All posts by MBusiness

US Coast Guard Rescues 3 Cubans From Deserted Island

U.S. Coast Guard officials said Wednesday a coast guard helicopter crew rescued two men and a woman from a deserted island where they had apparently been stranded for more than a month.In a statement, the Coast Guard said the three people — later identified as Cuban nationals — were initially spotted Monday by a Coast Guard helicopter as it flew over an uninhabited Bahamian island between the U.S. city of Key West, Florida, and Cuba, while on a routine patrol.The helicopter crew said the stranded trio was seen waving. The crew dropped food, water, and a radio to establish communication.The statement says the Coast Guard dispatched a second helicopter Tuesday to retrieve them. They told officials their boat had capsized in rough waters and they were able to swim to the island. Local media reported they said they had survived on coconuts, conchs and rats.On Twitter, Coast Guard officials said a U.S. Border Patrol agent took custody of the three Cuban nationals Wednesday and turned them over to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. Local news reports say they were taken to the U.S. for a medical checkup.
 

Jamaica Tightens COVID-19 Restrictions Wednesday Following Surge in Infections

Jamaica begins a new two-week curfew Wednesday to slow the sudden spike in COVID-19 infections. Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced the curfew will last from 8:00 pm to 5:00 am each day. The prime minister also acknowledged during an address to lawmakers Tuesday that while curfews are known to be effective, the restricting of activities and movement is also costly to the economy.  Under the latest restrictions, the public gathering limit will be reduced from 15 people to 10 people through February 24. The prime minister announced the restrictions after first telling Parliament that just over 1,900 people contracted COVID-19 in Jamaica in the past week.  Holness also said hospitalizations are up across the island.  So far, Jamaica has confirmed 17,298 infections and 358 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University COVID Resource Center. 

Ecuadorean Election Officials to Review Thousands of Ballots Over Concerns of Irregularities

Election officials in Ecuador will be reviewing thousands of primary ballots over concerns of irregularities before determining which candidate will face top vote getter Andrés Arauz in an upcoming runoff election. Arauz, an ally of former President Rafael Correa, secured a spot in the April 11 run off after receiving just over 32 percent of the vote in Sunday’s primary election. Ecuador’s National Election Council said 3,770 ballots have to be reexamined before it determines if Indigenous environmental activist Yaku Pérez’ less than one percent lead over banker Guillermo Lasso holds up.  All three candidates expressed confidence in the review process following a meeting Tuesday with electoral observers from the Organization of American States (OAS) and Ecuador National Electoral Council (CNE) authorities. It is unclear how long it will take before the CNE validates the returns. 

UN in Talks with US on Central American Refugees Applying for Asylum from Home

The United Nations Refugee Agency has held initial talks with U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration about Central American asylum claimants being processed in their own countries, but it is too early to estimate how many people could benefit from the policy, agency head Filippo Grandi said on Tuesday.The Biden administration has already said it plans to restore a program which allows certain children in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador to apply for refugee status in the United States from home.”This is a complex situation,” Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, told Reuters in an interview as he wrapped up a visit to Colombia. “It’s very early days to come to conclusions or make comments because the work is in progress.”Investment in migrants’ home countries will be key to strengthening economies and security and diminishing incentives to leave, he said.”We need to also … work very much with Mexico to strengthen its own capacity to deal with the movement (of migrants),” Grandi said.Thousands of Central Americans have attempted to travel north in recent months following back-to-back hurricanes in November, which displaced more than 500,000 people, according to data from the International Organization for Migration.Biden’s government has suspended 2019 agreements with Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, which sought to force asylum-seekers to first seek refuge in those countries if they passed through them, before applying in the United States.Grandi’s Colombia visit was crowned by a Monday announcement that the country will allow Venezuelan migrants to seek temporary protective status for a 10-year period.The new rules allow Venezuelans already in the country and those who arrive during the first two years of the scheme to apply for the status.The U.N. will up its efforts to help Colombia prepare for potential increases of Venezuelan immigrants, Grandi said.”We are certainly stepping up our operation,” Grandi said. “It’s a variety of interventions that we’re doing, but we’re also helping the government at the legal and institutional level to strengthen this preparation.”Colombia’s migration agency estimated on Tuesday that as many as 2.5 million Venezuelans could benefit from temporary protection, including some 770,000 it projects may arrive over the next two years.Of the more than 1.7 million Venezuelan immigrants currently in Colombia, over 50% lack legal status. Colombia has been the top destination for people fleeing economic and social collapse in neighboring Venezuela.

