Category Archives: Uncategorized

Syrian Chemical Attack

Posted on in Uncategorized title_rule

At least 70 people have been killed in a suspected chemical attack on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun in north-western Syria. Hundreds suffered symptoms consistent with reaction to a nerve agent after what the opposition and Western powers said was a Syrian government air strike on the area on Tuesday morning. Activists and witnesses say warplanes attacked Khan Sheikhoun, about 50km (30 miles) south of the city of Idlib, early on Tuesday, when many people were asleep.

The use of chemical weapons is still being confirmed. 32 victims of the attack were brought to Turkey, where three subsequently died in hospital. “Post mortems were carried out on the three bodies,” Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said, “the results of the post-mortems confirm chemical weapons were used.”

The bodies were examined by officials from the World Health Organisation in the southern province of Adana together with officials from Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. Russia said it was “premature” to accuse President Assad of using chemical weapons, and called for a thorough investigation. It has said the deaths and injuries were caused by a Syrian airstrike on a “terrorist warehouse” containing “toxic substances”. Witnesses described seeing victims choking, fainting and foaming at the mouth after the weapons were dropped. Medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres said it treated patients with dilated pupils, muscle spasms and involuntary defecation “consistent with exposure to neuro-toxic agents such as Sarin.”

The West places the blame squarely on the Assad regime. Russia – one of President Assad’s few allies – has a different story.

Russia, which has carried out air strikes in support of President Assad since 2015, said the Syrian air force had struck Khan Sheikhoun “between 11:30am and 12:30pm local time” on Tuesday, but that the target had been “a large terrorist ammunition depot” on its eastern outskirts. “On the territory of the depot, there were workshops which produced chemical warfare munitions,” it added, without providing any evidence. “Terrorists had been transporting chemical munitions from this largest arsenal to the territory of Iraq.”

A Syrian military statement published by state media categorically denied the use of any chemical or toxic substance” in Khan Sheikhoun on Tuesday, adding: “It has never used them, anytime, anywhere, and will not do so in the future.”

Reports of the first significant use of chemical weapons – including Sarin nerve agent – by the Assad regime in 2013, prompted the international community’s first purposeful diplomatic intervention in the Syrian War. The Obama administration had marked down the use of chemical arms as “a red line”, which, if crossed, would lead to serious consequences for the Assad regime.In the event, President Obama decided to pull back and avoid military action. The US and Russia came together and brokered a deal under which the Assad regime would give up its chemical arsenal under international inspection.

Russia pledged its continuing support for the Syrian regime on Wednesday, despite the chemical attack. “The Russian Federation and its military are continuing… to support the anti-terrorism operation and liberation of the country, which is being conducted by the Syrian armed forces,” said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.

US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, said on Wednesday it was time for Russia to rethink its relationship with the Assad regime. “There is no doubt in our mind that the Syrian regime under the leadership of Bashar al-Assad is responsible for the horrific attack. And we think it’s time for the Russians to think carefully about their continuing support for the regime”

Informe Sobre Venezuela (6 abril 2017)

Posted on in Sin categorizar, Uncategorized title_rule

Condena internacional por la decisión del Tribunal Supremo de Justicia de Venezuela (TSJ) de suprimir la inmunidad de los diputados de la Asamblea Nacional y la adjudicación de sus competencias a la Sala Constitucional del TSJ. La decisión fue tomada tras desobedecer la Asamblea la petición del TSJ de no juramentar a los diputados del Estado de Amazonas tras irregularidades en la votación en las pasadas elecciones legislativas. La oposición acusó al Gobierno de Nicolás Maduro de cometer un golpe de estado y movilizaron a sus seguidores en protestas por todo el país. La comunidad internacional condenó la decisión del tribunal como un atentado a la democracia, con declaraciones tanto de Mercosur como de la Organización de Estados Americanos, así como de muchos países. Sin embargo, horas después Maduro exhortaba al TSJ a reconsiderar la sentencia, y el tribunal acató invalidando su propia sentencia. Esto se debe, más allá de la presión externa e interna hacia al régimen, al poco apoyo que recibió el ejecutivo por parte de sus aliados tradicionales, Cuba no se pronunció sobre la sentencia, Rafael Correa declaró que “Ecuador no es Venezuela” y solo el presidente de Bolivia, Evo Morales, salió en apoyo de su mayor aliado.

