Maduro Looks to OPEC Countries for Financial Support on Tour

January 5, 2015

By Delisa Morris

Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is taking a tour through China and several countries in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) this week to rally financial help for his tumbling economy in the wake of sliding oil prices. Maduro stated that the trip is “very important to take on new projects in the circumstances that our country faces in the depletion of income caused by the drop in oil prices,” in a national broadcast announcing the tour on Sunday. While Maduro did not say which OPEC countries he was visiting on the tour, he did say that he will work with member companies to formulate a strategy to bring the price of oil back up.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro/ photo courtesy of Wikipedia

One place Maduro is likely to go on his tour is China. China is Venezuela’s top financier, almost 50 billion dollars has been loaned to Caracas from China since 2007. Venezuela supplies more than 500,000 barrels of oil a day to China, about two-thirds of which are repayments under the countries’ oil-for-loans agreement.

Maduro will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit and take part in a meeting between China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States Jan. 8-9 in Beijing.

The price of Venezuelan oil, which makes up some 95 percent of its export market, has fallen by more than 50 percent in the past six months, dipping to $46.97, at the end of 2014. Venezuela unsuccessfully lobbied for OPEC to cut oil output to temper the price plunge in November. Last week Caracas announced the country had officially entered a recession, with annual inflation at 63 percent.

The falling oil prices were not the beginning of Venezuela’s financial woes in 2014. The country’s problems triggered analysts’ predictions of a default on its external debt. This past December, Fitch lowered Venezuela’s credit rating to CCC, and Bloomberg estimated a 97 percent chance of default by the end of the year.

While Maduro has slammed default speculation and blamed foreign media for stoking an “economic war,” he has turned the government’s attention to the faltering economy. Last week he announced Caracas wants to reform currency controls to boost foreign reserves. Meanwhile, Maduro’s popularity is plummeting, sinking to a record 22 percent in December, polling firm Datanalasis reported.

Maduro has also accused the US of flooding the markets with oil as part of an economic war against Russia.

The Venezuelan opposition blames the country’s economic crisis and shortages of many staples, such as corn oil and milk, on the socialist policies of Mr Maduro and his late predecessor, Hugo Chavez.

For more information, please see:

International Business Times – Venezuela’s Maduro Jets to China, OPEC Countries For Help With Cash-Strapped Economy – 5 Jan. 2015

BBC News – Venezuelan Leader Maduro Seeks Economic Help on Tour – 4 Jan. 2015

Bloomberg – Maduro Travels to China for Financing, Oil Nations for Plan – 4 Jan. 2015

Latin American Herald Tribune – Venezuelan President to Visit China and OPEC Nations – 5 Jan. 2015

Argentina Will Extradite a US Citizen Accused of Murder

January 5, 2015

by Mridula Tirumalasetti

Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina—Argentina’s highest court, the Supreme Court, has ruled that a United States citizen who took refuge in Argentina can be extradited back to the United States.

Kurt Sonnenfeld moved to Argentina and started a new life in 2003 after being accused of killing his wife in 2002 and being charged with first degree murder in Denver, Colorado. Prosecutors initially dropped the charges against Sonnenfeld in 2002 due to insufficient evidence. When new charges were filed, Sonnenfeld was arrested and briefly jailed in Argentina. Sonnenfeld has requested political asylum in Argentina.

Kurt Sonnenfeld faced first degree murder charges in February 2002 (photo courtesy of The Guardian)

The Department of Justice and local courts in Argentina have been in dispute over the extradition of Sonnenfeld because of differences over the death penalty. Argentina’s courts have rejected requests from the Department of Justice to extradite Sonnenfeld because the Denver prosecutor’s office could not guarantee Sonnenfeld would not receive the death penalty if convicted in Colorado.

However, the Argentine Supreme Court has been assured by US prosecutors that “the death penalty will not be imposed, or if it were ruled, it will not be exercised in this case.” Further, one judge added that the extradition request was granted on the condition that if Sonnenfeld were to be found guilty, he would be sentenced to life with parole. The judges stated that a sentence of life without parole would violate Argentina’s Constitution. It is not specified within the ruling when the extradition will take place.

