The Big Stories to watch this week in LATAM
US threatens to defund Colombian peacebuilding, Ecuador declares more states of emergency as protests build, Trump blows up more boats, and a TdA leader nabbed in Valledupar
LATAM Daily Wires brings you the stories to watch this week in Latin America and the big headline developments over the weekend. If you haven’t subscribed yet, you should.
US threatens to pull UN support for Colombia’s peace process and war crimes tribunal
The United States’ ambassador to the United Nations threatened to pull Security Council support for Colombia’s ongoing peace process amid escalating tensions between Bogota and Washington DC.
At the Security Council’s quarterly review of the peace process that started in 2016, US ambassador Michael Waltz said that his government would be “closely examining this mission’s mandate and whether it merits continued UN Security Council support.”
Waltz suggested that the administration of US President Donald Trump no longer supports the implementation of the peace deal when it comes to indigenous rights.
“The UN Verification Mission in Colombia was established to verify the demobilization of the FARC terrorist group. Unfortunately, over time the mission’s mandate has broadened to reflect excessive political priorities, including transnational [sic] justice and supporting minority ethnic groups.”
US Ambassador Michael Waltz
Noboa declares a state of exception in 10 provinces in Ecuador as protests there continue
Indigenous protesters have been demonstrating and shutting down highways since Noboa lifted Ecuador’s diesel subsidies. CONAIE, an indigenous federation, called for a general strike that has been gaining momentum in recent weeks. Meanwhile, protests in the capital, Quito, have grown larger.
Although it has been well-reported in the press, the story has been overshadowed in recent weeks as Trump dominates headlines in the Americas.
On Saturday, right-wing president Daniel Naboa declared a ‘state of exception’ in 10 mostly indigenous provinces, claiming that protesters had “turned violent.” The decree grants broad powers to police and military and suspends some Constitutional rights of citizens.
In recent weeks, he has also blamed Venezuelan gang, the Tren de Aragua, for being behind the protests that have rocked the country, especially in rural areas.
Indigenous groups report increasing violence against protesters. Police have killed at least one man with live ammunition.
Report accuses Ecuador of 'forced disappearances.' It couldn't come at a worse time for Noboa
As protests against the government of right-wing President Daniel Noboa gain steam in Ecuador, Amnesty International released a new report that accuses state forces of severe human rights abuses, including forced disappearances of civilians, as part of his “mano dura” (iron fis…
US continues blowing up civilian speedboats in international waters near Venezuela
The US released footage of another ship vessel allegedly carrying illegal drugs off Venezuela’s coast Friday. It is unclear whether this was the fourth or fifth such bombing. US President Donald Trump has given contradictory statements on the matter.
Trump claimed in a post on his Truth Social platform, that the boat was carrying enough drugs “to kill 25 to 50 thousand people”.
The US has offered no proof for its claims the boats were carrying drugs.
On Saturday, Trump appeared to threaten further action inside Venezuelan territory.
“In recent weeks, the Navy has supported our mission to blow the cartel terrorists the hell out of the water,” he said, speaking at the Naval Station Norfolk on Sunday.
Trump on Sunday told reporters at the White House that the US military build-up in the Caribbean had halted drug trafficking from South America. “There’s no drugs coming into the water. And we’ll look at what phase two is,” he said.
US-Colombian joint operation arrests senior Tren de Aragua leader
A senior leader of Venezuelan criminal gang Tren de Aragua has been captured in a joint operation involving Colombia, the US and the UK, according to statements by Colombian police.
José Antonio Márquez Morales - known as Caracas - was arrested in the city of Valledupar, Colombia. Police say he played a central role in managing logistics and finances for the group for extortion, micro drug trafficking, and smuggling.
What we’re reading:
Christina Noriega and Alexandra McNichols-Torroledo have a lovely, and beautifully photographed feature in Al Jazeera about Colombia’s last nomadic tribe fight to return home to the Amazonian jungles. It’s called “On our own Territory” and you can find it here.
Borderland Talk by
published a deeply personal tale about her experience working for Border Patrol, and how officers often lied both in reports in testimony, called “Border Patrol: lying is policy.”And with that, I’m off to the Panamanian borderlands to talk to migrants returning to South America. Many were deported by the United States. Others have been trapped in Mexico or Central American countries by Trump’s migration policies.
And I will be on a speedboat in the Caribbean. I hope they don’t blow me up. Many stories on what I find soon (I hope). Until then, hasta pronto piratas!
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