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123-er--ed · 2 months ago

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US ready to sign Ukraine minerals deal, Trump administration says | BBC ...The provided text describes a horrific incident in the province of Pataz, La Libertad, Peru, where 13 mine workers were kidnapped and murdered by illegal miners on April 26, 2025. This crime, linked to illegal mining and gang violence, occurred in a region under a state of emergency for over a year, highlighting the failure of current measures to control criminality. The described images and videos reveal the brutality of the murders, with defenseless workers executed in cold blood by armed criminals. This context, combined with references to Minera Poderosa and the issue of illegal mining, underscores the urgent need for effective solutions to eradicate terrorism and associated violence in Pataz and similar regions.Below, I present a set of practical, immediate, and strategic solutions that Peru can implement to combat terrorism and illegal mining, inspired by the text’s context and tailored for Peruvian authorities, communities, and citizens to apply “al toque” (immediately). These solutions are structured into clear categories (military, economic, diplomatic, social, and legal) and aim not only to eliminate the immediate threat but also to prevent future acts of violence, ensuring that terrorism is eradicated permanently. Each solution includes its impact, feasibility, risks, and concrete steps for implementation. The translation is crafted to resonate with an American audience, particularly policymakers, NGOs, and security experts, urging them to support Peru in applying these measures swiftly to crush terrorism. 1. Military Solutions to Eradicate Terrorism in Pataz The presence of heavily armed groups demands a decisive military response to neutralize perpetrators and regain territorial control. a. Declaration of a State of Siege in the Illegal Mining Corridor b. Intelligence Operations and Capture of Criminal Leaders c. Arming and Training Legal Mining Communities Description: Replace the current state of emergency with a state of siege across the La Libertad highlands (Pataz, Santiago de Chuco, Huamachuco, Otuzco, Quiruvilca, Sihuas, and Cajabamba), as suggested by posts on X. This would involve temporarily suspending certain rights, massively deploying the Armed Forces and National Police, and authorizing high-impact operations against illegal mining camps. Impact: Neutralizes armed criminal gangs, dismantles their operations, and reclaims control of mining zones. Sends a clear message that the state will not tolerate terrorism. Feasibility: High. Precedents of states of emergency in Pataz and successful operations against illegal mining (e.g., destruction of mining shafts noted on X) demonstrate operational capacity. Requires political will from the Executive. Risks: Potential armed resistance from gangs, risk of civilian casualties if not carefully planned, and criticism for restricting citizens’ rights. Steps to Implement: The President and Council of Ministers declare the state of siege via supreme decree, with Congressional approval. Deploy elite units of the Armed Forces (Joint Command) and DIRCOTE (Counter-Terrorism Directorate) to identify and strike illegal camps. Establish checkpoints on roads and mine access points to cut off criminals’ supply lines. Coordinate with the Prosecutor’s Office to ensure operations comply with legal frameworks. Description: Create a joint intelligence unit (Armed Forces, National Police, SUNAT) to identify leaders of the criminal organizations behind the murders, using communication interception technology, drones, and analysis of videos like the one described in the text. Impact: Disrupts criminal networks by capturing or neutralizing their leaders, weakening operational capacity and deterring future attacks. Feasibility: Moderate. Peru has experience in operations against narco-terrorism in the VRAEM, but requires investment in technology and training. Risks: Potential leaks due to internal corruption and retaliation against informants or local communities. Steps to Implement: Form an intelligence team with experts in illegal mining and organized crime. Analyze the video mentioned in the text to identify voices, faces, or clues about the perpetrators. Offer anonymous rewards for information leading to leaders’ capture. Execute simultaneous raids across multiple Pataz locations based on gathered intelligence. Description: Train and arm (under strict supervision) formalized artisanal miners to defend themselves from attacks until the Armed Forces arrive. This includes self-defense training and provision of non-lethal or low-caliber weapons. Impact: Empowers legal mining communities, reducing their vulnerability to illegal miners and strengthening local resistance against terrorism. Feasibility: Low. Requires a clear legal framework to prevent weapons from falling into the wrong hands and strict oversight to avoid misuse. Risks: Risk of violence escalation if weapons are misused or captured by criminals. Steps to Implement: Identify formalized artisanal miners in collaboration with Minera Poderosa and the Ministry of Energy and Mines. Launch a pilot security training program with military instructors. Establish a registry of distributed weapons and a monitoring system. Coordinate with the Armed Forces for immediate support in case of attacks. 2. Economic Solutions to Strangle Criminal Networks Illegal mining generates millions in revenue that fund terrorism. Cutting off these funding sources is critical. a. Total Blockade of Illegal Gold Trade b. Confiscation of Illegal Miners’ Assets c. Economic Incentives for Formal Artisanal Miners Description: Implement a mandatory traceability system for all gold extracted in Peru, with severe sanctions for companies and buyers purchasing gold from illegal sources. Freeze bank accounts of firms linked to illegal mining. Impact: Economically chokes criminal gangs by cutting their primary revenue stream, weakening their ability to buy weapons and recruit. Feasibility: Moderate. Requires international cooperation (U.S., Switzerland, India) to sanction buyers of illegal gold and blockchain technology for traceability. Risks: Resistance from criminal networks and potential increase in gold smuggling. Steps to Implement: The Ministry of Economy and Finance and SUNAT develop a digital certification system for legal gold. Impose fines and imprisonment for trading gold without traceability. Coordinate with Interpol to track financial flows of illegal gold. Publish lists of sanctioned companies to deter buyers. Description: Create a special unit within the Prosecutor’s Office and UIF (Financial Intelligence Unit) to identify and seize assets (vehicles, machinery, properties) of illegal miners and their accomplices, allocating funds to security in Pataz. Impact: Reduces gangs’ resources, discourages illegal mining, and funds anti-terrorism operations. Feasibility: High. Peru already has asset forfeiture laws, but they need faster and broader application. Risks: Internal corruption that could hinder seizures and retaliation against prosecutors. Steps to Implement: The Prosecutor’s Office forms a Pataz-dedicated team to investigate illicit wealth. Use seized materials from operations (e.g., 18 tons of gold ore mentioned on X) as evidence for confiscations. Auction confiscated assets and allocate funds to the Police and affected communities. Publicize results to gain public support. Description: Offer subsidies, soft loans, and technical assistance to artisanal miners who formalize, like those working with Minera Poderosa, to reduce their reliance on illegal networks. Impact: Decreases artisanal miners’ vulnerability to criminal co-optation, strengthening the legal economy in Pataz. Feasibility: High. The Ministry of Energy and Mines has formalization programs, but they need more budget and reach. Risks: Potential misuse of funds without strict oversight. Steps to Implement: The government launches a formalization program with Pataz-specific incentives. Partner with companies like Minera Poderosa to identify eligible miners. Create legal mining cooperatives with technical and financial support. Monitor compliance with formalization requirements. 3. Legal Solutions to Punish and Prevent Terrorism Strengthening the legal framework is crucial to ensure perpetrators face justice and deter future crimes. a. Legislative Reform to Toughen Penalties for Illegal Mining b. Creation of a Special Tribunal for Mining Crimes c. Conditional Amnesty for Collaborators Description: Amend the Penal Code to classify illegal mining with terrorist intent as an aggravated crime, with life imprisonment and no parole. Include accomplices (buyers, transporters) in the sanctions. Impact: Deters criminal gangs by raising the cost of their activities and ensures justice for victims, like the 13 murdered workers. Feasibility: Moderate. Requires Congressional consensus, but public outrage over the crime (as described in the text) can pressure lawmakers to pass the reform. Risks: Opposition from political sectors linked to illegal mining, as noted on X, where certain factions are criticized for passing laws favoring illegal mining. Steps to Implement: Submit an urgent bill to Congress, backed by the Executive. Mobilize public opinion and victims’ families to pressure lawmakers. Coordinate with the Judiciary to streamline criminal proceedings. Publish names of opposing congress members to demand accountability. Description: Establish a specialized tribunal for illegal mining and terrorism, with trained judges and prosecutors to swiftly process cases like Pataz, using evidence such as the video mentioned in the text. Impact: Accelerates justice, prevents impunity, and sends a zero-tolerance message to organized crime. Feasibility: Moderate. Requires investment in judicial infrastructure and training but can build on successful models like anti-narcotics tribunals. Risks: Potential corruption or intimidation of judges by gangs. Steps to Implement: The Ministry of Justice proposes the tribunal’s creation to Congress. Select judges and prosecutors with impeccable records and provide them protection. Use the video and forensic evidence to initiate immediate trials. Broadcast trials publicly to build trust in the justice system. Description: Offer reduced sentences to low-ranking gang members who provide information about leaders and operations, such as those responsible for the Pataz murders. Impact: Facilitates the capture of ringleaders and dismantles networks from within, leveraging survivor testimonies like the one mentioned in the text. Feasibility: High. Effective collaboration programs already exist in Peru and have worked in drug trafficking cases. Risks: Risk of collaborators lying or being killed by gangs. Steps to Implement: The Prosecutor’s Office launches an amnesty program with clear deadlines. Protect collaborators and their families with relocation programs. Use obtained information to capture leaders. Publicize results to encourage more collaborations. 