By Delisa Morris

Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BRASÍLIA, Brazil– Shortly after midnight on Sunday in Indonesia a Brazilian drug smuggler was executed by firing squad. The execution was performed against the pleas of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, and human rights group Amnesty International.

Marco Archer Cardoso Moreira , 53, was arrested in Indonesia in 2003, after police at Jakarta airport found 13.4 kg of cocaine hidden in his hang glider.

Moreira was the first Brazilian national to be executed abroad. The nation warned that the execution would damage relations between the two countries.

Five other convicts from Indonesia, Malawi, Nigeria, Vietnam and the Netherlands, were executed on Sunday. Each one convicted on drug charges.

The prisoners faced a firing squad in Central Java province: five were executed on the island of Nusa Kambangan and the other one, a Vietnamese woman, was executed in the small central Javanese town of Boyolali.

In a statement President Rousseff said that she was “outraged and dismayed”. “Relations between the two countries have been affected” continued President Rousseff.

“The Brazilian ambassador to Jakarta has been recalled for consultations,” she added.

Brazil is not the only country outraged by Indonesia’s actions, The Netherlands has taken action of its own and also recalled its ambassador. Foreign Minister Bert Koenders called the execution of Dutch citizen Ang Kiem Soe, 52, “an unacceptable denial of human dignity and integrity”.

Indonesia is tough on criminals convicted of drug crimes, with some of the world’s toughest drug laws. The country resumed executions in 2013 after an unofficial four-year moratorium.

The country’s Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo said “hopefully, this will have a deterrent effect”.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has previously stated that he will show no mercy to drug criminals, because they have ruined the lives of so many others.

President Widodo rejected a plea for clemency from President Rousseff on Friday. President Rousseff told President Widodo that she respected the sovereignty and judicial system of his country but as a mother and head of state she was making the appeal for humanitarian reasons.

Apparently, President Widodo stated that he understood the Brazilian president’s concern but said he could not commute the sentence as the full legal process had been followed.

Moreira said in a video recorded by a friend that he regretted trying to smuggle cocaine into Indonesia.

“I am aware that I committed a serious offence, but I believe I deserve another chance. Everyone makes mistakes.”

Brazil abolished the death penalty in times of peace in 1889.

 

For more information, please see:

the guardian – Brazil and Netherlands recall Indonesia ambassadors over drug executions  – 18 Jan. 2015

BBC News – Brazil ‘outraged’ by Indonesia drug trafficking execution – 17 Jan. 2015

The Wall Street Journal – Brazil Says Indonesia Rejected Clemency for Brazilian Drug Smuggler  – 16 Jan. 2015

Bloomberg – Indonesian Execution of Brazilian Triggers Ambassador Recall – 17 Jan. 2015

By Delisa Morris

Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombia’s former spy chief can no longer count on the protection of the Panamanian government after its decision to not grant asylum to the disgraced former official.  Maria del Pilar Hurtado is accused of spying against presumed political enemies of former President Alvaro Uribe.

 

The director of Panama’s refugee agency told local newspaper La Prensa that Hurtado, the former director of the now-defunct Colombian intelligence agency DAS, had filed a second request for political asylum late last year, and that this request had been denied by the Panamanian government.

Hurtado fled Colombia in 2010 before being charged for multiple alleged crimes after judicial investigators found out that the DAS had carried out illegal spying operations against the Supreme Court, politicians, journalists and human rights workers.

Hurtado was one of numerous top officials, including Uribe’s former chief of staff, who were charged with abuse of power, conspiracy, the illegal use of communications equipment and fraud.

Hurtado was initially granted asylum by the administration of former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli, reportedly a personal friend of Uribe.

However, the decision to grant asylum was nullified in June last year by the country’s Supreme Court.  The Supreme Court ruled that the then-administration had violated the constitution in granting political asylum.

Facing the possibility of standing trial in Colombia after deportation, Del Pilar Hurtado married a Colombian resident of Panama while her attorney prepared a renewed request for political asylum.

Meanwhile in Colombia, prosecutors called on the Supreme Court to come to a conviction of the former intelligence chief, who could be sent to prison for as many as 15 years.

According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, there is “no doubt” that Hurtado was involved in the illegal operations carried out by her agency which reported directly to the President’s Office.

Uribe and his political allies have consistently claimed that Hurtado and former chief of staff Bernardo Moreno are not the perpetrators, but the victims of political persecution.

For more information, please see:

Colombia Reports – Panama denies refugee status to Colombia’s fugitive former spy chief – 13 Jan. 2015

Caracol Radio – Panamá negó solicitud de refugio a María del Pilar Hurtado – 14 Jan. 2015

Telesur – Panama Rejects Colombian Ex Intelligence Chief Asylum Request – 13 Jan. 2015

La Estrella de Panama – Panama rechaza el estatus de refugiada a Maria del Pilar Hurtado – 12 Jan. 2015

 

by Mridula Tirumalasetti

Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BOGOTA, Colombia–A bull brutally killed during a popular festival in a city in northern Colombia has re-sparked the debate over bullfighting, indignation, and traditions of animal cruelty in the South American country. The capital, Bogota has banned bullfighting, however the event is still popular in other cities around the country, such as in the town of Turbaco in the Bolivar province, where this particular incident took place.

Corralejas, or bullfighting events, allow the general public to fight the bull inside the ring. The Mayor of Turbaco, Myron Martinez, defended the corraleja, calling it a local tradition. He said, “In ‘corraleja’ festivals there are always injuries, there are always animals beaten and horses killed. These are the kinds of incidents that form part of the traditions and customs of such festivals.”

Many others have criticized the event. Animal rights activists and a few government officials have demanded that legal action be taken after a video was uploaded to the internet in which a bull was chased and harassed by at least 20 people during the corraleja. The bull was then killed with machetes, rocks, knives, and kicks. “I have to say it is totally barbaric, where people with sticks, stones, and knives, and with utter cruelty, kill the bull,” said Environment Minister Gabriel Vallejo. Spokesman Andrea Padilla of the NGO AnimaNaturalis International argued that the video should be seen all over the world to raise awareness of animal cruelty. Padilla said what happened in Turbaco “should be condemned by all Colombian and the international community, because this is horror and violence at its very worst, with the consent of local authorities.”

The Ministry of Culture also gave a statement that called for severe punishments for those who committed these “barbaric” acts. They have further demanded that there should be a public debate about whether such events should even be allowed to go on. Jorge Otarola, a public defender, called the images “Dante-esque, painful and inhumane.” He spoke to The Associated Press and said, “The state’s intervention is needed because, even though traditions should be respected, they must be updated to reduce the suffering of animals.”

The Colombian Attorney General’s Office issued a statement where they said an investigation will be opened that could result in criminal charges filed against Mayor Martinez and Julio Quintana, who was the organizer of the corraleja.

For more information, please see:

The Latin American Herald Tribune–Bull Beaten to Death by 20 Colombians Angers Colombians–5 January 2015

The Guardian–Horrific scenes as bull stabbed and beaten to death at Colombian festival— 5 January 2015

GlobalPost–Bull beaten to death by 20 people angers Colombians–5 January 2015

Fox News–Brutal killing of bull in popular festival sparks outrage in Colombia–5 January 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.

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

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.

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