Cobre Panamá, the largest such mine in Central America, had been infamous for threatening forest ecosystems, ruining local drinking water, and aggravating regional poverty at least since 2011, when a previous president of Panama sought to strip the Indigenous Ngäbe-Buglé people of their autonomy so that foreign companies could exploit their land.

In response, Canadian Dimension reported, “Panamanians rose up, demanding the annulment of mining and hydroelectric concessions on Indigenous territory.” Protesters blocked the mine entrance in an action that turned violent amid a heavy-handed government crackdown. The Panamanian government eventually caved, claiming mining would not take place on Ngäbe-Buglé lands after all.

The 2023 mass demonstrations, which Al Jazeera called Panama’s “largest protest movement in decades,” left the nation “in a state of siege,” emptying hotel rooms, grocery shelves, and gas pumps. Protesters “have demanded a greater share of profits from foreign mining activity, the protection of Indigenous rights, and stronger environmental regulations,” Canadian Dimensions reported.

These demands, which extend in scope beyond the operation of any single mine, are ongoing, and have special resonance in the nation with jurisdiction over the Panama Canal, and hence a significant chunk of global trade.

The United States, France and the United Nations have a bad reputation among Haitians. The armed groups that the U.N. and the corporate media throughout the world call Haitian “gangs” are either criminal enterprises engaged in kidnapping, extortion, robbery and drug dealing, or “vigilance brigades” that defend neighborhoods against the gangs and the police.

Despite the support from these vigilance brigades, hundreds of thousands of Haitian families have been driven from their homes by the violence between the armed groups and the cops.

Five million of Haiti’s 12 million people go hungry every day. One million face famine, dying because they don’t get enough calories.

When de facto Prime Minister Ariel Henry visited Africa to gather support for his regime, the various armed groups suddenly joined together at the end of February and demanded he resign.

CARICOM— the organization of Caribbean nations — called an emergency meeting of a presidential council to find a replacement for Henry. The council is still accepting nominations, as of March 17. Ambassadors of the U.S., Canada, the European Union and the U.N. are meeting in Jamaica with the Caribbean countries signing on via Zoom.

The political situation in Haiti is fluid. Major changes can occur overnight. Given most Haitians’ anger toward prior U.S. and U.N. interventions, any future direct role for them in Haiti will be challenged.

The trial exposed numerous instances where JOH, along with his predecessor President Porfirio Lobo and other politicians belonging to JOH’s National Party, took bribes from known drug traffickers in Honduras. This bribe money was then laundered and used to finance their electoral campaigns following the 2009 U.S-backed coup that overthrew democratically-elected President Manuel “Mel” Zelaya.

In return the two former presidents and their cohorts looked the other way as tons of cocaine made their way to the United States. Originating in Colombia, the cocaine traveled through Honduras, where it was processed, then to the U.S., often by way of Mexico. The trial revealed JOH’s connection to the Mexico-based Sinaloa drug cartel.

Thus the coup regime bears some culpability in the promulgation of cocaine, including crack cocaine, in U.S. urban and rural communities.

In addition, one of the witnesses against Hernandez testified that, “The woman who transported money for us from Honduras to Colombia was an official in the [Zionist] embassy.” (Al Jazeera, March 8)

This should not come as a shock, given the Zionist state’s long history of allying itself with brutal dictatorships, from the former Colombian government to the apartheid government in South Africa until the first free elections in 1994.

JOH is expected to appeal his conviction but is not likely to prevail.

There is a major media campaign brewing to try to justify foreign intervention in Haiti. The Washington Post describes the bodies on the streets. The TV networks are concentrating on the violence (5,000 people killed in 2023), hunger and lack of education and health care.

Given the Haitian people’s nearly total rejection of foreign troops, however, sending foreign troops to Haiti is a hard sell. The Pentagon and its counterparts in other countries appear to be reluctant to pursue this course, but the media is making a case in favor of intervention, should the [neo]imperialists decide there is no alternative.

(Archived link.)