Diesel Shortage Raises Fears for Humanitarian Crisis in Venezuela

Experts are warning of a looming humanitarian crisis in Venezuela if President Joe Biden’s new U.S. administration does not lift restrictions that are preventing the South American country from swapping its plentiful crude oil reserves for refined diesel fuel from abroad.With Venezuela’s refinery sector in disarray after years of mismanagement, the country has become increasingly dependent on imported diesel fuel to generate electricity and transport essential goods including food, medicine and humanitarian supplies.That international lifeline has been cut off by new U.S. sanctions introduced by the administration of former President Donald Trump last August. No diesel shipments have arrived in Venezuela since October 2020 and existing supplies are expected to run out in March.It is not yet clear how the new White House team plans to deal with the crisis. Press secretary Jean Psaki recently said the administration wants to promote a peaceful and democratic transition in Venezuela through free and fair elections. She also said Washington will “prosecute individual” Venezuelans implicated in corruption and human rights violations.Why is diesel important?The gas shortage in Venezuela, caused by the collapse of the oil industry and years of U.S. sanctions, has forced the country to import diesel and gas both through bartering with companies like Repsol in Spain, Reliance in India and Eni in Italy, also importing diesel from Rosneft, the Russian oil company that was banned by the United States.An oil tanker is seen at Jose refinery cargo terminal in Venezuela in this undated file photo.Diesel, therefore, gained relevance as the engine for essential activities for society. “It is a very important fuel for various activities that have humanitarian relevance, in particular food transportation, electricity generation and public transportation,” Francisco Rodríguez, a Venezuelan economist, explained to Voice of America.Currently, the country has enough supply of diesel to meet the minimum demand until the end of March, said Luis Vicente León, director of Datanalisis, a consulting firm in Venezuela.When was diesel trade banned and why?Since October 2020, the government of former U.S. President Trump has prohibited oil companies from sending diesel to Venezuela in exchange for crude. The year before in January 2019, the U.S. imposed sanctions to PDVSA, the Venezuelan state oil company; however, diesel trade was exempt.Repsol, Reliance and Eni participated in this exchange with PDVSA. According to Consecomercio, a private sector organization in Venezuela, not a single ship loaded with imported fuel has arrived in the country since October 24 of last year.FILE – Closed gas pumps stand at a PDVSA gas station in Caracas, Venezuela, Sept. 8, 2020.The former envoy of the U.S. Department of State, Elliott Abrams, justified the measure as a tool of pressure on President Nicolas Maduro, arguing that the Venezuelan government was sending crude and diesel to Cuba.In the last three months, Venezuela sent Cuba an average of 4,000 barrels a day of diesel, according to Reuters data. Experts agree, however, the amount that is sent to the island is small, compared to what is consumed and needed.”Shipments to Cuba are tiny compared to the diesel deficit that would be generated by breaking the agreement,” León said. The gap between the amount of diesel consumed and that demanded in the country is between 16,000 and 20,000 barrels a day, the expert said.National diesel consumption in Venezuela is estimated at 100,000 barrels a day, according to figures published last November by the Unitary Federation of Petroleum Workers of Venezuela. Iván Freites, secretary of that union, affirmed then that PDVSA’s refineries were only producing 25 percent of what was required, that is, about 25,000 barrels a day.A ‘humanitarian’ measureExperts say that lifting the oil-diesel exchange ban will give Venezuela essential access to fuel and that without it, the humanitarian crisis in the country could worsen.Miguel Pizarro, the envoy to the United Nations of Juan Guaidó, one of the opposition leaders recognized by dozens of countries, including the United States, as interim president of Venezuela, told Voice of America that the humanitarian emergency is not caused by sanctions, but he does recognize that they can have a negative impact by being in effect a long period of time.Guaido says he also thinks that sanctions over a long period of time will have an impact.”This sanction [on the exchange of oil for diesel], applied for a long time, could affect the distribution of humanitarian assistance in the country and the capacity to provide services,” wrote the opposition politician to VOA.   Before the U.S. government made the decision to implement sanctions, a group of 115 organizations and individuals wrote to former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, asking him not to do so.A ‘national scale’ problemOne of the most affected sectors in Venezuela is the state of Zulia, with a high population and affluent commercial zones. Sanctions and prohibitions against PDVSA have not allowed merchant and dealers to exchange oil for diesel.Vehicles line up near a gas station to fill their tanks in Caracas, Venezuela, Sept. 8, 2020.Erasmo Aliam, a labor union member in the transportation sector, highlights that the transfer of passengers, food, medicine and various cargo has been affected by the shortage of diesel.“Every day the situation with gasoline gets worse. In Caracas and the central region of the country, the issue is a little easier. Here we have more lines, people wait four or five days in lines to pour gasoline. General transportation runs on diesel,” he told VOA.Aliam, president of the “Central Unica de Transporte de Zulia,” confirms that many drivers invested in adapting the engines of their vehicles to use diesel, due to the constant lack of gas.Venezuelan traders also acknowledge that they feel the impact of the lack of diesel. Felipe Capozzolo, president of the National Council for Commerce and Services, said on Wednesday that there has been no “continuous flow” of liquid hydrocarbon since the end of October of last year. In a virtual press conference, he specified that there are Venezuelan states that “have the leading role in calamities,” such as Zulia or Barinas, but he warned that the problem already reaches national dimensions.He expressed hope that this period will be a “lesson learned” for the sectors involved to “generate all our diesel without depending on anyone.” 

Haitians Alarmed After President Retires 3 Supreme Court Justices

Haitian President Jovenel Moise has retired three Supreme Court justices, two days after announcing a foiled coup attempt.  The retired justices are Yvickel Dabrezil, who was arrested by the national police in an operation to thwart an alleged coup attempt in the early morning hours of Sunday, Justices Wendelle Coq Thelot and Joseph Mecene Jean Louis. 
 
Jean Louis, the most senior member of the Supreme Court (Cour de Cassation), issued a video Monday that was posted on social media, in which he declared he has accepted the nomination by the opposition and civil society members to “serve his country as provisional president of the transition”.   
 The presidential decree announced in Haiti’s government newsletter announcing the retirement of three Supreme Court Justices, Feb. 8, 2021.Haiti’s opposition has insisted for months that President Moise’s term expires on February 7, 2021 according to the constitution and that a transitional government should replace him. Their plan calls for a Supreme Court justice to serve as provisional president – in accordance with the constitution – until elections can be held to choose a new president.Moise says his term will expire in February 2022, a date accepted by the U.S., United Nations and Organization of American States.  They have urged Moise to organize elections “as soon as technically feasible, followed by 2021 presidential elections.”  
 
Haiti should have held presidential and legislative elections in 2020 to choose Moise’s successor but was unable to do so due to the coronavirus pandemic and insecurity.  Moise has been ruling by decree since January of 2020 when the terms of 2/3 of the parliament expired.The three judges retired by Moise are in the line of succession. The country’s constitution stipulates that a member of the high court should serve as provisional president if a president is unable to perform his duties.   Journalists gather outside the Supreme Court of Haiti (Cours de cassation)on, Feb. 8, 2021 in the almost empty streets of Port-au-Prince.Is the decree legal? 
 
There are questions regarding the legality of Moise’s decree. Jean Wilner Morin, president of the National Association of Haitian Magistrates, ANAMAH, says it is a violation of the constitution.  “Article 177 of the constitution says you cannot retire a judge against his will, you cannot transfer him. For a judge to be retired he must be 60 years old or incapacitated and unable to perform his duties,” Morin said in an interview with a Haitian radio station Tuesday. “You must have worked for at least 25 years in the (judiciary) institution and must make a request to retire.  So we see these judges Yvickel Dabrezil who is 55, Joseph Mecene Jean Louis is 72 – (were targeted because) they are people who are in the line of succession and could replace Jovenel Moise.” Judge Morin said ANAMAH considers Justice Dabrezil’s arrest a “kidnapping” and described the conditions of his detention as “deplorable.”  Morin, who visited the justice in jail on Monday said Dabrezil was kicked by an arresting officer. He suffers from hypertension and diabetes and was denied food or water for over 12 hours. The cell where he is being held is surrounded by police officers, and he was denied permission to bathe. He sleeps in a chair, Morin said.    Morin said ANAMAH is working to get the justice released.  “His family and the association of judges – we met yesterday and took measures we don’t want to talk about publicly yet – that will allow for his release,” Morin said.  FILE – State Department spokesperson Ned Price speaks during a press briefing at the State Department in Washington, Feb. 2, 2021.US urges Moise to avoid ruling by decree    Both the Biden and Trump administrations have warned Moise repeatedly against ruling by decree. On Monday, a State Department spokesperson reiterated its position. “The United States continues to maintain that the Haitian government should exercise restraint in issuing decrees, only using that power to schedule legislative elections and for matters of immediate threats to life, health, and safety until parliament is restored and can resume its constitutional responsibilities,” a spokesperson said, in response to VOA’s question.   The State Department and the United Nations told VOA Monday they are closely following the events in Haiti and await results of the Haitian police investigation on the arrests made on Sunday.  “The United States is following the situation in Haiti with concern and calls on all political actors to address their differences through peaceful means.  We understand the Haitian National Police is investigating 23 individuals who were arrested over the weekend.  The situation remains murky and we await the results of the police investigation,” a State Department spokesperson told VOA.    
 This anti-government protester, in Port-au-Prince Feb. 8, 2021, told VOA he supports the opposition’s decision to name a Supreme Court justice as provisional president. (Photo: Matiado Vilme / VOA)On the streets of Port-au-Prince, not far from the national palace, an anti-government protester told VOA people support the opposition’s decision to choose a provisional president among the Supreme Court justices. 
 
