Maklala

During a meeting Monday of the Permanent Conference of Latin American and Caribbean Political Parties (Copppal) Salvadoran President Mauricio Funes proposed the formation of a hemispheric early response system to allow the Organization of American States (OAS) to prevent coups in the region and to establish criminal sanctions for those who interrupt institutional democracy.

Funes offered up the June 2009 coup in Honduras as evidence of the weaknesses of the current Democratic Charter of the OAS. He said the coup could have been avoided if a preventive, early alert system were in place.

“The OAS and its member states should intervene at the opportune moment to avoid the germination of a military coup or any other situation that could translate into ungovernability and destabilization,” Funes said. He added that the system must “not only prevent military coups, but any other situation that generates instability and pushes a country towards a rupture in ... Continue Reading

Many critics of both legal and illegal Mexican immigration label these Mexicans more as invaders rather than as immigrants with a cause. They forget or ignore that these people are looking for a better future not just for themselves but for their family as well. The term “American dream” has been applied to the immigrant’s cause, feeding the misperception that immigrants dream about coming to America and further supporting the idea of the “Mexican invasion of America.” However, “the immigrant’s dreams reside in his home country. If he migrates it is out of necessity” (Chavez). Betrayed by the country that they call home, immigrants leave behind all they know and love to search for a future elsewhere. My father, Jesus Chavez, like most Mexican immigrants in the United States, left his country out of economic necessity. Although America provides the resources for the economic improvement of those who seek it, ... Continue Reading

Eleven Latin American countries that petitioned the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for permission to file friend-of-the-court brief will be heard in Arizona governor's appeal of a ruling that puts portions of her state's new immigration law on hold.

Detractors of the decision claim that the unprecedented decision allows foreign concerns to have a voice in domestic legal matters opening the U.S. to further suits and reducing the national sovereignty of the United States.

The Latin American countries say that they have a right to be heard in the case as the matter affects relations between the United States and their country.

The purpose of an amicus curiae (friend-of-the-court brief) is to point out to the court laws that are in doubt, to provide information, or to raise awareness about some aspect of the case that the court might otherwise miss. The court is NOT obligated to follow or ... Continue Reading

In a blatant disregard for economic development and signifying what possibly may be a huge disconnect with the people and businesses of Belize, Prime Minister Barrow, if the reports of the Amandala newspaper is to be believed, has stated that “Belizeans would be amenable to keeping VOIP blocked if they know they will share in profits.”

The case for the ending of the telecom monopoly in Belize has been made so often that the Government cannot feign ignorance. The stronghold that BTL has enjoyed over the country has enriched shareholders most of whom are foreigners. These dividends have exited the country in suitcases at the expense of the citizens who are subjected to phone services that are one of the highest in the world relative to income. Ending the monopoly will allow telecom services based on VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) technology such as those offered by Skype or GoogleVoice ... Continue Reading

The “successes” that we continue to hear about on the “war on drugs” like this article in the L.A. Times has served merely as justification for the billions that have been diverted to Columbia. However, the billions have done nothing but caused the shifting of the problem from Columbia to other regions such as Mexico and Central America. The concept of eradication through military force, or in the case of Columbia through bribery of drug dealers and mercenaries, is not working as is evident by the increase in drug trafficking in Mexico and Central America.

At a meeting at the United Nations this week Latin American leaders, recognizing that the problem is merely shifting, called for cohesive global policies and increased aid to help combat the problem (Helen Poppers has a brief report on this in Reuters on 25-09-2012). What they are asking for is merely the depositing ... Continue Reading