WINTER 2019-20 PUBLISHED BY MARIN INTERFAITH TASK FORCE ON THE AMERICAS

“The US Appears to be Destined by Providence to Plague the Americas with Misery in the Name of Freedom.” -Simón Bolívar, 1829 LATIN AMERICA: 2019, Year of Revolt of the Dispossessed

was also arrested months later on a ficti- tious assault charge. Colombia receives more US military aid than any country in the hemisphere. It leads the world in cocaine production and extra-judicial killings of journalists, union leaders and environmentalists. The government has repeatedly broken the 2016 peace agreement with the FARC. Death squads targeted former FARC militants, and some of them have returned to the guerrilla struggle. But rightist President Iván Duque‟s party suffered defeats in October‟s regional and municipal elections. Left-leaning Claudia López became the first woman and first lesbian mayor of Bogotá. On entering office in 2017, Ecuador‟s President Lenín Moreno turned sharply to the right, betraying his own party. He had been vice president under leftist Rafael Correa who campaigned for him. Moreno jailed his own vice president and put out an arrest warrant for Correa Bolivians fight back against coup repression. Photo: Ronaldo Schemidt (now in exile). Moreno delivered Wik- ileaks‟ founder Julian Assange from asylum in Ecuador‟s London embassy By Roger Harris and Roger Stoll, Task coup failed. Massive popular demons- Force Board members trations rallied in support of the Maduro continued on page 2 government. In October, despite US ire, In 2018, National Security Advisor the legitimate government of Nicolás John Bolton invoked the 1823 Monroe Maduro was voted onto the UN Human Doctrine, claiming all territory south of Rights Council. CONTENTS the Rio Grande as the US “backyard”; in In Washington, North American soli- 2019, the dispossessed revolted against darity activists dubbed “Embassy Pro- this barbarism of imperialism and neo- tectors” blocked an embassy takeover by Latin America 2, 3 liberalism. Guaidó‟s collaborators. With the permis- 3, 10 The Andean Nations: US sanctions sion of the Venezuelan government and Bolivia against began in 2004 and in defense of international law, they pro- Haiti 4 now constitute a total blockade. In 2017- tected the embassy for 37 days, until Cuba 5 2018, sanctions took 40,000 lives. In expelled by the US Secret Service. For Honduras 6 January obscure Venezuelan politician their good work, , Juan Guaidó, acting under White House Kevin Zeese, Adrienne Pine and David Mexico 7, 9 tutelage, declared himself Venezuela’s Paul are being tried on bogus charges. Action Alert 12 president and was recognized by the US They face stiff penalties. Journalist Max and a handful of allied nations. Yet the Blumenthal, who covered the events,

L A T I N A M E R I C A continued from front page Chileans launched a general strike Cuba were always bipartisan projects, against austerity. Over a million in the and the blockade continues to be into the hands of the British police. He streets chanted “neoliberalism was born tightened. Yet Cubans show no sign of took Ecuador out of ALBA, the regional in Chile and will die here.” Police killed capitulating. In April, President Miguel organization founded by Venezuela and two dozen and jailed or disappeared Diaz Canel presided over ratification of Cuba, recognized the US puppet thousands. Right-wing billionaire Presi- the new constitution, in a strikingly “President” Guaidó, and put a US dent Sebastián Piñera suspended the rule democratic process involving virtually airbase on the Galápagos. He forgave of law with a “state of exception,” under every Cuban adult, including 780,000 $4.5 billion of corporate debt, then took the constitution fashioned by former suggestions, 9,600 proposals and a $10 billion International Monetary dictator Augusto Pinochet. Despite the 133,000 community meetings. Fund (IMF) loan, requiring austeri- Puerto Rico and Cuba were seized ty measures. The indigenous CO- by the US in the 1898 Spanish- NAIE organization led mass pro- American war; Puerto Rico remains a tests, forcing Moreno to rescind poverty-ridden colony. Hurricane some of the measures and tempo- Maria worsened its plight. Mass rarily flee the capital. protest and a general strike forced In April 2019, Peru’s former governor Ricardo Roselló to resign. President Alan García shot himself In Haiti, a determined social move- before he could be arrested for ment brought Jean-Bertrand Aristide corruption. Former presidents briefly to the presidency after three Alberto Fujimori and Alejandro decades of brutal US-backed Duvalier Toledo also faced prison. Former dictatorships. A US-authored coup President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, ousted and exiled Aristide in 2004. ex-US citizen and ex-IMF official, Since then, US-backed presidents have resigned in the face of corruption imposed socio-economic conditions and election fraud allegations. even less humane than under the dicta- The current moderate-right torships. President Martín Vizcarra Youth led uprising in Chile. Photo: Luis Hidalgo After the 2010 earthquake, billions dissolved Congress; Congress in disaster relief and Venezuelan Pet- impeached the executive. While elites repression, the people remain in the rocaribe funds nearly all disappeared squabbled, mass anti-corruption protests streets. into the pockets of corrupt politicians. decried the dysfunctionality of decadent Argentina’s President Mauricio Protests continued, calling for a new neoliberalism. Macri imposed textbook neoliberal republic of justice and democracy, with Bolivia boasted the hemisphere‟s economics to make payments on its $56 the chant: chavire chodyè a (“overturn greatest economic growth and greatest billion IMF loan and the economy failed the cauldron”). For months the people of reduction in poverty. Tragically, despite spectacularly, with 55% inflation, food Haiti have been in perpetual protest -- or because of -- this success, a US- shortages and capital flight. Even the against the hated US-sponsored Presi- backed military coup ousted President middle class joined the uprisings of the dent Jovenel Moïse. Evo Morales in November after he won dispossessed. Central America: In Honduras, pro- re-election the month before, followed In October, center-left President Al- tests have continued against the corrupt, by the illegal government launching a berto Fernández and Vice-President narco-state of US-backed President Juan wave of repression against the indige- Cristina Fernández were elected. They Orlando Hernández, unindicted co- nous and poor, killing many. will take Argentina out of the regional conspirator in his brother‟s US cocaine The Southern Cone: Brazil has the anti-Venezuela Lima Group, tipping the smuggling conviction. One sign of hope largest economy in Latin America. It‟s hemispheric balance of power leftward. is the release from prison of political the “B” of the BRICS (with Russia, In- Daniel Martínez, presidential activist Edwin Espinal, aided by an in- dia, China, and South Africa) which candidate of Uruguay‟s ruling center-left ternational solidarity campaign. forms a counter-weight to US imperial- party, Frente Amplio (FA), won a In Guatemala, the dispossessed rose ism. Jair Bolsonaro is president solely plurality in the October election but lost in protest against the rightist, neoliberal because of the 2016 parliamentary coup the runoff, ending FA‟s fifteen years in rule of President Jimmy Morales. Tens ousting leftist President Dilma Roussef office. of thousands marched on Guatemala and the fraudulent imprisonment of al- The Caribbean: The 1959 Cuban City, including the indigenous Xinkas. lied predecessor, Lula Ignacio da Silva, Revolution ousted US-backed dictator Scars remain from the US-authored dirty who would have run and beaten Bolso- Fulgencio Batista and in 1961 declared wars of the 1980s, which targeted the naro in the presidential race. itself socialist. Under President indigenous, taking 200,000 lives. Bolsonaro dismantled social welfare Kennedy, the US invaded Cuba but El Salvador, another victim of US programs, cut government jobs, lavished failed to overthrow its government. dirty wars, saw the first hundred days of favors on multinational corporations, Kennedy then imposed an embargo (now President Nayib Bukele‟s administration and blamed everyone for the Amazon a blockade), intending to starve the bring a shift to the US-favored neoliber- fires except his anti-environmental poli- Cuban people into renouncing their own al right, away from the politics of the cies. Inevitably, the popular sectors rose. government and submitting to US previous FMLN administration. Lula is now out of prison. The struggle domination. continues. US regime-change operations against continued on page 3

