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These six articles were published in this week's issues of SourceMex, NotiCen, and NotiSur
The slow US economic recovery in the construction and services industries has contributed to a steady decline in remittances sent home by Mexican expatriates during the summer months and into the early fall. In a report published in early November, the Banco de México said remittances during September fell for the
third-consecutive month relative to a year ago. The central bank, also known as Banxico, said September remittances amounted to only US$1.66 billion, down 20%
from US$2.08 billion in September 2011. That was the largest decline since October 2009, when the amount of money sent home by expatriates declined by 36%.
-Carlos Navarro
An independent review of the result of the July 1 presidential election shows that a large percentage of the voters who are considered extremely poor may have actually
cast their ballots for the conservative Partido Acción Nacional (PAN) and not the PRI or the center-leftMovimiento Progresista. A vote for the governing party was
an endorsement of government public-assistance programs implemented under President Felipe Calderón’s administration. The leftist coalition, which received about 32% of the vote in the presidential election, appears to be headed for a split with the formal decision by Movimiento Regeneración Nacional (Morena) to become a
political party.
-Carlos Navarro
After electricity costs in the northwestern department of Totonicapán doubled in less than a year to almost US$12, Mayan K'iche' community leaders decided that enough was enough, and protestors occupied the ENERGUATE electricity company’s office in the departmental capital. The day before, indigenous leaders had already announced theirintention to block the the Inter-American Highway, and they were met by dozens of police vehicles and at least two Army vehicles. What happened next is currently under investigation by the Attorney General’s Office as different versions of events have emerged.
-Louisa Reynolds
In recent weeks, the issue of fiscal reform has caused tensions in the Dominican Republic, especially because some have argued that public spending spiraled out of
control under the administration of outgoing President Leonel Fernández (1996-2000, 2004-2012), who has been accused of causing the country’s huge public debt, a debt
that newly elected President Danilo Medina seeks to curb. Medina’s fiscal-reform proposal seeks to raise RD$46 billion (Dominican pesos)--slightly above US$1.17
billion--has met with negative reactions. However, the Senate approved it with 30 of 32 votes, all of which, with one exception, belong to the official Partido de la
Liberación Dominicana (PLD). -Crosby Girón
What is indigenous justice? Does an indigenous justice system really exist? Should indigenous justice be subordinate to a country's ordinary (national) justice
system? These and other questions are perplexing legal experts trained in Western law as they analyze and try to put into practice the mandate in the Ecuadoran Constitution's Article 171. The article recognizes the competence of indigenous authorities to apply their own norms and procedures that are appropriate for resolving
internal conflicts and not contrary to the Constitution or human rights. This article also requires that mechanisms be designed for coordination and cooperation between indigenous justice and ordinary justice. -Luis Ángel Saavedra
The coup that toppled the democratic government of Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo (2008-2012) and installed Federico Franco as de facto head of state has
accelerated the electoral calendar, revealing the ambitions and needs of some and the political immaturity of others. -Andrés Gaudín