“We the people embrace this idea because it’s not a decision that was made by a monarchy. You can tell they put the constitution first and chose a judge from the Supreme Court as the constitution mandates,” he said. “If there’s a vacancy at the national palace, a supreme court judge should be the replacement.”  On Tuesday, the Caribbean nation remains tense after police exchanged gunfire with protesters demanding President Moise resign. Two journalists were seriously injured and hospitalized.   Matiado Vilme in Port-au-Prince, Cindy Saine at the State Department and Margaret Besheer at the United Nations contributed to this report.

Tensions Run High in Haiti Amid New Anti-Government Protest Calling for President to Step Down    

Tensions are running high in Haiti Tuesday, a day after police clashed with anti-government protesters demanding that embattled President Jovenel Moise resign. Opposition groups angered that Moise’s term expired on Sunday named their own leader of the impoverished country after officials claimed they had averted an attempt to kill the president and overthrow the government in a coup. A demonstrator picks up a tear gas canister during protests against Haiti’s President Jovenel Moise, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Feb. 8, 2021.Moise contends his term will expire on February 7 of next year, citing he was sworn into office for a five-year term in 2017. Just over 20 percent of eligible voters cast ballots in that election. Moise’s efforts to remain in office have been hampered by the fragile makeup of the political infrastructure. Agence France-Presse (AFP) reports that some institutions that could help end the stalemate over the length of the presidential term lack the necessary authorization, including the Constitutional Council, which it says only exists on paper.  

Peru Launches Vaccination Program Against COVID-19

Peru begins its fight against a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic on Tuesday, with President Francisco Sagasti rolling up his sleeve first, to show people the vaccine is safe.   Peru is beginning its first round of immunization just two days after receiving 300,000 doses of vaccine from China’s Sinopharm laboratory.  A spokeswoman for Peru’s health ministry said authorities are hoping the vaccine will restore hope in tackling the crisis. Health Minister Pilar Mazzetti is delaying her vaccination, opting for front line health care workers to get immunized first.  Peru, which has one of the highest coronavirus tallies in Latin America, has confirmed more than 1,186,000 infections and 42,308 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University Covid Resource Center. 

Ecuador Voters to Determine Country’s Next President in Runoff Election

Ecuadorean presidential candidate Andrés Arauz is heading for a runoff vote in national elections after leading among a field of 16 candidates but not winning enough votes for an outright victory. Arauz, an ally of former populist president Rafael Correa, received at least 32 percent of the vote, based on two exit polls from Sunday’s vote, far less than the 50 percent needed to avoid a second round of voting.Ecuador’s presidential candidate Guillermo Lasso attends a news conference in Guayaquil, Feb. 8, 2021.Battling for a second-place finish is Yaku Pérez, an attorney and human rights activist propelled by support among his indigenous community, and Guillermo Lasso, a banker seeking the South American country’s top office for a third time.  
 
Both candidates received nearly 20 percent of the vote. 
 
The second round of voting, which is expected to determine who becomes Ecuador’s new president, is set for April 11. 
 
Aside from choosing a successor to President Lenin Moreno, voters will also be selecting 137 members to Congress. 