2 ● Marin Task Force on the Americas ● Box 925, Larkspur, CA 94977 ● 415-578-7930 ● www.taskforceamericas.org ● Winter 2019-20 L A T I N A M E R I C A continued from page 2 After decades of right-wing rule and from reaching the US southern border or serial election theft, left-of-center An- face tariffs that will wreck the Mexican Bukele seeks to privatize public health, drés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) economy. Earlier, carefully phrased water and utility services. He‟s slashed became president last December. His threats issued from the US-dominated public employee jobs and closed the MORENA party swept local and region- IMF, warned AMLO not to resist ne- Cuban-sponsored vi- oliberal privatization. As nineteenth sion clinics of Misión century Mexican President Porfirio Milagro which treated Díaz lamented: “Poor Mexico, so far those who couldn‟t from God and so close to the United otherwise afford it. States.” Invariably the US A New Year’s message: 2019 corporate press ignores brought a hard right turn to Brazil and US imperial practices Ecuador and now the Bolivia coup, yet that produce the repres- the resistance to imperialist sion, violence and in- neoliberalism grew. Regime-change humane governance operations failed in Venezuela, Cuba that drive the asylum and Nicaragua. US-preferred seekers out of Guate- candidates suffered losses in Mexico, mala, Honduras and El Colombia and Bolivia (hence the Salvador. coup). The US was weakened by In contrast, 2019 Russia and especially China, now the was a year of hope and Lula released from prison. Photo: AFP second largest trading partner with recovery in leftist- Latin America and the Caribbean. governed Nicaragua, Neoliberalism is not dead but dying. which successfully repelled a violent al offices with a broad social program Addressing the 120-nation Non- US regime-change operation in 2018. addressing poverty, inequality and cor- Aligned Movement (one-third of which Unlike their Central American ruption. AMLO dissented from the anti- are sanctioned by Washington), Cuban neighbors, few Nicaraguans left for the Venezuelan Lima Group and gave polit- President Díaz-Canel urged: “There are US, instead staying to rebuild their ical asylum to Bolivian president Evo more of us. Let us do more.” country. Morales. North America: Mexico is the se- Trump issued AMLO an ultimatum: Source: Task Force on the Americas, cond largest economy in Latin America. stop Central American asylum-seekers November 28, 2019 BOLIVIA: TFA Statement on the US-backed Coup The Task Bolivia. We support the efforts of the stage was set for the coup of November Force on the Bolivian people to restore constitutional 10, when Evo was forced to “resign” by Americas order and return President Evo Morales the military who threatened to kill him (TFA) con- to office. We call on the community of and his followers. demns the nations to refuse to recognize the coup Many of the coup leaders were US-backed government and to expel the current trained at the US School of the Americas military coup government of Bolivia from multi- and have connections to US police, mili- coup against national bodies such as the United Na- tary, and politicians. The right-wing the demo- tions until democracy is restored. neighboring governments of Brazil and cratically Morales was the first indigenous pres- Argentina have also been implicated in elected gov- ident of the largely indigenous coun- the coup. The self-proclaimed and argua- ernment of try. During the 14 years of his leadership bly fascistic coup President Jeanine in the Movement Towards , Añez smeared indigenous communities Task Force on the Americas Report Bolivia had the highest economic growth as "satanic" in tweets that she later delet- is published quarterly by the Marin rate and the greatest poverty reduction in ed. Meanwhile, Morales is in asylum in Interfaith Task Force on the Americas. the Western Hemisphere. Bolivia be- Mexico and the indigenous and other came a world champion for indigenous poor continue to protest in the face of Newsletter Committee: and poor people and a leader in the cli- lethal repression. mate justice movement, aligning with the The TFA urges constituents to ask progressive governments of Cuba, Vene- their Congress members to sign on to Editorial: Bill Hackwell Carol Costa zuela, and Nicaragua. Representative Hank Johnson‟s “Dear Dale Sorensen Morales was the fairly re-elected Colleague” letter to US Secretary of president on October 20. Because the US State Pompeo, condemning the Admin- -backed candidate lost, the US called istration‟s support for [the Bolivian] mil- Production: Alicia Jrapko Evo‟s election “fraudulent.” A compliant itary-backed regime and silence on vio- Organization of American States (OAS) lent repression [which] contributes to the Photography: Bill Hackwell disseminated misleading information on spiraling crisis. the validity of the election. Thus, the Distribution: Faye Hinze Marin Task Force on the Americas ● Box 925, Larkspur, CA 94977 ● 415-578-7930 ● www.taskforceamericas.org ● Winter 2019-20 ● 3 T H E C A R I B B E A N HAITI: On the Anniversary of the Lasaline Massacre the People Rage on against Moïse

