Latin America News Dispatch

In a letter made public yesterday, Iván Márquez said Colombian and U.S. authorities of had staged a “judicial set-up” against imprisoned FARC leader Jesús Santrich.

Her plan was to focus attention on the troubling realities of land dispossession, environmental pollution, human rights violations and the everyday deprivations of her Indigenous followers

After a day of national strike, police forces tried to vacate the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua, which has been occupied by students during two months of protests.

The prosecutors’ office finally asked the judge to acquit Lula of obstruction of justice as the witnesses against him weren’t sufficiently credible.

Oil operations between 1964 and 1992 caused environmental damages.

Santos announced that Colombia’s largest illegal armed group will be demobilizing “in the coming days.” 

A spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services denied the agency was involved in threatening Ecuador.

The State Department of the United States ordered on Friday the evacuation of all non-essential staff from its embassy.

The former president has dismissed the accusations and the arrest order as a plot against him by the government of his former ally and handpicked successor President Lenín Moreno.

Initial reports pointed responsibility towards a new group that called itself Popular Commando of Social Cleansing which had put out a menacing pamphlet some days before. Newer reports point towards the ELN rebels.

Toledo’s defense argued that the speed with which the request was processed showed there was a political persecution against him

During the massive election day, violence and reports of corruption marred the mood.

One of the plot’s coordinators who escaped arrest said that Colombian and U.S. officials allegedly knew about the plot but didn’t provide active support.

The bill will now have to go back to the lower chamber this week to conciliate the changes made before it can be sanctioned by President Juan Manuel Santos.

Critics say he may be seeking the immunity from prosecution that a full seat in the Senate grants but an honorary seat doesn’t.

The purpose of the strike was to protest Macri’s decision to turn to the International Monetary Fund for loans in exchange for austerity policies.

In contrast, during the last election season of 2011-2012, only one candidate and a total of nine politicians were killed.

The report describes the use of excessive force against demonstrators, arbitrary detentions, ill-treatment and torture.

The House of Representatives is expected to vote on two different bills that seek to formally end the family separation policy.

Civil rights organization Nicaraguan Association for Human Rights also denounced an undetermined number of people were taken by the police in “selective raids.”

Correa has not been charged but has been ordered to present himself in front of the tribunal every two weeks even though he lives in Belgium.