Diasporas Matter

Jun 28, 2021

Dear Readers,

This week, we're proud to share that Central American News has been featured on Routed Magazine in collaboration with IOM's supported iDiaspora platform. The issue is called "Empowering global diasporas in the digital era."

Our Panama News Curator, Bree'ya Brown, and I, wrote a piece entitled: Central American News: The diaspora’s media that bridges Central America and abroad. We write about Bree'ya's experience with the newsletter as a Panamanian in the diaspora and what we stand for. This is one of our quotes:

"It is liberating to decide what news to highlight, build news narratives and choose our words carefully."

You can read our story here and find the overall project with tons of initiatives from diasporas around the world here (and in PDF).

Big thanks to our team, followers, subscribers and Patrons from all walks of life who are making Central American News happen! Information is power. Let's keep it up.

Salú,

Melissa

Art by Xiomara Garay on Instagram [click on image]

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Headlines

Migration

📰 Migrants in Mexico: The group Human Rights First reported that about 3,300 migrants stranded in Mexico since Biden’s inauguration have been kidnapped, raped, or assaulted. // Central American migrants are opting to seek asylum in Mexico in greater numbers.

📰 Biden Policy: The Biden administration will admit asylum seekers whose cases were terminated under the Trump administration’s “Remain in Mexico” policy. // Border Patrol Chief and Trump appointee Rodney Scott was asked to step down. // The White House is considering the termination of public health order Title 42 that expels migrants.

📰 Detention: Migrant children detained in U.S. shelters reported poor conditions and depression at facilities like Fort Bliss. // ICE was responsible for the increase in coronavirus cases in detention facilities when they transferred detainees. // According to a recent report, ICE force-fed migrants who protested poor conditions.

📰 Texas Border Enforcement: Texas officials are clearing a prison to make room for migrant arrests. // Communities have raised criticisms at the focus on the border wall while officials ignore community needs. // Governor Greg Abbot’s border wall has fundraised $400K in public donations. // Border communities in Texas fear a surge in racist violence after Texas politicians invoke language of “invasion” regarding the arrival of migrants at the border. // Vice President Kamala Harris will visit the border.

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Central America

📰 South Korean Partnership: President Carlos Alvarado of Costa Rica highlighted a new strategic and cooperative partnership between the Central American Integration System (SICA) and South Korea when Central American leaders met virtually with South Korean President Moon Jae-in. The summit focused on a drive for a sustainable, green and inclusive recovery after the pandemic.

📰 SICA: Nicaragua will lead SICA from 2021 to 2025. The government is now suggesting Nicaraguan candidates to become the next Secretary General.

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Belize

📰 Housing Program: The Government of Belize has announced the implementation of a housing program, aiming to establish 150 low-income houses.

📰 COVID-19: A two-week old baby has tested positive for COVID-19. As of June 24, Belize has recorded nearly 13,000 positive cases for the virus, with 327 total deaths throughout the country.

📰 The Death of John McAfee: John McAfee, famous for the creation of the 'McAfee Antivirus' computer software, died in his prison cell in Barcelona. He had moved to Belize in the early 2000's, and was eventually accused of multiple crimes there, including weapons possession, drug possession—and murder. He fled from Belize to Guatemala then to Europe, where he was apprehended in Spain. He was awaiting extradition to the US at the time of his death.

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Costa Rica

📰 La Cochinilla Case: Attorney General Emilia Navas stepped down from her post after criticisms of her management and her conflict of interest with her husband Francisco Campos, who is defending one of the companies involved in the high-profile corruption case between businesses and public officials.

📰 Biomedical Research: The Costa Rican scientific community hopes to regain the country’s status as a leader in Biomedical research after a five-year “blackout” in research due to the absence of a law regulating the field. Biomedical studies can test new therapies, vaccines, diagnostic procedures and medical devices.

📰 Covid-19: Google automatically installed a Covid-19 tracker on phones in Costa Rica. The move sparked fears and fueled conspiracy theories.

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El Salvador

📰 Pride: LGBTQI+ organizations marched in different parts of the city for their rights. Trans people in particular demand the awaited Gender Identity Law proposal, which has been archived last May.

📰 Bitcoin: President Bukele said that the use of the cryptocurrency will be on a voluntary basis, even if the Bitcoin Law still establishes an obligation for businesses to receive such currency. // U.S. company begins installation of Bitcoin ATMs in El Salvador. // President Bukele offered $30 worth of Bitcoin to any citizen who signs up for a digital wallet "Chivo", which totals $120 million from public funds.

📰 Violence: At least four families in Sensuntepeque abandoned their homes for fear of reprisals from gang members who have a presence in the rural area. // Police officer abused minor in Cojutepeque.

📰 Indigenous people: Indigenous peoples demand public policies and compensation for historical damages.