American Dan Whitman Denies Any Involvement in Haiti Coup Attempt

Dan Whitman, a former U.S. Foreign Service officer and State Department employee, says he had no involvement in the foiled Haiti coup plot on Sunday.  “I don’t know who is spreading this narrative, or why. I’ve never met or heard of any of the individuals mentioned — and don’t know why my name would be used in this regard,” Whitman told VOA in a phone interview Monday.    The American, currently a professor at American University’s School of International Service, is depicted in a video distributed by Haiti’s Intelligence Service to members of the Haitian press on Sunday. A photo of Whitman is captioned as a “former member of the State Department” who, the video alleges, masterminded the plot to overthrow President Jovenel Moise with the help of national police officers.  Whitman worked at the State Department from 1985 to 2009 and has written a book on Haiti, “A Haiti Chronicle: The Undoing of a Latent Democracy,” published in 2004. The professor is fluent in French and spoke a few words of Creole to VOA during the interview.  Asked why he had been included in the Haitian video, Whitman told VOA, “I haven’t seen the video, I’ve heard about it.”    As for whether he was in Haiti on Sunday (February 7), or recently, he said, “I left that country 20 years ago and I’ve never been back.”Dan Whitman worked at the U.S. State Department from 1985 to 2009. He is now a professor at American University’s School of International Studies. (Credit – courtesy)Whitman told VOA it upsets him that his name has been linked to the foiled coup attempt.  VOA asked the State Department for comment on the video implicating a former employee.  “It is our well-established practice to conduct diplomatic relations through our embassies, not private individuals,” a spokesperson said. “And we have a very capable embassy and ambassador in Port-Au-Prince. As you know, we do not discuss cases involving private U.S. citizens absent their written consent.”  Haitian President Jovenel Moise announced during a Facebook Live event at noon Sunday that law enforcement officials had foiled a coup attempt and made more than 20 arrests. Moise stood on the tarmac of the Toussaint Louverture International Airport, alongside his wife, first lady Martine Moise, in front of a private plane that he boarded immediately afterward to visit the southern coastal town of Jacmel to kick off Carnival festivities. He said Prime Minister Joseph Jouthe would hold a press conference Sunday afternoon to provide further details.  Jouthe told the press he saw and heard proof in the form of audio recordings produced by the Intelligence Service, signed documents and the text of a speech for the inauguration of the new president.  VOA listened to the recordings — a video that shows a photo of who is speaking over the audio of their conversation in French and Creole — Monday. Here’s what was heard:  The plot  The alleged coup plot is laid out in a produced video featuring mobile phone footage of Supreme Court Justice Hiviquel Dabrezil shortly after his arrest and then segues to a series of audio recordings of conversations between the alleged coup plotters.  In one exchange, Dimitri Herard, a commander of the USGPN (L’Unité de Sécurité Générale du Palais National), a specialized unit of the national police force tasked with protecting the national palace, is talking to National Police Force Inspector General Marie Antoinette Gauthier about plans. Gauthier is captioned in the video as “lead putschiste.” Dimitri Herard: “Hello, commander?”  Marie Antoinette Gauthier: “Yes, hello. Dimitri? I’m listening.” DH: “Yes, commander.” MAG: “Listen, I received orders from the State Department.” DH: “OK…”  MAG: “…to plan certain things.”    DH: “Clearly. They contacted me as well so that’s why I was waiting for your call. I’m listening commander.” MAG: “Yes, listen. They told me that Friday or Saturday — you understand?”   DH: “Uh-huh.”  Whitman is never mentioned by name. But the Intelligence Service video narrator alleges “the group plotted with a former member of the Department of State — Dan Whitman — who they say was working with them to pull off this coup d’etat.”  In another exchange, Herard and Gauthier discuss the “extraction” of President Moise.    DH (in French): “I don’t know if it’s the same people who contacted you — OK? But they also mentioned an inauguration on Monday, the 8th, etc., but. …” MAG: “I’m coming over.” DH: “OK, the reason why I’m asking the question is I wanted to know what about the president? What is happening with him?” MAG: “Listen, listen the president — on the morning of the 7th, if he is still in power — are you listening?” DH: “Yes, I hear you clearly, commander.” MAG: “On the 7th, I’ll have to take control of him. Do you understand?” DH: “OK.”  MAG: “I’ll let him know we have a warrant for his arrest, and we have to detain him and take him to — are you familiar with the Petit Bois complex?”  DH: “The complex that is near the American Embassy?”  MAG: “Yes.”  The video alleges that the 23 arrests on Sunday gave authorities a clear picture about the plot and the prominent politicians, businessmen and law enforcement officials who agreed to participate in it.    “We found that this coup was masterminded by Jean Henry Ceant (former prime minister),” the narrator says, “Reginald Boulos (millionaire businessman who is also an opposition politician), who would finance it; Jean Marie Vorbe — in fact the complex where they masterminded the plot belongs to Jean Marie Vorbe. Youri Chevry (Port-au-Prince mayor) and Nenel Cassy (former senator of Lavalas party) were responsible for arming and financing. Fantom 509 (rogue police officers), they were going to organize the coup and a member of the Supreme Court — Justice Mario Beauvoir and many other members of the opposition, many of whom have been arrested and other warrants are outstanding for the arrest of all the coup plotters.”  US reaction Commenting on Sunday’s events, a State Department spokesperson told VOA, “The United States is following the situation in Haiti with concern and calls on all political actors to address their differences though peaceful means. We understand the Haitian National Police is investigating 23 individuals who were arrested over the weekend. The situation remains murky, and we await the results of the police investigation.”    In response to VOA’s question about what message the United States would like to send Haitians who insist Moise’s term is expired, the spokesperson responded, “While the Haitian constitution does not clearly address today’s situation, President Jovenel Moise was elected in November 2016, following the annulment of the initial presidential polls in October of the previous year. He was sworn into office on February 7, 2017, for a five-year term, which is, therefore, scheduled to end on February 7, 2022.”  Democratic Congressman Gregory Meeks of New York tweeted Saturday that he co-led a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken with Congresswoman Yvette Clarke “to condemn President Moise’s undemocratic actions in Haiti, urging a Haitian-led democratic transition of power. The letter was signed by five other House representatives: Albio Sires, Andy Levin, Alcee Hastings, Ilhan Omar and Darren Soto.Today I co-led a letter to @SecBlinken with @RepYvetteClarke to condemn President Moïse’s undemocratic actions in Haiti, urging for a Haitian-led democratic transition of power. The full text of the letter: https://t.co/CDGgmpM45Lpic.twitter.com/pkuriOY5TS— Rep. Gregory Meeks (@RepGregoryMeeks) February 6, 2021Early Sunday, Congressman Levin tweeted condemnation of President Moise.  “I am deeply saddened but unsurprised that Moise has escalated his anti-democratic campaign with a mass arrest of opposition officials and others on what should be his final day in office,” Levin tweeted.I am deeply saddened but unsurprised that Moïse has escalated his anti-democratic campaign with a mass arrest of opposition officials and others on what should be his final day in office.— Rep. Andy Levin (@RepAndyLevin) February 7, 2021The State Department told VOA it was aware of the lawmakers’ comments but decline to provide any details on communications.  “We do not comment on specific communications with Congress,” the spokesperson said. “The department is briefing members on the situation in Haiti. The secretary appreciates insight and communication from Congress on foreign policy.”  The United Nations also commented on Sunday’s events in Haiti, echoing the Biden administration’s stance.  “On Haiti, I will tell you that we are obviously, both the secretary-general and the team on the ground, are following the situation with worry and concern. It is very important that all stakeholders address their differences though peaceful means,” spokesperson Stephane Durjarric told VOA.  “We have also seen the reports and are very much aware that the Haitian National Police is investigating 23 individuals arrested over the weekend for allegedly plotting a coup. We are waiting and are interested in seeing the results of what that investigation is,” Dujarric said.  Port-au Prince was calm Monday, according to VOA Creole reporters, who said most businesses and the Supreme Court were closed.  Jean Samuel Pierre in Port-au-Prince, Cindy Saine at the State contributed to this report.

Colombia to Give Temporary Protective Status to Venezuelan Migrants

Colombia will give temporary protective legal status to Venezuelan migrants, President Ivan Duque said Monday in a joint announcement with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. The status will allow the migrants to work legally in Colombia. Colombia has been the top destination for people fleeing economic and social collapse in neighboring Venezuela. About 966,000 of the 1.73 million Venezuelan migrants living in Colombia do not currently have legal status. FILE – Colombia’s President Ivan Duque addresses the nation in a televised speech, in Bogota, Colombia, Nov. 22, 2019.”We need to take action,” Duque said at a press announcement. “This process marks a milestone in Colombia’s migration policies.” The U.N.’s Grandi called the announcement historic and said it was the most important humanitarian gesture in the region for decades. The migrant influx has overburdened Colombia’s fragile public health and education systems, especially in border areas. The new status, which will last 10 years, will free those who are already legalized from regularly having to reapply for permissions, Duque said. In addition, migrants with irregular status who entered Colombia before January 31 are eligible, along with migrants who legally enter Colombia during the first two years of the new measures. Anyone who does not register under the new temporary status will eventually be subject to deportation, Duque added. Duque reiterated a call for the international community to increase funding for the crisis, asking for help to vaccinate migrants against COVID-19. The Venezuelan population in Colombia fell more than 2% last year, as tens of thousands returned home in desperation during more than five months of coronavirus lockdown that shuttered many parts of the economy. But Colombian authorities predict many are likely to return as the economy recovers, bringing with them one or two additional migrants. Colombia said last month it will keep its land and river borders closed until March 1 in a bid to curb spread of coronavirus. International and domestic air travel is open. 
 

