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Ya Biladi
5 days ago
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Latin America : Left-wing presidents disappoint the Polisario Front
In a significant diplomatic gathering, Santiago, the capital of Chile, became the venue for a high-level meeting that united five leaders from left-leaning countries, all advocating for a multipolar world order. The presidents of Chile, Gabriel Boric; Uruguay, Yamandu Orsi; Colombia, Gustavo Petro; Brazil, Lula Da Silva; alongside the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, collectively endorsed a joint declaration on Monday, July 21. Despite the presence of staunch Polisario supporters, such as the presidents of Colombia and Uruguay, the final communiqué notably omitted any reference to the Front. Both nations, however, continue to recognize the so-called «RASD». The Santiago declaration signatories reaffirmed their dedication to «peace and respect for international law and humanitarian law». «We call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and demand full, safe, and unrestricted humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip, in accordance with the principles of humanitarian law and under the coordination of the United Nations». For the record, during the 28th Ibero-American summit of heads of state and government in March 2023 in the Dominican Republic, the Colombian president had proposed including the Polisario as an observer member in this bloc. This proposal was swiftly dismissed by the Spanish Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares. Moreover, the Uruguayan president, Yamandu Orsi, has extended an invitation to Brahim Ghali to attend his inauguration ceremony, set for March 2, 2025, in Montevideo. Media outlets linked to the Front have remained silent regarding this meeting aimed at fostering a multipolar world. Meanwhile, Chile and Brazil maintain their stance of not recognizing the republic self-proclaimed by the Polisario on February 27, 1976. In contrast, Spain's head of government reiterated his support in March 2022 for Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara.
Saba Yemen
6 days ago
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Brazil nears joining Gaza genocide case at ICJ
Brasília - Saba: The Brazilian Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that it is in the final stages of submitting a formal request to join the genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding its military actions in the Gaza Strip. In a statement cited by Quds Press, the ministry stressed that the ongoing atrocities in Gaza cannot be met with international silence. It emphasized that the global community must not remain idle in the face of violations against civilians in the besieged enclave. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated on Tuesday that Israel is committing "genocide" in Gaza, clarifying that the situation is "not a war" but rather a systematic killing of civilians, particularly women and children. Latin American Nations Join South Africa's Case Five Latin American countries have successively joined the lawsuit filed by South Africa at the ICJ, accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinian civilians in Gaza during its continuous aggression since October 7, 2023. - Nicaragua was the first Latin American country to take this step, formally submitting a request to the court on February 16, 2024, to join as a "third party." It argued that Israel's actions in Gaza violate the 1948 Genocide Convention and called for accountability. - Colombia filed a similar request on April 5, 2024, stating its aim was to "defend the Palestinian people's right to life and dignity" and ensure accountability for crimes against civilians. - Chile submitted its formal request on September 13, 2024, following President Gabriel Boric's announcement in June that Chile would support South Africa's legal efforts, calling Gaza's humanitarian tragedy a matter requiring decisive legal action. - Bolivia officially joined the case on October 9, 2024, expressing full support for legal measures to hold Israel accountable. - Cuba intervened on January 13, 2025, submitting a declaration in support of South Africa's call for accountability over "grave and systematic violations of international humanitarian law." Brazil is now set to become the sixth Latin American country to join the case. ICJ's Provisional Measures On January 26, 2024, the ICJ issued provisional measures ordering Israel to take all possible steps to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza, including ensuring humanitarian aid access and preventing incitement to hatred. While the court has not yet ruled on the case's merits, it found South Africa's claims "plausible enough" to warrant urgent measures—a legal basis that prompted multiple countries to intervene. South Africa filed the lawsuit on December 29, 2023, accusing Israel of violating the Genocide Convention through its military operations in Gaza, which have killed tens of thousands of civilians, mostly women and children. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (International)
UPI
22-07-2025
- Politics
- UPI
Leaders call for unity to counter global far right
Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi (2-L), Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (L), Chilean President Gabriel Boric (C), Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (2-R) and Colombian President Gustavo Petro (R), converse during the summit in defense of democracy at La Moneda Palace in Santiago, Chile, on Monday. Photo by Elvis Gonzalez/EPA July 22 (UPI) -- For 24 hours, Chile became the center of a progressive call for unity to counter the rise of the global far right. Under the slogan "Democracy Always," Presidents Gabriel Boric of Chile, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, Gustavo Petro of Colombia and Yamandú Orsi of Uruguay, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez met Monday in the Chilean capital, Santiago, to lay out a common roadmap in the face of what they described as subtle, but corrosive, threats to democracy. During the meeting, participants warned that democracy is being threatened in many parts of the world -- not only by military force, but also by more insidious tools such as disinformation, rising hatred, corruption and the concentration of power. The leaders