An economic dispute between the U.S. and Venezuela is creating yet another instance of vulnerable migrants being used as bargaining chips. The situation has to do with economic sanctions levied by the U.S. in retaliation against Venezuela allegedly failing to fulfill terms of an agreement, which in turn has led Venezuela to threaten to reject deportation flights from the U.S. No word on whether either country cares about the best or most humanitarian solution for the migrants themselves.

The U.S. will try to take the moral high ground on this matter, but the negotiations over the border bill show that seemingly no one in power is above using vulnerable people for political gain at the expense of those vulnerable people.

(Taken from an email sent to me by Never Again Action. I can’t say that I approve of the ‘both sides’ vibe that their commentary on this particular news is giving me, but oh well. It is what it is.)

Milei’s honeymoon with the Argentine masses — if he had one — came to an abrupt end on Jan. 24. Argentina’s union movement called a general strike that day. Tens of thousands of workers took to the streets in Buenos Aires and each of Argentina’s major cities. Hundreds of thousands more participated in the strike, and thousands in many world capitals held solidarity actions.

Hundreds of thousands of workers protest the new president in Argentina. Buenos Aires, Jan. 25, 2024.

The call to strike was made by the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), an umbrella organization larger than any other union or union federation in the country. At times, its leadership has represented the interest of the workers. At other times, its leaders have collaborated with neoliberal administrations and cut deals in the interests of the ruling class.

But, in this instance, the CGT has placed itself firmly on the side of the workers in its unwavering opposition to Milei and his disastrous so-called “reforms.”

Many in the opposition to Milei have condemned the strike, even though it was called with the hope of blocking Milei’s war on the workers. From the anti-Milei Peronist coalition to the smaller capitalists who are most threatened by Milei’s policies, the élites of Argentina have demanded the CGT cease striking. (Peronist refers to the political tendencies identified with late Argentine President Juan Peron.)

This is a textbook example of how contradicting interests within the bourgeoisie can temporarily come together. Even when they disagree, no portion of the ruling class sincerely wants to empower the people — and certainly not the working class.

Yes, large swaths of the capitalist class oppose Milei, while other portions fervently support him, but they are all in accord that a united working class expressing solidarity and exercising its strength is forbidden. Nevertheless, the will of the people cannot be held back forever. Even a united ruling class cannot easily impose its will on a united and combative working class.

[…]

As always, supporting the free market means more freedom for corporations to exploit, not freedom for the workers themselves.

(Emphasis original.)

Camaradas:

Valoramos también la demanda que ustedes hoy realizan exigiendo el fin del recrudecido bloqueo y el retiro de Cuba de la espuria lista de países patrocinadores del terrorismo.

El bloqueo económico, comercial y financiero constituye el principal obstáculo para nuestro desarrollo; impide obtener insumos indispensables e impacta en todos los ámbitos de la sociedad. Es una hostil política que priva también al pueblo estadounidense de las potencialidades médicas, culturales y científicas que Cuba ofrece.

Exigimos el respeto a nuestra soberanía y el cese de la ocupación ilegal de la Base Naval en Guantánamo.

Resulta esencial combatir las campañas de desinformación contra la Revolución cubana y las agresiones en las redes digitales que promueven los círculos de poder en EE.UU., con el objetivo de quebrar la voluntad de los cubanos de permanecer libres e independientes.

La unidad y la resistencia creativa de nuestro pueblo demuestran que el [neo]imperialismo no tiene capacidad para vencer la fuerza de la verdad y las ideas.

Cuba continuará defendiendo la paz, construyendo una sociedad socialista cada vez más justa y solidaria con los pueblos oprimidos del mundo.

¡Hasta la Victoria Siempre!

Partido Comunista de Cuba

The delegation found that extractive industries like mining in Guapinol; the loss of sovereignty, as in the CAFTA [Central America Free Trade Agreement]-imposed ISDS [Investor-State Dispute Settlement] tribunal on the $10.7 billion ZEDE [Employment and Economic Development Zone] Próspera suit against Honduras; the dispossession of campesinos in the Aguan Valley and Garifuna communities along the north coast; and Canada’s praise for textile company Gildan, which has closed a factory, violating injured workers’ rights, all benefit multinational corporations while failing to solve the deep issues of inequality in Honduras.