Leftist Leads in Early Returns for Ecuador Presidential Vote

A young leftist backed by a convicted-but-popular former president led the field of 16 candidates in early returns from Ecuador’s presidential election Sunday, which was held under strict coronavirus sanitary measures. Andrés Arauz, who is supported by former President Rafael Correa — a major force in the troubled Andean nation despite a corruption conviction — appeared likely to go on to an April 11 runoff, though it wasn’t clear hours after polls closed who else might advance. An early quick count showed conservative former banker Guillermo Lasso and indigenous rights and environmental activist Yaku Pérez vying for second place. In the early count, Arauz had more than 30% of the votes, and Lasso and Pérez each were around 20%. To win outright, a candidate needed 50% of the vote, or to have at least 40% with a 10-point lead over the closest opponent. Voters were required to wear masks, bring their own bottle of hand sanitizer and pencil, keep a 1.5-meter distance from others and avoid all personal contact in the polling places. The only time voters could lower their masks was during the identification process.  Long lines formed at polling places, especially in big cities, where some voters had to wait hours to cast their ballots. “I don’t care who wins the elections. We are used to thinking that the messiah is coming to solve our lives and no candidate has solved anything for me,” said one voter, Ramiro Loza. “During the quarantine, my income was reduced by 80%, and the politicians did not feed me.” The winning candidate will have to work to pull the oil-producing nation out of a deepening economic crisis that has been exacerbated by the pandemic. The South American country of 17 million people recorded more than 257,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 15,000 deaths related to COVID-19 as of Sunday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University in the United States. Arauz, a former culture minister who attended the University of Michigan, has proposed making the wealthy pay more taxes and strengthening consumer protection mechanisms, public banking and local credit and savings organizations. Arauz, 36, said he would not comply with agreements with the International Monetary Fund. Arauz could not cast his vote in the capital, Quito, because he was registered to do so in Mexico, where he lived until shortly before his nomination, and he did not change his electoral address. Lasso, 65, was making a third run for the presidency after a long career in business, banking and government. He favors free-market policies and Ecuador’s rapprochement with international organizations. He promised to create more jobs and attract international banks. He also wants to boost the oil, mining and energy sectors through the participation of private entities to replace state financing. Hovering over the election was the future of Correa, a leftist who is only 57. He governed from 2007 to 2017 as an ally of Cuba’s Fidel Castro and Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez, both now deceased.  He remains popular among millions of Ecuadorians after overseeing a period of economic growth driven by an oil boom and loans from China that allowed him to expand social programs, build roads, schools and other projects. But he increasingly cracked down on opponents, the press and businesses during his latter stage in office and feuded with Indigenous groups over development projects. His appeal also has been tarnished by a corruption conviction he says was a product of political vengeance. Correa was sentenced in absentia in April to eight years in prison for his role in a scheme to extract millions of dollars from businessmen in exchange for infrastructure projects — money allegedly used for political purposes. That conviction barred him from running as Arauz’s vice presidential candidate. An earlier attempt by Ecuadorian prosecutors to extradite him from Belgium in an unrelated kidnapping case was rejected by Interpol on human rights grounds. 

‘I Am Not a Dictator’ Haiti President Says After Announcing Foiled Coup Attempt

“I am not a dictator,” Haitian President Jovenel Moise said during a national address Sunday, hours after announcing that the police had foiled a coup attempt and made more than 20 arrests.  Haitians woke Sunday to gunfire in areas near the national palace, and a high police presence was seen by VOA Creole reporters on the scene.  At midday, the president surprised the nation by going live on Facebook from the international airport in Port-au-Prince to announce a foiled coup attempt and the arrests.  The prime minister would give more details, the president said, before heading to the southern coastal town of Jacmel to inaugurate Carnival festivities. He was accompanied by his wife, first lady Martine Moise.  
 
Moise has said he will serve another year because he was sworn in in 2017 for a five-year term. But the nation’s opposition party says the president’s term should have ended Sunday, February 7, the date set by the constitution when elected presidents are sworn into office. Moise failed to hold elections in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic and a climate of insecurity. The Biden administration on Friday expressed support for Moise’s position that his term would end February 7, 2022, while urging him to respect the rule of law, refrain from issuing more decrees and organize elections as soon as possible. It’s a position also supported by the United Nations and Organization of American States Secretary General Luis Almagro.Police officers detain demonstrators during a protest to demand the resignation of Haitian President Jovenel Moise in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Feb. 7, 2021.On Saturday, some U.S. lawmakers wrote to Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemning Moise’s actions. 
 
The State Department and U.S. Embassy in Haiti did not comment on Sunday’s events. 
Prime Minister Joseph Jouthe described the police operation during an afternoon press conference at his official residence as “operation catastrophe” during which police targeted a location called Habitation Petit Bois in the Tabarre neighborhood of the capital. The prime minister said police made 23 arrests and seized U.S. and Haitian currency, weapons and munition.  “Among the 23 arrested, unfortunately there was a Supreme Court judge and an inspector general for the national police force. We deplore this,” he said.  
 
The Supreme Court judge has been identified as Hiviquel Dabrezil and the Police Nationale d’Haiti Inspector General was identified as Marie Louise Gauthier. Agronomist Louis Buteau was also detained.  
 
Prime Minister Joseph described the alleged attempted coup:  “Those people had contacted the official in charge of security for the national palace who were to arrest the president and take him to Habitation Petit Bois and also facilitate the swearing in of a new provisional president who would oversee the transition.”  The prime minister added that he saw and heard proof in the form of audio recordings, signed documents and the text of a speech for the inauguration of the new president.  
 
The opposition’s transition plan called for a judge of the Supreme Court to replace Moise after his term expired on February 7.  Asked by VOA Creole on Saturday who they had chosen among the judges, Andre Michel, a lawyer who represents the coalition of the Democratic and Popular opposition groups, declined to specify who it would be. He told VOA if he gave the name, the person would not live to see Sunday. 
 
As the prime minister was speaking, Michel held a simultaneous press conference elsewhere in town to denounce the arrests and insist that President Jovenel Moise is now a de-facto leader because his term expired at midnight on Saturday.A police officer fires his weapon to disperse demonstrators during a protest to demand the resignation of Haitian President Jovenel Moise in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Feb. 7, 2021.“The CSPJ (Superior Council of the Judiciary Branch), who in principle has the last word in any political or legal conflict — this judicial branch of government — says Jovenel Moise’s constitutional term of office has expired,” Michel said, adding that this position is supported by members of the U.S. Congress.  
 
Democratic Congressman Gregory Meeks tweeted Saturday that he co-led a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken with Congresswoman Yvette Clarke “to condemn President Moise’s undemocratic actions in Haiti, urging for a Haitian-led democratic transition of power.  The letter was signed by five other House representatives: Albio Sires, Andy Levin, Alcee Hastings, Ilhan Omar and Darren Soto.Today I co-led a letter to @SecBlinken with @RepYvetteClarke to condemn President Moïse’s undemocratic actions in Haiti, urging for a Haitian-led democratic transition of power. The full text of the letter: https://t.co/CDGgmpM45Lpic.twitter.com/pkuriOY5TS— Rep. Gregory Meeks (@RepGregoryMeeks) February 6, 2021Early Sunday, Congressman Levin tweeted condemnation of President Moise.  
 
