Latin America

17 June 2008 -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has held talks with former Cuban President Fidel Castro in Havana for what Cuba's state-run media have described as an "animated and warm" meeting. No photos or videos of the meeting were made public.

The Communist Party newspaper, Granma, reported Tuesday that Mr. Chavez and Mr. Castro met for three hours Monday to discuss the world's food, energy and financial crises. Mr. Chavez last traveled to Cuba in March.

President Chavez said Monday that Mr. Castro is "alive and well, thinking, writing and dictating important strategies for Cuba and Latin America. Mr. Chavez also was quoted by the French news agency as saying Mr. Castro's younger brother, Raul Castro, is "at the helm" of the Cuban revolution.    » read more »

30 May 2008 -- Brazilian officials say they have located and photographed one of the country's last uncontacted tribes in the remote western Amazon jungle near the border with Peru.

Of the more than 100 uncontacted tribes in the world, more than half live in the Brazil-Peru area.

Jose Carlos Meirelles from the Brazilian National Indian Foundation said the tribe is threatened by illegal logging which is encroaching on their territory and could force them off their land.

He says they have been monitoring four distinct groups in the area for the past 20 years

Advocates for indian tribes are calling on countries to enforce international law in an effort to protect the people's habitat.

Source: VOA News

05/29/2008 -- The proposed acquisition of National Beef Packing Company and Smithfield Beef Group by Brazilian meat company JBS could have implications for Oklahoma cattle producers, OKlahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson said today.

Oklahoma cattle: Photo by Wade (CC)

In a letter to U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey, Edmondson said by taking over National Beef and Smithfield, JBS will become the largest beef processor in the nation and the new company could have a significant impact on the feedlot segment of the beef industry.    » read more »

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson Announces Results from Border Governor Meetings with Mexican President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa

May 29, 2008 -- SANTA FE – New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson reported results from the Border Governor’s meetings with Mexican President Calderón Hinojosa and Mexican federal authorities today. Governor Richardson also met privately with the Mexican President.

US-Mexico border fence, Tijuana: Photo by Nathan Gibbs (CC)    » read more »

May 23, 2008 -- Mr. Mario Garza, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) resident representative in Honduras, issued the following statement yesterday in Tegucigalpa:

"The IMF mission that visited Honduras during May 13-21, 2008 discussed policy responses to the weakening external conditions in the context of the Government's program supported by the Stand-By arrangement with the IMF. The mission held policy meetings with the economic cabinet, congress, the state electricity company (ENEE), and the private sector.    » read more »

25 May 2008 -- Leaders of Colombia's most powerful rebel group have confirmed the death of longtime guerrilla leader Manuel Marulanda.

A top official for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia appeared in a video aired on Venezuelan television Sunday, confirming the death of the 78-year-old leader. He said the group's maximum leader had suffered a heart attack in March, saying he died "in the arms of his partner." He said Alfonso Cano would take over the top spot from Marulanda.

Colombia's military had called on rebels late Saturday to confirm or deny intelligence reports suggesting that Marulanda was dead.    » read more »

Will stress need for direct diplomacy, call for regional energy partnership and security initiative, development assistance to promote bottom-up growth in the hemisphere

Miami, FL -- May 23, 2008 -- MIAMI, FL - Senator Barack Obama today will lay out his comprehensive Latin America policy, rejecting the Bush-McCain approach that has neglected the Americas and failed to adapt to the realities of our changing world. Speaking at the Cuban American National Foundation Luncheon, Obama will outline his plans to forge a new regional approach to combat insecurity and aggressively promote economic opportunity through new trade, aid and energy policies.    » read more »

May 21, 2008 -- “I am honored to join local, state and national leaders, as well as members of the Cuban community in Florida and throughout the nation, as they stand in solidarity with those unjustly imprisoned on the island of Cuba.

“For nearly half a century, the government of Cuba has denied its people access to the most fundamental, God-given liberties, blatantly ignored human rights violations and repressed opposition voices.

A prisoner at the Bush administration's Guantanamo Bay, Cuba detention facility: Photo by Habacuc (CC)    » read more »

05/21/2008 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today released the following statement regarding the "Day of Solidarity with the Cuban People:"

"No person anywhere in the world should be persecuted or imprisoned for their political beliefs. Whether it be injustices taking place in Cuba or anywhere else around the globe, it is important to shine a spotlight on such situations so we can learn from them and work to bring about change that not only includes, but requires, political freedom."

Source: California Governor

21 May 2008 -- In Mexico, President Felipe Calderon continues his fight against powerful drug cartels as the death count mounts. More than 1,300 people have died this year in Mexico in violence connected to the illicit drug trade. In recent weeks some high-ranking police officials have been targets of drug gangs, leading some analysts to wonder whether the Mexican government or the criminal gangs will win the fight.

Mexican police: Photo by Ese Oso/Chris (CC)    » read more »

May 20, 2008 -- Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement in commemoration of Cuban Independence Day:

"Today Democrats join Cuban Americans and the Cuban people in commemoration of Cuba's independence from Spain more than 100 years ago. More than 11 million Cubans live under the tyranny of the Castro brothers' regime today, denied their rightful place among the democratic nations of our hemisphere. The Democratic Party remains committed to supporting the brave dissidents who struggle for freedom every single day, and who have put their lives on the line so that someday soon, their children and grandchildren can enjoy the liberties every human being deserves."

Source: DNC

U.S. Policy Must Reflect “New Reality” in Region

May 14, 2008 -- "Latin America is not Washington's to lose; nor is it Washington's to save," finds a CFR-sponsored Independent Task Force. "U.S. policy can no longer be based on the assumption that the United States is the most important outside actor in Latin America. If there was an era of U.S. hegemony in Latin America, it is over," the Task Force concludes. However, "Washington's basic policy framework, however, has not changed sufficiently to reflect the new reality."    » read more »

Members of Congress, Colombian And U.S. Unions Pledge Continued Opposition To Pending Trade Deal

May 14, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Seven leaders from the largest Colombian unions joined members of Congress and U.S. labor leaders for a news conference on Capitol Hill today to pledge their continued opposition to the pending U.S. – Colombian Free Trade Agreement, despite continued lobbying by the Bush administration and the Colombian government.

Colombia FTA protesters: Photo by b.wu (CC)    » read more »

12 May 2008 -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has accused neighboring Colombia of trying to provoke a war in order to justify a U.S. intervention in Venezuela.

President Chavez made the accusation Sunday during his weekly radio broadcast.

Hugo Chavez: Photo by Bernardo Londoy (CC)

Both Colombia and the United States have dismissed similar statements by Mr. Chavez.

The remarks came days after U.S. intelligence sources said that documents seized by Colombian forces during a raid on FARC, Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia rebels in Ecuador showed Venezuela had deeper ties with the rebels than previously thought.    » read more »

May 8, 2008 -- SANTA FE – New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and New Mexico Agriculture Secretary Miley Gonzalez announced that Mexico has reopened its border to U.S. cattle, paving the way for a cattle crossing Wednesday evening at Santa Teresa. This is the first cattle export to Mexico since many countries banned U.S. beef and beef products in 2003 as a result of Mad Cow Disease in the Pacific Northwest.

New Mexico cattle ranch: Photo by katiew (CC)    » read more »