International
Former venezuelan governor Henrique Capriles criticizes 11-year delay in Inter-American Court Ruling
Former Venezuelan governor Henrique Capriles expressed regret on Monday over the 11-year delay in the Inter-American Court of Human Rights’ (IACHR) ruling on a lawsuit he filed regarding the 2013 presidential elections. The court determined that the Venezuelan government violated the political rights of the opposition leader.
“Eleven years later (justice must not only uphold the truth but also be timely), we have received a ruling regarding the lawsuit we filed with the IACHR about the 2013 presidential election,” the two-time presidential candidate wrote on social media platform X.
Capriles stated that he has consistently sought constitutional means to “restore democracy and institutional order” in Venezuela.
“I hope the day comes when Venezuelans can peacefully exercise their sacred right to decide their future,” he added.
On Monday, the IACHR ruled that Venezuela violated Capriles’ political rights during the 2013 electoral process, including denying a vote audit and the “abusive use of state machinery” in favor of then “interim president” Nicolás Maduro.
Nancy Hernández, President of the IACHR, stated during the notification of the ruling that the Venezuelan government is responsible for violations of political rights, judicial guarantees, judicial protection, freedom of expression, and the right to defense.
In the 2013 presidential elections, Capriles garnered 49.12% of the vote, while Maduro received 50.61%, according to results announced by the National Electoral Council (CNE). The election followed the death of then-President Hugo Chávez on March 5, 2013, after which Maduro, the executive vice president, served as “interim president.”
“The Court found that the electoral process occurred amid a progressive deterioration of the separation of powers in Venezuela, as well as the independence of the National Electoral Council and the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ),” Judge Hernández affirmed.
The IACHR also determined that a fine imposed on Capriles after filing appeals for vote review constituted a violation of his rights to freedom of expression and thought.
The international court ordered the Venezuelan government to nullify the fine against Capriles and implement measures to ensure the integrity of electoral processes, including provisions to verify election results.
Additionally, the court instructed the government to “facilitate free and equitable access for candidates to public and mainstream media” and to take steps to guarantee the independence of the CNE and TSJ.
International
Mexican government prioritizes 191 communities after deadly floods
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed on Wednesday that the death toll from recent rains and floods across several central states has risen to 66, while the federal government has activated air bridges and prioritized assistance in 191 isolated communities.
“Unfortunately, 66 people have died, and 75 remain missing,” the president said during her morning press conference. She added that the official death toll will be updated later in a new report.
As of Tuesday, authorities had reported 64 fatalities. Sheinbaum also announced the creation of a public information center to centralize official data on the deceased, missing persons, damaged homes, and cut-off communities.
According to the president, the number of missing persons has decreased thanks to coordination with state authorities.
“Through calls to phone line 079, 103 people who had been reported missing have now been located,” she explained.
Priority Municipalities
The president noted that the federal government has classified 191 communities as ‘priority’, a designation based mainly on the percentage of homes affected.
International
New road and bridge explosions raise alarm amid indigenous protests in Ecuador
Ecuadorian authorities are investigating two explosions that occurred early Wednesday, one on a road in the southern part of the country and another under a bridge in Guayas province. These incidents follow the car bomb explosion in the coastal city of Guayaquil, also in Guayas, which occurred the day before and left one person dead and 30 injured.
Press reports indicate that one person was injured and several vehicles were damaged in the explosion on the Cuenca-Girón-Pasaje road in the south.
“Besides yesterday’s explosion in Guayaquil, we have received reports of explosives placed on bridges along the Guayaquil-Machala and Machala-Cuenca routes to disrupt traffic,” said Roberto Luque, Minister of Infrastructure and Transport (MIT).
On his X social media account, Luque reported that authorities have been deployed to the sites to assess the damage and determine the current condition of the structures.
“What they haven’t achieved with their call for a strike, some are trying to achieve through terrorism,” he stated, referring to the 24 days of protests organized by the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities (Conaie) against rising diesel prices and other demands.
The protests, called at a national level, have Imbabura province as their epicenter. Roadblocks have also been reported in the northern part of Pichincha province, whose capital is Quito, while activities in the rest of the country continue normally.
International
Armed forces target illegal mines in Northern Ecuador with bombing raids
Ecuador’s Armed Forces carried out an operation on Monday — including airstrikes — against illegal mining in the town of Buenos Aires, in the country’s north, Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo reported.
The mountainous, gold-rich area has been a hotspot for illegal mining since 2017, located in the Andean province of Imbabura.
In 2019, former president Lenín Moreno deployed around 2,400 soldiers to the region in an attempt to curb the illegal activity. “The operation began with mortar fire, followed by gunfire and bombing runs by Supertucano aircraft,” Loffredo said in a video released by the Defense Ministry.
He added that the operation would continue on Tuesday with patrols across the area to locate possible members of “irregular armed groups that may have crossed from the Colombian border.”
The Armed Forces stated on X that the intervention focused on the “complete elimination of multiple illegal mining tunnels” in the areas known as Mina Nueva and Mina Vieja.
The operation coincided with the deployment of a military and police convoy into Imbabura, which has been the epicenter of protests against President Daniel Noboa since September 22, following his decision to scrap the diesel subsidy.
Mexican government prioritizes 191 communities after deadly floods
New road and bridge explosions raise alarm amid indigenous protests in Ecuador
Armed forces target illegal mines in Northern Ecuador with bombing raids
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
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