Weekly Roundup: U.S. Officials Meet Fidel, Fujimori Sentenced, Chávez in Asia

 
Six Congressmen from the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) visted Cuba, calling for easing a travel ban and ultimately scrapping the 47 year-old embargo. Cuban authorities allowed three U.S. Congressmen to meet with former President Fidel Castro at his home for nearly two hours on April 7. They are the first U.S. officials to meet Fidel since he fell ill in 2006. U.S. lawmakers also met with President Raúl Castro, marking also his first meeting with American officials since he replaced his brother in power last year.
 
The landmark trip comes on the heels of indications that President Barack Obama will move to ease travel and financial restrictions on Cuban Americans wishing to visit or send remittances to family members on the island. Moreover, members of U.S. Congress have submitted a bill that would end the ban on U.S. citizens traveling to Cuba. Congressman Jerry Moran (R-KS), senior member of the House Agriculture Committee, introduced legislation to ease agricultural trade barriers, endorsed by other 17 lawmakers.

Fujimori Handed 25-Year Sentence in Rights Verdict

After a 15-month trial, Peru’s former President Alberto Fujimori was found guilty for his role in human rights abuses during the Andean country’s violent struggle with leftist guerillas. In particular, Fujimori was convicted for his involvement with death squads that conducted two massacres as well as kidnappings. He received a 25-year sentence. Peruvian daily El Comercio offers a multimedia presentation of the “mega-trial” and verdict.

Read AS/COA analysis of the ruling.

Shifts in U.S.-LatAm Policy before Summit of the Americas

Bloggings by boz takes a look at the Obama administration’s priorities in Latin America since the new president took office and in advance of the upcoming Summit of the Americas. The post points to the White House’s focus on “boarder themes, not specific policies,”including a shift toward focusing on relations with Mexico and Brazil rather than with Colombia and Venezuela.

Read an AS/COA interview with White House Advisor for the Summit of the Americas Jeffrey Davidow.

State Dept. Hosts Peruvian, Uruguayan Foreign Ministers
 
In advance of the Summit of the Americas, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hosted the Foreign Ministers of Peru Jose Antonio Garcia Belaunde and Uruguay Gonzalo Fernandez.

Unitas Military Exercises to Be Held in Florida
 
The multinational naval exercise known as “Unitas” comes together for two weeks starting April 20. The U.S. Fourth Fleet hosts the tactical exercise, which brings together naval forces from ten countries: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, France, Germany, Peru, and possibly for the first time, Mexico (Its inclusion awaits approval by the Mexican Congress.) The Florida-Times Union reports that the event—the fiftieth of its kind—will support international efforts to stop drug traffickers and pirates.

Mexico on the U.S. Radar

In a web exclusive for Foreign Policy, New America Foundation’s Andrés Martinez writes about Washington’s recent “discovery” of its neighbor as a result of increasing violence connected to drug cartels. “Mexico is so refreshingly 9/10. The fact that the bad guys there—and they are truly nasty—are not driven by religion or ideology, but are just in it for the money, is reassuringly retro,” writes Martinez.

Blogging for Americas Quarterly, Liz Harper offers a roundup of think tank discussions on U.S. foreign policy and the Mexican drug war. “The questions don't change and the answers from the U.S. government don't change radically. It's like banging your head against the wall,” she writes.

Hemispheric Moves to Expand Trade

COA’s Eric Farnsworth and Michelle Morton write in Poder magazine about trade’s increasing lack of popularity in Washingon, as well as reactions from Brazilian, Canadian, and Mexican leaders against that mood “during this period of economic distress.” The article suggests ways  the United States can jumpstart trade, including through support for restarting the Doha Round of trade talks and trans-Pacific trade partnerships.

Defense Deal Signed by Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay

At a meeting in Asuncion Monday, representatives from Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Paraguay signed a cooperative agreement on security. Mercopress reports that the pact involves “the purchase of common equipments to contribute with peace keeping operations under the framework of United Nations.”

Frei Selected as Concertación Candidate
 
Former Chilean President Eduardo Frei was selected to serve as the candidate for Concertación—the governing coalition—in the country’s December presidential elections. Roughly 100,000 Chileans voted, with 65 percent choosing Frei over rival José Antonio Gómes.

Bolivia’s Economy Stable Despite Downturn

In an article for RGE Monitor, Columbia University professors Thomas Trebat and Juan Antonio Morales explain that high international reserves accumulated during the commodities’ boom and low reliance on foreign debt keeps Bolivia’s economy above water. Furthermore, cash deposits into saving accounts from the public have steadily increased.

Polls Show Correa Poised for Reelection

Various polls forecast easy reelection for Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa. Surveys show him 40 points ahead of his closest adversary, Lucio Gutiérrez of the Sociedad Patriótica party.

The Reelection Debate

Revista Perspectiva’s blog looks at the Latin American trend of amending constitutions to extend presidential terms. From Venezuela to Bolivia to Honduras to Colombia, the “justification to modify the constitution comes in response to the public’s demands: he who is doing a good job should be rewarded.” The blog points to an argument that no government can complete all proposed objectives.

Venezuela Bolsters Ties with Iran, Japan, and China

On tour, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez strengthened ties with Iran, Japan, and China. While in Qatar, he announced an agreement with Tehran to set up a Venezuelan-Iranian bank that would draw $100 million in funds from each country. He also said he had been in talks with Syrian President Bashar Al-Asad abut the possibility of setting up banks with Syria, Qatar, and Asian countries.

The leader then visited Japan, where he indicated that Tokyo would invest $33.5 billion in Venezuelan energy projects. While there, he also signaled the possibility of warmer ties, not only with Japan, but also Washington.

Chávez went on to Beijing for a two-day visit where he hopes to sign additional oil deals. Commentary in China Daily offers an overview of Venezuelan president’s visit and places it in the context of growing Chinese-Latin American ties.

Chávez Political Foe in Hiding

The mayor of the city of Maracaibo and former presidential candidate Manuel Rosales went into hiding after being charged with corruption. Government investigators also accused Rosales of having connections with Colombian paramilitary groups. Rosales’ supporters argue that the move constitures a “political witch hunt” by the Chávez government. Some suggest he is in Panama and may head to Miami. BBC speculates that Rosales either fled to Colombia or remains in hiding in Venezuela.

Hispanics’ Low Confidence in U.S. Justice System

A new survey by the Pew Hispanic Center found that the level of confidence felt by Latinos in the U.S. criminal justice system languishes close to the low rates of black confidence. Few than half (46 percent) of Hispanics believe the police “will not use excessive force on suspects compared with 73 percent of whites and 38 percent of blacks,” according to the report.

Slow Moves on White-Collar Crime in Canada

The Economist chronicles white-collar scandals in Canada and covers the slow rate of moving these cases into the trial stage. As an example, the hearings in the case of former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney of receiving cash-stuffed envelopes from a lobbyist in 1993 began this week.

Costa Rica and Uruguay Commit to Enforcing Tax Standards

In the wake of the G20 London Summit, Costa Rica and Uruguay agreed to combat tax abuse and commit to standards laid out by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Fact vs. Fiction: Bolivia Victorious over Argentina; Unconcerned over Daylight Savings Time

As the Democracy Center pointed out, Bolivia’s 6 to 1 victory over Argentina in a World Cup qualifying match on April 1 was real. However, the Cochabamba-based Center’s report that Bolivian President Evo Morales had “accused the U.S. embassy of a conspiracy to force his country to adopt Daylight Savings Time” was not. The Center’s April Fool’s Day joke was picked up by the Huffington Post and, in turn, carried as “real news” by about 100 web sites.