These companies benefited economically from the coup and continued doing business to their own profit and benefit under the narco-state.

The U.S. is now seizing the opportunity of the trial of Juan Orlando Hernández (JOH) and his cronies, including the former head of the national police and a family member of Hernandez, to whitewash its own complicity in the narco-dictatorship from 2009 to 2022. It is obvious that those being tried could never have committed the dreadful crimes they are accused of without being enabled by the U.S. and Canada in exchange for favorable treatment for the U.S. military, its drug war and for North American corporations.

For all these reasons, the Honduras Solidarity Network and its members are launching a campaign and will present evidence of the complicity of the two nations during the trial. The campaign will take place before, during and after JOH’s trial in New York that begins on February 5.

El 9 de Enero fue una revolución popular victoriosa (aunque su materialización demorara en el tiempo) que nos heredó la descolonización de la Zona del Canal, la desaparición de las bases militares y el traspaso de la administración del canal a Panamá. Sus efectos nos llegan hasta hoy, cuando la bonanza económica que se vive tiene su fundamento principal en la reversión del canal y el aumento de sus aportes a la economía nacional, aunque sean cuestionables los criterios que se están utilizando para repartir sus beneficios.

El 20 de Diciembre, en cambio, el imperialismo yanqui pudo imponernos el régimen económico neoliberal que había fracasado con Barletta, disfrazándolo de “democrático”. La invasión permitió al imperialismo norteamericano reimplantar el régimen tutelado y oligárquico de antes del 68, incluso manejaron la posibilidad de la permanencia de bases militares disfrazadas de combate a las drogas (CMA de Pérez Balladares), pero fracasaron ante la movilización popular. Aunque luego han impuesto acuerdos de seguridad más sutiles.

La invasión también hizo posible mediatizar el triunfo del 9 de Enero con un Título Constitucional y una Ley Orgánica que convirtió la Autoridad del Canal de Panamá (ACP) en una entidad controlada por la oligarquía que no luchó por la soberanía (los nuevos zonians) y de la que pueblo quedó excluido, hasta ahora.

Superar los efectos negativos de la invasión para que el pueblo panameño pueda recibir una proporción mayor de los beneficios que genera el canal, requerirá la estructuración de un gran movimiento de carácter antiimperialista, antineoliberal, democrático y popular que asuma el poder político para sacar del poder a la oligarquía vendepatria.

cross-posted from: https://hexbear.net/post/1646784

Apparently, Charlie Kirk wants to start a campaign against the Civil Rights Act and MLK?

I think this is why we need to guard against the ultra-right.

There's the right-wing and then there's the ultra-right.

This is a new low, however, and it portents bad changes in the body politic of the United States.

It seems they even want to do away with these concessions as well, that was fought for by the working-class.

Camaradas, buenas.

Tenemos un discord socialista que tiene actividad regular. Si te llama la atención, muestra interés o mándame un mensaje y te mando la liga.

No la pongo acá porque ya me tocó ver comunidades que les llegaron los “Socialista nacionalista” y pues, eso es algo que trato de evitar.

Me encuentras en otros lados con el nombre de usuario de (reddit) @elPerroAsalariado o (Twitter) @PerroAsalariado por ejemplo.

Jan. 9 was a victorious popular revolution (although it took a long time to materialize) that left us with the decolonization of the Canal Zone, the disappearance of the military bases and the transfer of the administration of the canal to Panamá. Its effects still reach us today, as the economic bonanza that we are experiencing has its main foundation in the reversion of the canal and the increase of its contributions to the national economy, even though the criteria being used to distribute its benefits are questionable.