4. Social Solutions to Gain Public Support Community involvement is key to eradicating terrorism and preventing gang influence. a. National Anonymous Denunciation Campaign b. Education and Alternative Employment for Communities c. Dialogue Roundtables with Communities and Artisanal Miners Description: Launch a massive campaign on radio, TV, and social media (like YouTube, where the video was shared) to encourage citizens to anonymously report illegal mining and terrorism, offering rewards and protection. Impact: Increases information about gangs, facilitating their capture, and empowers the population to resist intimidation. Feasibility: High. Peru has experience with denunciation campaigns against drug trafficking, and the video’s impact can mobilize public opinion. Risks: Potential distrust in denunciation confidentiality and retaliation against informants. Steps to Implement: The Ministry of Interior launches a hotline and anonymous digital platform. Spread the campaign in Pataz and neighboring regions, using the 13 workers’ case to spark outrage. Offer monetary rewards for verified information. Ensure informant protection with police support. Description: Implement technical education and job programs in sectors like agriculture, tourism, or industry for Pataz’s youth, reducing their vulnerability to gang recruitment. Impact: Decreases the labor pool for illegal mining and strengthens the legal economy, reducing fertile ground for terrorism. Feasibility: Moderate. Requires medium-term investment but can leverage existing Ministry of Labor programs. Risks: Resistance from communities economically dependent on mining, legal or illegal. Steps to Implement: The government identifies viable economic sectors in Pataz (e.g., tourism at archaeological sites). Create technical training centers in partnership with companies like Minera Poderosa. Offer scholarships and guaranteed jobs to graduates. Promote success stories in local media to inspire more youth. Description: Establish permanent dialogue roundtables between the government, communities, artisanal miners, and companies like Minera Poderosa to address violence’s root causes and seek joint solutions. Impact: Reduces distrust in the state, fosters cooperation, and helps identify infiltrated illegal miners. Feasibility: High. The government has used dialogue roundtables in mining conflicts, but they must be more inclusive and transparent. Risks: Potential manipulation by criminal actors infiltrating the roundtables. Steps to Implement: The La Libertad regional government convenes roundtables with support from the Ombudsman’s Office. Include victims’ families to give them voice and legitimacy. Set concrete commitments (e.g., security, formalization) with clear deadlines. Publish agreements in media to ensure transparency. 5. Psychological and Symbolic Solutions to Delegitimize Criminals The public narrative must condemn terrorists and mobilize society against them. a. Mass Dissemination of the Video as an Outrage Tool b. National Tribute to the Victims c. Smear Campaign Against Criminal Leaders Description: Use the video described in the text (edited to protect victims’ dignity) in national campaigns to expose the brutality of illegal miners, generating public outrage and pressure to act. Impact: Delegitimizes gangs, boosting public support for military and legal operations against them. Feasibility: High. The video is already circulating (as inferred from the text and YouTube), and its emotional impact can be channeled. Risks: Potential trauma for viewers and criticism for sensationalism if mishandled. Steps to Implement: The Ministry of Interior edits the video to show only what’s necessary, respecting victims. Disseminate it on social media, TV, and YouTube with a unity message against terrorism. Include a call to action to report criminals. Monitor reactions to avoid polarization. Description: Organize a national tribute to the 13 murdered workers, with ceremonies in Pataz, Trujillo, and Lima, declaring April 26 as National Day Against Illegal Mining. Impact: Unites the country against terrorism, honors victims, and pressures authorities to act decisively. Feasibility: High. Tributes are politically viable and can mobilize society. Risks: Potential politicization by opportunistic actors. Steps to Implement: The government declares the tribute via ministerial resolution. Coordinate with victims’ families to include them in ceremonies. Broadcast the event live on national media and YouTube. Establish a monument in Pataz in memory of the victims. Description: Identify gang leaders (using the video and testimonies) and launch a social media and media campaign to expose their crimes, ridicule them, and demoralize their followers. Impact: Reduces criminals’ prestige, hindering recruitment and weakening their psychological control over communities. Concurrent with the YouTube video highlighting illegal miners’ brutality, a campaign can leverage platforms like YouTube to amplify the message and reach a broader audience. Feasibility: High. Social media campaigns are cost-effective and can be implemented quickly, especially given existing public outrage. Risks: Potential retaliation against journalists or activists involved in the campaign. Steps to Implement: The Ministry of Interior collaborates with media and influencers to create content exposing criminals. Use video evidence (carefully edited) to highlight leaders’ atrocities. Launch hashtags like #NoToMiningTerrorism on platforms like X and YouTube. Monitor and counter any propaganda from criminal groups. 6. Combined Strategic Scenarios To maximize impact, Peru can combine these solutions into integrated approaches: Scenario 1: Immediate Military and Legal Crackdown Scenario 2: Gradual Economic and Social Containment Scenario 3: Hybrid Mobilization Combine a state of siege, intelligence operations, and a special tribunal to neutralize criminal gangs and prosecute their leaders within 6 months. Simultaneously, launch a national denunciation campaign to gather information. Advantage: Rapid dismantling of the terrorist threat and restoration of state control. Challenge: High risk of violence and need for significant resources. Implementation: Declare the state of siege, deploy elite forces, establish the tribunal, and launch the denunciation campaign simultaneously. Focus on economic sanctions (gold traceability, asset confiscation) and social programs (education, employment) while maintaining targeted military operations. This approach prioritizes long-term stability. Advantage: Lower risk of immediate escalation and sustainable change in Pataz. Challenge: Slower results, allowing criminals time to adapt. Implementation: Start with economic measures and social programs, supported by ongoing intelligence operations and community dialogues. Implement a limited-duration state of siege (3 months), combined with economic sanctions, legal reforms, and a massive social campaign using the video to galvanize public support. Transition to social and economic programs after initial military success. Advantage: Balances immediate action with long-term prevention, leveraging public outrage. Challenge: Requires precise coordination across multiple sectors. Implementation: Begin with the state of siege and video campaign, followed by legal reforms and economic measures, and conclude with social programs. Critical Analysis of the Context The text highlights the failure of the current state of emergency in Pataz, extended repeatedly without resolving the violence, as evidenced by the brutal murder of 13 workers. The involvement of illegal miners, armed with heavy weaponry, suggests a level of organization and impunity requiring a stronger state response. Minera Poderosa’s statement indicates illegal mining has been a growing threat since 2020, forcing legitimate operations to retreat and endangering workers. The video evidence, showing the execution of defenseless workers, is a powerful tool to mobilize public and political will but must be handled carefully to avoid further trauma.Posts on X underscore the urgency of escalating measures, with suggestions for a state of siege across the mining corridor and criticism of political support for illegal mining. The fact that certain congressional factions approved laws favoring illegal mining in 2023 (as noted on X) points to systemic corruption that must be addressed. The survivor’s testimony mentioned in the text is a critical asset for identifying perpetrators, and the government must act swiftly to protect and utilize this evidence. Conclusion To ensure that Americans, upon witnessing the atrocities described in the text and video, urge Peru to act immediately to eradicate terrorism, the U.S. government, NGOs, and security experts must support Peru in adopting a multidimensional strategy: Military Force: Support Peru in declaring a state of siege, deploying elite forces, and using intelligence to capture leaders. Economic Pressure: Assist in blocking illegal gold trade, confiscating assets, and supporting formal miners through technical aid. Legal Reforms: Provide expertise for tougher penalties, a special tribunal, and amnesty programs for collaborators. Social Mobilization: Fund denunciation campaigns, youth education, and community engagement initiatives. Psychological Warfare: Back campaigns using the video to shame criminals, honor victims, and rally the nation. The hybrid mobilization scenario is the most viable, combining immediate military action with legal, economic, and social measures to ensure rapid results while building long-term resilience. Americans can play a key role by providing funding, technology, and diplomatic pressure to ensure Peru acts swiftly. By prioritizing justice for the 13 victims and protecting communities like Pataz, Peru can dismantle illegal mining networks and ensure terrorism dies instantly and forever.Americans, act now! Support Peru with resources and expertise to crush terrorism, protect communities, and make Peru a model of resistance against organized crime!

