penalize the oil-rich Venezuela, but as local analysts have stated, this could hurt American refineries and worsen conditions for Venezuelan citizens. Thus if America is truly trying to stick up for the Venezuelan citizens, its actions need to be more thought out. These sanctions however, are unlikely to deter President Maduro and his administration from continue their day-to-day government operations, mocking earlier sanctions imposed on his government and administration in previous months.
Former Vice-President Amado Boudou Arrested?!
Amado Boudou, the former vice-president of Argentina and the second major government official to be charged under the suspicion of corruption while working under the former administration of President Cristina Fernandez, was just recently detained and arrested by Argentine police as of Friday Nov. 3, 2017. While Mr. Boudou was arrested near the upper class neighborhood in Buenos Aires, he faces three charges of “illicit enrichment” for racketeering and money launder that supposedly dates back to 2009 as Mr. Boudou worked as President Cristina Fernandez economy minister and vice-president.
This of course like previously stated above, comes after Mrs Fernandez’s former planning minister, Julio De Vido, turned himself in to authorities “marking an anti-corruption milestone in a country known for impunity.”
Of course, Mr. Boudou has denied any and all wrong-doing when referring back to 2009, when he was promoted from heading Argentina’s social security administration to become Mrs Fernandez’s economy minister and then elected to serve as her vice-president during her re-election in 2011. Mr. Boudou lawyer states that the arrest on Friday was “arbitrary.” “We never had any problems, and overnight, just in the week that there is a complaint to the Magistrates Council, and the arrest was ordered.”
Sadly the supposed mastermind behind all of this, Mrs. Fernandez holds immunity from the prosecution setting since being elected as a senator within the fairly recent October polls. In a statement on Friday afternoon, Fernandez’s “Citizens’ Unity” party accused Macri of using the judicial system to persecute political opponents, putting Argentine democracy “at risk.” This in and of itself has many wondering why hasn’t the government begun to interfere with the case and demand for further investigation to continue as Mrs. Fernandez, at least for now, gets away from her charges for free.
Such corruption by government officials in Latin America countries is seemingly becoming more prominent as time continues to pass on, leaving one to only wonder, how long may this trend continue and which countries could also be affected next?
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-41867239
https://www.nytimes.com/reuters “Former Minister for Argentina Arrested”
Brazil Amazon: “An Act Of Terrorism”
As of approximately 4-6 hours ago on Oct. 27, 2017, numerous federal police officers and troops were deployed to the Northern Brazilian town of Humaita after hundreds of armed men were sighted setting fire to 3 environmental agency offices. This attack taking place in the heart of Brazil’s Amazon region, has supposedly been carried out by a group of group of garimpeiros (small-scale illegal miners), whom torched the offices of the National Institute of Colonization and Agrarian Reform, the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources and the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity in attempts to retaliate against and illegal gold mining operation within the Madeira River. It was estimate that nearly 500 people took part in the retaliation
Members of the National Public Security Force stated that they will be providing protection to officials who live in Humaita in the wake of the attack, and it will be asked by the Justice Ministry to beef up security while the Federal Police investigates the violent incident.
These small-scale illegal miners are not licensed to carry out their mining activity and use no mechanisms to control mercury pollution for mercury is used to amalgamate gold and help separate the valuable pellets from ordinary stones and sand.
The police did manage to foil the attacks against the buildings of government agencies – Incra and Ipaam – but vehicles parked outside were set ablaze.
The head of Ibama in the state of Amazonas, Jose Leland Barroso, said the authorities would not step back…
”This is a barbaric attack, an act of terrorism,” Mr Barroso told O-Globo newspaper.
“They are challenging the Brazilian state and they will get the proper response. Ibama will carry on with its activities. They may set fire to our offices, but we will carry on.”
As tensions continue to run high, federal agents and officers will continue to patrol and protect the surrounding areas as the watch on these local garimpeiros likelihood to attack again could be possible.
Peru Says “Yes” To Medical Cannabis
Peru has finally joined forces with other Southern and Central American countries, stating that cannabis can now be used legally for medical and scientific reasons. The process for this bill started In February when during a police raid, a group of mothers were found producing medical marijuana in the form of a standard based oil. These parents believed that the oil could have the potential to help their children who were suffering from some cases of cancer and epilepsy.
Marijuana is known to be used to help cope with muscle spasms, severe pain, PTSD, cancer and epilepsy. Providing a more calming feeling, marijuana helps relax the human body.