Despite the massacre and eign governments promote free trade and the ongoing protests, the Unit- open markets. International businesses ed States continues to back reap the gains of natural resources and Moïse, who appears to pro- force abusive working conditions and mote US economic interests little pay. International investment is at the expense of the general encouraged. Businesses move their pro- Haitian public, with large duction to nations in which poor wages, sources of funding for the poor working conditions and poor envi- Haitian National Police. De- ronmental standards thrive. As many spite the recent mainstream scholars argue, the neoliberal economic media covering the ongoing model leads to corporate gains at the protests, the ‟ expense of public investment and people response remains to be seen. mired in poverty. The people of these With increased public outcry nations and their interests are left out of in the US, Congress could be the equation. The leftist government of incentivized to reexamine Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the first demo- By Jonathan Molina, research appren- foreign policy that currently creates a cratically elected president of Haiti, was tice at the LatinxAmerica Research on double standard in regard to democracy corrupted by a string of US-backed Democracy project at UC Berkeley and US economic interests. coups. While supported by the people of For example, in Venezuela, contrary Haiti, Aristide was detested by the pow- As protests demanding the resignation of to Haiti, United States intervention cur- erful and rich that gained from the ne- President Moïse in Haiti rage on this rently imposes a seemingly coercive oliberal economic model that they advo- month, leaving at least 18 dead and close economic embargo to intentionally cated. to 200 injured, it is worth remembering weaken the government of Nicolás Ma- Understanding these truths allows for the devastating massacre that took place duro. Despite less fraudulent elections, the realization that we should have ex- because of similar political opposition less government-backed violence and far pected the United States‟ silence on the almost one year ago today. Beginning on more popular support of the government, massacre of La Saline, as well as the November 1st, 2018 in an impoverished the US is leading a campaign to seem- ongoing protests. It is in line with the neighborhood of Port-au-Prince known ingly create an undemocratic regime United States‟ long-held neoliberal eco- as La Saline, estimates are that hundreds change in Venezuela. Juan Guaidó, the nomic and geopolitical interests, which of Haitians were murdered or injured, opposition leader whom the US backs is hard to change. The ruling of the with hundreds more displaced. La Sa- and financially supports, has never stood PHTK and the suppression of the La- line, a long-time stronghold of the oppo- for a presidential election, has been valas opposition puts money in the same sitional Fanmi Lavalas Political Organi- linked to paramilitaries and is widely corporate pockets that fuel campaign zation, has been severely damaged, en- discredited within the country as a viable contributions in the US. Only now, with during the destruction of infrastructures candidate. There have already been sev- the continued protests in Haiti and the such as schools, homes and hospitals. eral failed coup attempts against the Ma- loss of lives and injuries imposed on the Scant media coverage mostly portrayed duro government in Venezuela, and all protesters, is the mainstream media cov- the violence as gang-related. The people Venezuelan assets have been frozen by ering their demands. While the demands of La Saline, however, as documented by the United States. Crippling economic of the Haitian people should have been first-hand observers, sternly argue that policy against Venezuela has deeply recognized much earlier, it is critical for the killings were ordered by the Parti harmed the people that the US claims to the international public to listen to the Haïtien Tèt Kale, the ruling party of Hai- protect. If the US were to be true to its Haitian protests and understand the harm ti, in association with the police. The often-stated goal of advancing democra- the current Haitian government, backed PHTK, which came to power due to cy and protecting the world‟s poor, Hai- by foreign interests such as the US is elections that were widely acknowledged ti‟s government should be the focus of inflicting on its people. Popular narra- to be corrupt, has been involved in nu- human rights intervention to defend un- tives must be challenged reflecting the merous other corruption scandals and armed civilians against repressive gov- voices of those who are deeply affected. alleged human rights abuses. It is simply ernment violence. As these cases under- The people being attacked and waging no wonder, then, that the people of Haiti score, the promotion of democracy and protests in Haiti must be heard. And the are taking to the streets to protest this the protection of the world‟s poor is not US Congress should be deterred by its government. Infrastructure is being dam- well supported by the US. If it were oth- constituents from choosing to fiscally aged, government-sponsored police are erwise, the realities on the ground in support the repressive Haitian police engaging in repressive and violent be- Haiti and Venezuela would differ greatly and, by proxy, the repressive political havior, and there is little economic op- from those which we see today. regime. portunity, which effectively limits social Rather, the United States government mobility. Democracy appears to be deep- seeks to strongly promote the neoliberal Source: The Daily Californian on Octo- ly undermined to the point of illegitima- economic model. Under this model, for- ber 25, 2019 cy.

4 ● Marin Task Force on the Americas ● Box 925, Larkspur, CA 94977 ● 415-578-7930 ● www.taskforceamericas.org ● Winter 2019-20 T H E C A R I B B E A N CUBA: Hundreds in Solidarity with Latin America

Medicine (ELAM). Other commissions met at the Palace of the Convention, the site of the conference. At ELAM arriving buses from the conference were greeted by lines of medical students in their white coats. After welcoming plenary delegates, they divided up by region to develop pro- posals for action against the blockade. The third and last day brought end- less emotions as participants heard a declaration of Solidarity with the Cuban Revolution and a final declaration of the Anti-Imperialist Conference, including proposals for an action plan that in- cludes establishing a common commu- nication strategy as a weapon of action for the coming months. Participants were nurtured with three days of positive energy to return to their respective places and continue the strug- gle for a better world. But the symbolic culmination of the three-day experience was the presence at the closing ceremo- Raul Castro and the President's Nicolas Maduro and Miguel Diaz Canal. ny of Raúl Castro Ruz, first secretary of Photo: Bill Hackwell the Central Committee of the Com- munist Party of Cuba, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez and Ven- ezuelan President Nicolás Maduro Mo- embracing with love and tenderness all ros. By Alicia Jrapko, Task Force Board of those in attendance. President Maduro spoke first, and member Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Ro- brought applause and loud chanting

