The boardwalk in La Paz where the couple were arrested (photo courtesy of Wikipedia)
Mexico - Gay Couple Arrested for Kissing in Public: Municipal police in La Paz arrested a pair of men for kissing on the promenade last night. Jorge and Alan, who were visiting the Baja California resort town, were accused of disturbing the peace and were then “violently” detained after resisting arrest. They were later released after each paying a 300 peso fine. “We were terrified, the officers who detained us were very abrupt, and we weren’t disturbing the peace. The La Paz police are homophobic, corrupt liars,” said Jorge of his ordeal. Upon hearing the news of the arrest, the Baja California Sur LGBT community, which includes more than 50,000 people, has said it will organise a “kissathon” on the promenade on 17th May, which is the International Day Against Homophobia. LGBT rights have been expanded in Mexico in recent years, and in 2001 a federal law was passed banning discrimination based on sexual orientation. Same-sex marriage has since been recognised in various states, including the capital of Mexico City.
Brazil - World Cup Police Trained by Blackwater: The US mercenary firm Academi, formerly known as Blackwater, trained Brazilian police in anti-terrorism actions in anticipation of the forthcoming football World Cup, due to take place in June and July this year. Last week, a group of 22 police military and federal police agents, including members of the force’s special operations, returned from three weeks’ training at Academi’s facility in Moyock Academy, North Carolina. The course was paid for the the US government as part of a series of exchanges between the two country’s police forces. Blackwater became known in the 2000s after hundreds of the company’s mercenaries were called in to aid the US armed forces in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The firm gained notoriety after its employees killed 17 Iraqi civilians in a massacre in Nisour Square, Baghdad, in 2007, outraging Iraqis and straining relations between the government and Washington. In 2011 the company rebranded, changing its name to Academi.
Acting Bogotá Mayor María Mercedes Maldonado (photo courtesy of Bogotá government)
Colombia - New Bogotá Mayor Appointed: President Juan Manuel Santos appointed today the new mayor of Bogotá. María Mercedes Maldonado, who is replacing deposed mayor Gustavo Petro, will head the city’s administration temporarily, until elections are called. President Santos, who made the announcement on his way to Mexico this morning, indicated that no date has been set for the election yet, and that on his return to Colombia he will meet electoral authorities to define “at what time and under which conditions we will make the call [to elections].” With regards to his appointment of Maldonado, President Santos stated that she was chosen “because she’s in the cabinet, she’s familiar with city policies, is a well-prepared person, and also women have done very well as mayors.” Maldonado, a lawyer specialised in urban studies, is the city’s current Habitat Secretary. On her appointment, former mayor Gustavo Petro commented on Twitter that: “The progressive citizen’s movement that won the elections returns to the city government. María Mercedes, ‘Human Bogotá’ is in your hands.” Petro was removed from his post by the country’s Inspector General last December, and the decision was ratified by President Santos on 19th March.
