Hemispheric Social Alliance Bulletin November 11, 2008
5. Decriminalization of abortion moves forward in Uruguay 6. Repsol-YPF is expelled from Ecuador and ENEL brings a demand against El Salvador 7. The institutional crisis in Colombia remains tense after revelations about extrajudicial executions 8. The Bolivian government accuses the DEA of human rights violations in Bolivia 9. The Congress of Argentina will vote on November 13th about nationalizing private pension funds 10. Popular and Social Front in Paraguay succeeds in creating the Agrarian Reform Council
1. Governments and social movements in the continent have high expectations after the election of Barack Obama as the new President of the United States.
More than a week after elections in the United States, the victory of the African-American Barack Obama continues to generate reactions and questions about the future of the U.S. and its foreign policies. The progressive presidents of Latin America are optimistic about the results, Cuba continues to be skeptical en relation to a change in the ‘establishment' and the neoliberal governments focus their expectations on the FTAs. International analysts have analyzed the political, cultural and symbolic aspects of the election of Barack Obama.
Many social movements consider this moment to be an opportunity to strengthen their struggles for economic, social, cultural and human rights in the continent. The Indigenous Confederation Eagle and Condor have made reference to a new time and the virtual community http://avaaz.org. is inviting people to send a million messages to the president elect about themes like the war in Iraq, the Guantanamo Prison and climate change.
More information (in Spanish):
.Reacciones de mandatarios: http://www.cope.es/05-11-08--chavez_felicita_obama_cuba_se_duda_que_traiga_cambio,18484,noticia_ampliada
.Análisis:
¿Quién es realmente Barack Obama? por Le Monde Diplomatique: http://rebelion.org/noticia.php?id=75440
Raúl Zibechi sobre Obama: http://alainet.org/active/27295
.Reacciones de la Sociedad Civil:
Un millón de mensajes para Obama: http://www.avaaz.org/es/million_messages_to_obama/
2. Message from U.S. Indigenous leaders regarding the U.S. election
Abya Yala: Message to the Americas
Abya Yala
Continental Confederation of the Eagle and the Condor
"This sun has ended, the new one has begun."
Now the call for change comes at the threshold of a new administration in Washington that is historic for not being defined by the dehumanizing memes of caste and the historical trajectory of Manifest Destiny of the European American colonization on North America. The scars still bleed.
Now is the time for the realization of Integrity, integrating justice and digntity along with all of our fellow "Americans" of this continent Abya Yala a new hemispheric policy of Self Determination and Reciprocity with Respect for the Rights of the Nations of the Indigenous Peoples at a continental level, transcribed in the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples which was adopted by the UN General Assembly on September 13th, 2007. The time has come to not only change but TRANSFORM our collective continental society of the Americas, breaking the chains of centuries of European-American racism and colonization, expropriation and exploitation by finally and for the first time arriving and discovering the ancient hearth of our global humanity here in the New World: a world under assault since the beginnings of World War One: October the 12th, 1492.
This war, the war against the Nations of Indigenous Peoples of Abya Yala, must also be brought to an end. Can this be the dream of the Americas, as it is the Destiny of Humanity?
Self Respect, Self Sacrifice, and Self Determination: Abya Yala.
NAHUACALLI
Embassy of the Indigenous Peoples
PO Box 24009 Phoenix, AZ 85074
Tel: (602) 254-5230 Email: chantlaca@tonatierra.org
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/declaration.html
3. Social organizations around the world protest in response to the upcoming G-20 Summit in Washington D.C.
Because of the initiative of Jubilee South and other organizations, thousands of organizations around the world have come together to carry out protest actions on November 15th, when the presidents of the G-20 countries meet in Washington DC to analyze the financial crisis. The purpose of this meeting, which was convened by the U.S., is for the governments of these countries to look for solutions to the crisis within the same neoliberal framework while excluding the rest of humanity from this debate.
The HSA has joined this initiative, as well as our member organizations, and we have called for a mobilization in Quito, Ecuador, given the sensitivity of this government to the issue of debt and its position on the financial crisis during the recent Iberoamerican Summit.
This is the text of the pronouncement:
We call on all popular movements, organizations, coalitions and networks throughout the world to organize mobilizations and citizens' actions on November 15th.
