Central America
At least 13 killed in Guatemala Indigenous land dispute
AFP
At least 13 people were killed in western Guatemala, including women, children and a policeman, in a long-running land dispute between Indigenous villages, police said Saturday.
Police said the confrontation began on Friday and lasted until Saturday in an area located about 160 kilometers (100 miles) west of the Guatemalan capital by road.
Twelve people “have recently been found dead in the village of Chiquix, located on the side of Nahuala, which is a territorial boundary in the conflict with (the neighboring village) of Santa Catarina Ixtahuacan,” the National Civil Police (PNC) said in a statement.
It also reported the death of an officer, and added that “among the dead are children, men and women.”
A “semi-burned” truck was found at the site, as well as a patrol car with bullet holes that is believed to have been attacked, police added.
Two other police officers were wounded, according to the statement, which did not give further details.
The conflict between the two municipalities inhabited by Indigenous Mayans dates back a century, President Alejandro Giammattei said in May last year, shortly after an escalation of violence in the area led him to decree a state of siege.
The differences “have persisted for more than 100 years” and have “claimed the lives of many, many villagers involved in the supposed defense of their lands”, Giammattei said at the time, when he also set up a dialogue to try to resolve the conflict.
Last August, Interior Minister Gendri Reyes made a commitment to the inhabitants of the area to reinforce police presence in both municipalities to prevent conflict.
Law enforcement “reject this type of inhumane, irrational acts,” the police said after the new events.
Central America
Bukele warns crime can become a ‘parallel government’ during visit to Costa Rica
El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, accompanied by his official delegation, arrived at the site where the new facilities of the Center for the High Containment of Organized Crime (CACCO) are being built. Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves welcomed Bukele, marking the start of the cornerstone-laying ceremony.
“Thank you very much to President Rodrigo Chaves and his cabinet for this invitation,” Bukele said, noting that this was his fourth meeting with the Costa Rican leader in the past two years.
In his address, Bukele stressed that insecurity is a problem that undermines all aspects of society. “When insecurity advances, jobs collapse, education becomes more difficult, and the economy slows down. People stop going out, businesses close early, investment leaves, and tourism disappears,” he said.
The Salvadoran president warned that if crime continues to grow, it can turn into a parallel government—“the dictatorship of gangs, criminals, and drug traffickers.” He added that this situation has not yet occurred in Costa Rica and that the country is still in time to prevent it.
Central America
U.S. and El Salvador maintain close partnership, embassy says
The Chargé d’Affaires of the United States Embassy in El Salvador, Naomi Fellows, said on Monday that relations between the two countries remain “very close” and that both governments continue to work together in several areas of shared interest.
Speaking at a press conference, Fellows highlighted the longstanding friendship between the United States and El Salvador, as well as the achievements reached through bilateral agreements.
“In terms of our relationship with El Salvador, it continues to be very strong, very close. We are partners on security issues, on economic development; partners on migration, and on many other matters,” she said.
Fellows added that the relationship remains solid and is expected to continue strengthening through joint actions and cooperation initiatives.
On security, she noted that the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has underscored the results of the measures implemented by the government of President Nayib Bukele to improve public safety in the country.
Senior U.S. officials have visited El Salvador to observe firsthand the impact of the Territorial Control Plan, including tours of the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT).
Fellows also emphasized the strong personal ties between the two nations, pointing to family and friendship connections that link Salvadorans and Americans.
Central America
Taiwan’s $10 million donation after 2001 earthquakes allegedly diverted in El Salvador
Amid the national tragedy left by the earthquakes of January 13 and February 13, 2001, a controversial corruption scandal emerged that later implicated former presidents Francisco Flores and Elías Antonio Saca, as well as senior executives of the ARENA party.
Although there were efforts to conceal a scheme involving the misuse of public funds, subsequent investigations revealed that between October 2003 and April 2004 the government of Taiwan, led at the time by President Chen Shui-bian, delivered at least three checks totaling $10 million in donations to El Salvador. The funds were diverted and never recorded by the Technical Secretariat for External Financing, the government body responsible for coordinating and monitoring international cooperation resources.
The plight of more than 1.5 million earthquake victims prompted an outpouring of international solidarity. However, it also fueled ambitions among sectors that allegedly took advantage of the emergency to improperly appropriate resources intended to ease the suffering of those affected.
Part of the $10 million donation was earmarked for the construction of housing for residents of Las Colinas, one of the communities hardest hit by the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck on January 13, 2001, at 11:35 a.m. Plans also included the creation of a memorial park to honor the 525 victims buried by landslides.
At a press conference in January 2014, Alejandro Flores, president of the Las Colinas community board, stated that residents received some assistance from Taiwanese cooperation funds. However, he clarified that this support came from different resources and that the destination of the $10 million donation was never known to them.
Former South Korean President Yoon sentenced to five years in prison
U.S. deportation flight returns venezuelans to Caracas after Maduro’s ouster
Sheinbaum highlights anti-drug gains after U.S. says challenges remain
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
-
International4 days agoDeadly van accident near Brazil border leaves 11 dead in Bolivia
-
International4 days agoU.S. to host Danish and Greenlandic Foreign Ministers at the White House
-
Central America4 days agoU.S. and El Salvador maintain close partnership, embassy says
-
Central America4 days agoTaiwan’s $10 million donation after 2001 earthquakes allegedly diverted in El Salvador
-
International4 days agoDominican court postpones hearing in deadly nightclub collapse case
-
International4 days agoPolice hunt gunmen after fatal shooting in Corsica
-
International4 days agoEx-President accused of bid to establish dictatorship as verdict nears in South Korea
-
International4 days agoVenezuelan opposition leader dedicates Nobel Prize to Trump
-
International3 days agoColombian Defense Chief Meets U.S. Officials to Advance Bilateral Narcotics Strategy
-
International2 days agoUkraine declares nationwide energy emergency amid russian attacks and extreme cold
-
International2 days agoIran closes airspace amid U.S. threats and deadly nationwide protests
-
Central America3 days agoBukele warns crime can become a ‘parallel government’ during visit to Costa Rica
-
International2 days agoX moves to block Grok from creating sexualized images of real people amid legal scrutiny
-
International2 days agoFrance joins Denmark’s ‘Operation Arctic Resistance’ in Greenland amid U.S. tensions
-
International2 days agoHillary Clinton skips Epstein inquiry as house panel threatens contempt charges
-
International3 days agoPeruvian Court Orders Definitive Dismissal of Money Laundering Case Against Keiko Fujimori
-
International2 days agoU.S.–Denmark tensions escalate as Trump pushes NATO to back U.S. claim on Greenland
-
International2 days agoUK Intelligence estimates russian casualties in Ukraine at over 1.2 million
-
International2 days agoSwiss Canton of Valais Grants Emergency Aid to Victims of Crans-Montana Bar Tragedy
-
International3 days agoU.S. to suspend visa processing for applicants from 75 countries
-
International20 hours agoCanada accuses Iran of killing its citizen during anti-government unrest
-
International20 hours agoSheinbaum highlights anti-drug gains after U.S. says challenges remain
-
International2 hours agoU.S. deportation flight returns venezuelans to Caracas after Maduro’s ouster
-
International2 hours agoFormer South Korean President Yoon sentenced to five years in prison