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elsolnetworktv · 9 months ago

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Former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo sentenced to more than 20 years in prison for corruption

The former president’s legal team announces that it will appeal the sentence The Peruvian judiciary announced on Monday that former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo (2001-2006) has been sentenced to 20 years and six months in prison after finding him guilty of committing the crimes of collusion and money laundering in the framework of the ‘Interoceánica Sur’ case, sections II and III, which…

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sunalimerchant · 1 year ago

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Carbon Offsetting in Peru: Leading the Way in Sustainable Environmental Practices

Peru, a country blessed with rich biodiversity and expansive forests, is at the forefront of environmental conservation through innovative carbon offsetting initiatives. The efforts of various carbon offsetting companies in Peru are not only mitigating climate change but also fostering sustainable development and benefiting local communities. This article explores the significant role these companies play in promoting sustainable environmental practices.

The Role of Carbon Offsetting Companies in Peru A carbon offsetting company in Peru typically engages in projects that reduce or remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. These projects include reforestation, afforestation, and the preservation of existing forests. By investing in these initiatives, companies can compensate for their carbon emissions, effectively balancing their carbon footprint.

One of the leading examples is the Tambopata National Reserve project, which aims to protect over 570,000 hectares of rainforest in the Peruvian Amazon. This project, managed by various carbon offsetting companies, prevents deforestation and degradation while promoting biodiversity. The revenue generated from carbon credits is reinvested into the local community, supporting sustainable agriculture, education, and healthcare.

The Impact on Local Communities Carbon offsetting companies in Peru understand the importance of community involvement. These projects often provide significant socio-economic benefits to local populations. For instance, the Madre de Dios Amazon REDD+ Project not only reduces carbon emissions but also offers alternative livelihoods to communities that traditionally relied on logging. By training locals in sustainable agriculture and eco-tourism, the project reduces deforestation pressures and enhances local incomes.

Moreover, these initiatives often include educational programs that raise awareness about climate change and the importance of conservation. This empowers communities to take an active role in protecting their environment, ensuring the long-term success of carbon offset projects.

Technological Innovations in Carbon Offsetting The use of advanced technology is crucial for the success of carbon offsetting projects in Peru. Remote sensing and satellite imagery, for example, are employed to monitor forest cover and detect illegal deforestation activities. These technologies provide real-time data, enabling prompt action to protect vulnerable areas.

Additionally, blockchain technology is being utilized to enhance the transparency and traceability of carbon credits. By ensuring that each carbon credit is uniquely tracked and verified, blockchain reduces the risk of double-counting and fraud. This innovation builds trust among investors and buyers, encouraging more participation in carbon offset markets.

Overcoming Challenges While the progress in carbon offsetting in Peru is commendable, challenges remain. Regulatory hurdles, such as the complexity of carbon credit certification and the need for clear legal frameworks, can impede the implementation of projects. Moreover, securing consistent funding is a significant challenge, as many projects rely on international investments.

To address these issues, carbon offsetting companies in Peru are advocating for more supportive policies and international cooperation. By working with the government and global organizations, they aim to create a more conducive environment for carbon offset projects to thrive.

Future Prospects The future of carbon offsetting in Peru looks promising. With increasing global awareness of climate change, there is a growing demand for carbon credits. This presents an opportunity for Peru to expand its carbon offset initiatives and further integrate sustainable practices into its economic model.

Moreover, the success of existing projects serves as a model for other countries, showcasing how carbon offsetting can be effectively implemented to achieve both environmental and socio-economic benefits. As more carbon offsetting companies in Peru continue to innovate and collaborate with local communities, the country is well-positioned to lead the way in sustainable environmental practices.

Conclusion In conclusion, carbon offsetting companies in Peru are playing a crucial role in combating climate change and promoting sustainable development. Through innovative projects and community engagement, they are creating a positive impact that extends beyond environmental benefits. As these efforts continue to grow and evolve, Peru stands out as a leader in sustainable environmental practices, setting an example for the world to follow. The commitment and ingenuity of these companies highlight the potential for carbon offsetting to drive meaningful change and secure a healthier planet for future generations.

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fursasaida · 6 years ago

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hello!when you're not busy/if you don't mind, could you pls recommend something to read on how human rights can sometimes get hijacked in propaganda? like for example how american conservatives can use religious freedom beat on other countries, how lgbtqa rights can get disingenuously used to push islamophobic agenda etc idk if this makes sense basically how human rights can be a complicated situated subject. sorry to bother you! you just seem to know everything ;_; pls feel free ignore this ask

Hi! I’m alive again.

Trafficking Women’s Human Rights by Julieta Hua

Human Rights, Inc by Joseph Slaughter

This is somewhat oblique but relevant: The Protestant Ethnic and the Spirit of Capitalism by Rey Chow

Again, not directly about human rights but still illuminating: “Uncommoning Nature: Stories from the anthropo-not-seen” by Marisol de la Cadena (from the book Anthropos and the Material)

If I had my wits about me a little more I’d look for some shorter articles to suggest, because I know a bunch of academic books is kind of a steep hill to climb. But I don’t know when I’ll have the wherewithal to do that properly, so I’d rather answer you now. Feel free to send another ask later if you can’t get access to these, or if you need something a little less demanding!

The main thing to remember, I think, is that the concept of “rights” as abstract freedoms that are distributed equally and inherently across every individual is not universal. That is, a basic respect for people and their ability to live their lives is not the same as “human rights.” Human rights is a legal framework that developed directly out of both the Enlightenment and colonialism; the mission to bring “human rights” to the world is very often a reinscription of the colonial mission to “civilize” the world that Western Europe and the US engaged in. To be “included” in this system is also to be produced as a particular kind of (autonomous, socially/culturally un-differentiated) individual, which may not be what the people targeted by this mission want.