The U.S. President, George Bush, together with the other leaders of the G8 has called a summit of the leaders of the 20 largest countries in the world for November 15th, to respond to the international financial crisis.
This summit fails in the most fundamental issues. It excludes many countries, whose citizens will also suffer the impacts of the crisis, and provides no space for inputs from citizens groups, social movements, popular organizations or other expressions of civil society.
The rapid and massive response from the governments of the rich countries to rescue the banks and financial institutions stands in stark contrast to their failure to respond in any decisive way to the unresolved problems of poverty, marginalization and unmet needs which have so negatively impacted the majority of the people of the world for so long. In just a few weeks, these leaders committed more than $1,000 billion of public monies to rescue private banks and private financial institutions. Twelve years of "debt alleviation" generated only $100 billion for debt cancellation, which implied a huge cost for the "beneficiaries", who were required to carry out free market neoliberal policies as a pre-condition.
4. The scheduled EU- CAN meeting in Brussels on the Association Agreement is cancelled
From information received through foreign ministers of Andean countries, the meeting which had been scheduled for November 11th, where ongoing discussions were to be held in continuation of the ongoing negotiations for the Association Agreement between the Andean Community of Nations and the European Union due to the inability of CAN countries to come to agreement among themselves.
In spite of the fact that during the meeting in Guayaquil on October 14th, the presidents had demonstrated their interest in looking for a formula for continuing the negotiation as a block, the Colombian government sent a letter to the president of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, insisting on the interest of the Colombian government in negotiating bilaterally. This is the second time that the Uribe government has distanced itself from the CAN asking for bilateral negotiations; previously the governments of Peru and Colombia had sent a similar letter to the European Commission.
In this second letter, the Colombian government reiterates that the principal aspect of the negotiation is commercial, that the themes of political dialogue and cooperation were included in the agreement of 2003. Due to the lack of follow through in previous agreements, and the impossibility of coming to an agreement that reflects the positions of the countries, the foreign ministers of the CAN countries made the decision to postpone the meeting with the EU.
More information (in Spanish):
http://www.elcomercio.com/noticiaEC.asp?id_noticia=235598&id_seccion=6h
http://senderodelpeje.com/sdp/contenido/2008/11/11/72537
5. Decriminalization of abortion moves forward in Uruguay
Last week the Lower House in the Uruguayan parliament approved, in a vote of 49 to 48, a bill to decriminalize abortion, but now it must return to the Senate, because one of its articles was rejected by the House. The bill has generated intense debate within the Church, which has threatened to excommunicate any Congress people who vote in favor of the law and members of the women's movements. El President Tabare Vasquez has declared that he is against the initiative. The women who are organized in the National Commission and Women for Democracy, Equality and Citizenship have led this movement in favor of decriminalization.
More information (in English):
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=44663
More information (in Spanish):
Debate: http://www.univision.com/contentroot/wirefeeds/noticias/7645183.html
Dossier CNS: http://www.chasque.net/frontpage/comision/dossieraborto/aborto.htm
6. Repsol-YPF is expelled from Ecuador and ENEL brings a demand against El Salvador
The Ecuadoran President, Rafael Correa ratified that the Spanish-Argentine oil company, Repsol-YPF must "leave Ecuador" and he considered attempts by company representatives to reach an agreement "too late". The President wants "the transnational companies to understand that: the banana republic has ended... Here, the country will set the conditions, not them." He reiterated that "Repsol is leaving the country" and the government will transfer the exploration areas which Repsol has been administering to "one of the many companies which are anxious to invest in the country."
At the same time, the Italian company Enel, a partner with the Salvadoran government in the generation of thermal energy LaGeo has sued the Salvadoran State for $120 million against for not permitting them to be the majority partner, which (according to the company) should be the case because of the amount they have invested, and what the contract establishes. The demand was filed with the International Chamber of Commerce, which has its headquarters in Paris.
