MISSEDLINK

Otto Pérez Molina looses presidential Immunity - the Guardian: LINK ¤ the GUARDIAN

_________________________________________

 

• "Guatemala’s Congress strips - Otto Pérez Molina - of his immunity from prosecution !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "opening the way for a criminal investigation - into his alleged leadership !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "of a major customs - corruption ring !"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "opposition deputies clap - as it becomes clear - that the votes in favour of putting - Pérez Molina’s fate !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "in the hands of the Guatemalan courts - reached the required two-thirds majority - of the 158-member chamber !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "the historic vote - akin to impeachment - comes in the middle !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "of a unprecedented wave - of cross-class protests - in Guatemala !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "to end corruption - and to reduce inequality !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "the vote means Molina being required - to appear before the court - directing the hearings !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "in a corruption investigation - that has already put 38 people - in jail !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "including former vice-president - Roxana Baldetti !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "for example public officials - took bribes - in exchange from reducing import tariffs !"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "it has taken a long time - and a lot of effort - but !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "finally - Guatemalans have justice !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

• "the pressure on Pérez Molina began - immediately after a UN-backed special investigative commission !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "working with Guatemala’s prosecutors - first released details of the customs corruption scam !"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "the CICIG revealed that under the scam - known as "La Línea" - after a hotline that was used in the case !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "officials received bribes - from importers !"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "in exchange for reduced tariffs - the importers were required to pay !"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "and that money from criminal groups - and corruption !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "were sources of financing - for the conservative political party - of Molina !"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "this soon led to the resignation of Baldetti - whose aide was initially named - as the ringleader !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "but the protests continued - calls on Pérez Molina to go as well - intensified rapidly !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "after investigators said - wiretaps provided evidence - that the scam was actually lead - by Baldetti - and Pérez Molina !"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "a general strike - upped the pressure on Congress even further - blocking roads around the country !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "Molina’s waning support then collapsed - at the same time as a rash of ministers - and ambassadors resigned !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "the possible prosecution of Pérez Molina - who was a former head of military intelligence !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "echoes a search for justice - that reaches back beyond this - corruption scandal !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "from the 1950s to the early 1980s - there had been the army - and the US embassy !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "said political scientist and Guatemala expert - Rachel Sieder !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "the vote against Pérez Molina - is a victory for popular organisation - and mobilisation !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "and for a new alliance - of democratic forces !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "it is also a historic moment - of opportunity !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "to start a real social - and institutional transformation !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GUATEMALA - Wikipedia EN: LINK ¤ GUATEMALA

 

 

______________________________________________________________________________

COSTA RICA - Wikipedia EN: LINK ¤ COSTA RICA

President Arias-Sanchez - US cable - 2008: LINK ¤ 08SANJOSE730

_________________________________________

 

• "President Arias-Sanchez says - a main challenge for humanity !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "is to free - many human beings - from poverty !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "promoting sustainable development - in all its aspects !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "plus environmental - and energy challenges - demand greater efforts !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "in this sense - military spending must not be increased !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

_________________________________________

• "because there is a need - for investment - in human development !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

presidential Candidate Solis against CAFTA-DR - US cable - 2005: LINK ¤ 05SANJOSE2930

_________________________________________

 

• "the proposed - CAFTA-DR treaty - free trade deal !"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "was - one-sided !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "it would open Costa Rica's market - to the US - Costa Rica could not compete !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "and in return provided for Costa Rica - only "tiny things"  !"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "e.g. slightly more access - for textile products - and sugar !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "the negotiators of Costa Rica - did not negotiate !"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "they merely accepted everything - the US embassy wanted !"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

______________________________________________________________________________

President Pacheco - US cable - 2005: LINK ¤ 05SANJOSE1740

_________________________________________

 

• "CAFTA-DR - was approved and signed - by Bush !"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "Costa Rican President Abel Pacheco insisted - that in Costa Rica's case !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "there was no hurry - to approve the agreement !"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "and it was necessary to take the time - analyzed CAFTA-DR - and to not made hasty decisions !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "why did you - push me ?!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "regarding how long it will be - to send CAFTA-DR - to the assembly !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "I did not - understand !"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "throughout history - we had seen that when we rushed to judgment - things turned out badly !"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