“I am deeply saddened but unsurprised that Moise has escalated his anti-democratic campaign with a mass arrest of opposition officials and others on what should be his final day in office,” Levin tweeted.I am deeply saddened but unsurprised that Moïse has escalated his anti-democratic campaign with a mass arrest of opposition officials and others on what should be his final day in office.— Rep. Andy Levin (@RepAndyLevin) February 7, 2021The congressman also questioned Moise’s “claims of conspiracy against his life” saying “Moise is demonstrating what my colleagues and I have said: there is zero chance of real elections, real democracy or real accountability while he remains in power.”With no evidence to support his claims of a conspiracy against his life, Moïse is demonstrating what my colleagues and I have said: there is zero chance of real elections, real democracy or real accountability while he remains in power. https://t.co/3AzphfSPaN— Rep. Andy Levin (@RepAndyLevin) February 7, 2021Moise has faced intense pressure internally and internationally over the past months for ruling by decree and failing to curb the rampant kidnappings and gang violence that have terrorized the nation.  
 
However, he was jubilant Sunday, as he listed his infrastructure accomplishments that he said has brought electricity, irrigation and roads to towns nationwide.  He implored the opposition to stop fighting him and work with him to make the lives of the people better because he has only 364 days left in office.  
 
“The battle I’m waging is not for myself, it’s for you,” Moise said. “I’m not here to lie to you today, I’m here to tell you the truth. … My brothers and sisters in the opposition don’t let pride, revenge, selfishness keep you from working with me.” 
 
VOA Creole spoke to people in Haiti about the president’s speech and the events of the day.  
 
“Today we’ve reached a decisive moment. This is a moment to prove our sovereignty. This is a day to show that we are a symbol of democracy. And that is why we are in the streets today,” said a protester who said he belongs to a grassroots group called Slave Revolt. “We are living events we’ve never seen before and that has pushed us into civil disobedience.”  
 
Another protester said he’d like to remind Jovenel Moise that his term is expired.  
 
“We’re in the streets to remind the president that although he is reticent to respect the constitution — let’s remember it is the same constitution he was sworn to uphold when he was inaugurated. Now he’s letting the country tumble into a free fall,” he said.  

Attempted Coup Foiled in Haiti, Justice Minister Says

Haitian authorities said Sunday they had foiled an attempt to kill President Jovenel Moise and overthrow the government, as a dispute rages over when his term ends.The plot was an “attempted coup d’etat,” according to Justice Minister Rockefeller Vincent, with authorities saying at least 23 people have been arrested, including a top judge and an official from the national police.”I thank my head of security at the palace. The goal of these people was to make an attempt on my life,” Moise said. “That plan was aborted.”Moise has been governing without any checks on his power for the past year and says he remains president until Feb. 7, 2022 — in an interpretation of the constitution rejected by the opposition, which has led protests asserting his term ends Sunday.The United States on Friday accepted the president’s claim to power, with State Department spokesman Ned Price saying Washington has urged “free and fair legislative elections so that parliament may resume its rightful role.”The dispute over when the president’s term ends stems from Moise’s original election: he was voted into office in a poll later canceled on grounds of fraud, and then elected again a year later, in 2016.After the latter disputed election, demonstrations demanding his resignation intensified in the summer of 2018.Voting to elect deputies, senators, mayors and local officials should have been held in 2018, but the polls have been delayed, triggering the vacuum in which Moise says he is entitled to stay for another year.In recent years, angry Haitians have demonstrated against what they call rampant government corruption and unchecked crime by gangs.  In a letter Friday to the U.N. mission in Haiti, a dozen or so human rights and women’s advocacy groups faulted it for providing technical and logistical support for the president’s plans to hold a constitutional reform referendum in April, then presidential and legislative elections.”The United Nations must under no circumstances support President Jovenel Moise in his anti-democratic plans,” the letter stated. 

Ecuadorians to Pick President Under Strict Pandemic Measures 

Ecuador will choose a new president Sunday facing unprecedented health measures due to the coronavirus pandemic and the influence of a populist former head of state who was blocked from a place on the ballot due to a corruption conviction. Sixteen candidates are vying to succeed President Lenín Moreno, a protege-turned-rival of former President Rafael Correa, who governed Ecuador for a decade and remains a major force despite a criminal conviction that blocked him from seeking the vice presidency this year. There are so many contenders that an April 11 runoff election is almost certain, but the clear leaders have been a Correa-backed candidate, Andrés Arauz, and a conservative former banker who finished second twice before, Guillermo Lasso. Voters have been ordered to wear a mask, bring their own bottle of hand sanitizer and pencil, keep a 5-foot (1.5-meter) distance from others and avoid all personal contact in the polling place. The only time voters will be allowed to lower their mask will be during the identification process.  The winner will have to work to pull the oil-producing nation out of a deepening economic crisis that has been exacerbated by the pandemic. The South American country of 17 million people had recorded more than 253,000 cases and nearly 15,000 deaths of COVID-19 as of Friday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University in the United States. Arauz, a 35-year-old former culture minister who attended the University of Michigan, faces Lasso, who at 65 is making a third run for the presidency after a long career in business, banking and government. Indigenous rights and environmental activist Yaku Pérez has been trailing in third place. Arauz has proposed making the wealthy pay more taxes and strengthening consumer protection mechanisms, public banking and local credit and savings organizations. He has said he will not comply with agreements with the International Monetary Fund. Lasso, favors free-market policies and Ecuador’s rapprochement with international organizations. He has promised to create more jobs and attract international banks. He also wants to boost the oil, mining and energy sectors through the participation of private entities to replace state financing. Hovering over the election is the future of Correa, a leftist who is still only 57. He governed from 2007 to 2017 as an ally of Cuba’s Fidel Castro and Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez, both now deceased.  He remains popular among millions of Ecuadorians after overseeing a period of economic growth driven by an oil boom and loans from China that allowed him to expand social programs, build roads, schools and other projects. But he increasingly cracked down on opponents, the press and businesses during his latter stage in office and feuded with Indigenous groups over development projects. His appeal also has been tarnished by a corruption conviction he says was a trumped up product of political vengeance. Correa was sentenced in absentia in April to eight years in prison for his role in a scheme to extract millions of dollars from businessmen in exchange for infrastructure projects — money allegedly used for political purposes. That conviction barred him from running as Arauz’s vice presidential candidate. An earlier attempt by Ecuadorian prosecutors to extradite him from Belgium in an unrelated kidnapping case was rejected by Interpol on human rights grounds. Moreno won office four years ago with the backing of Correa but broke with him, pursuing business-friendly policies as the nation’s economy was hit by a slide in oil and commodities prices. While eligible to seek reelection, he chose not to run.  

