US aid to Colombia linked to Uribe corruption scandal

US funding, and possibly some US officials, may be tied to the wiretapping and corruption scandal currently under congressional investigation implicating the former Alvaro Uribe administration in Colombia. According to the Washington Post, funds from the US were being diverted and abused in a campaign against Supreme Court justices, political opponents, and other civil society groups. US officials deny any knowledge that the money was going towards abuses of power. However, William Romero, a top official at the Department of Administrative Security, the DAS, in Colombia said that the department relied heavily on US technological support through wiretapping devices, camera and cell phone interception systems.

The Colombian general attorney’s office is currently investigating the DAS, with six former intelligence officials already admitting to involvement and more than a dozen others on trial. Uribe himself is being investigated by a legislative commission and testified before congress last week, denying any involvement or knowledge of the corruption.

Colombia receives the most military funding of any country in Latin America, at $6 billion dollars during Uribe’s presidency alone. The money was supposed to go towards anti-drug and insurgency campaigns, but instead fueled efforts to quell investigations by the Colombian Supreme Court and political opponents into paramilitary and drug-lord ties with the administration. In a revealing story cited yesterday, a former secret agent under the Uribe administration talks about her infiltration of the Colombian courts.

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• · Continuing from the feature story on Nicaragua yesterday, a few corrections: There is no single opposition party, but rather numerous parties and alliances and Ortega’s first presidency was 1985-1990, not 1979. Prior to 1985, he served on the ‘Junta de Gobierno’, or Government Junta, a five person legislative body composed of members from different parts of civil society. Chuck Kaufman from the Nicaragua Network provides some background on the restrictions on electoral observation: “We're going to be seeing those increasingly in Latin America in response to the millions of dollars in ‘democracy promotion’ funding the US has been pouring in to fund opposition to Leftist governments, especially the ALBA countries, through USAID and NED. Nicaragua especially has reasons to distrust international observation and national observation by groups that rely heavily on US funding such as Ethics and Transparency. The US spent more per Nicaraguan voter in 1990 than Bush and Dukaukis combined spent per US voter in 1988, yet international observers called those elections ‘free and fair.’”
• · Border Lines Blog posted a review of a recently published book, El Sicario—the Autobiography of a Mexican Assassin, which tells the story of a Mexican boy turned killer and then turned back to redemption. According to the review, the book provides a humane and, in some ways, relatable account of drug violence in Mexico.
• · As the September elections are quickly approaching, the Guatemalan media has been denying fair access to political candidates by censoring political advertisements and spots, reporting flawed newspaper polls, and presenting biased coverage of political debates, reports Robert Amsterdam. According to candidate Juan Gutierrez, the uneven coverage has seriously damaged his campaign, refusing to run campaign ads and misreporting on successful rallies. Meanwhile, coverage of Otto Perez Molina and his campaign seems to be unlimited.
• · The creation of citizen journalism website, HablaCentro, now allows people in Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Venezuela to post ‘news and information useful to their communities’ through the internet, social networking, and mobile devices. Kara Andrade created the site in order to provide anyone the opportunity to get their story published—so that they ‘don’t need to wait until a journalist from a well-known medium comes to interview them.’
• · According to El Faro, Salvadoran representatives, including an ex-vice president were given land that was purchased by the government and designated for poor landless peasants. The Salvadoran Institute of Agrarian Transformation (ISTA) began the process of doling out land grants to needy farmers under an agrarian reform in 1980, while also selling off (or giving away) large pieces of property at extremely low prices to government officials.
• · The presidents of Mexico and Costa Rica, Felipe Calderon and Laura Chincilla, signed an agreement on Monday to exchange information regarding the fight against narco-trafficking and extradite stolen airplanes and vehicles, reports El Faro.
• · In Colombia, the FARC has been guarding coca crops with landmines with increasing frequency in recent years resulting in the death and injury of civilian eradicators, bringing into question the effectiveness of cocaine eradication programs in the country.
• · According to El Universal and InSight Crime, another Mexican mayor—the fifth so far this year—was kidnapped and killed on August 19^th, most likely by drug-related criminals.
• · Watch an excellent interview from Democracy Now with Francisco Goldman, author of “The Art of Political Murder: Who Murdered the Bishop” commenting on the leading Guatemalan presidential candidate and ex-military official, Otto Perez Molina and the human rights accusations against him.
• · In an interview with Al-Jazeera, security expert Fred Burton argues that US counterterrorism activities has hindered efforts to fight corruption among border officials and police. Watch the video here.
• · Javier Antonio Calle Serna, a.k.a. ‘El Doctor’, leader of the Colombian drug gang, the Rastrojos is preparing to turn himself in to U.S. authorities in a negotiation with the D.E.A. Serna would receive protection for his family from the U.S. in exchange for brokering a deal.