______________________________________________________________________________

President Arias on foreign Aid - US cable - 2006: LINK ¤ 06SANJOSE1059

_________________________________________

 

• "President Oscar Arias lamented - Costa Rica's inability !"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "to officially qualify - for most US - foreign aid !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "and concluded that there needs to be more - foreign aid - in the USA !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "Arias stated several times - that the US - and other governments !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "need to change their - policy priorities !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "with no protectionist - trade policies !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "trade was most - the US embassy could offer !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "there should be more focus - on aid and development - instead of the military !!!!!!!!!!!! - ( US$ 500 billion - to US$ 16 billion )"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Human Rights Ombudswoman slams CAFTA-DR - US cable - 2006: LINK ¤ 06SANJOSE762

_________________________________________

 

• "Costa Rica's human rights ombudswoman - Dr. Lisbeth Quesada - released a report !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "criticized the proposed US - Central America trade agreement - CAFTA-DR !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "Costa Rica's farmers - would be unable to compete !"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "with subsidized - US agriculture !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "Costa Rica had no anticipated plan - for dealing with the effect of the treaty - on small farmers !"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

______________________________________________________________________________

"Cooperation" - EU - Costa Rica - US cable - 2009: LINK ¤ 09SANJOSE256

_________________________________________

 

• "agreement of association between Central America - and the European Union - AACUE !"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "the Costa Rican ambassador to the EU said - that the AACUE's focus !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "on "dialogue" - and "feedback"  !"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "was just - marketing !"

 

 

 

 

• "comment US: - "the notably high-powered seminar - appeared to be part of a strategy !""

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "portrayed the AACUE as a - "kinder - gentler" - trade agreement !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "as distinguished - from CAFTA-DR !"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PANAMA - Wikipedia EN: LINK ¤ PANAMA

US Trade - US cable - 2009: LINK ¤ 09PANAMA265

_________________________________________

 

• "Panama approved the FTA - with the US - free trade agreement !"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "when implemented the FTA would result - in some liberalization !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "of trade in goods and services - including financial services !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "under the FTA - Panama would be obligated !"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "liberalized the services sector - beyond its commitments under the WTO !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "adopted a negative list approach - where all sectors were covered - except where it has made specific exceptions !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "Panama also entered into an agreement - with the US !"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "that resolved a number of regulatory barriers - to trade in agricultural goods !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "ranged from meat - and poultry - to processed products - included dairy - and rice !"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

______________________________________________________________________________

US Interests - US cable - 2009: LINK ¤ 09PANAMA306

_________________________________________

 

• "implementation of the FTA - free trade agreement !"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "would serve US interests - in Panama !"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

______________________________________________________________________________

US Investment - US cable - 2006: LINK ¤ 06PANAMA360

_________________________________________

 

• "the US embassy lobbied - for foreign investment !"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "US firms participated - in the privatizations !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "of ports - electrical generators - and telecommunications firms !"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

against Off Shore - US cable - 2006: LINK ¤ 06PANAMA1793

 

• "Panama was the second biggest jurisdiction - after Hong Kong - of offshore corporations !"

 

 

_________________________________________

• "( secrecy - taxes - legal judgments ! )"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

______________________________________________________________________________

less Poverty - US cable - 2006: LINK ¤ 06PANAMA897

_________________________________________

 

• "Panama had the Hemisphere's second-worst - income distribution !"

 

 

_________________________________________

• "and a 40-plus percent - poverty rate !"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

less Inequality - US cable - 2007: LINK ¤ 07PANAMA910

_________________________________________

 

• "in Panama there must be - less inequality !!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "Panama had stubbornly high levels of poverty - high unemployment !"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "corruption - and poor educational - and healthcare systems !"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

______________________________________________________________________________

US Trade - US cable - 2007: LINK ¤ 07PANAMA1711

_________________________________________

 

• "the US embassy lobbied - for a TPA - trade promotion agreement !"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "under it 88 percent of US exports - of consumer and industrial goods - to Panama !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "would become - duty-free !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "the agreement would include - "zero-for-zero"  !"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "duty-free access for US sectors - and products !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "agricultural and construction equipment - information technology products - medical and scientific equipment - and oilseeds !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "and sectors such as - motor vehicles and parts - paper and wood products - and chemicals !"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "would obtain access - to Panama's market !"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

______________________________________________________________________________

Banking Sector - US cable - 2008: LINK ¤ 08PANAMA827

_________________________________________

 

• "Panamanian bankers widely agreed - that Panama's financial sector !"

