Mexico's El Universal reported last week that the number of deaths by narcoviolence in 2009 surpassed 5,000 on Thursday morning, reaching 5,018 by the end of the day. With narcoviolence-related deaths already surpassing 5,000 in early September, it looks like 2009 is assured to be more violent than 2008 - which ended with 5,600 narcoviolence-related murders. The article in El Universal breaks down the numbers of...
(This post was written by CIP Associate Abigail Poe.) Following the June 28th coup in Honduras, the U.S. government did not immediately impose sanctions on the de facto government of Roberto Micheletti. Some aid was suspended, but few other steps were taken, with the argument that moving slowly preserved "leverage" on behalf of President Manuel Zelaya's return. However, after a last OAS mission to Honduras in late August failed to convince the de facto coup government to agree...
Note as of September 11: a Southern Command press release issued today makes clear that "Honduras withdrew from the exercise Aug. 10." Tomorrow marks the beginning of the Fuerzas Aliadas PANAMAX 2009 exercise, an "annual U.S. Southern Command-sponsored exercise series focused on ensuring the defense of the Panama Canal." Every year, air and sea forces from various countries form a Multi-National Force to conduct...
Yesterday, the Millennium Challenge Corporation officially terminated $11 million in aid to Honduras and put on hold an additional $4 million intended for a road project to continue to pressure the de facto coup government in Honduras to accept the San Jose Accords. Here is an excerpt from the Millennium Challenge Corporation's statement released after yesterday's board meeting:
MCC’s Board today announced that, given recent events in Honduras
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Seven Latin American countries will hold presidential elections in the next 12 months. Analysts are watching the polls closely to see if the region will continue its movement to the left, or if more moderate or right-wing candidates will prevail. While the last wave of elections overwhelmingly elected candidates from the left and center-left, an article in El Nuevo Herald argues that moderate candidates are gaining ground in many countries: "As of now, the majority of campaigns appear to be based...
U.S. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Florida) spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives yesterday to express her "deep concern regarding the most recent strong-arm tactics of the U.S. Government to coerce the people of Honduras into accepting the return of former President Manuel Zelaya into power." Here are some excerpts from her speech. The full text can be found here.
- "Have some U.S. officials ...