Nicaraguan Electoral Council restricts electoral observers

The electoral campaign in Nicaragua officially launched on Sunday, marking the beginning of a battle for the November 6^th election. The campaign begins amid accusations of irregularities in the administration of the electoral process on the part of the Supreme Electoral Council. The fragmented opposition party is divided into four candidates, only two of which seem to have enough viable support to challenge the current president, Daniel Ortega.

Ortega served his first term as president and leader of the Sandinista socialist party in 1979 and then was re-elected in 2006. The constitution of Nicaragua forbids presidents from serving two consecutive terms, but in a controversial decision, the Supreme Court ruled in October 2009 that law ‘unenforceable,’ thus opening up a spot for Ortega in this year’s electoral campaign. According to polls, Ortega is the front-running candidate for election in November, despite oppositional protests that his candidacy is unconstitutional.

In a statement given last Friday, Ortega announced that he invites all international and national observers to be a part of the election and monitor the process under the mandate of an ‘accompaniment ruling.’ The ruling, defined by the Supreme Electoral Council, is ‘loaded’ with restrictions on organizations planning to observe the November elections. The Council defended that the ruling was based on the political and judicial principals of the constitution. The document includes 25 articles establishing who can participate, what their functions can be, and the limits of their actions, and the process of accreditation to become an official observer, among other restrictions.

Critics argued that the Council ruling will impede organizations from properly observing the electoral process and assuring its democratic legitimacy. In response, Ortega ‘lashed out’ at the opposition, calling for peace throughout the campaign, especially from critical members who are upset with the way the Council administers the process.

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· Some corrections and additions to last Thursday’s feature story: Plaza Publica gained access to Wikileaks cables regarding the Guatemalan presidential candidate, Otto Perez Molina. In a July interview with Plaza Publica, Otto Perez Molina was unwilling to share his financing information with the Guatemalan newspaper but did discuss it in the cable. Also, Molina denied any connection whatsoever to the Mendoza family in the same July interview, but admitted to ties with one family member in the cable—the Mendozas have known connections with narco-trafficking. In another correction, Molina did not serve as the Minister of Defense, but was sent by the Minister to attempt reconciliation with the local indigenous population with the Nebaj brigade. Also, as the head of military intelligence (not Director of Intelligence, as I had mentioned) Molina denied any involvement in the disappearance of ‘Everardo’, a guerilla commander of the United Front of Guatemala Guerrillas (URNG), during an ambush in 1992. InSight Crimes summarizes highlights from the July interview and the cables in English.

· After eleven peasant farm workers died in Honduras last week over land disputes in the Bajo Aguan valley, gunmen shot and killed Secundino Ruiz, the movement’s leader. Reportedly, he was leaving a bank with over $10,000 in workers’ pay when he was gunned down.

· After a 17-month long investigation, federal border inspectors arrested a doctor from Los Angeles and 14 others involved in a narcotics operation smuggling prescription drugs (mostly painkillers) into Mexico.

· According to a recently released congressional report, kidnappings in Mexico have increased by 317 percent in the past five years, with more than one-fifth of the crimes involving soldiers or police officers. As a result, some Mexicans have been buying satellite-enabled under-the-skin tracking devices, reports the Washington Post.

· As mentioned last week, former Colombian president Alvaro Uribe is under investigation by a congressional commission based on suspicions of corruption. In an interview with the Washington Post, Alba Luz Florez came forward with behind-the-scenes insight into Operation Stairway. According to the story, the operation was controlled by the Department of Administrative Security (DAS) under the supervision of the president. Prosecutors in the case argue that the operation was designed to ‘cripple the court’s investigation of corrupt congressmen.’

· After a group of indigenous protestors began a march against a Brazilian-funded highway in Bolivia last week, President Evo Morales is blaming the U.S. for inciting the opposition and threatening to expel USAID from the country.

· In an emotional (and televised) display of support, several supporters of President Hugo Chavez shaved their heads on Sunday while hundreds of observers, including Chavez himself, prayed.