More information (in Spanish):
http://www.elcomercio.com/noticiaEC.asp?id_noticia=233402&id_seccion=3
Noticia completa Enel:
http://www.unionradio.com.ve/Noticias/Noticia.aspx?noticiaid=260180
7. The institutional crisis in Colombia remains tense because of the revelations about extrajudicial executions
The case of the young people in Soacha who were murdered by the military has rippled around the world, and has resulted in the firing of 27 military people as well as the commander of the Colombian Army. It has generated a wave of similar accusations all over the country, while the U.S. has announced it is withholding military aid from the units implicated in these crimes. At the same time, the Indigenous mobilization has been going on for a full month, with the decision to march to Bogota. There are more than 1200 organizations, organized under 4 platforms and they are preparing an alternative report to the Periodic Universal Examination of Colombia, which will be presented during the Session of the Council of Human Rights of the United Nations, on December 10th.
More information (in Spanish):
Suspensión ayuda militar:
http://www.cmi.com.co/Contenido/Noticia.asp?nota=21386&seccion=8
Minga Indígena: http://www.eltiempo.com/colombia/occidente/minga-indigena-caminara-por-cali-de-sur-a-norte-antes-de-partir-hacia-bogota_4654880-1
Informe EPU: http://www.colectivodeabogados.org/article.php3?id_article=1454%3E
8. The Bolivian government accuses the DEA of violations of human rights in Bolivia President Evo Morales has announced the "indefinite suspension" of DEA operations in Bolivia. He accuses the DEA of spying in order to destabilize the government. In the U.S., the spokesperson for the DEA, Garrison Courtney said the decision of Morales creates "an unfortunate situation", but the agency will find "other ways to deal with the drug trafficking which comes from this South American country."
The Minister of the Interior, Juan Ramon Quintana, revealed a report with the details of crimes which have been committed by the DEA in Bolivia. President Morales had announced his intention of acting against the organization. The Minister of the Interior accused the DEA of violations of Human Rights and covering up drug trafficking. Quintana was clear, saying that the DEA "has committed systematic abuses, violating the human rights of several people who were illegally detained, tortured and subjected to psychological pressures and threats." The Minister also affirmed that Evo Morales "has said that he is willing to present these proofs to the new president of the United States."
More information (in Spanish):
Noticia con Audio: http://www.agenciapulsar.org/nota.php?id=13958
Más noticia: http://www.prensa-latina.cu/article.asp?ID=%7B622E2D6D-9E51-446C-9B6B-101AB447A4B5%7D)
9. The Congress of Argentina will vote on November 13th about nationalizing private pension funds
In the midst of protests by a fragmented opposition, the project of the Government to modify pensions is moving forward in the Congress of Argentina. It is expected that it will be approved without major obstacles. The Administrators of the Funds of Pensions and Retirement (AFPJ) was created in the mid 1990s, during the government of Carlos Menem. Since that time, pensions can be administered by private companies such as AFPJ.
Last October 21st, the government of Cristina Fernandez announced the suppression of the private pension funds, and sent a bill to Congress. It was approved when her party got the majority of votes and now all pensions will be administered by the State. This means that the administration of Cristina Fernandez is able to modify the destiny of the companies without consulting the Legislature.
El 21 de octubre pasado, el gobierno de Cristina Fernández anunció la supresión de los fondos privados de pensiones y envió el proyecto al Congreso. El oficialismo consiguió mayoría para su aprobación y de ser así, todas las pensiones volverían a ser administradas por el Estado. Eso implica que la administración de Cristina Fernández puede modificar el destino de las partidas, sin consultar al Legislativo.
More information (in English):
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=auPEZw2RCvGM&refer=latin_america
More information (in Spanish):
http://www.clarin.com/diario/2008/11/06/elpais/p-01796989.htm
10. Popular and Social Front in Paraguay succeeds in getting the creation of the Agrarian Reform Council
As a result of demonstrations led by the Popular and Social Front, the Paraguayan government announced the creation of the National Agrarian Reform Council. Thousands of campesinos protested last week in Asuncion, demanding agrarian reform and a radical change of the Judicial Power in the country.
The Agrarian Council has the task of providing solutions to the principal problems which affect the campesino sector in Paraguay. Additionally, the Paraguayan government promised to begin an emergency contingency plan for the farm sector. The State has committed to invest in food, potable water and electrification.
http://www.agenciapulsar.org/nota.php?id=13964