By Brendan Oliver Bergh
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

CARACAS, Venezuela – Hugo Chavez’s handpicked legacy has a lot of work in front of him. As Nicholas Maduro was sworn in earlier this week he already faces immense hardships. Maduro is inheriting food and medical shortages, chronic power outages, one of the world’s highest homicide rates, potential electoral fraud and a constituency that doesn’t respect him.

After Chavez’s death, Hugo seemed like the obvious choice. Vice President and acting President Maduro was poised to retake the presidency as emergency elections were instated. However Maduro lacked the pure charisma that Chavez used to unite the country behind, and many thought he would face problems getting voters back in the booth. Gaffes, and accusations were levied at him by opposition aimed to discredit him and build the base of opposition candidate Henrique Capriles.

A former bus driver, without a college degree, the most telling story that arose from Venezuelan media, was the “very small bird” who gave him his blessing to become President. Maduro told newspapers, that after Chavez’s death a bird in Barinas communicated to him via whistling the spirit of Hugo Chavez, giving him the drive to be President.

Spirituality aside, Maduro was not able to ignite the fire in the voters as Chavez was. Unlike 60+% Win by Chavez over Capriles, Maduro officially beat Capriles by 200,000 votes, or less than 2 percent. Even before the voting had been tallied, many were calling foul play. Stories arose of uncounted votes, ballot boxes thrown in ditches and strong arming from local motorcycle gangs of “Chavistas” or supporters of Chavez.

In order to appease the frantic the dissidents within the country, an audit of the electoral process was demanded and agreed to before Maduro was sworn in, a process that would take approximately a month to complete. Opposition candidate believes there is enough evidence due to the ballot irregularities to believe he has won the election.

The audit was demanded by Capriles, backed by the United States, and urged on by Brazil and the Union of Southern American Countries, insisting that Maduro’s legacy is not shadowed by doubt. The accuracy of the audit however is another issue; many doubt whether it will produce a fair outcome considering Venezuela’s shaky past. In Chavez’ decade and a half reign, individuals were stripped of their right to free speech and due process, lowered the reach of the judiciary, and helped eliminate independent media sources.

For more information, please see:

Wall Street Journal – Latin Leaders Abandon Democracy In Venezuela – 21 April 2013

BBC – Venezuela Election Official Plays Down Vote Audit – 20 April 2013

Fox News Latino – Venezuela’s Maduro Endures Rough Inauguration Day – 20 April 2013

Huffington Post – Nicolas Maduro Assures Hugo Chavez Appeared To Him As A ‘Little Bird’ To Bless Him (VIDEO) – 3 April 2013

By Pearl Rimon
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

 BOGOTA, Colombia – There is an upcoming demonstration scheduled in London from people in Colombia, Mongolia, South Africa and the United States against the largest mining companies. The mining companies are accused of polluting the environment, affecting people’s health and forcing communities to migrate due to their operations.

The owners of Cerrejón, a coal mine in northern Colombia, are accused of devastating the health of about 13,000 people who live near the mine.

Julio Gomez, the president of Fecodemigua (Federation of Communities Displaced by Mining in La Guajira) said,”We have had to suffer the impacts of opencast coal mining for over 25 years now. Our communities have been gradually and systematically asphyxiated by the contamination caused by coal mining, our societies [have been] fractured.”

The mine has been opened since 1985 and plans on increasing its production by 25% in three years. Britain has increased imports of Colombian coal by 48%. The mine is the largest in South America. The mine has gone through labor disputes, complaints of management, pollution, and for failure to compensate communities that have been affected by its operations. The mine was shut down by a strike for 32 days this year. Mine workers suffered from back problems and respiratory infections.

“The health of everyone in La Guajira within 5km of the area of mining and transport of coal is being severely affected: studies [show] the constant exposure to coal dust is clearly linked to the increase in illnesses,” said Gomez.

The owners of Cerrejón, Anglo American, have been accused of destroying communities due to expansion. Five villages have been displaced due to the mine’s operations. The affected communities mostly include those of the Wayuu people. The Wayuu have lived in the area before the Spanish conquest. The Wayuu have been forced to resettle to other villages. The indigenous Afro-Colombian people have also been displaced due to the mine. The people that did not relocate suffer from polluted soil, which prevents them from growing their crops.