Sonnenfeld worked for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a cameraman and was employed to document the aftermath of the 11 September 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center. Sonnenfeld claimed the video footage he collected proved the government knew that the terrorist attacks would happen. He also alleged that the Denver district attorney’s office framed him for the murder of his wife in order to silence him, and that his wife, found dead on 1 January 2002, had actually committed suicide. The Denver prosecutor’s office has denied such allegations. Sonnenfeld also accused the US government of tapping his phone calls, hacking his personal email, and even attempting to kidnap his family. He has written a book about his case, El Perseguido, published it in Spanish, and has made appearances in Argentine news media.

For more information, please see:

The New York Times—Argentina Agrees to Extradite American Who Sought Asylum—2 January 2015

The Denver Post—Argentine court OKs extradition of man facing Denver murder charge—2 January 2015

The Guardian—Argentina agrees to extradite US man charged with wife’s murder—3 January 2015

Buenos Aires Herald—Supreme Court approves extradition of US national—3 January 2015

Gang Violence in El Salvador Escalates Once Again

January 4, 2015

by Mridula Tirumalasetti

Impunity Watch Reporter

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador –A truce among some of the most powerful street gangs fell apart in 2014 due to escalating turf wars between the gangs themselves. El Salvador’s police chief Mauricio Ramirez Landaverde said “The groups which had opted last year to decrease (homicides) are doing the opposite this year. This is the main reason.” As a result, homicides in El Salvador skyrocketed by 56 percent.

The Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and its rival, the Barrio 18 made a pact which took effect in March 2012. The two gangs held this truce which helped lower the murder rate in 2013 to approximately five murders a day. This was a 10-year low for El Salvador. However, within the first few months of 2014, the murder rate grew once again to about 8.9 killings each day. The government has placed the blame on Barrio 18 for breaking the truce.

The National Civil Police stated the total number of homicides in 2014 was 3,875 homicides, which averages to about 12 homicides per day. This number is a substantial increase from the number of homicides in 2013, which was 2,490.

Calle 18 gang members pictured above (photo courtesy of The Guardian)

The gang situation in El Salvador makes it one of the world’s most violent nations. “One in three children had been directly threatened with death if they didn’t join the gang…One in five had quit school out of fear, and one in 10 is a prisoner in their own home, too scared to go out day or night,” explained Elizabeth Kennedy, a researcher who has interviewed many children who have been deported back to El Salvador from Mexico. The children were trying to reach the United States in an effort to escape El Salvadorian gang violence. “Deporting children back into these harmful situations is a violation of international law,” Kennedy added. Jeanne Rikkers, who is a youth violence prevention expert and works for the human rights organization, Fespad agreed, “Children are living in a constantly violent atmosphere. They don’t feel secure, physically or economically, and they don’t feel protected by state institutions.”

For more information, please see:

The New York Times—El Salvador: Murder Rate Soars—30 December 2014

Reuters—El Salvador homicides jump 56 percent as gang truce unravels—30 December 2014

The Guardian—Gang violence in El Salvador fuelling country’s child migration crisis—18 November 2014

The Huffington Post—Truce With Mara Street Gang Hasn’t Worked In El Salvador–08 April 2014

HarperCollins omits Israel from atlases sold to Mideast schools

January 3, 2015

By Ashley Repp

News Desk Reporter, Middle East

It is no secret that Middle East relations, particularly those between Israel and its neighbors, are particularly tumultuous. Israel and Palestine have been embroiled in a struggle for the land that is currently recognized as Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank, for over 60 years. As of 1948, the international community, including international governmental bodies, such as the United Nations, has acknowledged the legitimacy and sovereignty of Israel. But while this legitimacy is acknowledged by many international actors, it is not universally accepted, particularly by other Middle East countries.