 

 

_________________________________________

• "had avoided - subprime mortgage instruments ! - ( the begin of the - global financial crisis ! )"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "the debt instruments - were too good to be true !"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "with 9 percent for AAA debt - they should not have needed to sell it !"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Panama Canal - US cable - 2009: LINK ¤ 09PANAMA519

_________________________________________

 

• "there was a public ceremony - announced a winner for the Panama Canal's !"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "US$ 3.35 billion third set - of locks contract !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "three competing consortia - submitted bids - and were led by the firms !"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "Bechtel - ACS - and Sacyr !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "the US embassy - monitored the process !"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "and the US embassy - advocated for Bechtel !"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

______________________________________________________________________________

US Interests - US cable - 2004: LINK ¤ 04PANAMA1116

_________________________________________

 

• "the conservative party - Cambio Democrático - CD !"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "was closest to the views - of the US embassy !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "on trade and investment - among Panama's political parties !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "the decade-long - US$ 8-10 billion canal expansion project !"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "had involved the US army corps of engineers - in concept-design planning ! - ( and there was hope for commercial prospects ! )"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "the US embassy lobbied - that the new Panamanian government !"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "of the PRD-party - and Torrijos - made it a priority !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "the Panamanian government - no doubt would ask for US - "advice"  !"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EL SALVADOR - Wikipedia EN: LINK ¤ EL SALVADOR

the Beatification of Oscar Romero - the Guardian: LINK ¤ the GUARDIAN

HONDURAS - Wikipedia EN: LINK ¤ HONDURAS

Honduran President Zelaya - US cable - 2009: LINK ¤ 09TEGUCIGALPA504

_________________________________________

 

• "at 02:30 local time - Honduran military forces - entered the presidential palace !"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "and arrested - President Manuel "Mel" Zelaya !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "Zelaya was taken to an air force base - and then flown by military aircraft to Costa Rica !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "it had been reported that Zelaya - had signed a letter of resignation !"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "the Attorney General said he had only ordered - the confiscation of the polling materials !"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

______________________________________________________________________________

Honduran President Zelaya - US cable - 2009: LINK ¤ 09TEGUCIGALPA645

_________________________________________

 

• "there was no doubt - that the military - supreme court !"

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "and national congress - conspired on June 28 !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "in what constituted an illegal - and unconstitutional - coup !"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

______________________________________________________________________________

Central American Spring - the Guardian: LINK ¤ the GUARDIAN

_________________________________________

 

• "as the sky dims over the Honduran capital - the streets are ablaze with the flames - of thousands of torches !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "the light from the bamboo torches - gives the protest - a festive air !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "the messages - the protesters are sending - are serious !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "signs read - enough is enough !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "it is a scene - that has been repeated every Friday evening - for nearly three months !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "since the government party - was linked to a fraud - and graft scheme - of the national health service !"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "the route taken by protesters - started at the Honduran social security institute - IHSS !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "whose former director - and other officials allegedly siphoned off !"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "some US$ 200m - through shell companies !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "for lifestyles - mansions in Miami - cars - and parties !"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "from the IHSS - the marchers wounded through the streets of Tegucigalpa - until they reached the supreme court building !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "where the journalist - who exposed the connection - between the fraud !"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "and the political party of Hernández - was on trial for defamation !"

 

 

 

 

 

 

• "the movement calls itself the - indignados !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

• "Honduran protesters march - in a positive mood !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "their demonstrations are tinged - with a joyful !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "hope for - change !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "it is like a - patriotic party !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "with their torches lighting the way - through the darkening city streets !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "protesters dance to the music - from a loudspeaker - mounted on a pickup truck !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "so far the US - had stood by - Hernández ! - ( millions of dollars of security aid ! )"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "Varela - one of the march organizers - says the indignados !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "have been empowered by the sustained support - shown through the marches - and insist on their demands !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________

• "keep marching - until we see change !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CENTRAL AMERICA - Wikipedia EN: LINK ¤ CENTRAL AMERICA