An Anglo American spokesman said, “Anglo American works tirelessly to ensure we observe the highest international standards, whether relating to human rights, environmental sensitivities and social issues, both in our wholly owned and jointly owned operations.”

Critics of Anglo American advocate for the displaced people and miners who try to stop the rapidly expanding mining industry and demand better conditions for the people who live in the surrounding areas.

For further information, please see:

Guardian — Colombian miners hit out at Anglo American – 15 April 13

El Heraldo — Corpoguajira opens investigation against Cerrejón – 12 April 13

El Herlado — Cerrejon says that manages protection for threatened members Sintracarbón – 9 April 13

New Internationalist — Bringing Colombian coal mining back home to London – 9 April 13

 

By Brendan Oliver Bergh
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – After faithfully serving the catholic church for 30 years as a priest, Nicolas Alessio was cast from the church, and expelled from the ministry. With the media ablaze with stories of catholic corruption, sex abuse and ineffectual leadership many might come to the wrong conclusion for Alessio’s expulsion. In reality he was expelled for speaking in favor of gay and equal marriage when the issue came to a vote in Argentina.

When Argentina became the first Latin American country to legalize same-sex marriage in 2010, there was considerable outrage from many organizations. Chief among them was the Catholic Church which has maintained its staunch disagreement and criticism of the homosexual lifestyle. Among the chief insults to the Catholic Church, Alessio was determined to have made and was actively supporting gay marriage, and when it became legalized, marrying and divorcing same-sex couples.

Documents released earlier this week indicated that Alessio was punished “by dismissal from the clerical state, through the Congregation for the Clergy,” and as thus has lost “the clerical state’s own rights and remains excluded from the whole exercise of the sacred ministry.” The Archbishop of Cordoba, Monsignor Carlos Jise Nanez apparently reported that the canonical ecclesiastical court was brought forth due to Alessio’s public statements made in favor of same-sex marriage.

Unfortunately for Alessio, his conviction is not subject to any appeal. During the course of the trial, Alessio was forbidden from publicly exercising his position as a priest, and not allowed to publicly celebrate mass, or administer sacraments to the congregation. At the canonical trial Alessio did not exercise a defense, as he believed that trial itself was without foundation, and to do so would effectively endorse their actions.

Despite being officially ostracized by the church for exercising his freedom of speech and expression, Alessio has refused to stop his work. “Over 30 years serving the people of God did not mean anything to the Catholic Church. It was enough to opine different Archbishopric getting fired. I personally do not affect me at all, because I will continue sharing the sacraments as heretofore. The faithful do not care about these official decisions.“

With Uruguay becoming the second south American country to legalize same-sex marriage, the catholic church may need to readjust their stance and position on the subject. Alessio has indicated, that despite being excised from the priesthood, he will continue to do the job of a priest, “I will have to admit they can not erase what I am: a priest.”

For more information, please see:

El Puercoespin – Argentina: The Priest Who Made The Option For Gays, Politics And His Own Son, John D’Alessandro – 13 April 2013

Info Catolica – Nicolas Alessio Ha Sido Penado Con La Dimision De Estado Clerical – 13 April 2013

La Arena – A Nicolas Alessio Took Away The Cure Condition For Demonstrating In Favor Of Equal Marriage – 12 April 2013

Aica – El Vaticano Pena Con Dimision Del Estado Clerical A Jose Nicolas Alessio – 12 April 2013

Clarin – The Vatican Began To Cure Cordoba Who Supported Gay Marriage – 12 April 2013

By Brendan Oliver Bergh
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay – With an overwhelming majority of vote of support Uruguay’s Congress passed a bill effectively legislating same-sex marriage within the Latin American country. And as bill passed the house with a vote of 71 out of 92, it was not with a whisper, but with thunderous applause as groups celebrating the historic decision. When President Jose Mujica, and the upper house signs – as they are expected too – and ratifies the bill, Uruguay will be the 12^th country and second in South America to pass binding legislation.

While civil unions have been approved in Uruguay since 2008, advocates have indicated that “marriage embodies a much broader [institution]” compared to civil unions. The bill contains language similar to that of the bill that legalized same-sex marriage in Argentina in 2010. In Article 1 of the bill, marriage will be defined as “the union of two parties, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation in the same terms, with the same effects and ways of solutions sets to present the civil code.”