Map making company Collins Bartholomew, a subsidiary of HarperCollins, responded to buyers of school supplies for English speaking schools in the Middle East by releasing an edition of a map of the Middle East that does not label the region typically recognized as Israel with the name Israel. Instead, it labelled as Gaza and the West Bank. As some of Israel’s neighbors do not acknowledge Israel’s legitimacy, or allow maps into their respective countries that label the disputed land as Israel, Collins Bartholomew took a chance with buyers with this release of the map of the Middle East.

Many are outraged by Collins Bartolomew’s response to map buyers who refuse maps labeled with Israel. The company asserted that the decision was merely to appease opposed buyers and appeal to local preferences. The Tablet, a Catholic organization, contended that the decision by the company to omit Israel to appeal to the palette of specific buyers, only serves to undermine peace and de-legitimize Israel’s presence in the Middle East.

On the other hand, the company did not label the region Palestine, rather labelled the region by two, longstanding names of specific parts of the area, Gaza and the West Bank. While topically, the decision seems confusing and irrational to many, particularly to those who recognize Israel’s right to exist, on a deeper level, the decision appears to acknowledge that all countries have different understandings of what is right, wrong, legitimate, and acceptable. In responding to a known preference of some countries in what they choose to recognize, Collins Bartholomew created this controversial map.

The company has now responded to the outcry against this map by ceasing sales, and destroying the remaining stock of the map. The situation begs the question, will the bath the company must now take on the production of this map, in combination with lost sales from angry buyers, be worth the initial production of the map for a select number and group of buyers. From a business perspective, the decision to produce the map seems odd and irrational, from a social perspective, the map speaks volumes about current sentiments and anger regarding the existence of and legitimacy of Israel.

For more information, please visit:

The Telegraph- HarperCollins omits Israel from school atlas– 31 Dec. 2014

The Washington Post- HarperCollins omits Israel from maps for Mideast schools, citing ‘local preferences’– 2 Jan. 2015

The Independent- HarperCollins pulls map excluding Israel from sale amid accusations of ‘anti-Semitism’– 2 Jan 2015

Haaretz- HarperCollins omits Israel from atlases sold to English-speaking Mideast schools– 31 Dec. 2014

Air Strikes on Misrata, Libya

January 3, 2015

By Ashley Repp

News Desk Reporter, Africa

Misrata, Libya-

Since the over throw of Mommar Guddafi in 2011, during the rash of international uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa, often referred to as the Arab Spring, Libya has struggled to remain stable, and civil war has permeated the nation. The internationally recognized government of Libya was forced out of Tripoli in August by an Islamist militant group called Fajr Libya, which translates from Arabic to English as Libya Dawn. Since August, the recognized government has been operating out of Tobruk, a city over 800 miles away from Tripoli.

Attacks on misrata — Attacks on Misrata- Courtesy of The Daily Times

Forces loyal to the internationally recognized government launched a missile strike on Misrata, an important port city that remained largely untouched by the civil war and conflict. The city has become a stronghold for Islamist militia groups. Among the sites in the city attacked, was an air force academy in the city, as well as the airport. The attack has been cited as a retaliatory response to the attacks on December 25^th attack carried out by Islamist militia Fajr Libya that killed 22 government soldiers, in an attempt to gain control of an oil port. The government affirmed its role in the attack on Misrata, and at least one government official asserted that the attack brings Libya, “a step closer to victory.”

The country’s inability to re-stabilize will likely present further challenges to peace and security in Libya, as government loyal groups and Islamist militant factions vie for control of the country. Oil ports have already begun to close in response to the civil violence, which in turn, has led to drastically reduced oil production. Indeed, the closing of these ports have already reduced production by 300,000 barrels of oil each day. Despite calls for peaceful resolution to the current civil war, it does not seem that peace will be a likely, or attainable outcome without serious attempts by both sides to reduce violence as a means to securing control of Libya.

For more information, please see:

The Telegraph- Libya descends into chaos as air strikes hit Misrata– 28 Dec. 2014

Al Jazeera- First air strikes hit Libyan city of Misrata– 28 Dec. 2014

Reuters- New air strike on Libyan city Misrata, clashes near oil port– 3 Jan. 2015