Latin America SITREP October 28th, 2015 by Jack

1) Latin American Left: the Pink Tide: 1999-present?

Two recent pieces on the status and prospects of the progressive governments, social movements and multilateral institutions collectively known as the ‘Pink Tide’.

Raúl Zibechi: Taking stock of ‘Progresismo’ in Latin America [source]
Immanuel Wallerstein: The Latin American Left Moves Rightward [source]

(NB I have the utmost respect for both these writers, but the optimist in me has to say that it is surely too early to mark the high water of the ‘Pink Tide’.)

2) Upcoming elections:

Argentina: Presidential, Second Round.

The Kirchners have been in power 12 years and have left a legacy of “trade protectionism, social welfare and defence of the working class”.

Pre first round introduction to candidates:

Argentina: The End or a New Path for Kirchernismo? [source]

Post-first round analysis of the 2 candidates to contest the second round in November:
Argentine presidential run-off in November but with completely different scenario [source]

Venezuela: Mid Term.

First and foremost of the ‘Pink Tide’, Venezuelan Bolivarianism, in alliance with the Cuban Revolution, is the trail blazer of the Latin American progressive project. The transition to a ‘post-Chavez Chavismo’ under Nicolas Maduro has been marked by a wide variety of destabilization from foreign-backed opposition forces:

This article high-lights the historic high level of female and youth candidates but also warns of the threat of opposition violence in the upcoming midterm elections:

Peace at Stake in Venezuela’s Upcoming Assembly Elections [source]

This article quotes polls showing the PSUV, of the Chavista President Maduro, ahead in voting intentions:
Maduro Makes Moves toward Economic Reform as New Poll Predicts PSUV Win [source]

3) Developments and Context:

Brazil:

Since 2003 Brazil has seen a remarkable transformation due to good economic growth and political leadership within Latin America and on the World stage through organizations such MERCOSUR and BRICS. This has been achieved with progressives at the helm, firstly Lula da Silva, but also his successor Dilma Rousseff. Presidents can serve only 2 terms in Brazil, and Rousseff won her second before a corruption scandal decimated her authority.

This article gives evidence that Rousseff has moved to the right in order to head off impeachment attempts:
The United States Wins In Brazil, Raul Zibechi [source]

Mexico
The disappearance of the 43 students one year ago lead to a marked increase in protest to the ongoing drug fuelled violence in Mexico, which began under the previous President Felipe Calderon and continues under Enrique Peña Nieto. This article assesses the dramatic repercussions of the event a year on.
Ayotzinapa, State Violence and Terror By Laura Carlsen [source]

Nicaragua
Russia joins China in the construction of an alternative to the US dominated Panama canal in Nicaragua, a member of the radical progressive block ALBA.
Russia Interested in Joining the Nicaragua Canal Project (Sputnik – Russian news agency)

Guatemala

Political new-comer wins Guatemalan Presidential elections in the aftermath of wide spread protests that brought down the previous government in the most populous Central American state:
Comedian cowboy who wanted to become president, finally makes it in Guatemala [source]

Cuba:

The US isolated on World Stage:

World Discusses the Blockade on Cuba at the UN [source]

Peru:

Ollanta Humala, who defeated right-wing candidate to win the 6-year Presidency in 2011 on a progressive ticket, has seen his approval drop to 12% and faces increasing protest, presumably due to him quickly tacking to the right after his election victory.
Act of Treason: Secret US Sites in Peru Nil NIKANDROV | 13.10.2015 | [source]

Bolivia:

Evo Morales, first indigenous President of in the Americas, marks 10 years in power. Bolivia is a key member of the radical progressive alliance ALBA.
10 Years of Evo Morales, Telesur. [source]

#LatinAmerica

Abacha Loot Is Too Huge For Us To Handle, Says World Bank.

The World Bank has said it needs additional time to provide comprehensive information on the funds looted by the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha.

The World Bank told a human civil society group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) seeking information on the loot that for now, it is compiling information on the spending.

According to the World Bank: “In response to your request, we would like to inform you that we are still considering your request and we will need additional time because the money involved is too huge for us to handle.”

The World Bank said that although it takes just 20 working days to respond to such requests, under special cases, it could take much longer time.

The loot stolen by the former military ruler from 1993 to 1998 is estimated to be about $11.3 billion.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) had written to the World Bank demanding information on the spending of the loot recovered from the late military dictator.

Tribune.

#AbachaLoot

Senate screens Mallam Adamu Adamu

The senate has screened ministerial nominee, Adamu Adamu from Bauchi state. He is a trained Accountant and a veteran columnist. He guaranteed to make National interest his direction. In the wake of answering a couple of questions, he was asked  to take a bow and go.