Criticism for same-sex marriage, the bill, and the homosexual lifestyle has come from groups aligned with the Roman Catholic Church and other similar Christian organizations which claim that it would endanger the sacred institution of family, and the family unit. Many, including lawmakers openly oppose the bill as it would “distort and change the nature of the institution of marriage.” Among the critics are Congressman Pablo Iturralde, who argued that the bill modified the legal framework of heterosexual marriage. Rather than regulating the framework for gay marriage, the congress has altered every fabric of straight and gay marriage.

Proponents have been vehement in their support, as LGBT organizations have begun celebrating, and homosexual couples have begun rejoicing with their future, which no longer regulates them as secondary class citizens. While the legislative recognition of same-sex marriage will not guarantee the removal of any social discrimination there are indications that public policies will be aimed at changing the cultural society necessary to achieve equality within society.

Fernando Amado, lawmaker within the Congress, boiled the argument down to family and love. “I agree that family is the basis of society but also believe that love is the basis of family. And love is neither homosexual nor heterosexual.

For more information, please see:

Telam – To Rachid, Equal Marriage In Uruguay “Reinforces A Commitment To Inclusion” – 11 April 2013

Yahoo – Uruguay Approves Gay Marriage, Second In Region To Do So – 11 April 2013

BBC – Uruguay Congress Votes To Legalise Gay Marriage – 11 April 2013

Telam – The Equal Marriage Law Was Enacted In Uruguay – 10 April 2013

The Guardian – Uruguay Legalises Same-Sex Marriage – 10 April 2013

 

 

By Pearl Rimon
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

 SANTIAGO, Chile – Chile’s Foreign Minister Alfredo Moreno met with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez in Havana. Conservative groups hope the talks cover the extradition of fugitives suspected of killing Senator Jaime Guzmán in 1991.

However, it is reported that Moreno will meet privately with Rodríguez about the Guzmán case.

Guzmán founded the conservative Independent Democratic Union (UDI) party in 1983. He was also an advisor to General Augusto Pinochet and co-authored the country’s 1980 constitution.

 Moreno and Rodríguez will meet with Costa Rica’s Foreign Minister, Enrique Castillo, the three together form the Community of Latin American and Caribbean states (CELAC) to discuss agreements reached in January during a conference in Santiago.

During the January CELAC conference, Cuban President Raúl Casto, promised President Sebastián Piñera his cooperation in locating the people who took part in the assassination plot. Piñera presented a UDI report that discussed that the alleged criminals are residing in Cuba.

The UDI received renewed impetus due to April 1^st, being the 22^nd anniversary of the senator’s assassination. He was assassinated by members of the Manuel Rodriguez Patriotic Front (FPMR).

UDI president, Patricio Melero, spoke at a memorial event for the slain senator. He said he hoped the diplomatic efforts would “…[P]ut an end to two decades of impunity and restore the dignity of Jaime Guzmán as a person, a politician and a good man.”

“We owe it not only to the memory of Jaime Guzmán but to all Chileans who believe in justice to continue pressuring national and international institutions to complete their role in facilitating the just conviction of those who planned and perpetrated his assassination, all of whom are today at liberty; this is the greatest injustice of all,” Melero said.

Groups like the FPMR credit Guzmán for some of the human rights abuses during the Pinochet dictatorship. The FPMR describes him as “one of the principal intellectual authors and ideologues of the (1973) military coup and subsequent genocide,” who “despite attempts to portray him as a saint, was always behind criminal acts enacted against the people.”

The only people to have been convicted for Guzmán’s murder were rescued in a dramatic prison escape via helicopter, which was planned by the FPMR in 1996.

A memorial for Guzmán was held on April 1, the 22^nd anniversary of his death. PResidiental candidate Laurence Golborne, Interior Minister Andrés Chadwick, and UDI President Melero were in attendance.

 

For more information, please see:

Radio Cadena Agramonte — FMs of Cuba and Chile Hold Talks in Havana – 06 April 13

Santiago Times — Chilean Right seeks extradition for Guzmán killers – 03 April 13

Latercera — Jaime Guzman, ideals and leadership – 01 April 13

Santiago Times — Chilean conservatives commemorate assassinated Senator Jaime Guzmán – 01 April 13