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Guatemala

📰 COVID-19: Since the COVID-19 health emergency was declared, Guatemala has reached the highest number of infections registered in the country with 2,273 new positive cases in just 24 hours. People gathered in remembrance of the more than 9,000 COVID-19 deaths and to highlight the mismanagement of the pandemic which has resulted in only 1% of the population being vaccinated so far. Many are also questioning the government for the postponement of the vaccine law, which would grant access to a broader range of brands and allow donations of vaccines.

📰 LGBTQ: After the recent murders of two transgender women and one gay man this month, the reported total killings of LGBTQ people is at 13 this year, compared to the 19 in all of 2020. Human Rights Watch is calling on authorities to take urgent steps to pursue justice for these killings and to prevent further bloodshed.

📰 Amnesty Law: National associations of victims and survivors of the internal armed conflict condemn "bill 5920", which would grant amnesty to army officers involved in crimes against humanity and serious violations of human rights committed between 1960 and 1996.

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Honduras

📰 COVID-19: Since the beginning of the pandemic, funerals reported the death of about 15,000 people due to the COVID-19. The government reports a lower death count. For Dr. Julissa Villanueva, this is one of the reasons for distrust in the government.

📰 Vaccines: On June 17, Honduras received, through the Covax mechanism, the first batch of 212,940 doses of the Pfizer vaccine. // The U.S. has donated 1.5 million doses of the Moderna vaccine to Honduras through Covax.

📰 Israel-Honduras: A Honduran governmental delegation arrived in Israel to inaugurate the Honduran embassy in Jerusalem. Honduras is the fourth country to transfer the location of the embassy from Tel Aviv, which marks a controversial move as Jerusalem is disputed with Palestinians. In Honduras, the trip was questioned due to the expensive nature of it and the presence of non-governmental authorities, such as ex-Congresspeople, Evangelical priests, etc.

📰 ZEDE: Despite strong criticism in Honduras, "Startup City Mariposa” announced that investors will visit places that could host the future Employment and Economic Development Zone (ZEDE) in July. The National Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH) manifested its complete opposition against the installation of ZEDEs.

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Nicaragua

📰 Diplomacy: In light of government crackdown on opposition members, Mexico demanded “respect for freedoms” in Nicaragua. Spain tried opening a channel of “discrete dialogue” for respect for human rights, fair elections, and freedom of political prisoners. Nicaragua responded with a diplomatic letter accusing Spain of being colonialist and ignorant of proper diplomacy protocols.

📰 Politics: After 35 days outside of the public eye, President Ortega reappeared to justify the jailing of 21 political and social leaders, activists and businessmen, labeling them as “criminals” even though a trial has not been carried out.

📰 Press: Government launches a smear campaign against journalists, spreading fake news about their funding, and accusing the media of being “terrorists”.

📰 Economy: Regional economic groups are concerned about Nicaragua's latest politically motivated arrests. // Recent bills in the US Senate request to review the free trade agreement between the two countries due to the political situation. Its cancellation could cost Nicaragua $1.500 million per year.

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Panama

📰 Migration: Panama’s top diplomat asked the U.S. for financial help in dealing with the large number of migrants who cross the Darién jungle, and plans to ask European countries to contribute as well.

📰 Pride: LGBTQI+ groups marched in Panama City on Saturday 26, for equality and against discrimination. Transgender Guna Indigenous women were part of the march for their rights. // Organizations working in HIV prevention and with the LGTBIQ population have developed innovative care mechanisms by using WhatsApp.

📰 COVID-19: Scientists confirm that Panama is facing a third Covid-19 wave and warn of Covid's variants. There has been 789 positive cases detected on June 27.

📰 Threats against the president: https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2021/06/28/panama-imputados-apologia-delito-presidente-laurentino-cortizo-orix/

Good Reads

📌Bitcoin: After a mysterious donor turned a Salvadoran surf town into “Bitcoin Beach,” the country made crypto legal tender—and perhaps a source of profit. (Vice)

📌"Central American Gulag": EL PAÍS toured Managua and spoke with those who are persecuted. (El País)

📌Left and Right: How similar are the governments of Nicaragua and Honduras? (Expediente Público)

📌Counterfeit: Illegal Chinese Cigarettes Flooding Latin America Flow Through Panama. (Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project)

📌 Central American News: Our own story. (Routed Magazine)

TikTok Rising Star

Yanira Berrios is an informal vender in the historic center of San Salvador whose TikTok profile has gone viral in recent months. Ms. Berrios shares life tips and dances on her account. Check it out and support her here.

Central American Studies

🎓 K’iche Maya scholar Emil’ Keme explores the poetics of Maya resistance and decolonization in modern Guatemala in his recent book Le Maya Q’atzij/Our Maya Word: Poetics of Resistance in Guatemala.

Fact

Millennials and women led entrepreneurship in Panama in 2020. COVID-19 has been a decisive factor for people launching their own businesses.

Music

Sara Curruchich premiered the first single of her second record, Junam. Read her interview on No Ficción, “a voice to change the world”, and listen to it here.

Patreon

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