Weekly Roundup: Honduran Foes Negotiate, Latin American Wage Gaps Persist, and Mexico Closes Power Company

Zelaya Negotiator: Deal Reached; Micheletti Negotiator: Not Quite

More than three months after the overthrow of Honduran President Manuel Zelaya set off a deep political crisis, a negotiator for the deposed leader says the two sides have achieved a deal. Despite rounds of negotiations and international urging for a peaceful solution, Zelaya and the interim government of Roberto Micheletti have been trapped in a stalemate over whether Zelaya should be reinstated. During October 14 talks, Micheletti and Zelaya representatives sat down face-to-face for the first time since the June 28 coup and agreed on the text of an accord. Reuters reports that army chief Romeo Vasquez told a Honduran radio station: “I know that we have advanced significantly, we are almost at the end of this crisis.”

But a negotiator for the Micheletti government said no deal had been reached, suggesting significant progress had been made but details still need to be ironed out. A press release from the de facto government indicated the most crucial point—whether Zelaya can regain office—requires further discussion.

Access AS/COA’s ongoing coverage of the situation in Honduras.

Calderón Shuts off Power Company

Mexican President Felipe Calderón signed a decree liquidating Luz y Fuerza del Centro (LyFC), the state owned electrical utility serving Mexico City and surrounding areas. In a televised speech, Calderón said, “Unfortunately, most of the resources that [LyFC] got from the hands of the Mexican people didn’t go to improve service, but to pay onerous labor privileges and perks, which were getting worse year by year.” While the president announced that a state-owned company would take over LyFC’s operations for now, his government face a political battle with union workers.

Read AS/COA analysis on the LyFC’s liquidation.

Mexico Scores with Lithium Find

A Mexican mining firm this month announced its discovery of massive lithium deposits, which could put the country on track to become the world’s leading producer of the metal. This discovery comes just as demand for lithium is reaching new heights. “With Pemex facing declining production, the Mexican government needs additional revenues and has to view lithium as a potential income source,” reports Bloggings by Boz.

Low Morale Hits Mexican Army Officers

Drug wars may be wearing down the Mexican army in ways that death tolls do not capture. The number of soldiers deployed for antinarcotics operations has doubled under the administration of President Felipe Calderón, but more than 48,000 soldiers deserted the Mexican Army from 2007 to 2009. Sources interviewed for an RGE Monitor report indicate that low salaries, poor working conditions, and low soldier morale are primary causes for the desertion rates.

Former Colombian Mayor Offers Hope in Juarez

Sergio Fajardo, former mayor of Medellín, Colombia—once one of the world’s most violent cities—says Mexico’s Ciudad Juarez can also make the transition from “fear to hope.” The Mexican city now rivals Baghdad and Kabul as one of the world’s most dangerous cities. During Fajardo’s recent visit to Mexico, he said a tough stance against organized crime combined with opportunities for destitute citizens can transform the city. Fajardo is a candidate in Colombia’s next presidential elections.

UN Says Honduran Landowners Hired Colombian Paramilitaries

In the midst of the ongoing Honduran crisis involving the overthrow of President Manuel Zelaya in late June, a UN panel recently reported that Honduran landowners hired former Colombian paramilitaries as mercenaries for protection from violence erupting between supporters of the de facto government and those of the deposed President Manuel Zelaya. The UN working group on mercenaries said that former members of the United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (also known as the AUC)—classified by the U.S. government as a terrorist organization—have been working in Honduras. The UN group urged Honduran authorities to fully investigate the mercenaries’ presence.

Longtime Soccer Rivals El Salvador and Honduras in World Cup Qualifier

Honduras takes on El Salvador this week in a qualifying match for the 2010 South Africa World Cup. The match bears historical significance given the history of soccer violence between Honduras and El Salvador during the Soccer War some 40 years ago. While El Salvador cannot qualify for South Africa even with a win, it can still stall its neighbor’s progress. Should Honduras win, it would mark Honduras’ first World Cup appearance since 1982 and comes at a time of political upheavel in the country.

In an interview with Sports Illustrated, COA’s Eric Farnsworth gave his view on the political significane of last weekend’s U.S.-Honduras game.