· After suspending adoptions in 2007 due to allegations of fraud and baby theft, the Guatemalan government issued a decree yesterday allowing those cases stuck ‘in limbo’ due to the suspension to continue. According to Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, there are still 400 adoption cases in need of review, 44 of which will be covered by this decree, reports the AP.

· In Argentina and Brazil, crack cocaine consumption has been dramatically increasing in recent years, reports InSight Crime. As security measures in Colombia have increased, Bolivian coca paste producers have been forced to push their product elsewhere—both Brazil and Argentina share fairly accessible borders with Bolivia. The refinement process of cocaine produces crack as a by-product, opening up a profitable local market for the dangerous and highly addictive drug.

· El Confidencial comments on fears the Guatemala’s government is in danger of reverting back to the political right, as Otto Perez Molina pulls ahead in the electoral campaign.

Top Stories, August 19 2011

· After just eight months in office, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has lost her fourth minister amid corruption allegations. Agriculture Minister Wagner Rossi resigned due to media reports which say he accepted bribes from agriculture companies, but denies the allegations on his website.

· In two operations, the National Police of Peru intercepted and seized a one-ton shipment of cocaine on its way to Turkey and Spain, InSight Crime reported yesterday. All individuals arrested –three Colombian, two Colombian women, and one Peruvian—will be investigated for involvement in international drug cartels.

· The U.S. State Department announced Wednesday that U.S. law enforcement agencies will begin a program to train local and state police officers from Mexico as part of the two nations’ efforts to combat transnational drug cartels.

· The ex-president of Colombia, Alvaro Uribe, testified before Congress in an effort to defend himself and some of his top aides against accusations of wiretapping and illegal eavesdropping. Uribe was questioned by a commission responsible for investigating his administration’s role in the ‘chuzadas’ scandal in which Colombia’s intelligence agency, DAS, wiretapped Supreme Court justices, leftist politicians, and human rights workers. Uribe denied involvement, arguing that he is “a victim of criminal vengeance.”

· After announcing the temporary suspension of coca eradication programs in Peru, the State Department released a statement saying they did not believe this decision ‘represents a permanent shift in the Peruvian government’s counternarcotics policy.’ In a video posted by El Comercio, the ex-president of Peru Alejandro Toledo supports the decision, arguing that it is important for the country to re-evaluate its strategies.

· The Peruvian indigenous population is losing its faith in President Ollanta Humala as he continues to encourage oil investment and hopes to ‘attract up to $20 billion in petroleum and gas investments’. Former indigenous supports worry that Humala will not make good on his promises to protect their traditional lands and communities.

· Following up on a blurb earlier this week, the Wall Street Journal reports on “the pile up of allegations” within Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff’s administration. The barrage of scandals has “paralyzed” the government as officials and lawmakers struggle to prevent a political catastrophe. Rousseff’s government is only eight months old and there is already talk of former President Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva running in the next 2014 election.

· President Obama announced a plan to individually review 300,000 immigrant deportation cases and give those individuals who do not pose a serious threat to the nation the opportunity to stay in the U.S. and apply for a work permit. The plan emerges amid political pressure on the Obama administration to reform immigration policy and criticisms at the record number of deportations filed in the past year.

· El Faro published an extensive report chronicling recent events at the heart of the “road of death” drug trafficking route that follows from Nicaragua up through Guatemala. The report includes direct interviews with El Tigre, a police commissioner in charge of the region of Copan, also accused of involvement in a death squad against supposed criminals. InSight Crime summarizes and highlights the article in an English translation.

· The District Attorney’s office in Bogota, Colombia accused an ex-military, Freddy Rendon Herrera, a.k.a El Aleman, of recruiting 329 underage children, presenting testimony from former recruits.

· A number of government secretaries in Mexico openly admitted before legislators knowledge of DEA, FBI, CIA, ATF, and State Department presence throughout all provinces in the country. They denied that the agents’ work was operative, instead arguing that their purpose there is purely intelligence based.

· Bolivia sees a rise in human trafficking rates, specifically individuals who are being smuggled to Russia on false hopes of obtaining jobs as foreign workers.

· The Free Trade Agreement between Canada and Colombia was launched on Monday, officially eliminating tariffs in an effort to ensure growth and facilitate trade relations between the two countries.

