Protests in Latin America: Discord, Violence, and Hope

A few weeks ago, Amnesty International released its yearly “State of the World” report, which covers human rights issues throughout the globe. One of the report’s concerns was the recent protests throughout much of Latin America, and governments’ responses to them. The report mentions that these protests “took place against the backdrop of an erosion of democratic space and continuing criminalization of dissent” and that the government’s responses were “increasingly militarized.” Among the Latin American countries the report mentions were Venezuela, Mexico, and Brazil, and although not mentioned, Argentina went through some protests recently as well.

Protests in Venezuela against President Nicolas Maduro began early last year, when opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez called for resistance against the high levels of insecurity and inflation the country is facing. Though the movement was initially peaceful, violence erupted after student Bassil Dacosta was shot, and the protests became a showdown between protesters and government forces. Shortly after, an arrest order was given out for the capture of Leopoldo Lopez, who was blamed as the instigator of the violence. Lopez turned himself in, and remains incarcerated to this day. The protests have continued since in varying degrees of intensity. This year, protests have once again intensified after Caracas mayor and notable opposition leader Antonio Ledezma was suddenly arrested and accused of plotting a coup against the government. Meanwhile, the country’s economy remains stagnant with high levels of inflation, which has resulted in nationwide shortages of basic needs such as milk and toilet paper. President Maduro recently obtained the power to rule by decree for nine months, in order to combat an alleged US plot against his cabinet. Overall, the protests have left behind 44 casualties, hundreds injured, and thousands arrested.

In Mexico, protests began last year when 43 students at the Raúl Isidro Burgos Rural Teachers' College in Ayotzinapa were kidnapped. Eventually, the students were presumed dead, victims of a police-linked drug gang. People throughout Mexico, especially in its capital Mexico City, have staged numerous rallies demanding justice to the 43 victims in Ayotzinapa and demanded the resignation of President Enrique Peña Nieto. Numerous protests have taken place since then, and, like in Venezuela, with varying degrees of intensity. The protesters not only demand justice for the disappeared but also denounce the widespread corruption throughout the Mexican government. According to the Amnesty International report, the Mexican case was the most alarming, with worries that the police responses have been excessive, and there have been multiple accusations of torture.

Brazilian protests are most recent, starting shortly after President Dilma Rousseff's re-election in late 2014. The country has been shocked by a recent scandal that revealed widespread corruption in one of the nations most prominent companies, Petrobras. Among those accused of mishandling

money inside Petrobras are some of President Rousseff’s closest allies. Furthermore, the country is experiencing economic woes: inflation is high, and the real has dropped to historic lows. This has prompted the Brazilian people to march to the street to perform their famed “Panelaço” a form of protest in which demonstrators bang their pots. Around 2.2 million citizens marched throughout various Brazilian cities. Unlike the previous countries though, the protest has not ended with a violent note.

Finally, there is the case of Argentina. Earlier this year, on January 18, prosecutor Alberto Nisman was found dead in his apartment. Amid countless investigations, several judges and acquaintances of Mr. Nisman rallied a silent protest on February 18, a month after his death, in order to demand justice for the murder, but also to protest the failing economy and rising insecurity that the country is facing. Despite the torrential rain, around 400,000 citizens marched in Buenos Aires.

From the onset, it is clear that the situations in all these countries are very similar. They are counter-government protests meant to combat corruption, insecurity, and an ailing economy. These protests are the inevitable results of divisive governments where pseudo-nepotistic, highly centralized cabinets have taken order and where dissent is growing, and where people are not benefitting. Unfortunately, the situations in Venezuela and Mexico have turned violent because the countries themselves are fighting severe insecurity brought by criminal organizations and paranoid governments.

Latin America itself is divided. Mexico aside, all of the countries listed here are prominent members of Mercosur, one of Latin America’s trade blocs. Whereas Mercosur facing increasingly tough times, the Pacific Alliance, which includes Chile, Peru, Mexico, and Colombia is enjoying an economic boom and political stability. The left in Latin America is going through some tough times, and people are suffering because of it. Perhaps because of its divisive nature, the response of other Latin American countries to the protests has been notably weak and sporadic. Now is the time to cut down borders and fight for the right to protest peacefully.