By Kaitlyn Degnan
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

DUBLIN, Ireland — Latin America is the deadliest region for human rights and environmental activists, according to Ireland based group Front Line Defenders. The group released a report in early January citing “extreme violence” as the most worrying issue.

According to the report, 156 human rights activists’ died globally due to violence or detention in the first 11 months of 2015 – 15 percent higher than the previous year. 88 of the killings took place in Latin America, with 54 deaths occurring in Colombia alone. 15 percent of the deaths in Latin America were defenders of LGBT rights.

The report called defending human rights in Latin America “extremely dangerous”, and noted ongoing criminalization of human rights and peaceful protest movements.

Some of the most targeted activists are those fighting for environmental rights, indigenous populations and LGBT rights.

“Extreme violence is being used more frequently and in more countries, while fabricated prosecutions and unfair trials have become the norm in many parts of the world,” said Mary Lawlor, the head of Front Line Defenders, speaking at the report’s launch in Dublin.

Ms. Lawlor also accused international reactions to human rights violations as weak in an editorial in the Irish Times. She called for Ireland and the EU to be strong in speaking up for human rights defenders, even in those countries where they have political and strategic interests.

 

For more information, please see:

Herald Sun – Killings of human rights defenders rise – 6 January 2016

Independent – Human rights activists ‘face new heights of violence’ – 6 January 2016

Irish Times – Latin America most dangerous place for human rights activists – 6 January 2016

Reuters – Killings of human rights defenders rise, LatAm fares worst: report – 6 January 2016 

Inside Costa Rica – Latin America is the deadliest region for human rights, environmental activists, group says – 7 January 2016

Latin One – Latin America Dubbed the ‘Deadliest Region for Human Rights Advocates’ – 7 January 2016

Irish Times – We must stop the killing of those who stand up for human rights – 8 January 2016

 

By Kaitlyn Degnan
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America 

SANTIAGO, Chile — A former soldier from the days of the Pinochet dictatorship confessed to participating in at least 18 murders on a live radio show. Guillermo Reyes, going by the pseudonym “Alberto” called in to “Chacotero Sentimental” (Loving Betrayal), a radio show hosted by Roberto Artiagoitia, to talk about a failing romance. Instead, for twenty minutes, Reyes discussed his participation in the killings of Socialist Party prisoners.

According to Reyes, soldiers executed the prisoners by shooting them in the head, and then destroyed the victims’ remains with dynamite. In his call, Reyes expressed no remorse for his participation in the executions: “The first time (I killed someone), I cried but the lieutenant was saying, ‘Good soldier, good soldier, brave soldier.’ I liked the second time. I enjoyed it.”

Although he did not identify himself during the call, police were able to track the call back to Reyes. He was arrested and has so far been charged with killing Freddy Taberna Gallegos and German Palomino Lamas, both Socialist Party prisoners. Reyes is also being investigated by a human rights judge.

Reyes was drafted into Pinochet’s army as a young man and was then indoctrinated during military training in Santiago. He said he was “forced to kill” because commanders would execute conscripts for disobeying orders.

When challenged by radio host Artiagoitia about his moral conscience and “responsibilities as a human,” Reyes reiterated that he was following orders. “If we found them with a gun, we liquidated them.”

At the time of his call, Reyes was a 62-year old bus driver.

The Pinochet regime of 1973-1990 is considered one of the most violent periods of Chile’s history. Officially, 903 people were disappeared and 1,759 were executed. Chile has taken a number of steps in current months to recognize the victims and provide education regarding the human rights violations. Recently, President Michelle Bachelet created a Human Rights Department to implement policies to support Pinochet’s victims.

 

For more information, please see:

Guardian – Former Chilean soldier charged with murder after stunning radio confession – 11 December 2015 

Latin Correspondent – Chilean veteran confesses on radio to murder during Pinochet era – 16 December 2015 

TeleSur – Chile Creates Human Rights Department for Pinochet Era Murders – 17 December 2015

USA Today – Radio caller confesses to 18 murders – 17 December 2015

 

By Kaitlyn Degnan
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

CARACAS, Venezuela — Employees at a Venezuelan Pepsi-Cola plant in Caucagua, in the Miranda state were “arbitrarily detained,” according to Polar. Polar, Venezuela’s largest food and drink producer, owns the local Pepsi division. Government inspectors from the Ministry of Labour reportedly visited the plant on Friday and ordered production to restart. The manager, two human resource workers and a lawyer were arrested by police.

A tweet released by Polar late on Sunday said that, “Pepsi-Cola Venezuela managed to obtain full freedom for its Caucagua plant workers who were arbitrarily detained on Friday.”

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro frequently criticizes Polar and its CEO, Lorenzo Mendoza, of participating in an “Economic War” against the people. Days before the latest National Assembly election, Maduro referred to Mendoza as the “Oligarch of the devil.”

Pepsi, like a number of other products, have been in short supply in Venezuela in recent months. President Maduro accused Mendoza and Polar of purposely slowing down production and hoarding goods.

Mendoza and Polar say that production at the plant ceased due to the unavailability of necessary raw materials, which could not be imported due to Venezuelan currency controls. Maduro’s critics highlight that currency controls and price controls make it near impossible to import machinery and raw materials, or to profit from the production of consumer goods in Venezuela.