Biden Administration Suspends Trump Asylum Deals with El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras

The Biden administration said on Saturday it was immediately suspending Trump-era asylum agreements with El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, part of a bid to undo his Republican predecessor’s hard-line immigration policies.In a statement, State Department Secretary Antony Blinken said the United States had “suspended and initiated the process to terminate the Asylum Cooperative Agreements with the Governments of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras as the first concrete steps on the path to greater partnership and collaboration in the region laid out by President Biden.”The so-called “safe third country” agreements, inked in 2019 by the Trump administration and the Central American nations, force asylum seekers from the region to first seek refuge in those countries before applying in the United States.Part of a controversial bid by Trump to crack down on illegal immigrants from Central America who make up a large part of migrants apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border, the policies were never implemented with El Salvador and Honduras, the State Department said on Saturday.Transfers under the U.S.-Guatemala agreement have been paused since mid-March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the statement added.The moves announced Saturday came after Biden unveiled a host of measures last week aimed at revamping the U.S. immigration system, including a task force to reunite families separated at the United States-Mexico border and another to increase an annual cap on refugees.One of the orders called for Blinken to “promptly consider” whether to notify the governments of the three countries that the United States intended to suspend and terminate the safe third country deals. It also called on the Secretary of Homeland Security and the attorney general to determine whether to rescind a rule implementing the agreements.

US Halts Asylum-Seeker Pact With Guatemala

The U.S. government has ended a controversial agreement with Guatemala that sent asylum-seekers processed at the U.S.-Mexico border to the Central American country to await hearings, according to a U.S. State Department statement and the Guatemalan government.Guatemala’s foreign ministry said in a statement Friday that U.S. officials had informed it of the cancellation of the program, which was negotiated under the administration of former President Donald Trump.The agreement with Guatemala was signed in 2019, just as similar pacts were negotiated with El Salvador and Honduras, all in a bid by Trump to force other countries in the region to help the United States alleviate a surge of asylum-seekers arriving at the U.S. southern border by agreeing to take them in for prolonged waits.Transfers under the U.S.-Guatemala Asylum Cooperative Agreement had been paused since mid-March 2020 because of COVID-19 measures, and the agreements with El Salvador and Honduras were never implemented, according to a State Department statement Saturday.“To be clear, these actions do not mean that the U.S. border is open,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in the statement. “While we are committed to expanding legal pathways for protection and opportunity here and in the region, the United States is a country with borders and laws that must be enforced.”Criticism of pactsRights groups sharply criticized the pacts, saying they added to the misery of asylum-seekers, many of whom fled violent gangs from the same impoverished countries.The agreements allowed the U.S. to send asylum-seekers to one of the three Central American countries to apply for asylum there and have their claims reviewed.Earlier this week, U.S. President Joe Biden ordered a review of asylum processing at the U.S.-Mexico border, part of a broad effort to chart a less-restrictive immigration system during the first weeks of his term.Among the measures announced, Biden called for a review of the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), a Trump program also known as “Remain in Mexico” that ordered tens of thousands of asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico for their U.S. court dates.He also signaled the imminent end of the asylum deals with the Central American countries.Senior aides to Biden have nevertheless cautioned that administration’s broader immigration agenda will take time to roll out, as the new president seeks to be both more accepting of migrants and asylum-seekers while also seeking to prevent a surge in unlawful border crossings.  

Cuba Opens Door to Most Small Business Initiatives

In a major reform of the state-dominated economy, the Cuban government will allow small private businesses to operate in most fields, eliminating its limited list of activities, state-run media reported on Saturday.The measure, coming as the Caribbean island seeks to recover from an economic slump, will expand the field from 127 activities to more than 2,000 Labor Minister Marta Elena Feito Cabrera was quoted as saying. She spoke at a council of ministers meeting that approved the policy.She said there would be 124 exceptions, but the media reports provided no details.Reform-minded Cuban economists have long called for the role of small business to be expanded to help jump-start the economy and to create jobs.US Sanctions Cuba for Alleged Human Rights Abuses Sanctions come five days before end of Trump administrationThe economy has stagnated for years and contracted by 11% last year, due to a combination of the coronavirus pandemic that devastated tourism and tough U.S. sanctions. Cubans have been dealing with a scarcity of basic goods and endless lines to obtain them.The crisis has forced a series of long promised but stalled reforms, from devaluation of the peso and reorganization of the monetary system to some deregulation of state businesses and foreign investment.President Miguel Diaz-Canel said last year the country faced an international and local crisis and would implement a series of reforms to increase exports, cut imports and stimulate domestic demand.He said the measures would include “the improvement of the non-state sector, with immediate priority in the expansion of self-employment and removal of obstacles.”The non-state sector – not including agriculture with its hundreds of thousands of small farms, thousands of cooperative and day laborers – is composed mainly of small private businesses and cooperatives; their employees, artisans, taxi drivers and tradesmen.The labor minister said there were more than 600,000 people in the sector, some 13% of the labor force. They are all designated as self-employed and an estimated 40% depend mainly on the tourism industry or work in public transportation.Over the last six months the government has also moved to grant access to wholesale markets for small businesses and import and export, though only through state companies.

Haiti President’s Term Will End in 2022, Biden Administration Says

Haitian President Jovenel Moise’s term will end on February 7, 2022, the Biden administration said Friday, weighing in on a contentious question that has roiled the Caribbean nation for months.”In accordance with the OAS [Organization of American States] position on the need to proceed with the democratic transfer of executive power, a new elected president should succeed President Moise when his term ends on February 7, 2022,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said in response to a question from VOA.”The Haitian people deserve the opportunity to elect their leaders and restore Haiti’s democratic institutions,” Price said.The Biden administration’s expression of support is significant for Moise and comes at a crucial time as he faces intense pressure from the political opposition to step down this Sunday.Price told VOA the U.S. Embassy in Haiti maintains contact with members “across the political spectrum” and that the United States, like the OAS, has “consistently called on all political forces to adhere to the spirit of their constitutional order.”Ambassador’s meetingHaiti Ambassador to the U.S. Bocchit Edmond tweeted Friday afternoon that he had a “very productive meeting” with the State Department. The ambassador said he discussed “upcoming elections, referendum on the new constitution and security challenges.”Today I had a very productive meeting with the FILE – U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.UN backs US positionThe United Nations on Friday backed the American position on the end of Moise’s term in 2022. Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told VOA that U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was “closely following developments” and that Guterres was encouraged “by the willingness of many stakeholders to engage constructively in finding agreement on a way forward, to ensure the holding of several free, fair and peaceful electoral processes in the coming months.”But the way forward is murky. Moise’s handpicked Provisional Electoral Council has announced a referendum on the constitution on April 25, followed by presidential and legislative elections in September.In contrast, Moise’s opponents, who have vowed  not to participate in an electoral process they view as illegitimate, have come up with their own transition plan. The plan stipulates that after Moise leaves office, a successor will be chosen from among the Supreme Court justices and a commission made up of seven members of the opposition will choose Cabinet members.It is unclear how the Biden administration and U.N. statements Friday will affect that plan.Anxiety about SundayMeanwhile, some Haitians are expressing fear that the situation will turn violent Sunday, after the opposition vowed to take to the streets and turn up the pressure. Haiti’s national police and security forces have been criticized for being overly aggressive and firing upon peaceful protesters and journalists over the past year.FILE – Smoke from tires set fire by protesters fills a street in Delmas where vendors sell clothing during a countrywide strike demanding the resignation of Haitian President Jovenel Moise in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Feb. 1, 2021.A protester was shot and killed by a police officer during a spontaneous protest Friday, VOA Creole reported. Tires were seen burning and blocking some streets of the capital, Port-au-Prince.Asked how the Moise administration would handle protests Sunday, Edmond told VOA the government intended to remain in observer mode, unless public property was destroyed and crimes were committed.Sunday is a day of national significance to Haitians. February 7 was the day dictator Jean Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier was overthrown. It is also the day when democratically elected presidents are to be sworn in, according to the constitution.What does the U.S. anticipate in the months ahead? State Department spokesman Price said the Biden administration expects the Moise government to exercise “restraint” in issuing decrees, “only using that power to schedule legislative elections and for matters of immediate threats to life, health and safety, so the parliament can be restored and resume its constitutional responsibility.”Cindy Saine at the State Department, Margaret Besheer at the United Nations and Matiado Vilme in Port-au-Prince contributed to this report.  

