Weekly Roundup: Mexico's Middle Class, Brazil's Transportation Protests, DR's Deadly Roads

>>Subscribe to the Weekly Roundup!

Ex-Prez of Argentina Sentenced to Prison for Arms Smuggling

On June 13, former Argentine President Carlos Menem was sentenced to seven years in prison for arms smuggling to Croatia and Ecuador in the 1990s. During his administration, Menem sent six tons of weapons to these countries in spite of an arms embargo. However, Menem—currently a senator—will not go to jail unless legislators strip him of immunity. The former president can also appeal to the Supreme Court.

Senate Votes against Adding Border Proposal to Immigration Reform

Currently under consideration in the Senate, comprehensive immigration reform by the so-called “Gang of Eight” saw a major vote on June 13. Senators voted against a proposal to require the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to deem the border secure for a six-month period before allowing undocumented immigrants to gain legal status. Also this week, Harper Polling and Public Policy Polling released a survey sourced from 29 states showing that around 68 percent of Americans support the immigration bill.

Study: Mexico Does Not Have Middle-Class Majority

While Mexico has been heralded as an increasingly middle-class country, a June 12 study by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) indicates that over half of the population is still considered “lower class.” According to the report, 59 percent of Mexicans form part of the country’s lower class and only 39 percent of Mexicans are considered middle class. The study takes education, employment, and property ownership into account. Inegi also points out that the middle class grew by nearly 4 percent from 2000 to 2010.

The Rise of Mexico’s Vigilante Groups

International Crisis Group released a May 28 report on the rise in Mexico’s self defense groups, saying the vigilantes “challenge the government’s necessary monopoly on the use of force to impart justice.” The report provides an overview of the origins of the militias and their recent activity, noting: “While the vigilantes have stopped some criminals, violence by or against them has turned the states of Guerrero and Michoacán into increased hotspots of insecurity.” InSight Crime notes that local governments have had an uneven response to the groups; in Guerrero, the government legalized the groups, while in Michoacan, the governor claimed the vigilantes are “fading away.”

Mexican Investment in the U.S. Jumps

Wealthy Mexican businesspeople are increasingly investing in the recovering U.S. economy, writes Forbes. In 2012, Mexican investment in the United States hit nearly $28 billion—an 11 percent increase from the previous year. The United States issued 4,000 investor visas to Mexico in 2012, the most of any country after Germany and Japan.

Brazil’s Game of Drones

While Brazil has used drones to monitor its borders since 2011, an increasing use of these apparatus have implications for the country’s foreign policy, says a June 10 briefing by World Politics Review. Negotiating agreements with neighbors to use drones to fight drug trafficking could cause tension with countries like Bolivia and Paraguay. “A rising world power, Brazil is unsure about how to wield its newfound clout and feels uncomfortable with the notion of bullying other nations,” explains the report.

Transportation Fare Protests in Brazil: Really about 20 Cents?

Protests broke out in numerous Brazilian cities this week over a rise in bus fares, with thousands turning out in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Violence between protesters and police broke out in those two cities—where bus fares are slated to go up 20 cents—with several journalists also reported injured. The New York Times points out that rising inflation and sluggish growth could be at play, though another factor could be a growing middle class seeing stagnation in quality of life.

Chile, Costa Rica, and Uruguay Ranked LatAm’s Most Peaceful Players

Released by the Institute for Economics and Peace on June 11, the 2013 Global Peace Index ranks countries based on security, domestic and international conflicts, and levels of militarization. The index places Uruguay, Chile, and Costa Rica as the most peaceful countries in Latin America. Uruguay was the only Latin American country to make the top 30, while Chile and Costa Rica came in at spots 31 and 40, respectively.

Colombia Peace Talks: No Postponement for Election

Colombian government negotiations with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) resumed this week following a breakthrough on May 26, when both sides agreed on a land reform accord. However, government representatives rejected a FARC proposal to postpone the 2014 presidential elections for a year in order to prevent the talks from collapsing. Chief government negotiator Humberto de la Calle also said this week that discussions about political participation for the FARC will look at the group as a whole, and not individual members—some of whom are wanted for war crimes.

Santos’ Trip to Israel: Free Trade and Peace Talks

While visiting Israel earlier this week, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos finished free-trade agreement negotiations with that country, announced Trade Minister Sergio Díaz Granados on June 10. The accord could quadruple bilateral trade over the next 20 years, reports El Tiempo. During his trip, Santos offered support to play a role in resolving the Israeli-Palestine conflict, saying “like Israel, Colombia, too, is a democracy fighting against terrorism; we’d be happy to help with the experience we’ve gained.”

Venezuela Passes New Gun Control Law

On June 11, Venezuela’s National Assembly passed a new disarmament bill, which President Nicolás Maduro plans to sign this week. The 126-article law bans the sale of arms and ammunition to civilians, and sets sentences for possessing an illegal firearm to seven to 20 years jail time.

Humala Denies Pardon to Fujimori

The verdict is in: Peruvian President Ollanta Humala will not grant imprisoned former President Alberto Fujimori a pardon from his 25-year prison sentence for corruption and human rights abuses. The decision came down on June 7, after the Presidential Pardons Commission determined that Fujimori was not terminally ill, said Justice Minister Daniel Figallo.

Salvadorans Support Mining Ban Proposal

Facing a $400 million lawsuit by mining companies, El Salvador could become the world’s first country to ban metal mining in order to protect its water supplies, reports the Guardian. In the Central American country, 90 percent of surface water is contaminated and a quarter of the rural population lacks clean drinking water. Over 60 percent of Salvadorans support a bill to ban the industry, and the country’s legislature is debating the bill.

Record Numbers of LatAm Tourists Visit U.S.

A record number of Latin American tourists visited the United States in 2012, the U.S. Commerce Department reported this week. Mexican tourists accounted for the second largest group of visitors after Canadians; about 14.5 million Mexicans visited last year, an 8 percent increase from 2011. In addition, the number of tourists from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela all rose by around 20 percent.

Buckle up: Dominican Republic has World’s Most Dangerous Roads

A World Health Organization report measuring road safety has deemed the Dominican Republic as home to the most dangerous driving conditions. With 41.7 driving deaths per 100,000 people a year, the Caribbean country has the deadliest roads in the world. Venezuela is the only other country in Latin America to rank in the top 10.