The mainstream media finally noticed that Colombia journalist Hollman Morris was denied a visa by the US. A week or so later, not too bad. With more coverage comes more details, and this looks pretty bad. From the WaPo, "He was ineligible, U.S. officials told him, under the "terrorist activities" section of the USA Patriot Act." Really, the Patriot Act? Mother fuckers. I mean the only evidence of any "terrorist activities" is Uribe calling him "an accomplice to terrorism" last year. Amazing what a US ally can get though, right?
On the same subject, Forero, the author of the WaPo story linked above, makes the same point both maladjusted and others made when the story first broke, "According to documents prosecutors have made public, the DAS had begun a campaign to discredit Morris by tying him to the FARC. Among the strategies were plans to "press for the suspension of the visa." I thought the US cut ties with the DAS though? Hmmm. At least the "DAS's possible role in providing the United States with information on Morris has raised concerns among some Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill."
To Panama, where the latest seems to be an agreement being reached between dem gov'ment and striking workers. Official numbers have two killed with plenty more injured over the last few days. Reports indicate that the strikers have secured a temporary suspension of at least part of the law that caused all this. Check out Bananama Republic for some background and commentary, as this isn't getting the attention it deserves in the eng. lang world.
Also on Honduras, a new documentary that looks worth a watch. head over to Quotha, where you'll find the appropriate links.
Finally, big ups to Spain. Also to Uruguay's Diego Forlan, who was my favorite player to watch during this years Cup, and took home the Golden Ball as the tourney's best player. So we'll end this with a video breakdown of each of Forlan's five goals. The best one's are 3-5, but watch them all:
I have kept up with the local situation in Panama due to the fact that I hold dual citizenship there. You are correct about the English language media, although the Latin American media have been ignoring it as well. Martinelli, the Uribe of Panama, had a lw crammed through the Asamblea known as Ley 30 or the Ley Chorizo. Basically, it was an anti-union(that is such an understatement), anti-environment, anti-civil liberties, pro-business bill crammed into one. Just the fact that it was all crammed into one makes it illegal under the Panamanian constitution. The Anti-union parts are more that that. They are designed to dissolve the union contracts already in place and prevent any unions from organizing in the future. The anti-environment part is that it grants Martinelli the right to wave environmental impact statements for any private business he wants to and all government programs are now exempt. The anti-civil liberties section gives police the right to maim or kill anyone for any reason with impunity. The think about it is that it was crammed so full of this wingnut bull that no one in the Asamblea had a chance to even read the bill before Martinelli's supporters called for a vote on the floor. They sold it to the rest of the Asamblea as a 'minor tweaking' of some laws and mostly to allow some reconstruction and modification of Tocumen International Airport. So it passed. The country is on the verge of civil war right now and I am scared to death for my friends and family there.
I have kept up with the local situation in Panama due to the fact that I hold dual citizenship there. You are correct about the English language media, although the Latin American media have been ignoring it as well. Martinelli, the Uribe of Panama, had a lw crammed through the Asamblea known as Ley 30 or the Ley Chorizo. Basically, it was an anti-union(that is such an understatement), anti-environment, anti-civil liberties, pro-business bill crammed into one. Just the fact that it was all crammed into one makes it illegal under the Panamanian constitution. The Anti-union parts are more that that. They are designed to dissolve the union contracts already in place and prevent any unions from organizing in the future. The anti-environment part is that it grants Martinelli the right to wave environmental impact statements for any private business he wants to and all government programs are now exempt. The anti-civil liberties section gives police the right to maim or kill anyone for any reason with impunity.
ReplyDeleteThe think about it is that it was crammed so full of this wingnut bull that no one in the Asamblea had a chance to even read the bill before Martinelli's supporters called for a vote on the floor. They sold it to the rest of the Asamblea as a 'minor tweaking' of some laws and mostly to allow some reconstruction and modification of Tocumen International Airport. So it passed. The country is on the verge of civil war right now and I am scared to death for my friends and family there.