El trasfondo de la situación es, sin embargo, más complejo y se ha de prestar atención hacia Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) la empresa estatal del petróleo, de la cual dependen ampliamente las cuentas venezolanas, y que se encuentra en una profunda crisis desde el golpe de estado de Hugo Chávez en 2002. La salida de los expertos de la petrolera por motivos ideológicos llevó a la empresa estatal a perder cuota de producción por la incompetencia de la nueva directiva, elegida a dedo, y ha acarreado la situación límite de estos últimos meses. En abril el PDVSA afronta el pago de 2.900 millones de dólares que, de no ser pagados, pondrían en riesgo el Gobierno de Nicolás Maduro. El presidente acordó una solución con Rosneft, petrolera propiedad del Gobierno ruso, que le proporcionaría liquidez para afrontar los pagos, pero dicho acuerdo requería de la aprobación de la Asamblea que mostró su negativa a firmar cualquier asociación para poner fin al Gobierno de Maduro. Esto llevó a la sentencia del TSJ, dominado por chavistas, que inhabilitó a la Asamblea y permitió al tribunal modificar el reglamento para permitir a PDVSA la creación de empresas mixtas público-privadas sin aprobación legislativa. De esta forma Maduro asegura el acuerdo con Rosneft y la supervivencia de su Gobierno, a pesar de que Rosneft todavía no ha tomado una decisión definitiva. Rusia consigue del acuerdo un 10% de participación en la filial Petropiar presente en la Franja del Orinoco (un 70% propiedad del Estado y un 30% de Chevron), una de las zonas de producción petrolíferas más prometedoras del mundo y, en caso de que PDVSA no afronte sus pagos, se adjudicaría la mitad de las acciones de Citgo, la filial venezolana en Estados Unidos.

French Presidential Election: Macron Clashes with Le Pen During Televised Debate

Posted on in Uncategorized title_rule

Centrist Emmanuel Macron has kept his position as favourite to win France’s presidential election after a televised debate on Tuesday night, during which he clashed with his main rival, Marine Le Pen, over Europe. The debate comes just nineteen days before the election.

Criticising Ms Le Pen, the leader of the National Front (FN) who wants to leave the euro, hold a referendum on European Union (EU) membership and curb immigration, Mr Macron stated, “nationalism is war. I know it. I come from a region that is full of graveyards.” Mr Macron, who has voiced his strong pro-European views, comes from the Somme region, which was a major battlefield during World War One. Ms Le Pen however hit back at Mr Macron, stating “you should pretend to be something new when you are speaking like old fossils that are at lest 50 years old,” to which Mr Macron replied “sorry to tell you this, Madame Le Pen, but you are saying the same lies that we’ve heard from your father for 40 years.” The comment appeared to be a swipe at Le Pen’s efforts to clean up the image of the party that her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, founded and to make it more palatable to mainstream voters.

According to a snap survey, Mr Macron was seen as having the best political programme, with the survey also placing him as the second most convincing performer in the four-hour debate, which involved all eleven presidential candidates. The Elabe snap poll, which was tkane when the debate ended in the early hours of Wednesday, gave firebrand leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon, a veteran of France’s political circuit, first place as the most convincing performer. Ms Le Pen lagged in fourth place, behind Mr Macron and Francois Fillon. Mr Macron was also seen in the same poll as having the best programme of all the candidates by 23 percent of viewers, followed by Melenchon, whose ratings have been rising since the first televised debate in March, to the detriment of Socialist Party candidate Benoit Hamon.

While the Elabe poll did not show voting intentions, other surveys have consistently shown Mr Macron and Ms Le Pen qualifying for the 7 May runoff, with Mr Macron ultimately winning the presidential election. However the high level of undecided voters means that the ballot remains unpredictable.