#Adamu

Ugwuanyi Is Prayer Answered For The People Of Enugu —Rev Father Mbaka

CHARISMATIC Catholic priest and director of the popular Adoration Ministry, Enugu Nigeria (AMEN), Reverend Fr. Ejike Mbaka, said that Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State is a prayer answered for the people of the state.

Speaking in Enugu yesterday to a huge crowd of his congregation during a mass attended by the governor and top government functionaries, the priest told the governor that “you need the protection of God to execute the good plans you have for the people of Enugu.
“Enugu made a lot of noise when you won your governorship election. You are a prayer answered for the people of Enugu,” he told the governor.

Gridlock: We’ll Soon Recruit Young Graduates Into LASTMA — Ambode

Selfless young graduates are to be recruited into Lagos Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) soon, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has said.
The new recruits are to boost the current 2,100 persons-strong personnel of the traffic managers, a number described by the governor as inadequate.
He also said that his administration had concluded plans to procure three helicopters next month to enable security agencies tackle criminal activities from the air as well assist in monitoring traffic gridlock to ease movement across Lagos metropolis.

Akwa Ibom Tribunal Verdict, Triumph Of Integrity Over Impunity – Attah

Former Akwa Ibom State governor and elder statesman, Obong Victor Attah, has described the verdict of the Akwa Ibom State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal which nullified the April 11,2015 governorship polls in 18 Local Government Areas of the state as the triumph of truth over falsehood; of right over wrong and integrity over impunity.
The former governor said this at a press conference in Uyo. The briefing had elder statesmen and senior citizens of the state in attendance.

I Didn’t Get Contract, Oil Block, Anything From Jonathan— Edwin Clark

ELDER statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, has dismissed insinuations that he betrayed former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, by reportedly saying that the ex-President lacked the political will to fight corruption, noting that he was maliciously misconstrued.
Clark, who was criticised by some associates of the former President over the statement, also denounced claims that his decision to quit partisan politics was provoked by the ex-President’s defeat at the polls.

You Can’t Stop Tribunal, S-Court Tells Wike

ABUJA — Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, yesterday, lost his bid to use the Supreme Court to oust the judgment of the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal that sacked him from office last week Saturday.
This happened as 20 members of Rivers State House of Assembly whose election was nullified by the state legislative election petition tribunal, appealed against the judgment.
Wike had gone before the apex court to challenge the jurisdiction and competence of the tribunal to conduct hearing on the petition filed against his election by the All Progressives Congress, APC, and its governorship candidate in the state, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, outside Rivers State where the said election held.

U.S. Lawmaker Seeks Obama’s Plan Against Boko Haram

•State Department condemns attacks by insurgents
A bill has been sent by a United States Congressman demanding President Barack Obama’s comprehensive plan to assist Nigeria to battle Boko Haram.
Rep. Frederica Wilson (Democrat-Fla.), a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, last Monday, introduced legislation that would require the Departments of Defence and State to submit a five-year plan to Congress to help Nigeria fight the Islamic extremist group.

Reps Begin Probe Of EFCC Over N1tr Assets

EFCC Chaiman Ibrahim Larmorde
The House of Representatives has commenced fresh investigation into the alleged non-remittance of over N1 trillion generated from seized assets by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the Federation Account.

The House consequently mandated its committee on financial crimes to investigate the matter.

The resolution was reached after adopting a motion by Minority Leader Leo Ogor (PDP, Delta), asking that the alleged non-remittance be investigated to ascertain its authenticity.

Leave Buhari, Judiciary Out Of Your Woes, Group Tells PDP

An umbrella support group for the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government, the Buhari Media Support Group (BMSG), has asked the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to stop chastising the president, members of the judiciary and anti-corruption agencies over their current predicaments.
The group said based on some observable indices, including activities in the forex and banking sectors, there are strong indications that the country’s economy was on a rebound.

Check out 6 Money Management Tips for Spendthrift Travellers

There is rarely anything you can do without money. It is like the air you breathe on a daily basis. With money, you can plan a fantastic and out-of-this-world vacation with friends, families and your significant other in Calabar or in any other part of the globe.

However, what is abhorred by many is extravagance. In other words, the indiscriminate spending of money that may prompt you to start making emergency calls to friends and family to send you some monies. They may not always come to your rescue if getting stranded becomes your habit. To help you handle money better anytime you are on a vacation., Jovago.com, Africa’s No 1 hotel booking portal some shares money management tips for spendthrift travellers.

• Have a budget

A budget restricts your expenditure to a specific amount. Therefore, it is important to have a list of all your itinerary along with the estimated prices of hotel rooms, goods and services in the region. This will breed a culture of discipline, thus curtailing excessive spending.

• Carry little Cash

With cash in your pocket or bag, the possibility of buying on impulse is very high. To prevent you from falling into this trap, carry as little cash around while ensuring that you do not use your ATM card to withdraw beyond the stipulated limit legally permitted daily.

