News from Latin America

For some reason there’s not often any discussion about Latin America on these boards. During the past few days there has been some significant activity in a few governments down there so I thought I’d post some info on it.

Stuck With Old Leaders, Argentina and Paraguay Need a New Way](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A36497-2003Apr25.html)

They have not endured decades under a repressive regime, years of United Nations sanctions or a United States-led war of liberation. Yet these two Western Hemisphere nations find themselves, like Iraq, on the brink of colossal reconstruction–and without the luxury of being able to make a clean break from their troubled pasts. …

Argentina’s Ex-President Menem in Runoff](Yahoo News: Latest and Breaking News, Headlines, Live Updates, and More)

Former President Carlos Menem finished first in presidential elections but failed to win an outright victory in his comeback bid, setting up a runoff vote to decide who will lead this recession-battered nation. …

Paraguay Ruling Party Holds Onto Power](Yahoo News: Latest and Breaking News, Headlines, Live Updates, and More)

Colorado Party leader Nicanor Duarte extended his party’s 55- year grip on power, winning a presidential election by handily defeating two challengers seeking to tap building anger over the country’s deepening economic crisis. …

Ecuador’s First Family in Marital Fight](Yahoo News: Latest and Breaking News, Headlines, Live Updates, and More)

On the eve of Lucio Gutierrez’s Jan. 15 inauguration, a TV interviewer prodded the incoming president about why his wife was criticizing him publicly. …

A fantastic thread, Spoon. Thank you for trying to diversify the range of topics discussed in this Forum. If i can add a few more links to yours:

Argentina awaits election decider

Sunday’s election was the first time the country’s 25.5 million eligible voters had the chance to go to the polls since the collapse of Argentina’s economy in 2001.

Secret graves found in Honduras

At least four secret cemeteries used by soldiers to bury victims of the repression of the 1980s have been discovered in Honduras, prosecutors say.

Colombia rebel leader surrenders

A Colombian guerrilla commander has been presented to the country’s media by President Alvaro Uribe as the first rebel leader to join the government’s demobilisation programme.

The current edition of the New Internationalist is devoted to a few different social and political aspects of Latin America. i haven’t finished reading all of it yet… but just thought i’d post it here anyways.