Plaza Publica gains access to Wikileaks on Guatemalan presidential candidate

A Guatemalan newspaper, Plaza Publica was granted to access to 15 cables through Wikileaks, providing valuable information about the front running presidential candidate, Otto Perez Molina. One particularly informative cable is from a meeting between the United States Ambassador James Derham and Otto Perez Molina on September 18^th, 2007. The meeting covers several key issues facing Perez Molina in his campaign: financing, alliances with the Guatemalan elite, military corruption accusations, and possible policy plans.

According to Plaza Publica, Perez Molina was unwilling to share his financing information with the Guatemalan public. Even though his financing was kept secret from the public, Perez did discuss it with the U.S. embassy in the cable. According to Ambassador Derham, Perez asserted that he was receiving support from the four richest families in Guatemala (los Castillo, los Novella, los Herrera, and Dionisio Gutierrez), which are directly associated with the four largest industries in the country. When asked about his relationship with the Mendoza family, Perez responded that he had a minimal connection with a member of the family which was not involved in drug-trafficking before pulling them completely out of his campaign. This fact was denied completely during an interview with Plaza Publica just one month ago.

Ambassador Durham also questioned Perez about the military accusations against him by human rights organizations and watch groups for his role in the Nibaj brigade and as Director of Intelligence during armed conflict. Perez argued that he was sent to Nibaj as the Minister of Defense (not as a commander) and that the military strategy in place when he arrived was to identify the indigenous communities ‘hiding in the hills’ as guerilla supporters—another detail he left out of the Plaza Publica interview. Perez continued on to say that he made a concerted effort to change the military’s image of the indigenous and better their relationship with those communities. Perez also denied any involvement in the disappearance of commander Everardo during his time as Director of Intelligence. The embassy commented in the cable the it has, up to date, not found any valid evidence implicating Perez in violations of human rights.

On the reporting side, Martin Rodriguez Pellecer tells the full (and exciting) story of how Plaza Publica was able to gain access to the Wikileaks, shedding light on the complicated and clandestine world of internet hacking.

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• President Hugo Chavéz announced yesterday that he his planning to nationalize Venezuela’s gold industry in order to halt illegal mining and bolster reserves.
• In Peru, the government announced that it is temporarily halting coca eradication projects in order to evaluate current policies with the aim of developing a better anti-drug program.
• Colombian authorities said Wednesday that they believe FARC rebels were responsible for deaths of five police officers and two wounded in an ambush in southwestern Colombia.
• Un Nuevo Tiempo, the party in opposition to Chavez, announced yesterday that it will be supporting Pablo Perez as their leading candidate. According the polls, he has the third highest support of all the opposition politicians.
• A government commission in Chile approved a coal-mining project in the extreme south of Patagonia, which is expected to extract six million tons of coal each year for up to 25 years, supplying 30% of Chile’s demand. President Sebastián Piñera is one of the major shareholders behind the project.
• OPEC claims that Venezuela has the biggest crude oil reserve in the world, even topping that of Saudi Arabia. But, as MercoPress reports, the country is also facing accusations of corruption and mismanagement, specifically the embezzlement of pension funds by PDVSA, one of the biggest oil companies in Latin America.
• The government of Chile presented a third offer to student activists and said they were willing to sit down and negotiate. While the proposal addressed some of the general demands of the student movement, activists still doubt the validity of the law and criticized its lack of specificity.
• Mexican governors released a 10-point plan to reduce “high impact crime” such as money laundering, kidnapping, murder, extortion, and arms trafficking.
• InSight Crime reports on severe corruption in Colombia’s jails, which has so heavily infiltrated the system that prison guards who do not break the rules are often threatened, and sometimes killed. One suggestion is to privatize the prison system.
• According to a report released by the Arizona Republic, immigrant deaths along the Arizona-Mexico border have dropped by 38% in the last ten months compared to last year, with 132 deaths so far, as compared to 212 this time last year.
• Peru’s President Ollanta Humala called for harsher security measures against the Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso) and announced a radical shift in strategy which greatly resembles Colombia’s counterinsurgency tactics, reports Geoffrey Ramsey for the Latin America Monitor.
• Following up on an earlier post, several hundred Bolivian indigenous people are marching from the Amazon to La Paz in protest of a highway project funded by Brazil. Protestors are concerned about the forest but also believe the road could be used for increased cocaine trafficking. Al-Jazeera provides video coverage.
• The International Crisis Group warns of the potential for an explosion of violence following the Venezuelan elections, whether or not Chavez is re-elected. The NGO published a report yesterday discusses the possibility of a “social explosion” due to the “degree of polarization and militarization” in the country. Read the full report here.