The rule-by-decree Carnival of Latin America and the Caribbean

LatinAmer Welcome to the Carnival of Latin America and the Caribbean. The week’s big news: Venezuela’s Chavista-controlled lame-duck National Assembly granted Hugo Chavez the power to rule by decree for the next eighteen months, essentially voiding the results of last September’s Congressional election.

ARGENTINA
Noche de Librerías en Buenos Aires atrae a 40 mil
La ciudad argentina se llenó de actividades gratuitas en las que participaron músicos y escritores

New Squatter Violence in Argentina Prompts Call for Evictions

BOLIVIA
Bolivia recognizes Palestine as independent state

Bolivia: ¿Militarización de Tarija? – EJU.TV

CHILE
Pinochet officials sentenced to jail in France
A French court has handed prison sentences of between 15 years and life to officials who served under Gen Augusto Pinochet in Chile.

COLOMBIA
GOP House Will Link Colombia and South Korea Trade Deals

Obama Lets Colombia Hang
The White House says it won’t submit the free trade pact to Congress.

CUBA
Diplomatic Cable leak: Cuba banned Moore’s “Sicko”

Moore: Hey, Cuba loved my movie!

Cardinal Ortega has his ‘promises,’ Cuba political prisoners have their sufferings

Ethics Slepping

What to Buy?

Wikipedia a la Cubana

ECUADOR
Chevron Forces Legal Change
Recent Moves in Ecuador Oil-Pollution Suit Have Plaintiffs Revamping Approach

HONDURAS
WikiLeaks, Honduras and the U.S.
Released cables make it clear that the U.S. knew Manuel Zelaya was a threat to democracy in Honduras.

Guest blog: Wikileaks and the Honduran Crisis
Second life for abandoned computer parts

JAMAICA
Jamaicans using patois version of Bible’s Luke

MEXICO
Thieves provoke pipeline explosion, killing 27

Mexico: Activist Mother of Brutally Murdered Teen Gunned Down

Mexico: mass jail-break near US border

PANAMA
A Leak Forms In the Panama Canal

Panama’s Ambassador to US Quits Due To Wikileaks Revelations About Panama Canal Expansion Bid

Another mega project for Panama

PARAGUAY
Paraguayan Senators would not allow Venezuela to join Mercosur since the country not a full democracy, Paraguay: Senadores explican que Venezuela no ingresará al Mercosur porque no es una democracia plena , following the Venezuelan National Assembly move granting Chavez the power to rule by decree for 18 months.

PERU
Army chief rejects Wikileaks drug claims

President García says “I’m not offended” by WikiLeaks personality profile

PUERTO RICO
Puerto Rico lures visitors with natural, manmade attractions

VENEZUELA
Chavez defends plan for Internet regulations

Venezuela’s armed forces in the middle of coups and voting
When saying that a potential victory of the opposition would not be accepted by Venezuela’s Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB), General Henry Rangel Silva put the army in a dilemma of using force to keep Chávez in office

Aqui no pasa nada

For events developing in Sur del Lago, where the military may intervene, follow Milagros Socorro’s tweets.

A democratic test for Venezuela

As Chávez Gets Decree Powers, NYT Admires ‘Political Sagacity,’ Press Avoids Dictatorial Details

Venezuelan President Chavez’ Teflon popularity fraying at the edges

Towards a Worker’s Paradise

Weeding