On the other hand, on Dec. 20, 1989, Yankee [neo]imperialism was able to impose on us the neoliberal economic régime that had failed under [former President Ardito] Barletta, disguising it as “democratic.” The invasion allowed U.S. [neo]imperialism to reimpose the controlled and oligarchic régime of pre-1968; they even managed the possibility of the permanence of military bases disguised as a fight against drugs [Multilateral Anti-drugs Center or CMA of former President Ernesto] Perez Balladares, but they failed in the face of popular mobilization. Although, later, they imposed more subtle security agreements.

The invasion also made it possible to partly reverse the triumph of Jan. 9, 1964, with a Constitutional Title and an Organic Law that turned the Panamá Canal Authority (ACP) into an entity controlled by the oligarchy that did not fight for sovereignty (the new Zonians [U.S. citizens residing in the Canal Zone]) and from which the people remained excluded, until now.

Overcoming the negative effects of the invasion so that the Panamanian people can receive a greater share of the benefits generated by the canal will require the structuring of a great anti-imperialist, anti-neoliberal, democratic and popular movement that will assume political power to remove the sell out oligarchy from power.

cross-posted from: https://hexbear.net/post/1586829

Good stuff.

It is crucial that all the defenders of peace and humanity around the world unite and mobilize in the streets, squares, everywhere, in every country, all those who are dedicated to a consciousness of international solidarity. All of us who are human and therefore sympathize with the humanitarian tragedy suffered by more than two and a half million people trapped in Gaza, with no way of defending themselves, exposed in the open to the unbridled and bestial bombardment of the Zionists, supported by the [neo]imperialist U.S. government, which is sending heavy weapons and soldiers to join the invading army.

We demand an end to the blockade of the Gaza Strip and the immediate establishment of a ceasefire. It is imperative that we demonstrate that the international community will not allow or stand by the crimes against humanity being committed […] against the Palestinian people in Gaza.

Breaking out of immobility and developing actions and initiatives for peace must be the objectives to be pursued immediately.

Necesitamos tu ayuda para dotar de medicamentos a niños cubanos con cáncer

El Proyecto Hatuey está en medio de una campaña de recaudación de fondos de 75.000 dólares para proporcionar medicamentos vitales a los niños cubanos con cáncer, medicamentos que se les niegan debido a la combinación del bloqueo estadounidense a Cuba y la designación totalmente injustificada de Cuba como "Estado Patrocinador del Terrorismo". Al finalizar el 2023, ¿puede hacer una donación para ayudarnos a alcanzar nuestra meta?

Mire el video de arriba para obtener más información sobre nuestros esfuerzos. Como explica en el vídeo el Dr. Anu Agrawal, director de Oncología Pediátrica del Hospital Benioff de UCSF en Oakland, una pequeña cantidad de dinero puede marcar una gran diferencia en las vidas de estos niños. Por favor dona lo que puedas. Somos una organización totalmente voluntaria, por lo que el 100% de tu donación deducible de impuestos se destina a proveer medicamentos para Cuba. Estamos felices de trabajar juntos con IFCO/Pastores por la Paz en este importante trabajo.

Donar

En nombre del Proyecto Hatuey, agradecemos su apoyo en el pasado, y esperamos que continuará apoyando este importante proyecto solidario en el futuro.

Les deseamos a todos un Feliz Año Nuevo, con salud, felicidad y éxito en todos sus esfuerzos. ¡Por una paz verdadera con justicia, y el fin del Bloqueo en 2024!

Gloria La Riva, Coordinadora, El Proyecto Hatuey
Rachel Viqueira, MHS, Epidemióloga
Andira Alves, Coordinador Hatuey de Nueva Inglaterra
Nadia Marsh, MD, Profesora de Medicina Clínica
Simon Ma, MD, MPH, Medicina Integral
Leni Villagómez Reeves, MD
Will Kohr, Enfermero

(Tomado de un correo electrónico del Proyecto Hatuey. Énfasis original.)

cross-posted from: https://hexbear.net/post/1488942

This confused me:

---

Under the fidelist-inspired title Sowing Ideas, Sowing Consciousness, the program against cultural decolonization is one of the fundamental milestones of the year that is ending. It was launched last January 28, coinciding with the 170th anniversary of Jose Martí's birth. Representatives of our artistic and intellectual vanguard were involved in the elaboration of the theses and initial lines of action. In doing so, they responded to approaches, concerns, ideas and proposals debated over the last few years.