Mexico Alleges Ex-Governor Ordered Torture of Journalist

A former Mexican governor suspected of ordering the torture of an investigative journalist who had accused him of links to a pedophilia ring appeared in court Thursday to formally face charges.Mario Marin, who was the governor of the state of Puebla from 2005-11, asked to be placed under house arrest for the duration of the legal process, citing health problems and fear of catching COVID-19 in jail. The judge will decide on request next week. The 66-year-old former governor is in detention for the time being.In 2005, award-winning journalist Lydia Cacho had alleged in her book The Demons of Eden that Marin, who has been a fugitive since April 2019, and several prominent Mexican businessmen were linked to a child pornography ring.”I have been seeking justice for 14 years for having been tortured by this accomplice of child pornography networks,” the journalist wrote on Twitter.“He is the first governor arrested for acts of torture against journalists and linked, furthermore, with a ring of trafficking girls and boys,” Cacho said.In December 2005, agents of the Puebla prosecutor’s office arrested Cacho in Cancun and drove her to Puebla. She was accused of slander and defamation.Cacho was later released.She alleged that on the road from Cancun to Puebla officials psychologically tortured and threatened to sexually abuse her.The press freedom organization Artículo 19, which is representing Cacho, said that if convicted, Marin could face up to 12 years behind bars.Cacho, who now lives overseas, has won many international awards including the UNESCO-Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom prize.

Canada Designates ‘Neo-Fascist’ Proud Boys as Terrorist Entity

Canada became the first country Wednesday to formally designate the Proud Boys a terrorist entity, according to the nation’s FILE – Proud Boys leader Henry “Enrique” Tarrio wears a hat that says The War Boys during a rally in Portland, Ore., Sept. 26, 2020.“They don’t do anything except protest. … To be put on the level of ISIS is simply an overreach,” Tarrio said. The designation could allow Canadian police to handle crimes committed by the group as terrorist activity as well as empower authorities to seize financial assets.Tarrio said the move will only serve to inhibit the group’s “free speech.” Reputation for violenceThe Proud Boys is considered a far-right, male chauvinist extremist organization with a reputation of engaging in violent activities at political rallies in the United States and Canada. When asked about the group’s objectives, Tarrio told VOA, “We’re a beer-drinking club.” Members have been under increasing scrutiny in the United States after embracing the former Trump administration’s nationalist policies, and being a major agitator during previous protests and last month’s riot at the Capitol that left five people dead.According to the U.S.-based Southern Poverty Law Center, members of the Proud Boys were “aggressively front and center during the attack on the Capitol.” The SPLC also defines the Proud Boys as a hate group.During a presidential debate in September 2020 with then-Democratic nominee Joe Biden, then-President Donald Trump urged the Proud Boys to “stand back and stand by” when a moderator asked him to denounce the group. After the attack on the Capitol, Jagmeet Singh, head of Canada’s opposition New Democratic Party, urged Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to declare the Proud Boys a terrorist group. The Canadian government added a total of 13 groups to its terrorism list, including three other neo-Nazi or far-right organizations — The Base, and the Atomwaffen Division, which operate mostly in the U.S., and the Russia-based Russian Imperial Movement, which has operated in Europe, the Middle East and other regions.  

Mexico Grants Emergency Use of Russia Vaccine to Fight Coronavirus

Mexico’s regulatory agency approved emergency use of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, shortly after Deputy Health Minister Hugo Lopez-Gatell announced Tuesday the country’s plan to combat the novel coronavirus would involve use of the vaccine. The Associated Press reports Mexico is launching its vaccination program as its capital, Mexico City, is struggling to accommodate a growing number of coronavirus patients and provide adequate oxygen to hospitals.  Meantime, Lopez-Gattel said the first batches of the 7.4 million doses of the Sputnik V vaccine will arrive this month through April.    The Sputnik V vaccine’s credibility was elevated Tuesday after late-stage clinical trial results published in The Lancet international medical journal revealed it was 91.6% effective in preventing people from developing COVID-19.    Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has spoken to Russian President  Vladimir Putin about purchasing 24 million doses of the vaccine.  Argentina joins Mexico in ramping up its efforts to secure an ample supply of the Sputnik V vaccine.     Lopez Gatell said on Monday Mexico would receive between 1.6 million to 2.75 million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine through the COVAX global vaccine sharing program this month.  Mexico has one of the highest coronavirus tallies in Latin America with about 159,100 confirmed  deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University COVID Resource Center.  

Mexican Migrants Sent Home a Record $40 Billion in 2020

Money sent home by Mexican migrants rose 11.4% in 2020 to a new high despite the coronavirus pandemic, Mexico’s central bank reported Monday.Migrants sent $40.6 billion to Mexico in cash transmissions, known as remittances, including $4 billion in March alone, a record for a single month.The record flow of cash for 2020 compared to $36.4 billion in remittances sent in 2019. The rise was much better than other countries, which have seen drops in remittances because of job losses or reductions in hours due to the pandemic.Most Mexican migrants live and work in the United States, where unemployment has surged because of lockdowns. Given the big drop in the value of the peso so far this year, remittances sent in dollars will go much further.   

2 Bolsonaro Allies Elected to Leadership Roles in Brazilian Congress

A second lawmaker endorsed by Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been elected to a critical leadership role in Congress, possibly bolstering his political future amid dozens of calls for his resignation. Congressman Arthur Lira, an ally of Bolsonaro, was elected speaker of the lower house of Congress for two years on Monday. The chamber voted overwhelmingly in favor of Lira, whose rival pushed for separation from the Bolsonaro administration. Earlier Monday, Brazil’s Congress elected Rodrigo Pacheco as Senate speaker, another ally of the far-right leader who aims to improve bruised relations with legislators. Bolsonaro has faced an uphill battle get legislation passed in Congress, while his popularity has declined over his handling of the latest surge of Covid-19 in Brazil. Bolsonaro has long downplayed the pandemic even after he contracted the virus in July, at times appearing in pubic without a protective face mask.  So far, Brazil has confirmed more than 9,204,000 coronavirus infections and 224,504 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University Covid Resource Center.