Central America
UN experts label Nicaragua’s repression as crimes against humanity
These are just some of the violations of human integrity that the United Nations’ Group of Experts on Human Rights in Nicaragua considers crimes against humanity.
The expert team determined in its latest report, presented on April 3, that the “State is persecuting its own people” with repressive actions that, under international law, would fall into the category of crimes against humanity.
“This report is a wake-up call for the international community about the situation in Nicaragua and its duty to protect its population,” Jan-Michael Simon, a lawyer and president of the group, told BBC Mundo.
The document identifies 54 individuals, including ministers, members of the security forces, and civil society actors, as responsible for the “systematic and widespread repression” carried out by the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo.
Although this is not the first time the technical team created in 2022 has denounced the events that began with the 2018 protests in Nicaragua, the report now names the alleged perpetrators, whose guilt will have to be determined by international justice bodies such as the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
As a result of the report, the “co-presidents” Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo decided to withdraw their country from the United Nations Human Rights Council.
“Nicaragua conveys its sovereign and irrevocable decision to withdraw from the Human Rights Council and from all activities related to this council and all its satellite mechanisms,” Murillo announced.
Central America
Petro condemns guatemalan legal action against former colombian anti-corruption officials
Colombian President Gustavo Petro criticized Guatemala’s controversial prosecutor’s office on Tuesday, which is responsible for an investigation that led to an arrest warrant against his former Defense Minister and the Colombian Attorney General on charges of alleged corruption.
On Monday, a Guatemalan court ordered the arrest of former minister Iván Velásquez and Attorney Luz Adriana Camargo, both former members of the UN anti-mafia commission in Guatemala, according to the country’s prosecutor’s office.
The Colombian officials are accused of corruption in favor of the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht.
On the social network X, Petro compared the Guatemalan prosecutor’s office to others in the region that, according to him, “obey crime, not the citizens.” He added, “The multinational drug trafficking organizations try to take over judicial powers and governments to carry out and launder their hidden businesses with impunity.”
Velásquez served as head of the now-disbanded International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) from 2013 to 2019, while Camargo was the head of investigation and litigation at the entity from 2014 to 2017. Both enjoy immunity as the commission was sponsored by the UN.
Camargo said in a press conference that the arrest warrant “lacks legal basis and represents a risk to cooperation between countries and international organizations in the fight against impunity, corruption, and organized crime.”
Central America
Chiquita Panama seeks approval to lay off remaining staff after mass dismissals
Administrative staff of Chiquita Panama have left the country, and the company will request government authorization to lay off the remaining employees in Panama, the nation’s Labor Minister Jackeline Muñoz reported on Monday.
This news follows the company’s dismissal last month of approximately 5,000 workers out of a total of 6,500 employees nationwide, in response to a strike at its banana plantations.
Chiquita Panama did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
On May 22, the company stated it had terminated workers in the western province of Bocas del Toro following what it described as an “unjustified abandonment of duties” at its banana plantations, which began in late April. At that time, the company reported losses amounting to US$75 million caused by the strike.
Thousands of banana sector workers have been on strike while Panamanians across the country protest various issues, including a social security reform that they believe will negatively impact their future pensions.
Central America
Guterres condemns judicial pursuit of anti-corruption officials in Guatemala
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated on Tuesday that Colombian lawyers Luz Adriana Camargo and Iván Velásquez, against whom Guatemala’s judiciary has issued arrest warrants, enjoy immunity related to their roles in the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG).
“(Guterres) reiterates that the international staff of the Commission, by virtue of the agreement between the United Nations and the Government of Guatemala, enjoys immunity from judicial proceedings regarding acts performed in the course of their mission,” said Guterres’ spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric during his daily press briefing.
Dujarric emphasized that this immunity continues even after their work with the Commission has ended, and reminded that the Guatemalan government committed to protecting the Commission’s personnel “from abuse, threats, retaliation, or acts of intimidation.”
He also conveyed that Guterres expressed concern about numerous reports indicating that those who sought to shed light on corruption cases and work to strengthen the rule of law and the justice system in Guatemala are being criminally prosecuted.
UK prepares court battle to ensure Chelsea sale money supports ukrainian humanitarian aid
Ukraine’s Security Service Damages Foundations of Crimea Bridge in Underwater Explosion
Bob Cai: Latin America can leverage China’s AI network experience to boost ICT infrastructure
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
-
Central America5 days agoNicaragua secures $214.9M in chinese loans for digital and port infrastructure projects
-
International4 days agoElon Musk slams NYT over drug allegations and Russiagate reporting
-
International5 days agoJoe Biden speaks on democracy and unity in first public appearance since cancer news
-
International2 days agoPope Leo XIV blesses Giro d’Italia riders in Vatican Ceremony
-
International5 days agoTaiwan responds to U.S. sanctions on Harvard with special loans for affected students
-
International4 days agoMilei to meet Pope, Netanyahu and Macron during june diplomatic tour
-
Central America2 days agoPanama seizes over 8,000 drug packages in containers bound for Europe
-
International1 day agoIran says it is studying the US proposal. U.S. for a nuclear agreement, but which will not accept “radical demands”
-
International15 hours agoUSNS Comfort begins 10-week humanitarian mission across six Latin American Nations
-
International5 days agoArgentine president Milei to visit Israel
-
International15 hours agoUK prepares court battle to ensure Chelsea sale money supports ukrainian humanitarian aid
-
International1 day agoThe regional director of UN Women hopes that the gender agenda in A will not go back. Latina
-
International15 hours agoUkraine’s Security Service Damages Foundations of Crimea Bridge in Underwater Explosion
-
Central America15 hours agoNicaragua threatens to expel diplomats for ‘Lecturing’ the Government
-
International1 day agoReverse for Sheinbaum with 13% participation in Mexico’s judicial election
-
Central America15 hours agoGuterres condemns judicial pursuit of anti-corruption officials in Guatemala
-
International1 day agoUkraine proposes a three-sto-one Zelenski-Trump-Putin meeting between June 20 and 30
-
International1 day ago
Electoral abstention, the route to which the majority opposition in Venezuela clung again
-
Central America15 hours agoChiquita Panama seeks approval to lay off remaining staff after mass dismissals
-
Central America15 hours agoPetro condemns guatemalan legal action against former colombian anti-corruption officials
-
International1 day agoA woman in the Czech Republic who woke up already in the coffin is mistakenly dead
-
International1 day agoSheinbaum pays tribute to cadets who died in a ship accident in the United States
-
International1 day agoThe president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, assures that he does not care if he is called a dictator
-
International15 hours agoBob Cai: Latin America can leverage China’s AI network experience to boost ICT infrastructure