To take de la Cadena’s chapter as an example, the Peruvian state wants to “develop” the land of the Awajun Wampis mainly for its own profit; but part of why they see doing this as unproblematic is because they make certain assumptions about what is “good for” Awajun Wampis–jobs, money, infrastructure, connection to urban centers, etc. (To be clear, the point here isn’t that the state is fundamentally benevolent, but that the state makes assumptions about what “any rational individual” would and should want.) But all of those assumptions are based on the idea that Awajun Wampis see themselves as individuals with certain kinds of “interests” that are ultimately the same as those held by the individuals who make up the state. Meanwhile, Awajun Wampis see themselves as “being-with” the watercourses and land that make up their territory; they aren’t separable from those other forms of life. Or rather, to make them separate would make them no longer Awajun Wampis. The “development” that the state wants to bring them would destroy that “being-with.” As one of the resisting activists quoted in the chapter says [paraphrasing from memory], “no one asked us if we wanted their development.” The point here is not that Awajun Wampis are pre-modern noble savages who ~respect the earth~. (That idea only makes sense from the same Enlightenment point of view that a) casts “The Earth” as something separate which it is moral to “respect,” and b) assumes that it is unusual or optional–even if charmingly or transcendently so–to respect this alienated other.) The point is instead that the idea of the individual as autonomous is a set of Enlightenment assumptions built into the very concept of “human” as it is generally used now in these discussions. As a result, the “rights” of human rights are devised in service of that kind of atomized individual. To be granted “human rights” is also to be folded into a system that quite likely deprives you of other things, not least other ways of being and understanding your place in the world.

In terms of how this is weaponized, I think a very telling example is how, after Ferguson, the current president of Egypt started making a lot of noise about how the US has no right to go around dictating human rights to other countries. Sisi fucking sucks, and his point was in service of bad ambitions (being left alone to continue repressing Egyptian society), but he was right that hypocrisy was evident. That moment points to how, again, because “human rights” is organized around an Enlightenment and colonial idea of “human,” certain kinds of people are always conceived as not quite ready for human rights, not fully deserving of them, or not yet having fully put them into practice. This can be weaponized in two different ways. One is to say that “because you (as a non-white people, or as people who don’t believe in property, etc.) are not doing human rights right, we have a higher right to force you to behave differently. In the name of rights! It’s obviously right!” This is basically the story of U.S. foreign policy when it comes to human rights. The other is to say “because you are not consistent with our notion of human, we have no obligation to respect your human rights.” This is what happened in Ferguson in the first place. These forms get used interchangeably according to whatever is convenient for those with the power in the specific situation, but the point is that “human rights” only means something if someone is outside it. That is, human rights is a project that requires some people to be deprived of it or not capable of practicing it in order to sustain itself; otherwise it has no purpose. (This is where the fact that it’s a legal framework comes in. Laws exist to curb contestation; they need an outside.) So “human rights” is very often a kind of fig leaf for what is really an exercise of power, just as the civilizing or Christianizing mission was for imperialism.

To be clear, this does not have to mean a total retreat to moral/cultural relativism. Recognizing that human rights is a specific and culturally-situated paradigm doesn’t mean you can’t say anything is ever right or wrong. It just means that you need to develop your moral framework beyond that one limited paradigm. You wouldn’t accept that your moral framework couldn’t extend beyond “whatever is currently legal in your town,” right? Human rights is one current legal and moral paradigm that has attained some international hegemony; looking past it doesn’t mean abandoning ethics or politics. You just have to think hard and critically about what the basis for your ethics and politics is.

#anonymous

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newstfionline · 6 years ago

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Headlines

Earth just had its hottest June on record, on track for warmest July (Washington Post) The record month was boosted by a historic heat wave in Europe and unusually warm conditions across the Arctic and Eurasia.

Online bullying increases among middle and high school students (Washington Post) Twenty percent of students between the ages of 12 and 18 faced some form of bullying during the 2016-2017 school year, according to a federal report.

Cryptocurrencies, Digital Tax Top Agenda for G-7 Meeting (AP) Finance officials from the Group of Seven rich democracies will weigh risks from new digital currencies and debate how to tax tech companies like Google and Amazon when they meet at a chateau north of Paris starting Wednesday.

Iranian Diplomats, Families Living in New York Face U.S. Travel Curbs (Reuters) The United States has tightly restricted the travel of more than a dozen Iranian diplomats and their families living in New York, according to a U.S. diplomatic note to sent to the Iran mission to the United Nations and seen by Reuters on Tuesday.

Small Quake Hits Mexico City, No Damage Reported (Reuters) A small earthquake struck central Mexico City on Tuesday night, jolting office towers and apartment buildings in the sprawling metropolis, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

Former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo Arrested in US (AP) Former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo, who faces corruption charges in his homeland, was arrested in the United States following an extradition request, U.S. and Peruvian authorities said Tuesday.

Rio Governor: Rising Police Killings ‘Normal,’ Will Continue (AP) Amid a soaring number of police killings in Rio de Janeiro, the state’s tough-talking governor said Tuesday that it was “normal” for the rate to increase and will likely keep rising during his administration.

UK’s Johnson Planning Summer 2020 Election: Times (Reuters) Boris Johnson’s team wants to hold a national election in the summer of 2020 and has started raising funds to hire more staff and prepare the Conservative Party for the contest, the Times newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Secret locations of U.S. nuclear weapons in Europe accidentally included in report from NATO parliament (Reuters) A recently released--and subsequently deleted--document published by a NATO-affiliated body has sparked headlines in Europe with an apparent confirmation of a long-held open secret: U.S. nuclear weapons are being stored in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey. A version of the document, titled “A new era for nuclear deterrence? Modernisation, arms control and allied nuclear forces,” was published in April. But what would make news months later is a passing reference that appeared to reveal the location of roughly 150 U.S. nuclear weapons being stored in Europe. According to a copy of the document published Tuesday by Belgian newspaper De Morgen, a section on the nuclear arsenal read: “These bombs are stored at six US and European bases--Kleine Brogel in Belgium, Büchel in Germany, Aviano and Ghedi-Torre in Italy, Volkel in The Netherlands, and Incirlik in Turkey.”

EU parliament confirms von der Leyen as next executive head (Reuters) The European Parliament on Tuesday confirmed Ursula von der Leyen, a German conservative, as the next president of the executive EU Commission by 383 votes to 327 against, the speaker of the assembly, David Sassoli, said.

Tariffs on China Don’t Cover the Costs of Trump’s Trade War (NYT) The president’s payments to farmers hurt by Chinese retaliation have so far exceeded the revenue from tariffs on imports of Chinese goods.

Hong Kong protests challenge China with no end in sight (AP) What began as a protest against an extradition bill has ballooned into a fundamental challenge to the way Hong Kong is governed--and the role of the Chinese government in the city’s affairs. “Hong Kong is not China” has become a refrain of the movement in what is a Chinese territory, but with its own laws and a separate legal system under a “one country, two systems” framework. Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in Hong Kong in three marches last month to oppose the extradition legislation, which would have allowed suspects to be sent to face trial in mainland China, where critics say their legal rights would be threatened. In recent weeks, the demonstrations have also included two smaller protests led by nativist-leaning groups against an influx of mainland Chinese into the city of 7.4 million people. All of it traces back to an underlying mistrust of the Hong Kong and Beijing authorities, which fuels calls for a more responsive government that protesters believe democracy would bring.