Argentine President Approves Controversial Media Law

President Christina Fernández de Kirchner signed into law a bill giving the Argentine executive branch more power over media regulation at the expense of private media companies. The conglomerate Clarín, which owns several newspapers and 46 percent of the cable television market, is a target of the new legislation. Fernández reportedly blames her current 20 percent approval rating and her party’s midterm election loss on the outlet's negative coverage.

OpenDemocracy.net examines how this new bill is part of a larger trend in Latin America as governments clamp down on the media cross the region.

Read an AS/COA analysis about recent restrictions on Latin American media.

Chile to Return Mapuche Land

The Chilean special envoy for indigenous issues, José Antonio Viera-Gallo, announced a major land deal that involves the purchase of more than 80,000 acres from current landowners for redistribution to some 1,000 Mapuche families with original titles to the land. Viera-Gallo said the land deal indicates progress between local Mapuche leaders and the Chilean government.

ALBA Summit in Bolivia to Consider Unified Currency

The Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA) countries—Ecuador, Venezuela, Cuba, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Honduras, Dominica, St Vincent & Grenadiens, and Antigua & Barbuda—meet this week in Cochabamba, Bolivia to talk about poverty, trade, and regional relations. Also on the agenda is the establishment of a regional monetary system called the “sucre” through which ALBA seeks to boost commercial exchange among member countries.

Uribe and Colom Finalize Trade Deal

Colombian President Álvaro Uribe met with his Guatemalan counterpart Álvaro Colom Tuesday to ink a bilateral trade pact and discuss regional security. During the meeting, Uribe offered to provide increased technical training for Guatemalan police in the fight against drug trafficking.

Bogota Tourism on the Upswing

According to El Tiempo, Bogota tourism is on a fast rise. The data show an increase in visitors from January to July of this year, up 10.1 percent from the same period in 2008.

Foreigners Flock to Costa Rica for Stem Cell Treatment

An increasing number of medical tourists are heading to Costa Rica for stem cell treatment for ailments related to everything from bone fractures to multiple sclerosis. “Costa Rican doctors say they are providing these medical tourists with groundbreaking treatments. But stem cell scientists in the United States accuse Costa Rica of offering false hope by pushing techniques that have not been scientifically proven,” according to GlobalPost.

Latin America Still Faces Gender, Race Wage Gaps

A new study by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) finds that women and minorities continue to face wage disparities. The survey reports that Afro-descendents earn 28 percent less than white counterparts and women make 17 percent less than male colleagues of similar educational backgrounds. The Christian Science Monitor reports that Brazil may be the economic powerhouse of Latin America, but that the IDB survey finds that Brazilian women and minorities are the most disadvantaged in the region when it comes to wage gaps.

UNFPA Calls for Investment in Young Latin Americans

In an interview with IPS News, Marcela Suazo, Latin America’s director for the UN Population Fund, said Latin American countries must step up the financial commitment they made at the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo. Suazo suggested that regional leaders should increase investment in young people and adapt to the growth in urban population in light of issues such as the economic crisis and climate change.

Mexico City Plays Host to International Youth Summit

From October 14 through 16, the Alliance for Youth Movements holds a conference in Mexico's capital. The summit looks at the intersection of social media and youth movements and focuses on successful cases such as the Facebook-organized march against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. The conference can be watched via live webcast. Access the agenda.

Latino Educational Attainment Gap Explained

Almost 90 percent of young Latino adults say a college education is important for success in life, yet only about half that number plan to get a college degree. In a national survey by the Pew Hispanic Center, financial pressures and poor English skills were the most cited reasons for not pursuing higher education. Other reasons include a dislike of school and a feeling that more education is unnecessary for the careers they want.

The Purple Rose of Rio?

Rio De Janeiro will host the 2016 Summer Olympics and the 2014 World Cup match, but the Brazilian city is not stopping there. Keeping in mind what the movie Vicky Cristina Barcelona did for Spain, a new film commission is vying to land Woody Allen’s next movie and offering $2 million in subsidies to attract the Academy Award Winner. Allen’s production company sent two top producers to Rio this month to explore locations for the movie project, reports The Los Angeles Times.

Read AS/COA coverage of Rio's win of the 2016 Summer Olympics bid.