While at first the law was a tough topic of conversation in Congress, due to Peru already struggling with local drug gangs associated in the cocaine production, notably making them the second largest cocaine production in the world, numerous government officials still continued to push for the country to look at “marijuana” as a way to help others deal with difficult circumstances and illnesses, rather then in a way that could cause destruction or bodily harm. Alberto de Belaunde, a pro-government politician, stated that “Science is on our side, the regional current is on our side. Let’s not let our fears paralyze us.” After much deliberation the majority of Peru stood behind president Pedro Pablo Kaczynski, in a stunning result of sixty-eight votes “yes” and only five votes for “no” Very surprising when the current government is consider to have strong conservatives values. Either way, within the next few months the bill will officially be written into law and the use of medical marijuana will become legal.
Notorious MS-13 Gang Leader Caught!
Early Saturday morning, police in Guatemala made an announcement that one of the most feared leaders of the Mara Salvatrucha gang (MS-13), Ángel Gabriel Reyes Marroquín aka Blanco, was found in the town of Chimaltenango, approximately 31 miles west of the capital. Being one of the most famous criminal cartels operating within both Central America and the United States since the 1980s, the Ms-13 street gang was born in LA but originated within El Salvador, as members fled from the country during its “long and brutal” civil war. The gang, soon after becoming designated by the US National Treasury in 2012 as a “transnational criminal organization” to which were similarly associated with much larger cartels such as the Japanese Yakuza and Italian Camorra, has been seen to cause international domestic and foreign terrorism within the U.S and parts of Central America. One of most notable trait of the gang, comes in it’s members large chest and upper body tattoo’s that are said to “brand” the members for life, causing even some members to kill fellow comrades who attempt to leave, while sticking close to their motto…”Kill, rape, and control.” Blanco, the “ranflero” or head of the Locos Centrales unit of MS-13 was reportedly wanted for several connections to attacking a hospital two months ago in an armed attack, leaving 7 shot dead and 12 severely wounded. He is charged with over 287 murders and is currently being sent to El Boquerón prison in Culiapa. His arrest comes with praise for the Guatemalan authorities, whom have come under the pressure of the Trump administration to continue to do more to break up these cartel/gang networks. As president Trump stated in recent talks over the gang preceding the murders in Long Island, ” They have transformed peaceful parks and beautiful, quiet neighborhoods into blood-stained killing fields…slashing at them with machetes and stabbing them with knives.” The gangs reign of terror however is far from over. As attacks continue to persist, one can only hope that no attempts to break-out Blanco will occur.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/10/14/feared-ms-13-gang-leader-blanco-captured-guatemala/
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39645640http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39645640
IOC Suspends Brazilian Arm
Amidst the growing correction charges against the brazilian government as of lately, it seems as if such allegations have yet to cease. As of Friday, Oct. 6, 2017, the International Olympic Committee has reportedly suspended the head of Brazil’s Olympic committee, Carlos Nuzman under charges of corruption from his cash-for-votes probe, which was linked to the bid of the 2016 Rio games. Nuzman, who up until now was consider an honorary member of the Olympic Committee, has denied all charges but the IOC has not taking such charges lightly. Freezing all assets being sent to Nuzman and the brazilian body, the only aspect to which would not be affected is the Brazilian athletes, who will continue to get paid as investigation proceed.
Brazilian prosecutors believe that Nuzman acted under an intermediary in an alleged $2m (£1.5m) payment to Papa Massata Diack, the son of an influential Senegalese member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in attempts to secure the vote of Lamine Diack, who was then serving as the head of the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF).
A statement from Mr Nuzman’s lawyer, released last month, states that, “the entire journey of the Rio Olympics, from the bid to the closing ceremony, was conducted within the law.” However it is also worth noting that in June, former Rio State Governor Sergio Cabral was jailed for 14 years after participating in the embezzlement of $64m from construction contracts, including the renovation of Rio’s Maracana stadium, where the 2016 opening and closing ceremonies were held.
It will be very interesting seeing how these charges play out in the coming months.
