- The non-governmental organization Penal Forum warned that the number of political prisoners in Venezuela is 1,976; Relatives held a vigil in Yare III, in Miranda, to demand his release and ratified the conviction of Cristina Fernández in Argentina on charges of corruption
The non-governmental organization (NGO) Foro Penal counted 1,976 political prisoners as of November 13 in Venezuela. Relatives and friends held a vigil at the Yare III penitentiary center, in the state of Miranda, to demand his release and that there be “a Christmas without people deprived of liberty for political reasons.”
In Argentina, the authorities ratified the 6-year prison sentence against former president Cristina Fernández, who was tried for crimes related to corruption. And in Haiti, the airline Bahamasair suspended its operations in that country for security reasons, while in Colombia it was announced that former leaders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) will be charged with recruiting minors.
On the other hand, in Spain heavy rains were recorded due to the passage of a new isolated depression at high levels (DANA).
Below are the highlights from Wednesday, November 13:
The NGO Foro Penal reported on November 13 that there are a total of 1,976 political prisoners in Venezuela. Of this number, 246 are women and 69 are adolescents.
These detainees correspond to the balance made until November 11 on the arrests made in the context of the post-election protests.
The NGO added that of the total number of political prisoners, 1,813 are civilians and 163 are soldiers. The report also noted that 1,827 people are still awaiting sentencing.
Foro Penal indicated that the number of citizens arrested in Venezuela for political reasons from 2014 to date is 17,952. Likewise, according to the organization’s figures, more than 9,000 people are still arbitrarily subject to measures restricting their freedom.
A group of relatives held a vigil outside the Yare III prison, Miranda state, to demand a Christmas without political prisoners. The activity ended on the morning of Wednesday, November 13.
The relatives of the detainees remained in the vicinity of the prison for approximately 12 hours, starting at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, November 12. This activity is added to those already carried out by the Committee for the Liberation of Political Prisoners in Venezuela (CLIPPVE) in the prisons of Tocuyito (Carabobo) and Stump (Aragua).
Those who attended held banners alluding to their demands and wrote the word “justice” on the sidewalk, in which they placed white candles to illuminate. Likewise, they put white sheets on the ground with messages such as “Enough of political persecution” and “No more torture in Venezuela.”
In addition to the prayers, family members sang and held candles and photos of the political prisoners in their hands.
3. Trump named Senator Marco Rubio as his Secretary of State
The president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, announced this Wednesday, November 13, the nomination of Florida Senator of Cuban origin Marco Rubio as the new Secretary of State for his next government, which will begin in January.
Through a statement, the former Republican president confirmed the news that had been circulating for several days, the election of Rubio as the highest representative of American diplomacy, becoming the first Latino to assume the position.
Marco is a highly respected leader and a very powerful voice for freedom. He will be a firm defender of our nation, a true friend of our allies and a brave warrior who will never surrender to our adversaries,” said the president-elect, who won the elections on November 5.
The Argentine Federal Court of Criminal Cassation confirmed on Wednesday, November 13, the sentence of 6 years in prison and perpetual disqualification from holding public office against former Argentine president Cristina Fernández, for a case of irregularities in road works.
The president of the Court, Gustavo Hornos, specified that a confiscation of more than 84.8 billion Argentine pesos (approximately 84 million dollars) will also be applied to it, which will be executed at the time the ruling is signed.
According to local media, despite the confirmation of the sentence, the former president will not go to prison until “all judicial review procedures are exhausted,” as provided by the Federal Criminal Procedure Code.
The Argentine media The Nationreported that Fernández’s defense sent a letter to indicate that he will appeal the ruling before the Supreme Court of Justice. This would be the last instance of the process that would determine whether the penalty would be applied.
5. Another airline joined the suspension of flights to Haiti
On Wednesday, November 13, the Bahamasair airline joined the decision of American Airlines and JetBlue to suspend their flights to Haiti until December, as a security measure due to the escalation of violence in that country.
The measure responds to an incident that occurred on Monday, November 11, during a Spirit Airlines flight from the United States, which was hit by gunfire while trying to land in Port-au-Prince. At least one flight attendant was grazed by a bullet.
The event forced the airport authorities at the Toussaint Louverture International Airport in the Haitian capital to suspend all commercial flights.
In Haiti, there is a new escalation of violence by gangs that control the metropolitan area of the capital. The events were reported after the appointment of a new prime minister, Alix Didier Fils Aimé, by the Presidential Transition Council, which dismissed Garry Conille.
6. Former FARC leaders charged with recruiting 18,677 children
The Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) of Colombia charged six former members of the last Secretariat of the extinct FARC guerrilla, including Rodrigo Londoño, alias Timochenko. The decision accuses them of being responsible for the forced recruitment of 18,677 children for the armed conflict.
In addition to Londoño, other defendants are Jaime Alberto Parra Rodríguez, Milton de Jesús Toncel, Pastor Alape, Pablo Catatumbo Torres and Julián Gallo. The last two are the senators for the Comunes party.
According to the jurisdiction, between 1971 and 2016, the year the peace agreement was signed, the FARC “recruited boys, girls and adolescents.” These events occurred most frequently between 1996 and 2016, a framework in which the court focused its investigation of Case 07, which investigates the recruitment and use of boys and girls in the armed conflict.
Heavy rains were recorded since the morning of November 13 in the province of Malaga and Tarragona, in Spain, due to the passage of a new isolated depression at high levels (DANA). The rainfall caused road closures and flood alerts.
The Ministry of the Presidency of Spain decreed a red notice in both provinces so access to public parks, sports venues, schools and universities remained closed. In addition, around 3,000 people were evacuated from their homes due to their proximity to river beds.
The warning of the arrival of a new DANA caused some residents of communities in Malaga to block the entrances to their homes to avoid flooding.
In The Diary We present you a summary with the most important information of the day, which you should know at the national and international level.
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What recent events have occurred in Haiti regarding airport violence and gang control?
**Recent Events in Haiti and Colombia**
In a tense situation in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, a commercial flight encountered gunfire while attempting to land, resulting in at least one flight attendant being grazed by a bullet. The incident forced the Toussaint Louverture International Airport to suspend all commercial flights due to escalating violence linked to gangs controlling the area. This surge in violence comes on the heels of the appointment of a new prime minister, Alix Didier Fils Aimé, following the dismissal of Garry Conille by the Presidential Transition Council.
Meanwhile, in Colombia, the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) has charged six former leaders of the disbanded FARC guerrilla group, including Rodrigo Londoño (alias Timochenko), with the forced recruitment of 18,677 children during the armed conflict. The charges span from 1971 to 2016, with a peak in recruitment activities occurring from 1996 to 2016. Other defendants include Jaime Alberto Parra Rodríguez, Milton de Jesús Toncel, Pastor Alape, Pablo Catatumbo Torres, and Julián Gallo, who are also recognized as senators for the Comunes party. The court’s investigation is focused on the severe impacts of child recruitment by FARC during these years.