A Year Of Progress Of Latin

2008 : A year of progress in Latin America and the Caribbean

Nidia Díaz

• THE year 2008 in Latin America and the Caribbean was marked principally by the consolidation and expansion of the various processes of social, political and economic transformation underway in the region. And it was characterized by the independent positions taken, including in defense of national sovereignty, which became evident at different points.

The regime of George W. Bush failed resoundingly in its attempts to frustrate these processes through pressure, threats, coercion, and the use of all kinds of violence and subterfuge, implementing conspiracies and plots with the complicity of their servants in the national oligarchies.

At the end of 12 months, the empire’s impotence is evident. Consequently, U.S. imperialism is harvesting its most resounding failures, which the outgoing administration must assume without wanting to, noting with displeasure the advance of democratization and attempts to find greater social justice and equity, and the fact that the plunder of natural resources and capitalism’s age-old predatory policy has been halted by new leaderships in power in several of our countries, placed there by the will of the immense majority of the electorate, as expressed at the ballot box.

In one way or another, at a slower or faster pace and always in line with the traditions, conditions and concrete situations of every Latin American and Caribbean country, the new processes of emancipation are fighting to open the way. This is not without facing the staunchest resistance from the exploiters, who will not hesitate to resort to extreme violence and make the peoples pay the highest price. What happened in the Bolivian department of Pando last September, when the opposition governor reacted to a peaceful demonstration by ordering a massacre, is evidence of that.

This progress is taking place in the midst of a profound international economic and financial crisis caused by the United States, accompanied simultaneously by an energy crisis, food crisis, abruptly higher or lower prices for energy, raw materials and food, and a widespread environmental crisis resulting from climate change and its accompanying natural disasters.

Even so, the balance of the year in this region shows results that are concretely positive and inspire hope for the future, demonstrating that confronting the empire and efforts to escape from dependence are possible, and yield benefits when progress is made in this consistent, firm and intelligent manner.

The prestige and moral authority of the nations of Latin America and the Caribbean are growing before the world’s eyes, and one example of that is the mandate of Miguel D’Escoto, former foreign minister of Nicaragua, as president of the UN General Assembly, where Washington’s criminal blockade of Cuba was once again resoundingly rejected. Meanwhile, the empire’s aggressive measures, such as the reactivation of the U.S. Navy’s 4th Fleet, are universally repudiated.

A summary of some of the most important events in the region over the year reveals the progress that has been made, gradually but surely, marking the aforementioned expansion and consolidation. This look back, which we have no doubt could include additional elements, covers all the sub-regions (South America, Central America, the Caribbean), together with specific situations in some countries in particular, and which should be mentioned in terms of giving a more complete picture:

• The creation of a United Nations of the South (UNASUR) as a mechanism of consultation and integration for all South American countries, without foreign intervention.

• Advances by the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA), with the entry of Honduras and Dominica and the approval of a common monetary zone as a preliminary step toward a common currency, with a view to achieving independence from the dollar.

• The Colombia-Ecuador conflict and action taken independently of the Rio Group, making it possible to avoid an armed conflict between the two countries in response to the violation of Ecuador’s territory by Colombian troops. It was a moment that evidenced the necessity of a mechanism free of the conditions of and dependence on the OAS or the USA.

• Cuba’s entry into the Rio Group, ratifying respect for, political authority and confidence in the Cuban Revolution and this group of nations’ independence in terms of foreign policy.

• The election of former bishop Fernando Lugo as president of Paraguay, ending 70 years of domination by the Colorado Party, including the dictatorship of Alfredo Stroessner and his participation in the criminal Operation Condor.

• Regional elections in Venezuela, confirming the United Socialist Party (PSUV) as the main political force in that country, after it obtained 5.5 million votes and the opposition lost 300,000 despite the empire’s sponsorship. The PSUV won 17 of the 22 governorships up for election and overwhelmingly won the immense majority of mayoralties.

• Municipal elections in Nicaragua, where the Sandinista Front won 105 of the 146 city councils up for election, removing important spaces on the political map of that Central American country from neoliberal right-wing forces.

• A recall referendum in Bolivia that ratified the majority support enjoyed by President Evo Morales, and broke up the conspiracy of opposition governors with the White House, thus clearing the way for the referendum that will decide on the Constitution.

• A new Constitution was passed by referendum in Ecuador.

• Generalized violence in Mexico; a record number of victims attributed to drug trafficking and organized crime, and the rise to national prominence of a giant mass movement against privatization of the oil industry.

• First Summit of the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean — without foreign participation — on integration and development, in Salvador de Bahía, Brazil, organized by President Lula Inácio da Silva as unequivocal proof of the region’s maturity in terms of finding solutions to its problems.

• 3rd Cuba-CARICOM Summit in Santiago de Cuba, as an expression of the strengthening of our country’s ties with its counterparts in the Caribbean.

• Visits by the presidents of China, Russia and Brazil (the latter twice) to Cuba, with important economic and political results.

• The strengthening of mutually beneficial relations among the Chinese, Russian and Iranian presidents and important Latin American counterparts.

• The expansion of health and education services, as part of the ALBA accords, to several countries in the region, even though they are not part of that new mechanism of integration.

The year 2009 will begin with more than a few questions concerning the new president of the United States, Barack Obama, and the implications of his mandate for Latin America and the Caribbean. The new year will test the question of whether or not Obama is capable of leading respectful, realistic policies on the region, or if he will repeat the old ways of arrogance, intimidation and plunder that have predominated in the conflictive relations between the powerful northern neighbor and the nations of Our America, up until very recently humiliated and scorned and reduced to the role of the empire’s "backyard."

Hopefully, the new White House incumbent will assume as his own policy the principle of José Martí that recommends "live with the times, and not against them." Only by recognizing that Latin America and the Caribbean are experiencing new times will he be able to articulate what is so necessary and what all aspire to: a neighborly relationship based on mutual respect and trust.

It will be a new situation for the region, one that should be followed very closely. •