US withdraws nearly half of its staff from the US Embassy in Cuba in recent response to “mysterious” attack
In recent repose to the mysterious attacks surrounding the US embassy within Cuba, the US has just recently issued an order requiring all non-essential staff members within the US embassy of Havana to leave the country, leaving only “emergency personnel” behind. This comes after several reports from previous months have stated that numerous staff members have been found reporting varying health problems from slight dizziness, to mild brain trauma and deafness. This of course, has lead to the US government to react in a quick and efficient manner when it has been suggested that sonic attacks are to blame. Of course Cuba has denied all involvement with such recent attacks occurring in Havana but Investigations involving the FBI have still persisted, however no full explanation as to what may have caused such incidents since late 2016 has been found, But given the recent threat to civilians, Washington has also warned Americans to not visit the country because some attacks have also been found present in multiple hotels surrounding the area. While describing the US decisions as being rather “hasty” the Cuban government did state that the decision would affect bilateral ties, but according to US secretary Rex Tillerson, the relationship amongst the two countries will continue to co-operate, maintaining all diplomatic ties while investigation persist in trying to uncover the masterminds behind such an attack. It has been stated that until the government of Cuba can ensure the safety of US citizens, then only emergency personnel will remain in Cuba until issues are resolved.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41446697
Local Gang Violence In Rio Favela Forces The Brazilian Army To Make An Appearance Once Again!
After almost a week of intense violence and bloodshed amongst rival drug gangs and local police within the small town of Rocinha Favela (Rio de Janeiro) the Brazilian Army has once again been deployed in attempts to alleviate the constant violence spreading throughout the small shanty town. Since the fighting first began last Sunday around 6:00 am, numerous businesses, schools, and major roads have been forcibly shut down with local residents being advised to stay indoors.
The Brazilian Minister of Defense, Raul Jungmann, stated in a previous interview that, “950 soldiers would be deployed in and around the community,” with orders to handle the violence, but such a response has seemed rather late when dozens of gang members first began to invade Favela a little over a week ago.
After just recently enacting a recent “pacification” program to expel armed drug gangs following and invasion by the army in 2011, in amidst of the recent violence, many have seen such attacks as another symbol of the city’s worsening violence, just a year after it hosted the summer Olympic games.
Antônio Bonfim Lopes aka “Nem” who led the invasion in 2011, has recently been believed to be behind the recent violence through his connections to other gang members.
But the more prominent problem that Rio is facing, is that with the Brazilian armed forces being deployed within the streets of Favela, these men/women are not trained to do “Policing, or to work on the streets.” They are trained to “shoot first and ask questions later” thus begging the question to if deploying the Brazilian armed forces is truly the right thing to do to solve this recent gang violence outbreak but also the escalating violence being found to spread within Rio? As many would argue it is during last year’s Olympics when the Brazilian armed forces were deployed that increasing tension and violence was found more prominent in the streets of Rio, begging the question… what should the Brazilian government really do to handle the escalating violence in Rio.
Brazilian President Faces Corruption Charges?!
Consider for a moment this scenario. You are the President of Brazil and you just happened to take office a little over a year ago. But you are also consider to be one of the most “deeply unpopular leader” of your country of all time, and while you do try your best to win over the people’s favor by demonstrating your leadership ability, it sometimes just isn’t enough. But sadly things don’t get any better, for soon you are accused of taking bribes from a meat-packing giant JBS, allegedly pocketing millions of dollars in under the table deals. Now what if that wasn’t a scenario but what is currently happening to “newly” elected Brazilian President Michel Temer, who may now be currently facing one of the biggest challenges of his entire political career, becoming the country’s first ever head of state to be formally charged with a crime.
While President Temer has immediatley disclosed statements in attempts to deny such allegations, arguing that he is a victim of a defamation campaign, he currently is now faced with a lower house vote on whether he should be tried in supreme court for allegedly taking such bribes. The President also went on to accuse the attorney general Rodrigo Janot, who brought light to such allegations along with numerous other supporters, as stating that, “They are damaging the national interest…They want to paralyze the country, they want to paralyze the government.” But with approval ratings slumping to almost 7%, it doesn’t seem like much of the Brazilian population, truly believe in the presidents credibility.
The investigation was launched last month with President Temer being accused of bribery, obstruction of justice, and activity in a criminal organization. The JBS CEO was also just recently arrested for alleged insider trading, whom could possibly have led back to President Tremor.
However this fight for judicial justice will not come easy. With the backing of his lower house and numerous corporations representing under the behalf of President Temer, the judicial process could easily be blocked for some period of time, especially when it has been seen that the president has made changes to his justice minister twice this year to “strengthen his hand” in dealing with judges, prosecutors, and the police.
This crisis will continue to bring up much drama and dramatic changes to Brazil in the coming months, and it is highly likely that next year’s presidential elections will cause current President Temer to be seen as a liability to the nation. If such allegations are proven to be true the presidents statement of the country becoming paralyze, may in “actuality” become a “reality.” Brazil could be soon facing political turmoil.
Latin American Reflections 