• Track your Expenses

Despite the existence of a budget, some people may find it difficult to adhere to the budget. To prevent your expenses from piling up, you should track your expenses to ensure that you can afford whatever you order for or any fun activities you engage in. You can do this every night before going to bed.

• Use online banking

Online banking is not only for instant cash transfer. You can have the details of your daily expenditure at your fingertips. This is another reliable method of tracking your expenditure. If you are interested in online banking, visit your bank to get a token and username.

• Haggle

Haggling is not restricted to women alone. Men also haggle for the best prices possible on any deal. This is important if it appears that the seller is trying to swindle you. So, you have to respectfully beat down the price. Do not accept to pay the price that the seller utters if you want to save money. However, do not make the haggling pathological habit. If the price is not acceptable to you, you can always shop around.

• Know the Exchange Rate

The Dollar is the universally accepted mode of payment in international transactions. Hence, always ensure that you make your estimates based on the trending exchange rate. This is relevant if you are booking or buying anything online. Importantly, consider the exchange rate of the country you are visiting on vacation.

 

Ogunfowoke AdeniyiTravel/Technology

WriterMobile: +2348090747241   Skype: Sleeksavvy

#Money

FG says it needs N233bn to rehabilitate Boko Haram ravaged states

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the North-East Humanitarian Multi-Stakeholders Engagement on Tuesday in Maiduguri, the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on North-East Intervention, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, said N233bn was needed for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the communities ravaged by the Boko Haram sect.

The chairman of PCNI, who was represented by a member of the committee, Mohammed Danjuma, said the rebuilding of the ravaged states needed proper coordination to alleviate the sufferings of the Internally Displaced Persons.

4 houses razed by fire on Aiyeleto street, Surulere last night (photos)

There was a fire outbreak yesterday evening at Aiyeleto street. Four houses got totally razed by the inferno but thankfully, residents were able to evacuate so no serious injuries but properties worth millions of naira were destroyed. The cause of the fire is yet unknown. More photos after the jump

Lagos CP says he receives four traffic robbery alerts daily

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, at a press briefing at the Lagos command headquarters, on Tuesday said he receives about four robbery alerts on his Twitter handle every day and that the police have arrested 144 suspects as a result of constant raids of bridges and other hideouts of the hoodlums.


According to Punch The CP said the robbers mainly disguise as street traders, adding that motorists shouldn't patronise hawkers at night.

Graphic pics: Troops kill 30 Boko Haram members, rescue captives in Sambisa

Troops of 28 Task Force Brigade Nigerian Army deployed at Bitta and Pridang yesterday October 27th, carried out a successful raid on suspected Boko Haram terrorists camps at Bulajilin and Manawashe villages along Bita and Damboa road at the fringes of Sambisa forest. The troops were able to kill 30 Boko Haram terrorists. See the photos after the jump

There's a judicial gang-up against Governor Wike- media aide alleges

The Special Adviser to the governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike on media and publicity, Opunabo Nko-Tariah says the nullification of Wike's April 11th election and the Supreme courts dismissal of Wike's suit against the relocation of the state election tribunal, can best be described as a judicial gang up against Wike. Nko-Tariah said this in a statement he released yesterday

King of the Skies: None of NATO’s Members Could Match Russia in the Sky - Brookings Institution

The Russian Air Force in Syria left many Western military experts surprised, as they didn’t expect that Russia had the capacity to carry out military operations with such efficiency, the Washington-based Brookings Institution said.

 In the past, many experts called the Russian military weak, especially when it came to air and naval forces. But the Russian airstrikes in Syria have proved them wrong.

The assessments of the Russian military were inaccurate, as often Western analysts seek to discredit Russia’s military capabilities. However, with its effective campaign in Syria, Moscow has once again proved these experts wrong, the Brookings Institution said.

The New York Times even pointed out that the Russian Air Force conducts as many airstrikes in a typical day as the US-led coalition did in a month.

“Almost none of our NATO allies could match what Russia has done so far in the skies,” the Brookings Institution said in their article.

The Su-34 Strike Fighter

By firing missiles at ISIL-targets in Syria from ships docked in the Caspian Sea, the Russian military showed an unprecedented ability to launch long-range cruise missiles from corvettes and frigates.

“Using small-sized, inexpensive, technologically simple, and easily-produced ships, the Russian navy is displaying a unique capability and is highlighting the results of its naval modernization efforts, much of which are unknown,” the Brookings Institution report said.

The launch of cruise missiles isn’t that big of a deal by itself, but it’s the combination of this type of guided rocket and small-size armed corvette warships that fired them makes military experts stand in awe. The fact that surprised many US experts was that Russia armed its Buyan-M class ships, which displace only 950 tons, with firepower comparable to the much larger US Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and Ticonderoga-class missile cruisers.

