ARGENTINA—PARAGUAY SUSPENDED BY SOUTHERN COMMON MARKET
In an unprecedented decision, South America’s leading trading bloc, Mercosur (Southern Common Market), resolved to suspend Paraguay at its 5th Social Summit in Mendoza, Argentina, until the 2013 elections. The body also voted to admit Venezuela as full member, in an effort to “fortify” its policies and face the fiscal realities of the global economic crisis.
Cristina Fernandez, Dilma Rousseff and Jose Mujica—the presidents of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, respectively—resolved to admit Venezuela to Mercosur, without the backing of the Paraguayan parliament, immediately after suspending Paraguay from the organization.
While the decision suspends Paraguay from the workings of Mercosur—revoking the country’s right to vote and veto—it still guarantees continuation of Mercosur’s financial support; Paraguay accounts for 48 percent of the total funds allotted by Mercosur for aid to member states.
BOLIVIA—INDIGENOUS PROTEST
Protesters opposing the construction of a road that crosses a nature reserve in the Bolivian Amazon’s Indigenous Territory and Isiboro Sécure National Park, entered La Paz, June 26, in the final stretch of a 6-day, seven-and-a-half mile run.
The major concern of the Amazon indigenous peoples is the danger of deforestation and the project›s detrimental effects on the environment.
The people of La Paz spilled into the streets, applauding and cheering the indigenous marchers from the Amazon, and offering them bags of milk, bottles of soda, sandwiches, biscuits, sweets and even warm clothes for their stay during the winter.
“We are arriving in La Paz with a just cause,” Aldolfo Chavez, one of the leaders of the march, said after walking almost 373 miles in two months.