dríguez Parrilla started his speech by from delegates when he shouted, “We On November 1st to 3rd, more than saying: "You can feel in this room the hear him, we feel him, Fidel is present 1,350 delegates from 86 countries repre- deep expression of our peoples and soli- here!” He talked with optimism of the senting 789 organizations came to Ha- darity with Cuba…There will be no future: “With the strong resistance vana to participate in the Anti- sustainable development without the we‟ve had, we can say today, towards imperialist Conference of Solidarity for right to the development of the countries the end of 2019, that a new geopolitical Democracy and Against Neoliberalism. of the South, nor can it be done without situation is developing in the region and Delegates traveled from all continents, social justice.” a new wave is rising to face neoliberal- particularly from Latin America and the During the second day of the Confer- ism.” Caribbean. The conference was orga- ence, a special event about the struggle In talking about the US Administra- nized by the Cuban Institute of Friend- to free the beloved former President of tion, Maduro described it and the re- ship with the Peoples (ICAP), and the Brazil, Luis Ignacio Lula da Silva Lula, gional right as being stupid for blaming Central Organization of Cuban Trade took place with the participation of a him and Raúl for the events in Brazil, Unions (CTC), along with the Cuban large delegation from his homeland. Chile and Ecuador. “No! It is only the Chapter of Social Movements and the They were presented with boxes of IMF that is the one to be blamed, to- Continental Conference for Democracy thousands of petitions signed by Cubans gether with its neoliberal clients. The and against Neoliberalism. demanding Lula‟s freedom. ones they are blaming are searching for This historic conference took place Other constant and heartfelt expres- alternatives to face those wild neoliberal at a decisive moment for all progressive sions of support of countries in struggle, policies of hunger and misery.” forces that resist neoliberal policies as including the independence of Puerto “If there is anything we learned from the intention of the United States to re- Rico, echoed in the convention center Chávez, it was to be brave. I always conquer Latin America and take over all along with pronouncements in solidarity remember when he came to Cuba to its natural resources aided by servile with the right to self-determination of support Fidel during the worst of the oppressive governments and local oli- the peoples of Haiti, Palestine and the Special Period. More than a few told garchs becomes increasingly clear. Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. On Chávez, “Don‟t go to Cuba or you will In a moving opening presentation, the second day delegates participated in lose credibility”! with songs and verses, the children of six different commissions. Solidarity Cuba‟s National Theater group "La Col- with Cuba and other just causes took continued on page 6 menita” inaugurated the Conference place at the Latin America School of

Marin Task Force on the Americas ● Box 925, Larkspur, CA 94977 ● 415-578-7930 ● www.taskforceamericas.org ● Winter 2019-20 ● 5 T H E C A R I B B E A N continued from page 5 darity with the Cuban Revolution, you have written: „The peoples of the But Chávez responded, „Fidel world need the example of Cuba‟, and is the light for the continent, I am he recalled Marti‟s statement that going!‟ and here he was 25 years maintains its relevance: “Whoever ago. A dose of courage is needed rises today with Cuba rises for all time. to pave the ways of truth. Madu- Thanks for saying it and doing it!” ro finished his talk to thunder- Venezuela and Cuba are at the cen- ous applause when he said, ter of the most vicious attacks and lies “Good and better times are rising by US imperialism and their lackeys, in Latin America. Let‟s have and the significance of having the his- enough spiritual strength to con- toric leader of the Cuban Revolution tinue pushing in our century and and the current presidents of both then no one will be able to take it countries together on the same stage from us.” US medical students getting free education in Cuba. was not lost on the audience. The pow- Following President Maduro, Photo: Bill Hackwell erful speeches of both presidents sent a Cuban President Miguel Diaz- message of strength to the struggling Canel spoke. He described the discourse And surely he will not be the last to fail, people of the world and at the same time of Trump “as aggressive and dismissive because history can only be changed by a message of defiance to the neo-liberal of all those who do not share his ap- the people. Fidel said many times that policies of the Empire of the North. De- proach. The decisions that he makes and the lie was the main adversary to be de- spite all the attacks and attempts at eco- twits, affect millions with the most ab- feated in politics and that telling the truth nomic strangulation that both countries horrent behavior. He talks about social- is the first duty of every revolutionary. are having to endure, here they were ism without the slightest idea of what it This is one of our fundamental missions standing strong, without fear, surrounded means. And he orders the end of any as practitioners of revolutionary politics. by cheering allies. process or political program that intends The first enemy to cut down is the lie to overcome prevailing injustice as if he and even more so, the imperialist lie.” Source: Task Force on the Americas, held the course of history in his hands.” He addressed all delegates by saying: November 7, 2019 “He is not the first emperor to try this. “In your beautiful Declaration of Soli- HONDURAS: US Implicated in Supporting Drug Trafficking By Karen Spring, researcher and hu- drug trafficking activities but also the Honduran military, police and state man rights activist, currently the Hon- touched on how TH, Juan Orlando Her- intelligence institutions, the Alliance for duras-based Coordinator for the Hon- nández (JOH), the public prosecutors Prosperity, USAID, and more. Diplo- duras Solidarity Network (HSN) office, the judiciary, and most important- matically and politically, the US sup- ly, the Honduran military and police ported the two National Party govern- On October 18 in a court- protected them from prosecution, assist- ments under Porfirio “Pepe” Lobo who room, Juan Antonio “Tony” Hernández, ed in trafficking drugs, and acted as as- is named as co-conspirator 3 (CC3) in the brother of Honduran President Juan sassins to eliminate drug rival. the same New York drug case and sup- Orlando Hernández, was found guilty of One of the principal arguments of ported two (illegal) Presidential terms of drug trafficking. After nine days of trial, lead federal prosecutor Emil J. Bove was co-conspirator 4 (CC4), current Hondu- five collaborating witnesses, and five that since 2010, Honduras has been fully ran President Juan Orlando Hernández pieces of physical evidence, the New converted into a narco-state involved in (JOH). York Southern District court convicted “state-sponsored drug trafficking.” The Under President Obama, the US Con- Tony Hernández for drug trafficking, level of institutional support in Honduras gress appropriated more than $2 billion use and possession of weapons to traffic for drug trafficking, according to Bove, in aid through CARSI to assist the re- drugs, and lying to US federal prosecu- went far beyond just „a few bad apples‟ gion‟s law enforcement institutions and tors. In a suit and tie and in the presence in the system. justice systems. The Trump administra- of his mother, Hernández received the These powerful statements by a US tion has maintained Obama‟s security news that he faces up to three life sen- federal prosecutor have consequences framework for Central America but has tences in prison. not just for Honduras but for US foreign focused more on diverting migrants The conviction of the brother of a policy in Honduras. Throughout the trial, away from the border and ramping up sitting President in many ways is historic a huge pink elephant sat unacknowl- border security. but the most impactful element of the edged in the corner of the courtroom. Some of that $2 billion went into trial was the damning evidence and The US support for the construction supporting a Special Commission for the information revealed about the role of and maintenance of a narco-state in Cleanup and Transformation of the Hon- Juan Orlando Hernández and Honduran Honduras increased after the 2009 US duran National Police as scandal after state institutions in drug trafficking. Five and Canadian-backed coup d‟état. US confessed drug traffickers gave testimo- support for “state-sponsored drug traf- Continued on page 7 ny at Tony Hernández‟s (or TH for his ficking,” intentional or not, came in initials he used to stamp his cocaine) many forms: the Central American Re- trial as part of their plea deal with feder- gional Security Initiative (CARSI) that al prosecutors. All five outlined TH‟s includes training and financial support to