Taiwan Issues Warnings for Year’s First Typhoon as Thousands Evacuated (Reuters) Taiwan moved thousands of people to safety on Wednesday as the island braced for its first typhoon this year, as airlines cancelled domestic flights and authorities issued warnings about floods and high seas.

North Korea suggests it might lift weapons test moratorium (AP) North Korea on Tuesday suggested it might call off its 20-month suspension of nuclear and missile tests because of summertime U.S.-South Korean military drills that the North calls preparation for an eventual invasion. The statement by the North’s Foreign Ministry comes during a general deadlock in nuclear talks, but after an extraordinary meeting of the U.S. and North Korean leaders at the Korean border that raised hopes that negotiations would soon resume. The comments ramp up pressure on the United States ahead of any new talks.

Relations between Japan and South Korea worsen (Reuters) South Koreans forced to work for Japanese occupiers will seek a court order to forcibly liquidate Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ assets to compensate them, their lawyers said, risking more Japanese anger over the issue. The question of compensation for South Koreans for labor during Japan’s 1910-45 occupation of the Korean peninsula has soured the U.S. allies’ relations, which took a turn for the worse this month when Japan restricted exports of high-tech material to South Korea. The export restrictions threaten global supplies of memory chips and smartphones.

U.S. Imposes Sanctions on Myanmar Military Leaders Over Rohingya Abuses (Reuters) The United States announced sanctions on Tuesday against the Myanmar military’s Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing and other leaders it said were responsible for extrajudicial killings of Rohingya Muslims, barring them from entry to the United States.

Yemen’s Houthis Say Launched Drone Attack on Saudi’s Jizan Airport (Reuters) Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group said it launched a drone attack on Jizan airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia near the Yemeni border early on Wednesday.

#headlines

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cryptoworldpage · 4 years ago

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A bill aimed at providing a legal foundation for the cryptocurrency market has been submitted to the Peruvian Congress, which will now debate the plenary legislation to approve it. The document, which can be seen on the official website of the Peruvian legislature, covers various important facets of the country’s growing ecosystem. Furthermore, the project, which is formally known as the “Framework Law for the Commercialization of Cryptoassets,” was introduced by Podemos Peru parliamentarian José Elías Ávalos. According to the politician, the bill’s purpose is to regulate organizations that provide cryptocurrency services, such as Bitcoin exchanges and digital wallets, among other things. ————————————————————————- Like| Comment| Follow| share Are you a crypto trader/investor? Follow @cryptoworldpage Get daily crypto news update & free telegram signal channel Any questions | Comment below ⬇️ OR slide in our DM ————————————————————————- #cryptoworldpage #bnb #cryptocurrency #crypto #nftcollector #cryptoworldwide #btc #blockchaintechnology #meta #btcnews #altcoinnews #nftdrop #coinbasewallet #dogecoin #airdrops #blockchaintechnology #nft #eth #shibaarmy #blockchainnews #babydoge #cryptonewsdaily #metaverse #cryptoinfo #altcoin #cryptonews24 #cryptonews #cryptoinvestor #cryptobull https://www.instagram.com/cryptoworldpage/p/CYUqhBGIPzF/?utm_medium=tumblr

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lexiai · 1 year ago

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Navigate South American Laws with LexiAI’s Legal AI Chatbots

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123-er--ed · 2 months ago

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#youtube

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capital10x · 6 years ago

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Peru Unveils Blueprint for Medicinal Marijuana Industry

Peruvian Health Minister Zumela Tomas has unveiled a framework for the country’s new medicinal cannabis industry after more than a year of deliberations. The government decided to legalize medicinal marijuana in November 2017 with the passing of Law No. 30681, but it has only just published the regulation this week. Now Tomas has revealed what Peru’s new medicinal market will look like after declaring that 7,596 patients across the country need cannabis urgently. The Ministry of Health has decided to subsidize the medication for those in need, and it can be prescribed at a number of clinics around the country. Laboratories and pharmaceutical centres are being developed across Peru, producing a range of derivatives for medical use. Following a 14-month wait, licensed doctors can prescribe cannabis to patients suffering from multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, neuropathic pain, side effects of chemotherapy, and other ailments. The Ministry of Health is now beginning a scheme to train doctors about how to prescribe cannabis and educate them about its manifold benefits. The UK recently legalized cannabis for medicinal purposes, but the industry is yet to take off as strict guidelines prevent doctors from prescribing it to all but a handful of patients, while little has been done to educate them. The initiatives underway in Peru should hopefully prevent a similar situation from arising. Peru is the fourth largest country in South America, with a population of 32 million people, and it is the 39th largest economy in the world by total GDP. It, therefore, represents a significant opportunity for the global marijuana industry and several big North American companies are targeting it as they make significant inroads into the continent. One company bidding to become a leading light in Peru’s nascent industry is Canada’s Plena Global. Its director of government affairs and partnerships in South America, Rafael Canovas Newell, said: The lobbying group Esperanza Mothers, which campaigned for legalization of medical marijuana in Peru, said the new guidelines were a step in the right direction, but urged the government to go one step further and permit personal cultivation. Read the full article

#MedicalMarijuana #Peru

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grizzlemedia-blog · 6 years ago

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Peru Unveils Blueprint for Medicinal Marijuana Industry

#MedicalMarijuana #Peru

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sandlerresearch · 5 years ago

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Peru Cards and Payments - Opportunities and Risks to 2024 published on

https://www.sandlerresearch.org/peru-cards-and-payments-opportunities-and-risks-to-2024.html

Peru Cards and Payments - Opportunities and Risks to 2024

Peru Cards and Payments – Opportunities and Risks to 2024

Summary

GlobalData’s ‘Peru Cards and Payments – Opportunities and Risks to 2024’ report provides detailed analysis of market trends in Peru’s cards and payments industry. It provides values and volumes for a number of key performance indicators in the industry, including cards, credit transfers, cheques, and direct debits during the review-period (2016-20e).

The report also analyzes various payment card markets operating in the industry and provides detailed information on the number of cards in circulation, transaction values and volumes during the review-period and over the forecast-period (2020e-24f). It also offers information on the country’s competitive landscape, including market shares of issuers and schemes.

The report brings together GlobalData’s research, modeling, and analysis expertise to allow banks and card issuers to identify segment dynamics and competitive advantages. The report also covers detailed regulatory policies and recent changes in regulatory structure.

This report provides top-level market analysis, information and insights into Peru’s cards and payments industry, including – – Current and forecast values for each market in Peru’s cards and payments industry, including debit and credit cards. – Detailed insights into payment instruments including cards, credit transfers, cheques, and direct debits. It also, includes an overview of the country’s key alternative payment instruments. – E-commerce market analysis . – Analysis of various market drivers and regulations governing Peru’s cards and payments industry. – Detailed analysis of strategies adopted by banks and other institutions to market debit and credit cards.

Scope

– Payments via QR codes are gaining prominence in Peru. To enhance security and standardize QR code payments, on February 2, 2020 Banco Central de Reserva del Perú (the country’s central bank) introduced the Regulation of the Payment Service with Quick Response Codes. The regulation establishes a standard for payments made using QR codes and sets a legal framework for service providers and payment networks. The regulation mandates that issuers and service providers follow the international standard EMV QR Code specification for payment systems. – Contactless payments are gaining prominence in the country, with major banks including BBVA Continental, BCP, and Interbank now offering contactless cards. As per BBVA Continental data reported in November 2019, 10% of all card payments in the market are made via contactless technology. Contactless acceptance is now being extended to public transport and malls. In July 2020, the Urban Transport Authority enabled debit, credit, and prepaid card holders to make contactless payments for buses in Peru. As per the authority, 300 units will be installed on buses to accept contactless payments. In July 2020, Mall Aventura started implementing contactless payments among retailers in the mall. Meanwhile, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic will further drive contactless payments for low-value day-to-day transactions as consumers refrain from using cash in order to contain the spread of the virus. – To capitalize on the growing credit card space, fintech companies are also entering the market. In 2020, digital-only bank B89 announced it would launch Visa credit cards in Peru with a special focus on young Peruvians and millennials. The company claims it has over 2,000 clients on the waiting list for its credit cards. The bank will officially launch in January 2021.

