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REGION

Borders bursting at the seams

Predictably, the gathering momentum of anti-immigrant feeling in the US has coincided with a rise in the number of deportees. As hundreds of civilians patrol the southern US border, and a new law to restrict the flow of immigrants awaits ratification in the Senate, public opinion has hardened, linking immigration with unemployment and often, with terrorism. In this context, Mexico's role as a barrier to migration becomes increasingly important, becoming, in effect, the US's "vertical border". The net result has been increased pressure on Central American governments to respond to the increasing numbers of deportees.

New Pope widens divisions in Church

The election of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as the new Pope (Benedict XVI) is of particular importance for the Catholic Church in Latin America, home to the largest number of Catholics in the world. During his long reign as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (formerly responsible for the Inquisition), Ratzinger zealously dismantled the most significant theological trend of the twentieth century, the so-called Liberation Theology movement. But despite his record as a highly conservative enforcer of Catholic dogma, the image of the new Pope presented by the regional media has overwhelmingly been of someone benign and open to ideas. Nevertheless, many progressive Catholics consulted by CAR fear that the new pontiff represents a threat to the freedom and autonomy of local churches. Although these same sources express a certain hope that Ratzinger will focus just as much on social issues as Church doctrine, it appears that their optimism is based more on faith than reality.

Cuban aid continues despite UN vote

Since the United States included the issue of human rights as part of its ongoing conflict with Cuba, voting in the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) has created tension between Havana and those supporting US initiatives. The fact that three Central American countries once again backed the US has left Cuba, which has developed close aid links with the region, feeling betrayed. According to Central American governments, what Cuba describes as their incapacity to withstand "blackmail and pressure" from Washington, they describe as an "independent and objective" concern for the rights of individuals throughout the world.

COSTA RICA

Uproar over anti-CAFTA declarations

On April 14, representatives from some 500 organizations came together in agreement that the ratification of the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) would be a blow for the country. The conference received increased coverage when various declarations, approved by the participants, were interpreted by some public figures as threats, incitements to violence and as illegal. Representatives of anti-CAFTA groups claim the attention placed upon the statements is intended to cover up the widespread discontent over the Agreement.

GUATEMALA

Guatecompras ill equipped to cope with State corruption

Two years ago, many believed an important step was made to encourage transparency in business dealings conducted between the government and private enterprise, with the creation of the electronic portal, Guatecompras. The idea was that all official quotations and contract bids would be publicized on the website. However, so far this has only happened with a tiny percentage of official business, and sources inform CAR that Guatecompras has affected little change in the municipalities, the departments and in some ministries. Personal financial gain continues to guide much of the decision making within certain government circles. Analysts and experts on the topic believe that the solutions to the problem lie in a combination of external auditing and supervision and investigation carried out by civil society groups.

Growing US security concerns

In late March, the Honduran government announced the dismantling of a terrorist cell operated by the Colombian Armed Rebel Forces (FARC, in Spanish) in Honduras. It later emerged that the alleged terrorists were in fact a group of local arms and drugs traffickers with merely commercial links to the FARC. Certain analysts have hinted at a media set-up involving attempts by the US State Department to link the Colombian guerrillas to Islamic terrorists in order to justify an escalation of the "war on terror". Meanwhile, the US government has threatened to suspend aid to Nicaragua if the country's long-standing arsenal of Sam-7 missiles are not destroyed. The weapons are considered to be much sought after by international terrorists.

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6 May 2005