6 ● Marin Task Force on the Americas ● Box 925, Larkspur, CA 94977 ● 415-578-7930 ● www.taskforceamericas.org ● Winter 2019-20 C E N T R A L A N D N O R T H A M E R I C A continued from page 6 rent Minister of Security, met with drug traffickers scandal, assassinations, and and, according to testi- organized criminal activities mony in TH‟s trial, re- linked to the police, became ceived bribes and pay- public in Honduras long be- ments from drug traffick- fore TH was indicted. The ers. This is not surprising Special Commission is still since JOH or CC4 nomi- active today but the TH trial nated Pacheco as Securi- helped illuminate the partial if ty Ministry who was not total failure of the efforts the official that swore in to clean up the police in Hon- the members of the Po- duras. lice Purge Commission. Most importantly, the con- Of course CC4 (JOH) viction of TH in New York would not place anyone helps North Americans make on the Commission that an even stronger argument for Craig Faller, head of US Southern Command, former US Ambassador to could threaten his or his US Congressional support for Honduras, Heide Fulton and Honduran President Juan Hernandez. brother TH‟s interests in H.R. 1945 or the Berta maintaining key allies in Cáceres Human Rights in the National Police that Honduras Act. On top of the human through judicial action all organized promoted their drug cartel interests. rights abuses against journalists, campe- criminal groups operating in the police US aid to Honduras over the last 10 sinos, environmentalists, and land defen- force. For example, confessed drug traf- years has not made Honduras a safer ders in Honduras, we can now easily ficking police officer and witness in the place for its citizens despite this being argue, with evidence and names, that the TH case, Geovani Rodríguez was re- one of CARSI‟s main objectives. Until US through its security aid and training, moved from the police by the Special the Honduran police and military act in is supporting an essential element of the Commission without a judicial process the interests of Hondurans and not drug “state-sponsored drug trafficking” that investigates and prosecutes those cartels, all US security to the Honduran machine in Honduras. accused of crimes. Without an accounta- government should be suspended. All US The US government through the State bility process, he and many other police security aid to Honduras must be stopped Department‟s Bureau of International can stay active in organized crime and until drug traffickers and those that pro- Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs utilize influence peddling to continue mote their interests are removed from (INL) paid the salaries of the two Hondu- working with drug traffickers. Many of- key government positions. While CC4 rans who worked on the Special Com- ficers who were fired like Rodriguez did remains in the Presidential palace, Hon- mission created in 2016. These men similarly. They continued illicit activities durans will not see an end to impunity worked alongside General Julian and/or continue their careers as paid as- and corruption. Despite Trump‟s border Pacheco, a member of the five-person sassins. As ex-Defense Minister Edmun- security efforts, US supported “state- Special Police Purge Commission, do Orellana told Honduran press, “a large sponsored drug trafficking” in Honduras supposedly to remove police that are quantity of assassins in this country come that terrorizes the population will mean corrupt or involved in organized crime. from elements purged from the National that Hondurans will continue to flee to This Commission has been criticized Police.” the US southern borders. extensively for its lack of transparency But even the highest levels of the Spe- and public accountability and its failure cial Commission have been linked to Source: aquiabajo.com/blog. On No- to prosecute police officers and dismantle drug interests. General Pacheco, the cur- vember 28, 2019

MEXICO: How Trump Forced them to do his “Dirty Work”

By Carolina Dutton, Task Force Board October 2018 it was met with riot police member AMLO proposed a “Marshall Plan” sent by then president Peña Nieto. In of cooperation between Mexico, the contrast soon after he took office AMLO Mexico‟s new president Manuel López Central American countries with high met the January 2019 caravan with hu- Obrador (AMLO) laid out a plan for migration (Guatemala, El Salvador, and manitarian visas; 12,000 visas were is- humanitarian migration before he took Honduras), and the USA. He proposed sued in two weeks. Mexico was not pre- office last December. He clearly stated, investing $30 billion in megaprojects in pared, was soon overwhelmed and had “Mexico will not do the dirty work of Mexico and Central America which to stop issuing more visas. Mexico has the US against migrants. Migration would provide jobs in people‟s own not opened new offices to process asy- should not be seen as a matter of milita- countries and he promised visas and lum claims even though the number of rization of borders. Instead its causes work permits for migrants to work in applicants has increased 200% from last must be attended to, above all offering Mexico. year. better conditions of life to people so that When the first large migrant caravan they are not forced to migrate.” arrived at Mexico‟s southern border in continued on page 8