called for the formation of a united global progressive front. Sánchez denounced what he described as an "international reactionary movement of hate and lies," while Lula warned of "a new antidemocratic offensive." Petro addedd, "Progressive forces around the world must come together and turn on the light when darkness falls." While the "Democracy Always" declaration focused on the need to strengthen multilateralism and address both internal and external threats to democracies, some analysts say the alliance's shared position on the United States can be inferred from the principles it promotes. "The summit strongly emphasized the need to bolster multilateralism as a counterweight to unilateralism. If the United States promotes a form of multilateralism based on respect for international institutions and international law, this progressive front would seek its cooperation," said Manuel Briones, professor of international relations at Chile's Center for Strategic and Competitive Intelligence Studies. The summit occurred at a sensitive geopolitical moment, just weeks before new tariffs to be imposed by the Trump administration are to take effect, impacting Chile, Brazil, European Union nations and many others worldwide. "In Latin America, the summit reinforces the emergence of a regional leadership bloc with progressive leanings," Briones said. "If the administration in the White House chooses a foreign policy more focused on "America First" and less on actively promoting certain democratic agendas through ideological alliances, this new front could pose a subtle challenge -- or at the very least, become an actor Washington will have to engage with from a different perspective." Added Claudio Sánchez, a lawyer and scholar at Chile's Center for Labor Studies: "It's expected that there will be differences in approaches to economic, social and foreign policy, but the progressive governments at the summit generally advocate for a larger role for the state in the economy, more expansive social policies and a more critical stance toward corporate power -- positions that may contrast with certain political sectors in the United States. "However, this doesn't necessarily imply confrontation, but rather a search for dialogue and cooperation in areas of shared interest, while maintaining ideological differences where they exist." Leaders at the summit announced that countries including Mexico, the United Kingdom and Canada plan to join the emerging alliance.
Reuters
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Jeannette Jara is a coalition Communist who wants to be Chile's next president
SANTIAGO, July 22 (Reuters) - Saddled with an unpopular incumbent president, Chile's left has made a bold choice to contest a resurgent right in November's election - Jeannette Jara, a member of the Communist Party. Jara, who was chosen by voters last month to be the candidate for the ruling Unity for Chile coalition, told Reuters she plans to win over skeptical voters by championing her track record of pushing through popular legislation on pensions and a reduced workweek under President Gabriel Boric. But Jara still faces an uphill battle, encumbered by Boric's unpopularity and her own party affiliation in a country that remains haunted by the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship that followed the 1973 coup against democratically elected Marxist president Salvador Allende. "I think a lot of stories about the (Communist Party) stem from the Cold War and aren't representative of the current situation," Jara said in an interview. "In Chile we have a profound commitment to democracy and respect for institutional norms." Jara joined the party as a student leader in the 1990s and bounced between government and the private sector. Before serving as Boric's labor minister, Jara worked in several ministries under center-left former president Michelle Bachelet. In the primary vote, the charismatic 51-year-old Jara beat out three other candidates, including the presumptive favorite. She benefited from her popularity with younger voters and vows to build a broad coalition. "We were looking at a situation where there was no competition or representative leadership to build a broad view under a single candidate and I thought I could contribute that," Jara said. Speaking to Reuters outside her small, plant-filled, yellow-brick home in Santiago on Friday, Jara said she is seeking to emphasize her pragmatism and dealmaking, noting her leadership role in legislation that reduced the workweek to 40 hours and reformed pensions. "I didn't do it alone, I did it hand-in-hand with workers and Chilean business owners to come to an agreement," Jara said. "We have experience, we don't have all the answers - nobody is infallible. But we have an ability to govern the country with the reforms it needs." Opinion polls show that Jara is likely to make it to a run-off, but most scenarios have her losing to a right-wing candidate in the second round. Chile's presidential elections are slated for November 16 and will go to a run-off in December if no candidate receives a majority. Jara said her campaign would have three pillars: economic growth, social issues and public safety. She said she wants to focus on matters that impact a majority of Chileans, such as job creation and recurring questions over income inequality, which triggered widespread protests in 2019. "We can't keep having two Chiles in the same country, one for well-off sectors and other for the vast majority," she said. She said she would also seek to address crime. While Chile remains one of the safest countries in Latin America, an influx of organized crime has led to a rising murder rate and hurt economic growth, with a recent spike in high-profile incidents like kidnappings and assassinations. But she blasted hardline proposals like building border walls or placing landmines along the border that have been suggested by some right-wing candidates, who have blamed the rising crime on increasing numbers of migrants. "While some shout louder or have ideas that aren't grounded in reality, I trust citizens' ability to evaluate proposals that could lead to solutions," Jara said, adding that she would seek to increase funding for the police and introduce biometric screening at the border. "None of this is an easy fix," she said. As the world's largest copper producer and one of the largest lithium producers, Chile's