It currently remains unclear if a final televised debate, due to take place on 20 April, will occur after several of the leading candidates have disclosed that it is being held too close to the election itself, with the first round of voting due to take place on 23 April.

Tagged as: ,

Revisión de los incidentes en la región (Semana del 5 abril de 2017)

Posted on in Sin categorizar, Uncategorized title_rule

Amenaza a la libertad de prensa en México. Decenas de periodistas se han estado manifestando a lo largo de las pasadas semanas por la inseguridad que sufren ejerciendo su profesión. El pasado marzo fue uno de los meses más sangrientos que se recuerdan, desde el año 2000 son ya 123 los periodistas asesinados. La situación ha forzado el cierre del periódico Norte de Ciudad de Juárez por la extrema violencia y persecución. La Sociedad Interamericana de Prensa ha pedido al Gobierno de México que haga un mayor esfuerzo en la protección de los periodistas, profesión clave para la democracia. México es actualmente considerado el país más peligroso del continente para ejercer la profesión periodística.

Graves altercados en Asunción, Paraguay, tras el intento del actual presidente Horacio Cartes de reformar la Constitución del país para poder ser reelegido en las elecciones de 2018. Las protestas llegaron hasta el mismo Congreso que fue saqueado y parcialmente quemado por los manifestantes. Las protestas terminaron con 211 detenidos y un muerto cuando la policía asaltó la sede del Partido Liberal. Sorprendentemente, el conservador Partido Colorado, ahora dividido entre fieles y opositores al presidente Cartes, cuenta con el apoyo del izquierdista Frente Guasú que, con la reforma de la Constitución, pretende volver a poner a su expresidente Fernando Lugo en el poder en las próximas elecciones, dado que lidera en los sondeos, tras su destitución en 2012. Mientras, el Partido Liberal acusa al presidente de un golpe de estado por la reforma de la Constitución, así como por el asalto a su sede nacional.

El mal tiempo en la región del Putumayo provocó en la madrugada del 1 de abril el desbordamiento de tres ríos a la altura de Mocoa, la capital del departamento. Las cifras ascienden a 290 fallecidos, más de 370 heridos y un número indeterminado de desaparecidos en una localidad de unos 45.000 habitantes. El Gobierno colombiano declaró el estado de calamidad y movilizó a 1.120 militares para las labores de salvamento, mientras se abren las vías de acceso a la ciudad para poner a salvo a la población.

Tensa situación post electoral en Ecuador tras la victoria de Lenin Moreno, declarado sucesor de Rafael Correa, en las elecciones a la presidencia del país. A pesar del aval de varias misiones de observación internacionales, entre ellas la de la Organización de Estados Americanos, el opositor Guillermo Lasso no ha aceptado los resultados y llama a sus seguidores a salir a las calles para exigir el recuento de los votos. Mientras, Luis Almagro, presidente de la OEA ha dado validez a los resultados y felicitado, junto a muchos otros jefes de estado, a Moreno por su victoria.

US President Trumps State Visit to the UK Delayed

Posted on in Uncategorized title_rule

Reports emerged this month that United States President Donald Trumps state visit to the United Kingdom may have been delayed in an attempt to allow dissent over the controversial trip to dissipate.

On 10 March, Buckingham Palace announced that the King of Spain will travel to Britain, with sources indicated that this points strongly towards an October visit by President Trump. In a short statement, Buckingham Palace disclosed that King Felipe VI, accompanied by Queen Letizia of Spain, has accepted an invitation from the Queen to pay a state visit to the United Kingdom from 6th to 8th June 2017. King Felipe postponed a state visit to Britain in March 2016 because of a political crisis, however there have since been reports indicating that President Trumps visit had been moved from June until the end of the year in the hopes that any protests would be lessened.

An online petition calling for President Trump not to make a state visit was signed by 1.8 million people. However despite the strong opposition, the Government has disclosed that the visit will go ahead. Prime Minister Theresa May announced that President Trump was being extended the honour of a state visit when she became the first international leader to visit him at the White House following his inauguration in January.