Marin Task Force on the Americas ● Box 925, Larkspur, CA 94977 ● 415-578-7930 ● www.taskforceamericas.org ● Winter 2019-20 ● 7 N O R T H A M E R I C A continued from page 7 deterrent by providing some jobs, but only low Pressure on Mexico wage jobs ....This is only from the Trump admin- for the benefit of multi- istration to stop mi- national corporations. It grants from reaching the is not for us indigenous US-Mexico border has peoples.” thwarted AMLO‟s hu- In May Trump threat- manitarian promises. ened Mexico with tariffs It is not only Central if the country didn‟t re- Americans that come duce migration through through Mexico on their Mexico to the US. AM- way to the US. For LO agreed to reduce mi- months Africans and gration within 45 days. Haitians have been pro- He explained his deci- testing in Tapachula, sion, “What will we gain Chiapas. These protests with 25% tariffs? The are a response to raids economy will collapse. in the streets and parks We don‟t want a com- of Tapachula where mercial war with the immigration authorities US.” and the National Guard One of AMLO‟s strat- have been detaining Migrants at Mexico's Southern border. Photo: ABC news egies for meeting them. The demonstra- Trump‟s demand has tors have been chanting; been the deployment “Down with racism,” “Liberty for Afri- well as migrants coming through Mexi- throughout Mexico of the new controver- can migrants.” “The life of a human be- co‟s southern border. These projects are sial National Guard ostensibly created to ing is not equal to a piece of paper.” all in the country‟s southern states, fight crime. In June 15,000 troops, They are demanding free passage which are less industrially developed mostly National Guard, were deployed to through Mexico to the US or documents than the north and have large indigenous the northern border. They are stationed that allow them to remain and work in populations. The projects have been in along the length of the border from Baja Mexico. the works for decades and have been California to Tamaulipas. Now heavily The US has instituted two new poli- consistently opposed by indigenous and armed Mexican troops detain migrants cies this year which place a great burden environmental groups. Previously known before they even cross into the US. on Mexico. “Metering” places a limit on as the “Plan Puebla Panama” they have More than 6000 National Guard how many asylum applications are ac- now been given new names: the Trans troops have also been deployed along the cepted by the US each day at any port of Isthmus Corridor (Oaxaca, Veracruz), 1000 kilometer long southern border entry. This creates long waitlists of peo- the Mayan Train (Chiapas, Yucatan, with Guatemala. This has forced mi- ple needing food and shelter along the Quintanaroo, Campeche, Tabasco), a grants to cross into Mexico from Guate- border. In August about 20,000 migrants proposed extension into Guatemala, and mala by the most dangerous routes. The were waiting in Mexico to apply. Mean- the Plan Integral Morelos (Puebla, Tlax- role of the National Guard in the south is while Mexico has agreed to another US cala, Morelos). These plans have large to detain migrants and turn them over to policy which took effect in January, amounts of private foreign investment immigration authorities or to reinforce “Migrant Protection Protocols” (MPP), behind them as well as support from the immigrant checkpoints within Chiapas better known as “Remain in Mexico.” US and International Financial Institu- with armed guards. Since 2014 the After applying for asylum migrants must tions all of whom are undoubtedly pres- southern border has been highly milita- wait in Mexico until their claim is heard. suring AMLO to move ahead with these rized, financed by US taxpayers through There are about 60,000 migrants waiting lucrative projects. the “Plan Frontera Sur” under the near the US-Mexico border. Waiting The Trans Isthmus Corridor is a giant “Merida Initiative.” Now Mexico has migrants often fall prey to violence by superhighway to transport goods from been forced to increase the militarization gangs, in border cities. the Pacific to the Atlantic coast and in- with its National Guard under the com- A new US Homeland Security policy cludes deep water ports at each end, in mand of the military commander of took effect on July 16. According to this Oaxaca and Veracruz. It also includes Chiapas, creating a second border wall at new rule migrants who pass through a Maquilladoras to produce products for Mexico‟s southern border. It looks like third country in order to reach the US export. Some consider this corridor a Trump has found various ways to force must apply for asylum in a third country new “wall” to deter migrants from travel- Mexico to pay for his border wall. and be denied before they are eligible to ing north and to keep them in southern apply for asylum in the US. This may Mexico working for much lower wages Source: Task Force on the Americas, cause Mexico to receive many more asy- than they would earn in the US working November 15, 2019 lum applications. for the same corporations. Bettina Cruz, AMLO‟s “Marshall Plan” includes an indigenous organizer from the Isth- megaprojects designed to develop the mus of Oaxaca says that the corridor region and provide jobs for Mexicans as serves “to stop migrants, acting like a

8 ● Marin Task Force on the Americas ● Box 925, Larkspur, CA 94977 ● 415-578-7930 ● www.taskforceamericas.org ● Winter 2019-20