---

Do the Cubans not believe in decolonization, at least as it is known in the West, or do they think they have a better alternative?

It's likely that this is a mistranslation as I've heard quite the opposite about Cuba vis a vis decolonization.

Si el problema era que el general Noriega había convertido a Panamá en el paraíso del narcotráfico y el lavado de dinero, pues entonces hay que decir que estas actividades han continuado con fuerza después de la invasión. Transcurridos casi cuatro años de la invasión, el diario norteamericano Washington Post decía: “El Departamento de Estado reconoce que, aparte del propio Estados Unidos, la nuevamente democrática Panamá es el centro más activo de lavado de dinero cocainero del hemisferio”.

A nuestro juicio, se pueden resumir en tres los objetivos reales de la invasión norteamericana del 20 de diciembre de 1989: los relativos a la estabilización de la situación política y el tipo de régimen necesario para lograrlo; los económicos, que estaban muy relacionados con lo anterior, es decir, la aplicación del plan fondomonetarista (ajuste neoliberal); y los geopolíticos, el problema de las bases militares y su control sobre el Canal de Panamá.

This is a victory of the Indigenous comrades of all the comarcas [equivalent of provinces, but for majority Indigenous regions], and especially of the Ngäbe-Buglé people, who held firm the closures in Tierras Altas, Horconcitos, San Félix, Tolé, Viguí, in Changuinola and various sites in Bocas del Toro.

It is a triumph of the teachers’ unions that held the bastions of the David River, Santiago, Aguadulce and Penonomé. It is a conquest achieved thanks to the bastions of Pacora, Colón, Arraiján, Chorrera, Iglesia del Carmen and so many other places, supported by educators, construction workers, young people and residents.

The organized university students and the neighbors of Viejo Veranillo who, together with the university workers, kept the bastion of the Transístmica [the road connecting the Atlantic to the Pacific] closed for a month, deserve a good part of the credit for this triumph. Of course, honors also go to the tens of thousands of young people and families who went with discipline to the Cinta Costera [Coastal Beltway] and to the Court to demand the repeal of Law 406.

This victory owes a particular debt to the steadfastness of the residents and fisherpeople of Donoso, neighbors of the mine, who imposed the maritime closure of the mining port. We owe the judicial defeat of the FQM to the fortitude of the teachers and their unions, who kept up the fight despite threats from MEDUCA [Education Ministry]. This victory owes much to the leaders and members of SUNTRACS [union federation], whose steadfastness helped sustain the struggle, despite the defamatory campaigns of the media, unions and government officials.

El gobierno de Boluarte y el Congreso son ampliamente despreciados por el pueblo peruano. Según una encuesta realizada en marzo de 2023 por el Instituto de Estudios Peruanos, la presidencia de Boluarte tiene un índice de desaprobación del 78%, mientras que el Congreso tiene un índice de desaprobación del 91%. El gobierno sigue bloqueando las elecciones generales, exacerbando aún más el descontento de la población.

Hoy se cumple un año de resistencia al [neo]imperialismo estadounidense en Perú. Peruanos de todos los orígenes, pero especialmente indígenas, han marchado regularmente contra el presidente no electo, Boluarte, y en apoyo de Castillo, a quien eligieron. Han participado en huelgas y bloqueos de carreteras para presionar al gobierno golpista para que dimita.

This week sees even more chaos from Mexico's immigration agency, which has been forced to halt deportations and immigrant transfers designed to exhaust immigrants and encourage them to return home or not come in the first place. The reason this time is that the government claims it lacks money to fund the agency, a problem compounded by the lingering fallout from the fire at a migrant detention center in April that revealed a deeply broken and corrupt structure within the agency.

An option that doesn't seem to have been considered: providing any kind of pathway to citizenship, which would allow migrants to contribute to the Mexican economy.

(Taken from an email sent to me by Never Again Action.)