Excluded Headlines: What happened in the Global South this week? Peru coup explained, DRC massacre
Stay up to date on the global news stories the US- and Eurocentric media overlooks, with journalist and author, Tamara Pearson
In a matter of days, the law has been used against two left wing Latin American leaders. One was arrested after he indeed broke the law, though the mainstream media is leaving out all context as to why he did that, and another has been sentenced to six years prison. This move is common in the region, when leaders are popular and the US and local elites can’t find other ways to get rid of them.
Otherwise, the media has focused international coverage on Russia and Ukraine, on China’s Covid-19 policies, as well as on the far right group in Germany and of course, now Peru. Most coverage has been themed around terrorism and the far-right, and accidents like the train crash in Spain. But the take on Latin America has been very Western-centric, and other stories, such as a massacre of hundreds in the DRC, have been overlooked as usual.
Argentina: Undefeated in elections, left-wing VP Kirchner sentenced to prison - On Tuesday, now vice-president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner was sentenced to six years prison on corruption and fraud charges. The sentence rules her out from holding any public office. Kirchner was president for two terms, from 2007 to 2015. She was accused of diverting US$1 billion in public funds. After the verdict, Kirchner said the charges were politically motivated, and part of a common “lawfare” in Latin America, where politicians, lawyers, and the media work together to smear left-wing leaders as corrupt. There was an assassination attempt against her in September. Kirchner can appeal the verdict, and currently has immunity due to her position as vice president. Left and left-leaning presidents around Latin America condemned the verdict, a fact the mainstream media has largely boycotted, as well as the context of lawfare often being used in the region (sometimes with US support) to remove popular left-wing leaders that cant be removed through elections. Source, source, source.
DR Congo: Hundreds killed in massacre - The Congolese government has said that around 300 people died in an attack on villagers, and has blamed the M23 group. The group said the real figure was 8, and they died by stray bullets. But communities have counted their dead, and noted the real figure and that they were all civilians. The M23 has been at war with government forces. Though the media often talks about Rwanda supporting the M23 and their original defection from the army, a struggle to control gold and other mines could be at the heart of the issue. Many of the profits go to foreign corporations. Source, source.
Peru: Mainstream media distorts coup against left-leaning president - Peruvian president Pedro Castillo temporarily declared the dissolution of the congress, the reorganization of the judiciary, and an emergency government on Wednesday. He did it knowing that in a few hours the congress would discuss, for the third time, his impeachment. The vote had already been scheduled. However, the image the mainstream media has painted is that the president was impeached because he attempted to dissolve the congress. Castillo had called for new elections in nine months time. He said the opposition majority in congress had focused on removing him from power and prevented measures to address social inequalities.
The US was not neutral in these events, and immediately rejected the measure taken by Castillo – apparently needing no time to think it over. The congress removed Castillo from power for “moral incapacity” and the vice-president, Dina Boluarte, was quickly sworn in at 3pm, while Castillo was arrested by the police straight away. Legally, the congress’s move was valid, and Castillo’s was not.
Castillo was president for 16 months. He is a teacher, and on being elected was subjected to lots of racist and classist comments. While in power he made erratic decisions that were not in line with the Libre Party’s position.
Just last week, the congress’s constitution commission ruled that a president can be suspended for 36 months with just 66 votes (out of the total 130 seats) – a move that itself is unconstitutional. The ruling has yet to be passed by the full congress however. Source, source, source, source, source.
Morocco: Large protests against high costs – Thousands marched in Rabat on Sunday in reaction to various problems in the country, including inflation, corruption, and despotism. Poverty has returned to 2014 levels, and marchers accused the government of being “married” to money. Source, source.
Nepal: Left alliance loses parliamentary majority - Results are in after general elections last month, and though the left-wing Nepali Congress won the most seats, its five-party alliance has lost majority control of the parliament. The alliance includes Maoists and socialists. They were two seats short of the 138 needed. Some 34 independent and minor party candidates were also elected. Source.
Chad: Mass sentencing of protestors - 262 people who were arrested during protests in October have been handed jail terms of two to three years. The protests were held when the military government was meant to hand over power, but has now delayed that by two years. Police opened fire on protestors and around 40 people were murdered. Source.
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