Reasons to Buy

– Make strategic business decisions, using top-level historic and forecast market data, related to Peru’s cards and payments industry and each market within it. – Understand the key market trends and growth opportunities in Peru’s cards and payments industry. – Assess the competitive dynamics in Peru’s cards and payments industry. – Gain insights into marketing strategies used for various card types in Peru. – Gain insights into key regulations governing Peru’s cards and payments industry.

#Banking &amp; Finance

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newstfionline · 8 years ago

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Headlines

U.S. Has Disqualified Itself From Mideast Peace Process: Abbas (Reuters) The United States has “disqualified” itself from the Middle East peace process due to its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, said Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday.

South Africa’s Zuma Seeks to Appeal Ruling on Influence-Peddling (Reuters) South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma has sought leave to appeal a court ruling ordering him to set up a judicial inquiry into influence-peddling in his government, local television channel eNCA reported on Friday.

China Tells U.S. Not to Be a ‘Human Rights Judge’ After Sanctions on Chinese Official (Reuters) China on Friday urged the United States not to set itself up as a “human rights judge” and denounced the U.S. Treasury Department for punishing a Chinese public security official for alleged rights abuses.

Pakistan Closes 27 NGOs in What Activists See as Widening Crackdown (Reuters) Pakistan has ordered 27 international aid groups to shut down for working in unauthorized areas, spurring human rights campaigners to denounce swelling constraints on free speech and humanitarian work.

Peruvian President Divides Opposition to Avert Ousting (Reuters) Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski has thwarted a bid in Congress to force him out over a graft scandal, as an opposition lawmaker accused him of securing votes by promising to free ex-president Alberto Fujimori from jail.

Explosion Outside Athens Court Shatters Windows, No Injuries (Reuters) A makeshift bomb exploded outside a Greek court in Athens early on Friday shattering windows and damaging the facade of the building, police officials said.

Hong Kong Leader Says She Won’t Blindly Obey Beijing’s Orders (Reuters) Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said she would not blindly obey the orders of Communist Party leaders in Beijing, while admitting the government has no way to suppress skyrocketing prices in one of the most expensive property markets in the world.

PM Orban: Hungary Will Block Any Punitive EU Action on Poland (Reuters) Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Friday said that Hungary sees a strong Poland as a vital component of a central European caucus within the European Union, and so will block any action to suspend Poland’s voting rights in the EU.

UK’s Johnson, on Moscow Visit, Tells Moscow to Stop Meddling in Europe (Reuters) British foreign minister Boris Johnson told his Russian counterpart on Friday he wanted to talk about difficult subjects such as Moscow’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea and what he described as Russia’s destabilizing of the western Balkans.

Indonesia Holds Cabinet Meeting in Bali as Volcano Threatens Tourism (Reuters) Indonesian President Joko Widodo will on Friday hold his cabinet meeting on the holiday island of Bali in a bid to reassure visitors that there is nothing to worry about from the rumbling Mount Agung volcano.

Iran Detains 230 Boys and Girls for Drinking, Dancing (AP) Iran’s semi-official ISNA news agency is reporting that police have detained 230 boys and girls at separate parties in the capital Tehran in which alcohol was involved.

India, China Hold Talks on Long-Pending Border Dispute (AP) India and China are holding border talks with focus on ways to prevent a repeat of a recent face-off between their armed forces at a Himalayan plateau where China, India and Bhutan meet.

Mexico Enacts Military Policing Law Over Rights Objections (AP) President Enrique Pena Nieto enacted a controversial bill Thursday giving the military a legal framework to operate as police on Mexican soil over widespread objections from human rights groups.

#headlines

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itsfinancethings · 5 years ago

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(CARACAS, Venezuela) — A former Green Beret has taken responsibility for what he claimed was a failed attack Sunday aimed at overthrowing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and that the socialist government said ended with eight dead.

Jordan Goudreau’s comments in an interview with an exiled Venezuelan journalist capped a bizarre day that started with reports of a predawn amphibious raid near the South American country’s heavily guarded capital.

An AP investigation published Friday found that Goudreau had been working with a retired Venezuelan army general now facing U.S. narcotics charges to train dozens of deserters from Venezuela’s security forces at secret camps inside neighboring Colombia. The goal was to mount a cross-border raid that would end in Maduro’s arrest.

But from the outset the ragtag army lacked funding and U.S. government support, all but guaranteeing defeat against Maduro’s sizable-if-demoralized military. It also appears to have been penetrated by Maduro’s extensive Cuban-backed intelligence network.

Both Goudreau and retired Venezuelan Capt. Javier Nieto declined to speak to the AP on Sunday when contacted after posting a video from an undisclosed location saying they had launched an anti-Maduro putsch called “Operation Gideon.” Both men live in Florida.

“A daring amphibious raid was launched from the border of Colombia deep into the heart of Caracas,” Goudreau, in a New York Yankees ball cap, said in the video standing next to Nieto who was dressed in armored vest with a rolled-up Venezuelan flag pinned to his shoulder. “Our units have been activated in the south, west and east of Venezuela.”

Goudreau said 60 of his men were still on the ground and calls were being activated inside Venezuela, some of them fighting under the command of Venezuelan National Guardsman Capt. Antonio Sequea, who participated in a barracks revolt against Maduro a year ago.

None of their claims of an ongoing operation could be independently verified. But Goudreau said he hoped to join the rebels soon and invited Venezuelans and Maduro’s troops to join the would-be insurgency although there was no sign of any fighting in the capital or elsewhere as night fell.

In an interview later with Miami-based journalist Patricia Poleo, he provided a contradictory account of his activities and the support he claims to have once had — and then lost — from Juan Guaidó, the opposition leader recognized as Venezuela’s interim president by the U.S. and some 60 countries.

He provided to Poleo what he said was an 8-page contract signed by Guaidó and two political advisers in Miami in October for $213 million. The alleged “general services” contract doesn’t specify what work his company, Silvercorp USA, was to undertake.

He also released via Poleo a four-minute audio recording, made on a hidden cellphone, in the moment when he purportedly signed the contract as Guaidó participated via videoconference. In the recording, a person he claims is Guaido can be heard giving vague encouragement in broken English but not discussing any military plans.

“Let’s get to work!,” said the man who is purportedly Guaido.

The AP was unable to confirm the veracity of the recording.

There was no immediate comment from Guaidó on Goudreau’s claim that the two had signed a contract. Previously, Guaidó has said he hadn’t signed any contract for a military incursion.

Goudreau said he never received a penny from the Guaidó team and instead the Venezuelan soldiers he was advising had to scrounge for donations from Venezuelan migrants driving for car share service Uber in Colombia.

“It’s almost like crowdfunded the liberating of a country,” he said.

Goudreau said everything he did was legal but in any case he’s prepared to pay the cost for anything he did if it saves the lives of Venezuelans trying to restore their democracy.

“I’ve been a freedom fighter my whole life. This is all I know,” said Goudreau, who is a decorated three-time Bronze Star recipient for courage in deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan as a special forces medic.

Asked about why his troops would land at one of Venezuela’s most fortified coastlines — some 20 miles from Caracas next to the country’s biggest airport — he cited the example set by Alexander the Great, who had “struck deep into the heart of the enemy” at the Battle of Guagamela.

