Uribe squares up to supreme court and Liberals as parapolitical scandal deepens

Relations between Colombia’s President Alvaro Uribe and the supreme court took a sharp turn for the worse this week after revelations emerged in the press that two senior presidential advisers had received two emissaries from the top paramilitary leader, Don Berna, in the presidential palace. Uribe defended his advisers on the grounds that the supreme court was “trafficking in false witnesses”. He also took a pot shot at the leader of the opposition Partido Liberal (PL), César Gaviria. Mutual mudslinging ensued. The upshot is that the opposition is refusing to discuss political and judicial reforms which Uribe sent to congress late on 26 August.

Prefects defy Morales in Bolivia.
On 27 August the five opposition prefects from Santa Cruz, Beni, Pando, Tarija and Chuquisaca announced that they would not permit a referendum on the constitution to take place in their departments. The declaration by the prefects is likely to undermine their position further in their ongoing battle with the government of President Evo Morales. The decision was announced at a meeting of the opposition prefects’ bloc, Consejo Nacional Democrático, held in Villa Montes, Tarija and followed an ultimatum issued by Morales the previous day that if the prefects continued to defy attempts at dialogue, he would call the referendum on the draft constitution by supreme decree to speed up the process.

Honduras opts for Alba

Traditionally one of the US’ most steadfast allies in Central America, Honduras would appear to be shifting its allegiances after President Manuel Zelaya announced plans to join the Venezuelan-led trade and integration initiative, Alternativa Bolivariana de las Américas (Alba). Honduras signed up to Petrocaribe, Venezuela’s oil-supply pact in February [RC-08-03]. Zelaya has also upped his anti-US rhetoric, in a manner reminiscent of US bête noire, President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela. The president’s proposal to join Alba has yet to be ratified by congress and has proved divisive within the country.

Fernández suffers humiliating defeat

The government of President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner suffered a resounding setback last month after the senate unexpectedly rejected its tax reform package. So far, the defeat has only claimed two political casualties: the cabinet chief, Alberto Fernández, and the agriculture minister, Javier de Urquiza. President Fernández continues to defend her policies and support unpopular figures in her administration, so there would seem to be little promise of a change in direction.

New constitution divides Ecuador

Ecuador’s 20th constitution since independence was finally approved on 24 July, after eight months of deliberation by the 130-strong national constituent assembly. Its ratification, by 94 votes to 32, was marked by the same polarisation and controversy that have characterised the process of its creation. President Rafael Correa and his party, Acuerdo País (AP), cannot yet claim victory: a referendum on 28 September will have the final say over whether the new constitution becomes law.

Killings accelerate again

The Mexican government has a major PR problem: it is failing to show that it is winning the war against violent gangsters. The government does have a decent story to tell but ministers are not articulating it. They are allowing the media to imply that the forces of law and order are on the retreat as the death toll mounts.

The 1 March raid on Ecuador: The beginning of the end

The ramifications of the 1 March raid by Colombia on the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (Farc) camp just inside Ecuador are still developing. This report is being written and edited within weeks of President Alvaro Uribe’s stunning success in securing, without bloodshed, the release of Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other hostages held in captivitity for years by the Farc. Our view is that the 1 March raid was decisive in signalling to the world that the Farc would be defeated. The 2 July rescue of Betancourt is proof that is now happening.