Port-au-Prince, Haiti – “It was a constitutional coup d’état,” revolted some think tanks, “a parliamentary drive by,” they cried. Others characterized the actions of Haiti’s national assembly as “nothing short of a theatrical performance.” Still, many political observers declared the constitutional amendments “unconstitutional” and called for an annulment of the adopted articles by presidential decree. […]
The total number of Ayapeneco speakers remaining in Mexico: two. The men live some 500 meters apart in the tropical lowlands of Tabasco state. But Manuel Segovia, 75, and Isidro Velazquez, 69, don’t like one another and refuse to talk. The Syndey Morning Herald reports that there are 68 indigenous languages in Mexico; many of […]
Port-au-Prince, Haiti – Power failure inside the Haitian parliament shortly before the inauguration did not deter President Michel Martelly from making history. In fact, the novice head of state was a fountain of smiles waving, spraying charisma to fans, reporters and dignitaries. President Martelly’s oath of office landed on the thunderous applauses of Legislators, national and […]
Earlier this week President Calderón appeared on the Charlie Rose Show. In his usual technocratic fashion, Calderón ticked off the security challenges posed by drug violence in Mexico, then detailed the countermeasures: taking on the criminals, building better law enforcement institutions, and addressing the socioeconomic roots of crime in Mexico. Also of interest, the president […]
Cuban media finally published the outcome of last month’s Communist Party Congress: a list of 313 “guidelines” to shape economic reforms in Cuba. The items include mention of changes across a number of sectors and important issue areas—from ration books (and their gradual retirement) to private sector employment (not far beyond barbers but including family […]
Mexican poet Javier Sicilia, father of slain Juan Francisco, will headline a massive protest against the government’s drug war strategy tomorrow. The first protest took place on May 5 in the city of Cuernavaca, not far from where Juan Francisco died. Protests are scheduled in 31 sites across Mexico, and all manner of civil society […]
Of the 68 people rescued in the northern state of Tamaulipas on Wednesday, 12 are migrants from Central America. According to their accounts, gunmen identifying themselves with the Gulf Cartel seized the group off an autobus. Tamaulipas has been in the news because of the grizzly mass murder of 72 migrants in San Fernando last […]
The patriotic displays this weekend in Havana (military marching through the streets, fighter jets flying over, Cubans participating in parades and celebrations) marked the 50th anniversary of the Cuban victory at the Bay of Pigs—or as Cubans call it, Playa Girón—in 1961. The Bay of Pigs invasion is, of course, the infamous failed attempt by […]
San Fernando is quick becoming the murder center of Mexico. In recent days the bodies of 145 people have been uncovered, most in mass graves, about an hour-and-a-half drive south of Brownsville, Texas. Mexican federal investigators expect more bodies to be discovered there soon. In connection, 16 local police officers were arrested for collusion with […]
As pointed out by an article in World Politics Review, Mexico’s major drug gangs are being squeezed between the “war on drugs” and the global economy, forcing them to turn over a new leaf. So it seems they are looking to generate revenue by stealing legal commodities. Oil tapping is perhaps the most prominent tactic […]
It’s a long way off, sure. But Jimmy Carter seems to be the guy for it. The former US President began a visit to Cuba yesterday at the invitation of the Cuban government. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, in fact, was there to meet Carter on the runway when his plane arrived. Carter is the only […]
American drones have been flying the skies over Mexico since 2009 to collect intelligence on drug syndicates. The flights took place with the consent of the Calderón administration, but neither the US nor Mexican governments made it public. As the story broke earlier last week Mexicans of many stripes—from lawmakers to farmers—started to howl that […]
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