The government’s claims that it had foiled a beach landing Sunday triggered a frenzy of confusing claims and counterclaims about the alleged plot. While Maduro’s allies said it had been backed by Guaidó, Colombia and the U.S., the opposition accused Maduro of fabricating the whole episode to distract attention from the country’s ongoing humanitarian crisis.

“Those who assume they can attack the institutional framework in Venezuela will have to assume the consequences of their action,” said socialist party boss Diosdado Cabello, adding that one of two captured insurgents claimed to be an agent of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Authorities said they found Peruvian documents, high-caliber weapons, satellite phones, uniforms and helmets adorned with the U.S. flag.

Both U.S. and Colombian officials dismissed the Venezuelan allegations.

“We have little reason to believe anything that comes out of the former regime,” said a State Department spokesperson, referring to Maduro’s government. “The Maduro regime has been consistent in its use of misinformation in order to shift focus from its mismanagement of Venezuela.”

Venezuela has been in a deepening political and economic crisis under Maduro’s rule. Crumbling public services such as running water, electricity and medical care have driven nearly 5 million to migrate.

The United States has led a campaign to oust Maduro, increasing pressure in recent weeks by indicting the socialist leader as a drug trafficker and offering a $15 million reward for his arrest. The U.S. also has increased stiff sanctions.

In addition to U.S. economic and diplomatic pressure, Maduro’s government has faced several small-scale military threats, including an attempt to assassinate Maduro with a drone in 2018 and Guaidó’s call for a military uprising a year ago.

Cabello linked Sunday’s attack to key players in the alleged plot led by Goudreau and Ret. Maj. Gen. Cliver Alcala, who is now in U.S. custody awaiting trial after being indicted alongside Maduro on narcoterrorist charges. One of the men he said was killed, nicknamed “the Panther,” had been identified as involved in obtaining weapons for the covert force in Colombia.

Guaidó accused Maduro’s government of seizing on the incident to draw the world’s attention away from the country’s problems.

“Of course, there are patriotic members of the military willing to fight for Venezuela,” Guaidó said. “But it’s clear that what happened in Vargas is another distraction ploy.”

___

Goodman reported from Miami.

#IFTTT #Blogger

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tonantzinagainsttrafficking · 7 years ago

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Mexico celebrated a milestone success in repatriation of cultural heritage this year. Others have not been so lucky. These 6 countries are still attempting to recover from the illicit trading habits of one collector: Leonardo Patterson.

Leonardo Patterson with pieces of his collection. (Image source:

https://bit.ly/1SNOy2g)

Born in 1942 in Costa Rica to Jamaican parents, Leonardo Patterson is a antiquities dealer and collector renown for the controversy and litigation surrounding him. A 2015 New York Times article describes him as an “orphan who rose from [digging] artifacts out of Central American yam fields to holding multimillion-dollar exhibitions of pre-Columbian treasures in Manhattan and Munich” (Mashberg). He got into the business through Everett Rassiga, a New York gallery owner known for trafficking. In the 1970s, Rassigna was involved in the theft of a priceless Maya object, La Fachada de Placeres. Patterson began as a salesman in one of Rassiga’s galleries, but likewise took advantage of lax antiquities trade laws in the 1960s and 70s and started dealing prior to changes prompted by the 1970 UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) convention on the illegal export of cultural property (López).

Patterson & Rassiga (Image source: https://bit.ly/2Cz4lVE &

https://bit.ly/2eZwXLU)

Rassiga was involved in the theft of this piece, La Fachada de Placeres (Image source: https://elpais.com/internacional/2018/04/06/la_serpiente_emplumada/1523042975_396958.html)

As restrictions tightened, Patterson became the subject of several legal cases regarding the sale and repatriation of illicit and inauthentic Precolumbian (a standard but problematic term in the art world) artifacts. In fact, Patterson has one of the longest criminal records of any prominent art dealer/collector: three detentions and five sentences for different offenses. In a May 2016 report in Der Spiegel magazine, he admits to journalist Konstantin von Hammerstein, “all these objects of art came into my possession thanks to a network of collaborators who explored archaeological sites in different countries” (quoted in López).

In 1984 the FBI charged Patterson with wire fraud via his attempt to sell an inauthentic Maya fresco to dealer Wayne Anderson for $100,000. Allegedly, he told Anderson that the fresco had been authenticated by Donald Hales, a Maya researcher in California that is associated with some of the publications of Maya vases that went on to become part of the November Collection, discussed in our last blog. Hales clarified that Patterson brought him to Switzerland to asses five frescos in a Swiss collection, but that the fresco in question was not among them. Patterson also claimed that Paul Clifford, an appraiser in North Carolina, had authenticated the fresco. Once Patterson was arrested, the fresco was deemed a fake by Clemency Coggins, the same archaeologist and art historian that went on to advise the Museum of Fine Arts Boston not to acquire the November Collection. Patterson was sentenced to probation (Yates).

The following year, while still on probation, he was arrested at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport, found to be in possession of an undeclared Precolumbian figurine (dated between A.D. 650 and A.D. 850) and, bizarrely, 36 endangered sea turtle eggs that he claimed were part of a diet for his health. This time, he was sentenced to a year in prison on smuggling charges (Yates & Mashberg).

Patterson’s time in the U.N. was brief. (Image source: https://bit.ly/2eZwXLU)

Despite these convictions, he was appointed cultural attaché, or cultural diplomat, to the UN in 1995; he resigned, however, when questions about his past began to loom. He then began spending more time in Europe, particularly Germany where he now resides. He started hosting exhibitions and sales in France and Spain, but curators became suspicious of both the items’ authenticity and provenance. In 1996, Patterson put his private collection of Precolumbian art on display in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. This exhibit led to an Interpol alert regarding the illicit provenance (origin) of his collection (López).

That same year, Peruvian collector Raúl Apesteguía was brutally murdered. The day of the crime, one of his most important pieces, a golden Moche headdress, disappeared from his home in Lima. In 2006, a decade later, it was found at the home of Patterson’s lawyer in London. This connection to Patterson is certainly alarming, but Peruvian prosecutors failed to investigate the links to this case, which remains unpunished (López). Peru has, however, sought repatriation of the objects found in Patterson’s collection displayed in Spain.

The Moche headdress stolen from Apesteguía the day of his murder. (Image source: https://bit.ly/2yPSG1m)

In fact, the Interpol alert following the 1996 exhibit in Santiago de Compostela prompted five countries, Peru, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Colombia to press charges against him in 2004, while a 6th, Ecuador, did not press charges but sought repatriation (López). Spanish officials attempted to keep his collection in Spain as these claims were addressed, but Patterson was able to send most of it “home” to Germany (Mashberg).

Unfortunately for the countries seeking repatriation, Germany has placed significant (and arguably ridiculous) financial and infrastructural roadblocks in their way. Germany demands 90,000 euros from each of the claimant states in order to pay for the investigation and storage of the objects. Furthermore, the German Law on the Repatriation of Cultural Heritage requires the the affected state to show that the item is registered in a database of all cultural artifacts that is not only available to the general public but the GERMAN public as well. To add insult to injury, the law also determines that only objects that entered Germany AFTER 2007 can be returned because Germany only chose to ratify the UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property in November 2007, 35 years after its establishment. Due to this rigid framework, the Bavarian Supreme Administrative Litigation Court rejected requests from Peru, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Colombia for restitution of archaeological pieces in 2010 (López). However, some monumental yet minuscule victories have been won by those with sufficient resources.