economy relies heavily on mining. Boric has sought to boost lithium production with a joint venture between state-run copper giant Codelco and local lithium miner SQM. But the deal has faced opposition from right-wing candidates, Indigenous groups and Jara herself. "I don't agree with an agreement with (SQM) that would extend their lithium concession by 30 years," Jara said, citing a campaign finance scandal in 2015 and SQM's sale to Pinochet's son-in-law during the dictatorship. "If Boric closes the deal during his government I'll respect it. If not, I'll propose a national public company to operate alongside the private sector like Codelco with copper," she said. U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened heavy tariffs on copper and Jara said in response that she would focus on strengthening trade with Latin America, China and others. "We recently signed a trade agreement with India that I hope to expand and strengthen," Jara said. Relations with the United States would remain diplomatic and cordial under her government if she were elected, she said, adding: "We have to act prudently to safeguard our national interest." (This story has been corrected to fix Jeannette Jara's first name in the headline and in paragraph 1)
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Jeanette Jara is a coalition Communist who wants to be Chile's next president
By Alexander Villegas SANTIAGO (Reuters) -Saddled with an unpopular incumbent president, Chile's left has made a bold choice to contest a resurgent right in November's election - Jeanette Jara, a member of the Communist Party. Jara, who was chosen by voters last month to be the candidate for the ruling Unity for Chile coalition, told Reuters she plans to win over skeptical voters by championing her track record of pushing through popular legislation on pensions and a reduced workweek under President Gabriel Boric. But Jara still faces an uphill battle, encumbered by Boric's unpopularity and her own party affiliation in a country that remains haunted by the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship that followed the 1973 coup against democratically elected Marxist president Salvador Allende. "I think a lot of stories about the (Communist Party) stem from the Cold War and aren't representative of the current situation," Jara said in an interview. "In Chile we have a profound commitment to democracy and respect for institutional norms." Jara joined the party as a student leader in the 1990s and bounced between government and the private sector. Before serving as Boric's labor minister, Jara worked in several ministries under center-left former president Michelle Bachelet. In the primary vote, the charismatic 51-year-old Jara beat out three other candidates, including the presumptive favorite. She benefited from her popularity with younger voters and vows to build a broad coalition. "We were looking at a situation where there was no competition or representative leadership to build a broad view under a single candidate and I thought I could contribute that," Jara said. Speaking to Reuters outside her small, plant-filled, yellow-brick home in Santiago on Friday, Jara said she is seeking to emphasize her pragmatism and dealmaking, noting her leadership role in legislation that reduced the workweek to 40 hours and reformed pensions. "I didn't do it alone, I did it hand-in-hand with workers and Chilean business owners to come to an agreement," Jara said. "We have experience, we don't have all the answers - nobody is infallible. But we have an ability to govern the country with the reforms it needs." Opinion polls show that Jara is likely to make it to a run-off, but most scenarios have her losing to a right-wing candidate in the second round. Chile's presidential elections are slated for November 16 and will go to a run-off in December if no candidate receives a majority. CAMPAIGN FOCUS Jara said her campaign would have three pillars: economic growth, social issues and public safety. She said she wants to focus on matters that impact a majority of Chileans, such as job creation and recurring questions over income inequality, which triggered widespread protests in 2019. "We can't keep having two Chiles in the same country, one for well-off sectors and other for the vast majority," she said. She said she would also seek to address crime. While Chile remains one of the safest countries in Latin America, an influx of organized crime has led to a rising murder rate and hurt economic growth, with a recent spike in high-profile incidents like kidnappings and assassinations. But she blasted hardline proposals like building border walls or placing landmines along the border that have been suggested by some right-wing candidates, who have blamed the rising crime on increasing numbers of migrants. "While some shout louder or have ideas that aren't grounded in reality, I trust citizens' ability to evaluate proposals that could lead to solutions," Jara said, adding that she would seek to increase funding for the police and introduce biometric screening at the border. "None of this is an easy fix," she said. LITHIUM EXTRACTION As the world's largest copper producer and one of the largest lithium producers, Chile's economy relies heavily on mining. Boric has sought to boost lithium production with a joint venture between state-run copper giant Codelco and local lithium miner SQM. But the deal has faced opposition from right-wing candidates, Indigenous groups and Jara herself. "I don't agree with an agreement with (SQM) that would extend their lithium concession by 30 years," Jara said, citing a campaign finance scandal in 2015 and SQM's sale to Pinochet's son-in-law during the dictatorship. "If Boric closes the deal during his government I'll respect it. If not, I'll propose a national public company to operate alongside the private sector like Codelco with copper," she said. U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened heavy tariffs on copper and Jara said in response that she would focus on strengthening trade with Latin America, China and others. "We recently signed a trade agreement with India that I hope to expand and strengthen," Jara said. Relations with the United States would remain diplomatic and cordial under her government if she were elected, she said, adding: "We have to act prudently to safeguard our national interest." Solve the daily Crossword