N O R T H A M E R I C A

MEXICO: AMLO, A New Hope for Mexico

ing poverty, frustration, planes and helicopters...[and] sell those resentment, hate, and used by high ranking officials including violence." the president; we will keep only those He identifies the ene- used for medical emergencies, security my: "In Mexico the gov- and public safety... The first priority erning class constitutes a must be serving the poor. Only through gang of plunderers...the the creation of a just society will we astounding dishonesty of achieve the revitalization of Mexico." the neoliberal period He contrasts his goals for Mexico (from 1983 to the pre- with those of the US, where the Trump sent) is wholly unprece- administration has increased military dented." He names lead- spending while slashing spending on ing economic and politi- housing, transportation and education. After a year AMLO maintains a 70% approval rating. cal oligarchs who profit- López Obrador believes neoliberal Photo: Yael Martinez ed from privatizing pub- economic policies have been especially lic institutions; people detrimental in villages and rural areas of By Rick Sterling, President, Task Force like Carlos Slim, Pedro Aspe, and others. Mexico. As a result of these policies, on the Americas He documents the changes under Salinas' small farmers have lost their livelihoods rule that rolled back the right of children and food imports have risen dramatical- With 129 million people, Mexico is to free education. ly. He writes, "The abandonment of our the 10th most populous country in the López Obrador explains, "The first rural areas has taken a heavy toll on pro- world. It has the largest population of thing we must do is to democratize the duction, has increased migration, and any Spanish speaking country. It has the state and retool it as an engine of politi- fostered societal breakdown and vio- 15th largest economy in the world. Polit- cal, economic and social growth. We lence.” ical and social developments in Mexico must rid ourselves of the myth that de- López Obrador writes, "The crisis of are important for the entire western hem- velopment requires blind acquiescence to public safety and violence that we face isphere. market forces... Mexico will not grow today is the product of a poorly con- Mexico is in a period of potentially strong if our public institutions remain at ceived war on drugs that relies solely on profound change. President Andrés Ma- the service of the wealthy elites." coercive means. The security crisis that nuel López Obrador (AMLO) and the AMLO asserts, "The problem is cor- plagues Mexico is a result of a conflu- MORENA Party are charting a dramati- ruption, not a lack of funds... the budget ence of factors: poverty, injustice, and cally new path for the country. In the is used to maintain an onerous bureau- exclusion, aggravated by the inefficiency 2018 election López Obrador (AMLO) cratic structure that serves the political of the authorities and corruption within decisively defeated the other candidates. mafiosi.... Reassigning misallocated the police and the judiciary." He assumed office on December 1st, funds to the benefit of production, em- He proposes to combat police and 2018. ployment and general well-being is a judiciary corruption, to use the army and From 2000 to 2005 Lopez Obrador wholly attainable goal." navy to protect public safety, to develop was head of government for Mexico AMLO describes the decline of Mexi- and utilize a National Guard, and to City. He left office with a high approval co's industrial infrastructure in the ne- change laws regarding drug use. Above rating. In 2006 he ran for the presidency oliberal period. Banks were bailed out all, he emphasizes, it is necessary to pro- as candidate of the PRD (Party of Demo- while "neoliberal technocracy has led to vide positive alternatives for youth. “The cratic Revolution). Despite widespread partiality with respect to hiring, and al- belief that the deterioration of our social irregularities, Felipe Calderón was de- ways at the expense of unions. There fabric can be combated only through use clared the winner. have been massive waves of firings." of force is profoundly wrong and highly In 2012 AMLO ran for president AMLO describes ambitious plans: dangerous, as Mexican history amply again. With widespread accusations of new refineries and renewable energy to confirms.” vote buying, Enrique Peña Nieto won the make the country energy self-sufficient; During his presidential campaign, election. Following the election AMLO a transportation corridor which will con- López Obrador visited several US cities. declared he was founding a new party, vey containers from the Atlantic to the He especially addressed Mexican Ameri- the Movimiento de Regeneración Pacific; guaranteed crop prices to enable cans but his words are relevant for all Nacional (MORENA). food self-sufficiency; expanding tourism Americans: “We must convince and In the 2018 election, AMLO won the in the Caribbean, Mayan and Olmeca persuade these who were brainwashed presidency and his party, MORENA, regions; planting large areas in the south- by Trump campaigns rethoric...We must won a majority in both the Chamber of east with timber and fruit trees; ready reach out to lower and middle class Deputies and Senate. loans to small farmers; training and in- American workers, explaining that their López Obrador analyzes Mexico's ternships for youth. problems are rooted in the poor distribu- problems and presents his solutions in López Obrador says such develop- tion of income... his 2018 book A New Hope for Mexico. ment is possible by reducing spending in He sees the primary problem as corrup- some areas, and "we will also save by continued on page 10 tion and neoliberal politics which has cutting back on purchases of ships, given rise to "rampant inequality, shock-

Marin Task Force on the Americas ● Box 925, Larkspur, CA 94977 ● 415-578-7930 ● www.taskforceamericas.org ● Winter 2019-20 ● 9 N O R T H A M E R I C A continued from page 9 there are challenges and opposition. The this year when the US and Canada tried Mexican economy has been near reces- to impose a new government on Vene- We must raise awareness among Ameri- sion throughout the year. Some of the zuela. The subordinate Latin American cans of good faith who have been tricked development plans have significant op- countries went along with Washington. by the propaganda campaign against position. For example, indigenous organ- Mexico did not. Mexicans and foreigners.” izations oppose the proposed Maya As the recent coup in Bolivia unfold- After one year in office, ed, President Evo Morales' life was the AMLO government threatened and Mexico granted asylum has significant accom- to him when he was forced to flee Boliv- plishments: minimum ia on a Mexican military plane. salary has been dramati- As the Trump administration esca- cally increased, the bu- lates its economic and political attacks reaucracy and top govern- on Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, ment salaries have been Mexico's independent stance is especial- cut, small loans and ly important. AMLO‟s administration grants are going directly has stood up against the US in the reac- to farmers, the billion tionary Organization of American States dollar gas thieving cartel and the specially created anti-Venezuela has been exposed and Lima Group. Recently AMLO has attacked, a 44 billion dol- moved even further to the left when he lar infrastructure plan has welcomed Ecuador‟s former socialist been launched, and pro- leader Rafael Correa, followed by grams to benefit youth Cuba‟s President Díaz-Canel, and he and the elderly have be- hosted Argentina‟s newly elected pro- gun. Photo: Bill Hackwell gressive president Alberto Fernández for AMLO sets an exam- his first foreign trip. The lead that AM- ple of hard work and LO is taking on foreign policy does not transparency. Each day begins with a 7 Train. AMLO now says it should not be sit well in Washington and that can be AM press conference. The Presidential started if the people of the region do not seen in critical articles showing up in the jet is up for sale and he flies economy on support it and it cannot be completed. US corporate media indicating that Mex- commercial air planes. During this first The changes in Mexico are also im- ico is a potential threat to US security. year in office, he has not left the country portant on the international scene. For Despite areas of contention and une- but travels constantly within Mexico several decades Mexican foreign policy ven progress, a new and hopeful process seeing the conditions hospitals, schools, has been subordinate to Washington. for the majority of Mexicans has begun factories and the small cities and towns Now it is returning to a foreign policy thanks to AMLO and MORENA. that make up so much of the country. based on principles of self-determination AMLO still lives at his home and the and non-interference in the affairs of Source: Task Force on the Americas, presidential palace is open to the public. other nations. November 30, 2019 While he has a 70% approval rating, The difference was important early