This graph shows how GDP per capita in these regions compares to global superpower the United States (The “1” in the graph represents 100% of the U.S. GDP per capita). It demonstrates the effects of barriers to growth in Latin America by showing how the region has fallen economically as others rise. In 1950, the average Latin American country’s GDP per capita was 28% of that of the U.S., but this fell to 22% by 2000. Meanwhile, the average European country fared much better, enjoying a rise from 40% in 1950 to 67% of U.S. GDP per capita in 2000 (Image source: https://bit.ly/2S5bKBt).

This illustrates the weakening of Latin American countries in this period, during which looting and illicit trafficking of cultural property was most rampant. It is no wonder that many of these countries that brought suit against Germany were no match for its economic advantage and significant financial barriers to repatriation.

Peru

Peru got lucky; it was the first country to discover the illegal origin of Patterson’s collection and in 2006 began diplomatic negotiations with Spain to repatriate items. 273 items that had been stored in a warehouse in Santiago de Compostela were returned to Peru; however, four textiles (from the Chimú and Nazca-Wari cultures) remain outstanding and nine pieces of Prehispanic goldsmithing, found in the 1996 exhibition catalogue, were not recovered at the warehouse. Peru’s Ministry of Culture has sent four letters to Germany requesting their recovery and return, all rejected (López).

This is not one of the Moche textiles Peru is requesting from Germany. However, while searching for a photo example I stumbled upon this site, antiques.com, that appears to list artifacts like these available at galleries worldwide. How jarring it is to see an invaluable piece of cultural heritage available for just a few hundred dollars online. (Image source: https://bit.ly/2yqdYn1)

Guatemala

Guatemala attempted to recover 369 Maya artifacts from Patterson’s collection but has been forced to desist due to being unable to meet the requirements set by Germany. The main issue is that the objects do not appear in an official registry because they were looted from sites that had not yet been formally explored! Furthermore, Guatemala did not allocate a sufficient budget for an expert to travel to Munich and investigate; therefore, an investigation of the objects was conducted only using photographs. The state also did not invest in legal counsel. The country’s resources are simply lacking (López).

In 2013, both Peru and Guatemala requested the extradition of Patterson while he was in Spain. He appeared in court in Santiago de Compostela on charges of smuggling cultural property, prompted by the illegal shipping of his collection to Germany when he began to face allegations. Unfortunately he was acquitted, after which he returned Munich, where the extradition requests were voided as Peru and Guatemala do not hold extradition treaties with Germany. Furthermore, Germany does not consider the possession of cultural assets in private hands as a crime (López).

Costa Rica

Costa Rica, Patterson’s home country, sought to repatriate 497 items, but also lacked resources to to undertake a proper investigation. In 2009, the National Museum of Costa Rica found itself unable to afford the expenses required by Germany to conduct the investigative process. Costa Rica was only able to procure two objects that had been left by Patterson in Spain, a vase and a grinding stone. Yet, they never made it home— both disappeared from the Costa Rican Embassy in Madrid in 2010. As if that wasn’t enough of a blow, Germany offered Costa Rica the opportunity to to be appointed legal custodian of the Patterson Collection, but this was contingent on a provided guarantee of several million euros! The country could not spare such a great expense. Rocío Fernández, Director of the National Museum of Costa Rica, says of Patterson and the art trade:

Patterson made a business out of archeology and the falsification of objects. He linked himself politically with the ruling class in Costa Rica during all its governments. He had a gift for deceiving people. That is what makes one wonder how the [art] market works. (quoted in López)

Ecuador & Colombia

Ecuador and Colombia were also unsuccessful in procuring their stolen items. Ecuador identified 121 cultural artifacts from photos on a disk provided by Interpol in 2008. It, however, did not place a criminal complaint against Patterson (for reasons I was unable to determine). Though it filed a complaint with German authorities for not providing access to documents regarding the case against him in Munich, Ecuador suspended its requests for repatriation in 2010. I was not able to find much information on Colombia’s efforts for repatriation, but it has also suspended its claim within the last few years (López). Though sources were not clear, it seems that as of 2016, both countries may have backed down due to the unreasonable stipulations within the German Law on the Repatriation of Cultural Heritage mentioned earlier.

Mexico

Mexico, however, has recently made headlines in its successful repatriation of two 3,000 year-old wooden Olmec busts earlier this year (2018).

One of the busts repatriated to Mexico. The busts are examples of the Olmec culture from the El Manati site, thought to be looted shortly after its excavation in the 1980s. (Image source: https://bit.ly/2q2ufKb)

The Patterson Collection has 690 pieces of Mexican origin, and Mexican officials claim to have linked more than 200 pieces to Luis Bianchi, a deceased forger of pre-Columbian artifacts (teleSUR; Mashberg). They describe these pieces of his multi-million dollar collection as consisting of a mixture of “terra-cotta, basalt stone and limestone busts; terra-cotta kettles and urns; obsidian and stone projectile tips and knives; braziers and incense burners; obsidian ornaments; stone seals; incense holders; cases; and necklaces and strings” (Mashberg).

The second Olmec bust repatriated to Mexico.

Though he was acquitted in the 2013 trial in Spain, in November 2015 Patterson was found guilty by a Munich court for both dealing inauthentic works and possessing looted artifacts. He was fined $40,000, his passport was confiscated, and he was sentenced to probation and house arrest for three years. He was also, in a monumental victory for repatriation in Mexico, ordered to return two carved wooden Olmec heads, valued at over $50,000 each. Though the lawyer representing Mexico, Robert A. Kugler, calls this a “milestone verdict,” the fight is not over. Mexico still has motive to reclaim other items from Patterson’s collection of at least 1,029 Aztec, Maya, and Olmec artifacts (Mashberg). After a ten-year trial, and over two years after the ruling, the Olmec heads were handed to Mexican authorities this spring.

Countless other items are still in limbo.

What is significant and maddening about these cases is the stringent guidelines placed by Germany in order for these countries to recoup what has been stolen from them. The financial restrictions are especially telling; Germany knows countries that have lost cultural artifacts to illicit means are often suffering from weakened infrastructure due to war, poverty, and other devastations. It holds much greater economic power yet has inflated financial restrictions to offset what little chance countries like Guatemala, still recovering from over 30 years of civil war and foreign extraction, have to recover the pieces of cultural patrimony they have been stripped of. It even had the audacity to suggest that claims before 2007 are not valid, but that is only because that is the year Germany CHOSE to ratify the UN Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. Germany has the money and the power to make its own rules and force disenfranchised countries to abide by them. I hope that countries like Guatemala, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Colombia in the future will share similar successes with Peru and Mexico and that all will continue to push back against these oppressive and unreasonable guidelines set by German law.

This graph shows countries/regions’ share of global GDP. Note Germany’s percentage of 4.54%, while Mexico is the only one of the Latin American countries discussed today that even registers here, at 1.54%. This is just a further illustration of Germany’s significantly greater economic advantage. (Image source: https://bit.ly/2lyEhzH)

***Just added 11/9/18***

Video of the repatriation with background information

https://youtu.be/CvGuli-0g1s

______________________________________________________________________________

Works Cited/Learn more

López: https://memoriarobada.ojo-publico.com/investigaciones/diplomats-and-collectors-under-suspicion-in-the-trafficking-of-latin-american-art/

Mashberg: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/09/arts/design/antiquities-dealer-leonardo-patterson-faces-new-criminal-charges.html

Yates: https://traffickingculture.org/encyclopedia/case-studies/maya-fresco-fake/

#cultural heritage #leonardo patterson #antiquities trafficking #art crime #cultural patrimony #latin america #mexico #peru #guatemala #costa rica #ecuador #colombia #tonantzin society

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