The Latin America Working Group mourns the passing of Senator Edward
Kennedy, a crusader for human rights and social justice in our nation
and around the world. As the Woodrow Wilson Center's Cynthia Arnson describes his remarkable efforts in Latin America, including his
outspoken efforts to denounce human rights abuses following the 1973
coup in Chile, “His name is recognized and revered among a whole
generation of Latin Americans who were persecuted or forced into exile
during the years of the dictatorships.”
by Vanessa Kritzer and Jennifer Johnsonon August 26, 2009
We were disappointed and troubled to learn last week that the U.S. government had released the chunk of Merida Initiative funds that were supposed to have been withheld until the State Department reported that Mexico had demonstrated progress in key areas of human rights.
Soon after the news of the release was confirmed, the Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez Human Rights Center, the Tlachinollan Human Rights Center, and the Fundar Center for Analysis and Investigation, three prominent Mexican human rights NGOs, released a public statement condemning the U.S. government’s action, as the “human rights obligations remain unfulfilled as Mexican security forces commit widespread, unpunished violations against the civilian population.”
by Vanessa Kritzer and Jennifer Johnsonon August 11, 2009
Torture, illegal raids, and forced disappearances carried out by government soldiers with no accountability. Is this what we want our government to be funding in Mexico? No.
by Vanessa Kritzer and Pesha Magidon August 21, 2009
As the media has been spinning many different stories about Merida Initiative funding, we've
been glad to see fellow human rights advocates getting the truth out there.
In recent months the Washington Post has provided useful and
hard-hitting coverage of some of the brutal tactics employed by
Mexico’s military and the Mexican government’s failure to hold soldiers
accountable for human rights violations. However, on August 13th the
Post’s editorial board published a disappointing op-ed arguing that
U.S. government could best assist Mexico by turning a blind eye to
these human rights violations. So earlier this week, Kenneth Roth,
Executive Director of Human Rights Watch, and Jorge G. Castañeda, the
former foreign minister of Mexico, challenged this short-sighted
assertion in a powerful letter to the editor.
We know that you are anxious for a resolution of the situation in Honduras and are wondering what is going on. Where is President Zelaya? Will he return? What is the U.S. doing to move the negotiations forward?
Colombian pop star Juanes has planned his second “Peace without borders” concert for September 20th -- UN International Peace Day -- in Havana, Cuba. Cuban stars Silvio Rodriguez and salsa band, Los Van Van, along with Puerto Rican singer Olga Tañon have also committed and there is speculation that some U.S. artists have been invited too. Juanes has formally requested to sing in the Plaza of the Revolution between the statue to José Martí and the grand image of Che Guevara. The show will be free and open to a huge Cuban audience. Juanes’ intention is to "transcend politics,” so what’s the big deal?
Why is the United States expanding its military bases in Colombia?
What does this mean for U.S.-Colombia relations?
What does this mean for the region?
These are the questions on the lips of many Latin American leaders and activists as they react to the deal under works between Colombia and United States that would grant the U.S. military access to at least five additional Colombian military bases. This deal with Colombia comes quickly after Ecuador decided to end its agreement with the U.S. that allowed the U.S. military access to the Manta airbase on Ecuador’s Pacific coast.
Action Center
