Brazil, Latin America: Week in Review
Brazil Sends Troops To Salvador During Police Strike
February 7, 2012 By Staff
Today in Latin America
Top Story — The Brazilian government has deployed some 3,500 troops to oust striking Brazilian police officers in the northeastern state of Bahia who are currently occupying the state legislature building with their families to demand higher wages and better working conditions. Police in Bahia went on strike last Tuesday, leaving the capital city of Salvador largely unpatrolled and allowing the murder rate to double, according to the Folha de São Paulo. Currently, about 4,000 police officers and family members, including 300 children, are inside the legislature building, which has been surrounded by soldiers firing rubber bullets in an effort to gain access. Soldiers are also patrolling the streets in the absence of the police. Salvador is a popular tourist destination for the upcoming Carnaval season and will host some of Brazil’s 2014 World Cup games.
Read more from AFP.
Headlines from the Western Hemisphere
North America
- Josefina Vazquez Mota became Mexico’s first female presidential candidate of a major party when she was selected to run for the National Action Party (PAN) on Sunday night.
- Lawyers for Arizona Governor Jan Brewer filed a brief on Monday in the U.S. Supreme Court, which is expected to hear arguments supporting the state’s immigration law on April 25.
Caribbean
- A Cuban blogger reported that ten Cuban dissidents are seeking asylum at the U.S. naval base in Guantánamo Bay.
- A vessel carrying about 60 Dominicans attempting to emigrate to Puerto Rico capsized on Monday, killing at least 18 people.
- A Puerto Rican fisherman who survived 20 days at sea after landing on the Colombian island of San Andres was released from the hospital Monday.
Central America
- Panamanian activists are demanding the release of 44 people detained when riot police clashed with indigenous protesters blocking the Pan-American highway to protest mining projects that would affect their land.
- Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega is in stable condition after he was moved to a hospital for high blood pressure and concerns he might have a stroke.
Andes
- Venezuelan police have arrested three suspects in last week’s four-hour kidnapping of Mexico’s ambassador to Venezuela and his wife.
- An American oil worker was shot and killed in Venezuela, according to the local attorney general.
- A company in Peru is farm raising an Amazonian river fish known as paiche for export.
Southern Cone
- The Chilean government has declared a public health crisis after three people died in El Manzano prison and another 10 are sick with hantavirus.
- Falkland Islanders are worried about increasing tension between Britain and Argentina after Prince William’s arrival on the islands last Thursday for a six week tour of duty.
- Argentina and Brazil concluded a meeting to discuss bilateral trade in “good understanding”, according to sources.
Image: anlopelope @ Flickr.
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