Aug. 26 News Brief South America

Eduardo Herrera

LIMA, Peru – Judiciary confirms asylum for Bolivian former ministers: President of the Peruvian Judiciary Javier Villa has said that if the Peruvian government has already granted asylum to three Bolivian former ministers accused of “genocide” in their country, then their status is irrevocable because it has already been subjected to “political control.” The Lima Law Society stated that Bolivia’s extradition request is inadmissible because the former ministers have already been granted asylum. Bolivia requested the extradition of Jorge Torres Obleas, Mirtha Quevedo and Javier Torres, who worked under Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada’s government.

[El Comercio, EFE]

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – IDB awards multi-million loan for sanitation works: The Argentinian government has secured a US$250 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to finance sanitation works to improve the potable water and sewer systems in Buenos Aires and 12 towns in its densely populated outskirts. The funds will be passed on to the state-owned company Aguas y Saneamiento. “These works will benefit dozens of communities totaling seven million people and 2,400 jobs will be created for their construction,” stated Argentinian President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.

[Clarín, EFE]

BRASILIA, Brazil – Energy consumption rises with industrial recovery: Energy consumption in the country has increased together with the industrial recovery registered in recent months. State-owned energy researcher Empresa de Estudio Energético (EPE) reported that the differential gap with 2008 was reduced to 2.7 percent in July. Energy consumption, a key indicator for measuring industrial activity and a family’s economic health, rose to 220.2 terawatts per hour between January and July. This figure includes demand from Brazilian industry, commerce and homes.

[O Globo, EFE]

CARACAS, Venezuela – Chávez opponent requests Venezuela’s entry to Mercosur: Caracas Mayor Antonio Ledezma, a Venezuelan opposition figure, has asked Argentinian legislators to maintain their support for Venezuela’s full membership in Mercosur as a means of “controlling” President Hugo Chávez’s government. Ledezma met with a group of around 20 members of the Mercosur and Free Press commissions of the Argentinian House of Representatives. Representatives from the Front for Victory, President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner’s party, did not attend.

[El Universal, EFE]