 

For more information, please see:

Reuters – Venezuela Food producer Polar says local Pepsi workers freed – 20 December 2015 

BBC – Venezuela releases detained Pepsi workers – 21 December 2015 

Curacao Chronical – Venezuela Food Company Slams Detention of Local Pepsi Workers – 21 December 2015 

HCN Dayton News – Pepsi Employees in Venezuela Detained for Halting Operations Have Been Finally Set Free – 22 December 2015 

By Kaitlyn Degnan
Impunity Watch, South America

 

CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela’s opposition coalition, Democratic Unity, has defeated the Socialist Party in the election for the National Assembly for the first time in 17 years. According to the National Electoral Council’s official results, the coalition won 109 out of 167 seats in the Assembly. Indigenous representatives allied with the coalition won an additional 3 seats. The ruling Socialist party will retain 55 seats.

The supermajority gives the coalition significant power: they can remove Supreme Court justices, pass laws and even draft a new constitution.

The Democratic Unity coalition has said that its first move upon being sworn into office will be to provide amnesty for about 70 opposition members who were jailed following political violence this year. This includes Leopoldo Lopez, whose trial and conviction made headlines worldwide.

Maduro and his supporters are blaming the loss on an “economic war,” swearing to defend the “social gains” implemented by their party over the past decade and a half.

The coalition sees the country’s economy as the biggest issue they will have to face. Venezuela’s current economic situation is considered by some to be “the worst crisis in its history.” Inflation has reached 159%, and unemployment is projected to reach 18.1 % by 2016. Venezuela’s economy has suffered in recent drops in oil prices – which don’t appear to be climbing anytime soon.

“Everything should be aimed at finding a solution to the crisis and toward actions that allow Venezuela to recover economically,” according to Henriques Capriles, leader of the Justice First party, which won the most seats of any part in the coalition.

However, the legislature has limited influence over the economy – most of the control lays with Maduro.

Coalition members have also talked of exploring options to remove Maduro from office, which the legislature could do through a recall election, a constitutional amendment or a complete constitutional overhaul. However many in the coalition, including Capriles, have said that removing Maduro would come only after making strides to solve economic issues.

 

 

For more information, please see:

TeleSur – What to Expect from a Counterrevolutionary National Assembly – 7 December 2015

Venezuela Analysis – Venezuelan Opposition Sweeps Parliamentary Elections – 7 December 2015 

Los Angeles Times – Venezuela socialists’ defeat opens door to friendlier ties with U.S. – 8 December 2015 

New York Times – Opposition in Venezuela Now Has to Fix the Ills that Led to Its Victory – 8 December 2015

Wall Street Journal – Venezuela’s Opposition Secures Supermajority Against Ruling Party – 8 December 2015

Time – These 5 Facts Explain Why Venezuela is in Big Trouble- Still – 11 December 2015 

By Kaitlyn Degnan
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

QUITO, Ecuador — Ecuador’s National Assembly has passed a constitutional reform to do away with presidential term limits. The move faced widespread criticism throughout the country, especially from members of the opposition. The move is the latest in a pattern of Latin American leaders abolishing term limits – which started with Hugo Chavez in Venezuela. More recently, Nicaragua has constitutionally abolished term limits, while Bolivia is currently considering it.

The Opposition views the move as a threat to democracy because incumbent presidential candidates typically have an easy time getting re-elected. In Quito, protesters gathered outside the National Assembly building. Armed with sticks and rocks, they blocked major intersections with burning tires.

Correra announced that he would not be running for re-election when his term expires in 2017 on November 18, just hours before his party announced that it would back constitutional reforms to eliminate term limits. Correra’s current term will expire in 2017.

At the last minute, lawmakers added language holding off the implementation of the reform until May 24, 2017 – after the next president of Ecuador will be selected. The effect of the modification is that Correra will not be able to run for reelection as the term limits will still be in place at that time.

However, it is thought that after taking a “break,” Correra will most likely run for election again in 2021, at such time he will be able to continuously seek re-election following the expiration of that term.

Analysts have called his decision to step back for a term a “shrewd political move” – as Ecuador currently faces a number of economic issues. Ecuador has had to cut back on spending and increase taxes in recent months due to a fall in oil prices.

Other constitutional measures passed during the vote included the declaration of communications as a public service, the removal of collective bargaining for public employees, and putting the military in charge of domestic security.

 

For more information, please see:

Fusion – Ecuador’s president will take a short break, but don’t worry – he could return as president for life – 19 November 2015

Daily Mail – Ecuador lawmakers vote to end presidential term limit – 3 December 2015

Herald-Whig – Protesters clash with Ecuador cops ahead of term limit vote – 3 December 2015 

New York Times – Ecuador Lawmakers Vote to End Presidential Term Limit – 3 December 2015

TeleSur – Constitutional Amendments Approved in Ecuador – 3 December 2015

TeleSur – Ecuador’s Opposition Responds with Violence – 3 December 2015

TeleSur – UPDATE: Ecuador Lawmakers Debate Constitutional Reforms – 3 December 2015