International
Cuba rejects possible foreign military intervention in Haiti
October 7 |
The Government of Cuba rejected Thursday the military intervention approved by the United Nations against Haiti, while saying that the Caribbean country what it needs is “more and better assistance and international cooperation”.
A statement from the Cuban Foreign Ministry published Thursday recalls that Haiti “suffers a serious humanitarian and security situation, which exacerbates social instability and poverty caused by centuries of colonial and neocolonial plunder, underdevelopment and foreign intervention.”
Cuba’s statement comes after the United Nations Security Council last week approved a resolution authorizing the deployment of what it called a Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti, “whose troops may use force in its area of action”, according to the UN.
According to the Cuban Foreign Affairs Ministry, “this is not the first time that the Council mandates a military deployment in that country”, although it recognizes that “on this occasion, it responds to a request from the Haitian authorities”.
However, it emphasizes that “Cuba is in favor of peace and stability in Haiti, the first Latin American and Caribbean country to rise up against European colonialism, to achieve its independence and to abolish slavery in the Western Hemisphere”.
In that sense, the Cuban Foreign Ministry defends “the legitimate rights of its people to find a peaceful and sustainable solution to the enormous challenges it faces, based on full respect for its sovereignty.”
“The main pending task of the international community with Haiti is not to send a military contingent.”
The Cuban statement expresses that “the international community has an enormous moral debt” with Haiti, a country that, according to Havana “needs more financial resources for its development. It urgently requires more and better international assistance and cooperation, not only for its reconstruction, but also to advance in the sustainable development of the country”.
Cuba regrets that “many of the amounts of financial and material aid committed by the international community for Haiti […] were absorbed for their own expenses by innumerable foreign non-governmental organizations and program execution agencies” and that “on many occasions, the will of the Haitian authorities and the priorities they established were not respected”.
Cuba “reiterates the call to address the situation in Haiti with due attention to the structural, economic and social problems of the country” and supports “the call of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) for a long-term development strategy” in the Caribbean nation.
The Cuban statement also recalls that Havana “has cooperated with Haiti and concentrated its efforts in areas where they can have the greatest impact, such as public health, a key element of Haiti’s sustainability and social stability” and “has maintained, since 1988, a brigade of health professionals and technicians in Haiti, to unconditionally support its people, even during the impact of meteorological and seismic events, the cholera outbreak and the Covid-19 pandemic”.
Finally, he pointed out that “Cuba maintains its commitment of solidarity with Haiti and will continue to offer its unconditional help. The noble Haitian people need and deserve more resources and cooperation from the international community”.
International
Petro expresses concern over fatal shooting during mass protests in Lima
Colombian President Gustavo Petro voiced his “concern” on Thursday over recent events in Peru, following the death of a protester reportedly shot during a massive demonstration in Lima against the government and Congress.
“I must express my concern over the events in Peru. A young artist has been killed in citizens’ protests,” Petro wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
The Colombian leader also noted that in Peru, “a popularly elected president remains imprisoned without conviction,” referring to Pedro Castillo, who led the country from July 2021 to December 2022 until he was removed by Congress following a failed attempted coup.
“This is a blatant violation of the American Convention on Human Rights,” Petro stated, adding, “I hope Peru seeks social and political dialogue to legitimize its public institutions.”
On Wednesday, Peru experienced widespread protests in several cities, with the largest demonstration in Lima in recent years, driven by citizens’ concerns over corruption and public insecurity.
During the capital’s mobilization, the Ombudsman’s Office confirmed the death of Eduardo Ruiz, 32, and reported clashes that left over 100 injured, including 78 police officers and 24 protesters, as well as ten arrests.
The Attorney General’s Office, investigating Ruiz’s death “in the context of serious human rights violations,” confirmed that the protester was shot.
International
Peru’s interim president José Jerí refuses to resign after protester’s death in Lima
Peru’s interim president, José Jerí, stated Thursday that he has no intention of resigning from the post he assumed last Friday, following the removal of former president Dina Boluarte, despite growing unrest over the death of a protester during massive demonstrations in Lima on Wednesday.
“I will not resign,” Jerí declared outside the Government Palace in Lima, where he returned on foot after making a surprise visit to Congress headquarters alongside Prime Minister Ernesto Álvarez.
Earlier, after leaving the Legislative Palace, the president acknowledged that the country is going through “difficult times” and condemned what he described as “a small group attempting to impose an agenda different from the citizens’ expression of discontent.”
Jerí expressed condolences for the death of Eduardo Ruiz, a 32-year-old man who died during Wednesday’s protest against the government and Congress, amid growing anger over corruption and insecurity.
“We stand in solidarity with his family,” he said, without offering further details about the incident, which has sparked outrage among Peruvians.
The president also described the demonstrations as “a legitimate civic expression” that later turned violent due to “certain groups seeking to provoke chaos by exploiting a peaceful citizen movement.”
“In a state governed by the rule of law, the rights of both demonstrators and security forces must be protected,” Jerí emphasized, adding that “as a result of that situation, this unfortunate death occurred outside the main area where the protest was taking place.”
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.
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