BOLIVIA: Hatred of the Indian

By Álvaro García Linera, Bolivian Vice [traditional skirt worn President in Exile by Indigenous and mestizo women] they Ed. note: This article is substantially hit her, threaten her. abridged from the original, found here: In Cochabamba, https://peoplesdispatch.org/2019/11/19/ they organize convoys hatred-of-the-indian-by-alvaro-garcia- to impose their racial linera/ supremacy in the south- ern zone, where the Hatred rapidly traverses the neigh- underprivileged classes borhoods of the traditional urban middle live, and charge, as if it -class of Bolivia. They go out to hunt were a cavalry contin- the rebellious Indians that dared to take gent, at thousands of power from them. defenseless peasant In Santa Cruz, they organize motor- Indigenous women being tear gassed in El Alto. Photo: AFP women that march ask- ized hordes with sticks in hand to punish ing for peace. the Indians, those that they call collas, who live in peripheral neighborhoods and in the markets...if on the way, they continued on page 11 come across a woman wearing a pollera 10 ● Marin Task Force on the Americas ● Box 925, Larkspur, CA 94977 ● 415-578-7930 ● www.taskforceamericas.org ● Winter 2019-20 S O U T H A M E R I C A continued from page 11 Indigenous people and urban dwellers (more than 50% of functionaries in pub- resisted the coup and began to retake lic administration must be Indigenous, They carry baseball bats, chains, gas territorial control of the cities. But just as new national narrative around the Indige- grenades. Some carry firearms. the balance of forces shifted in their fa- nous sector) and the reduction of eco- The woman is their preferred victim. vor, the police mutiny occurred. nomic inequality (the difference of in- They grab a female mayor of a peasant The same happened with the armed come between the richest and the poorest population, humiliate her, drag her forces. During all of our time in govern- fell from 130 to 45). All this meant the through the street. They hit her, urinate ment, we never allowed them to repress systematic democratization of wealth, access to public goods, opportunities and state power. The economy has grown from 9 billion dol- lars to 42 billion dollars, widening the market and internal savings, which has allowed many people to own their own homes and improve their work activity. Thus, in a decade, the percentage of people of the so-called “middle class” went from 35% to 60%. The largest part of them came from the working-class and indige- nous sectors. It was essentially a process of democratization of the social goods through the construction of material equality. But this inevitably has caused a Indigenous women resist. Photo: Reuters rapid devaluation of the economic, educational and political capital held by the traditional middle class. In the past, a on her when she falls to the ground, cut civic mobilizations. However, they had notable last name, the monopoly over her hair, threaten to lynch her, and when no hesitation in seeking the resignation “legitimate” knowledge, and their family they realize that they are being filmed, of president Evo, in violation of the con- relationships allowed the traditional they decide to throw red paint on her. stitution, and did whatever was possible middle class to access posts in public In La Paz they tear down the Wiphala, to attempt to kidnap him. When the coup administration, obtain loans and bids for the Indigenous symbol, they spit on it, was consolidated, they went to the streets projects, or scholarships. they step on it, they cut it, they burn it. to militarize the cities and assassinate In Bolivia, social class is only com- Racial hatred is the political language of peasants. And now, in only five days, prehensible in the form of racial hierar- this traditional middle class. there are more than 18 dead and 120 in- chies. Inheritance of the last name and The OAS spoke of “clean elections” jured with live bullets, nearly all of them skin fades in the face of the democratiza- but of a weak victory and asked for a indigenous. tion of goods. Although the traditional second round, against the constitution How did the traditional middle class middle class raises the flag of democra- that states that a candidate that gets more incubate so much hatred and resentment cy, in reality, they have risen up against than 40% of the votes and has more than towards the people, and embrace racial- democracy understood as a leveling of 10% over the runner-up wins. ized fascism with the Indian as the main social classes and the distribution of On the night of Monday, October 21, enemy? The answer is the rejection of wealth. they burned five of the nine electoral equality, which is to say, the rejection of offices, including the ballots. the fundamentals of substantive democ- Source: Peoples Dispatch, English trans- Paramilitary groups besieged racy. lation by Zoe PC, November 19, 2019 institutions, burnt trade union offices, set The last 14 years of the government fire to the residences of candidates and by the social movements were character- political leaders of the governing party. ized by the leveling of the social classes, Even the president‟s home was looted. In the sharp reduction in extreme poverty other places, families, including children, (from 35% to 15%), the broadening of were kidnapped and threatened with rights for all (universal access to being whipped and burned if their parent, healthcare, to education and to social a minister or union leader, did not resign. protection), the Indianization of the State

Marin Task Force on the Americas ● Box 925, Larkspur, CA 94977 ● 415-578-7930 ● www.taskforceamericas.org ● Winter 2019-20 ● 11 A C T I O N A L E R T Emergency Action Alert for the People of Bolivia! Call your congress person today to urge them to sign on to Rep. Hank Thompson‟s “Dear Colleague letter” calling on the Trump administration to support human rights and restoration of constitutional order in Bolivia. As the level of repression against supporters of Evo Morales and the gross violation of the human rights of the Indigenous people of Bolivia escalate it is urgent that we push our representatives today to condemn the role of the US State Department in the coup that ousted the constitu- tionally elected president of that Latin American country. So far 14 representatives have signed on including; Rep. Hank Johnson, Rep. Ilhan Omar, Rep. Susan Wild, Rep. Raul Grijalva, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Rep. Jared Huffman, Rep. Deb Haaland, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio- Cortez, Rep. James McGovern, Rep. Jesus G. “Chuy” Gar- Bolivian police breaks up funeral procession of the victims of cia, Rep. Bobby L. Rush, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Rep. military repression. Photo: Ronaldo Schemidt Alan Lowenthal and Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton. The letter is directed to Secretary of State Mike Pom- peo and starts by stating, “We are deeply concerned that recent statements and actions on the part of senior Trump Administra- tion officials are contributing to an escalating political and human rights crisis in the Plurinational State of Bolivia following con- tested elections held on October 20, 2019. We are dismayed that the Administration has failed to denounce racist attacks target- ing Bolivia‟s indigenous communities and their symbols.” For the full statement go to https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-johnson-colleagues-call-trump- administration-support-human-rights For more info contact: [email protected] or call 202-225-1605

-Support Task Force on the Americas in 2020!-

94977

Requested Service Return

CA Larkspur,

Material Value Time

14 # Permit

PAID

94977 CA Larkspur,

Postage US

925 Box P.O.

Org. Profit - Non

Americas the on Force Task Interfaith Marin