On September 30, Russia launched a multinational aerial campaign aimed at assisting Damascus-led forces in their fight against terrorist groups, which are trying to oust President Bashar al-Assad. The operation was authorized by legitimate Syrian authorities.

#NATO

Former NSA Dasuki Objects To Secret Trial

Justice Ademola Adeniyi of the Federal High Court Six, sitting in Abuja on Monday expressed surprise at the decision of prosecution counsel to bring additional charges against immediate past National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) on a day set aside for definite hearing on the one count charge preferred against him.
On September 1 this year, prosecution counsel, Mohammed Diri, had told the court that Dasuki was charged with the unlawful possession of firearms, which Dasuki pleaded not guilty.
Justice Ademola then granted Mr. Dasuki bail on self-recognition but ordered that his passport and other travel documents be deposited with the deputy court registrar while the case was adjourned to October 26 and 27 for the hearing.

Ray Ekpu Hid Dele Giwa’s ‘Killer’, Says Ex-DIG.

Chris Omeben, a retired police chief, who conducted the investigation on the murder of renowned journalist, Dele Giwa, says the unresolved assassination is the most frustrating case he handled in his career.
Giwa, the founding editor-in-chief of Newswatch Magazine, was killed by a parcel bomb at his Ikeja, Lagos residence on October 19, 1986.
Omeben, a former deputy inspector-general of police (DIG), who turns 80 on October 27, told NAN on Monday that the high-profile investigation was marred by interference from “high places”.
He explained that even when he had narrowed in on the principal suspect, who could have helped to unravel the mystery, the suspect was allowed to escape from Nigeria.

APC: We’ll Beat Wike ‘Mercilessly’ In Fresh Poll

The Rivers state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) says it will defeat Nyesom Wike, incumbent governor, in a fresh free and fair election.
Wike’s victory at the governorship election in April was punctured on Saturday, when the election petition tribunal nullified the original result and ordered the conduct of a fresh election within 90 days.
He plans to appeal the judgement in the hope that the appellate court overrules the tribunal, thereby rendering a fresh election needless. But APC has urged him to refrain from appealing the decision if he is sure of his popularity, so that both sides can instead meet at another poll.

Ambode: LASG Awaiting Buhari’s Cabinet For Policy Direction

Says LASG received 99.1% of FDIs this year
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, monday disclosed that his administration was waiting for President Muhammadu Buhari to constitute his cabinet to enable him take decision on his policy direction.
The governor added that the state received 99.1 per cent of the foreign direct investments (FDIs) that came into the country between January and October, which he said, catalysed the state’s growing population.
He disclosed this in a statement his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, signed monday, while explaining the government’s multi-pronged approach to curbing the menace of gridlocks and insecurity in the state.

Rivers Tribunal Judgment Too Hasty —Mimiko

•Wike, APC trade words over judgment
ONDO State governor and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, on Monday, said there was hasty judgement delivered by the Rivers State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja which sacked Governor Nyesom Wike last Saturday.
Mimiko, who stated this in Akure, Ondo State capital while reacting to the last judgement, described it as embarrassing but said PDP would continue to win election in Rivers State even if conducted more than 100 times.

Police Release Pro-Biafra Separatists !

 

The 17 individuals from the Indigenous People of Biafra Separatists  (IPOB), who were captured by the Anambra State Police Command, have been discharged.

They were captured a week ago to protest the capture of the leader of Pirated Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu. Police representative Ali Okechukwu said those discharged were 13 ladies and four men. They were cautioned by the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hosea Karma, not to breach the public peace again.

A statement by Okechukwu after the arrest said: “The Anambra State Police Command has been drawn to the spurious publication on police action in the dispersal of a crowd of misguided protesters on Tuesday, Ocotober 20, at Awka.

“It is evident that on that day, some misguided youths took to the Onitsha/Enugu Expressway, harassing people and obstructing traffic, causing hardship for innocent and unsuspecting citizens as well as commuters.

“On receiving calls from well-meaning people, the police command, oblivious of what and who were behind the protest, despatched officers to the scene.

“The police presence and professional handling of the crowd dispersed them and eased up traffic.

Only a few were arrested, cautioned and released immediately same day.”

The Nation.

#Biafra

Femi Fani-Kayode: The Impudence Of Rabiu Kwakwanso And His Fulani Brothers

I am saddened that the former Governor of Kano state, Senator Rabiu Kwakwanso, a man whom I have always considered a friend and one whom I have always respected could insult our revered Yoruba elders. Yesterday, during a function in Ibadan, it was widely reported in the media that he asserted that the recent demand by the Yoruba elders that all Fulani herdsmen ought to be banned from the south west as a consequence of the hideous atrocities that they have been committing against our people is somehow inappropriate and misguided.