Uribe Calls for a New Election; Mining Strike in Peru Seeks to Push Bill; Sentences come in for Prats Murder Trial

By Jessalyn Mastrianni
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BOGOTA, Colombia – Accusations stemming from a Supreme Court decision have erupted regarding the corrupt presidential election of 2006.  The Supreme Court of Thursday found that a former lawmaker was bribed to change her vote regarding the constitutional amendment that would allow President Alvaro Uribe to run for re-election in 2006.

President Uribe, in response to the ruling, has called for a referendum to decide if there should be a new election.  He will ask the congress to approve this referendum.

The President’s response is controversial because, due to his popularity rating of eighty percent, he is almost sure to win another election.  However, a new election in his favor would extend his term to last until 2012.  Without this new election, Uribe would be ineligible to run in the 2010 election.  He would keep power for two extra years in addition to overruling the Supreme Court’s decision.

For more information, please see:

Reuters – Colombia’s Uribe calls for repeat of ’06 election – 27 June 2008

AP- Colombia’s president wants vote on new elections – 27 June 2008

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LIME, Peru – A mining strike entered its second day in Peru on Tuesday.  Metal miners working in Peru produce silver, copper, and zinc.  These workers marched to Congress to promote a bill that would “give workers a greater share of profits from sky-high metals prices” according to Reuters.

Workers have been demanding a fair share of elevated profits in their own industry.  Leader of the mining union said that miners will meet with legislators to discuss the demands. 

With the economic boom and the wealth discrepancy, President Alan Garcia is facing a low approval rating.  He needs to spread the wealth before he loses support before the 2011 election.

The strike has also started to affect copper prices.

For more information, please see:

FN Arena News – The Overnight Report: Saluting the General – 2 July 2008

Reuters – Peru mining strike goes into second day – 1 July 2008

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SANTIAGO, Chile – Manuel Contreras, the head of the secret police during the Pinochet Caravan of Death, was sentenced to two consecutive life terms by Judge Alejandro Solis yesterday.  Contreras, 79, was found guilty of killing retired army chief Carlos Prats and his wife in 1974 by using a car bomb in Buenos Aires.  He had already been convicted of murder, torture and kidnap.

According to The Patagonia Times, “In addition to sentencing Contreras and Espinoza, Judge Alejandro Solís announced that José Zara, Juan Morales Salgado and Christoph Willeke will each spend 20 years and two days behind bars for their involvement in the Prats case.”

Four other men have also been sentenced in the Prats case.  Pedro Espinoza Bravo was sentenced to serve 40 years for planning the political assassinations, while “Raúl Iturriaga and Mariana Callejas received sentences of 30 years and 10 years and one day, respectively. Judge Solís also handed down two 541 day sentences to DINA sub-official Reginaldo Valdés.”

For more information, please see:

The Patagonia Times – Chile’s Contreras Gets Life Sentence in Prats Car-Bomb Case (Seven Other Former DINA Officials Receive Sentences) – 1 July 2008
BBC News – Life terms for Chile ex-spy chief – 1 July 2008