South and Central America
Brazil’s Bolsonaro government charges journalist Glenn Greenwald with “cybercrimes”
By Bill Van Auken, 22 January 2020
The trumped-up charges against Greenwald by Bolsonaro’s fascistic government are of a piece with the global assault on free speech and democratic rights and the jailing of WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange.
Brazil’s minister of culture fired after fascist speech plagiarizing Joseph Goebbels
By Tomas Castanheira, 22 January 2020
Alvim delivered his speech flanked by a Brazilian flag and a cross and with a Wagner opera that was reportedly Hitler’s favorite playing in the background.
Venezuela’s Maduro offers Trump a “win-win” bargain
By Andrea Lobo, 21 January 2020
In an interview with the Washington Post, the Venezuelan president “suggested that a bonanza could be waiting for U.S. oil companies” if the White House ends sanctions.
Former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe linked to international drug trafficking through Sinaloa Cartel
By Julian James, 16 January 2020
The charges against Uribe expose Colombia’s “war on drugs,” like that of the US, as a smokescreen for government criminality and a pretext for violence against the population.
Bolsonaro backs Trump in war on Iran, while Workers’ Party appeals to Brazilian military
By Tomas Castanheira, 15 January 2020
Brazil’s fascistic President Jair Bolsonaro was one of the first to defend Washington’s assassination of Iranian general Qassem Suleiman.
Texas becomes the first state to refuse refugee resettlement
By Meenakshi Jagadeesan, 14 January 2020
An order issued by Trump in September precludes non-governmental and non-profit organizations from resettling refugees without the consent of state and local governments.
Fascist group carries out terrorist attack in Brazil
By Tomas Castanheira, 8 January 2020
The Bolsonaro government, which denounces every form of social protest as “terrorism”, has remained silent about the firebombing, signaling tacit support for fascist violence.
Brazilian Workers Party joins Bolsonaro in imposing austerity, repressing strikes
By Tomas Castanheira, 27 December 2019
Relying on police brutality, Brazilian state governments, led by the PT, are imposing pension “reforms” that all but prevent workers from retiring.
São Paulo Ford plant closure exposes Brazilian union as agent of capitalist “restructuring”
By Brunna Machado, 17 December 2019
The Ford plant closure follows a series of similar union-imposed defeats that have radically changed the Brazilian auto industry.
Bolivian trade union confederation enters far-right coup regime
By Andrea Lobo, 17 December 2019
Following massacres of workers and peasants and amid the continued hunting down of protest leaders and indigenous people, the COB’s decision is a criminal betrayal of the working class.
Ontario Teachers plan third one-day strike; Mexican housing agency workers strike
Workers Struggles: The Americas
17 December 2019
High school teachers across the Canadian province of Ontario are planning another partial strike December 18 while workers at Institute of the National Housing Fund for Workers in Mexico City have carried out a one-day strike.
Brazilian Workers Party backs Bolsonaro’s draconian “anti-crime” bill
By Miguel Andrade, 11 December 2019
The vote has shattered the year-long claim by Bolsonaro’s opposition that it represents some kind of democratic “resistance”.
Ontario teachers plan new work stoppage
Workers Struggles: The Americas
10 December 2019
The walkout by Ontario public high school teachers and school support staff set for December 11 follows the first province-wide teachers strike held last week.
Colombian trade unions working with President Duque to shut down national strike movement
By Evan Blake, 6 December 2019
Despite brutal police repression, tens of thousands carried out a third national strike on Wednesday in Colombia.
Pompeo vows intervention against “riots” in Washington’s “own backyard”
By Bill Van Auken, 5 December 2019
Immediately following Pompeo’s provocative speech, the US slapped new sanctions on Venezuela and Cuba, which the secretary of state accused of fomenting violence.
Coup regime in Bolivia announces “final phase of pacification”
By Andrea Lobo, 2 December 2019
Bolivian workers, peasants and youth have resisted with enormous bravery, while the MAS and trade unions have submitted to the coup.
In defiance of repression, Colombian workers mount second national strike in the past week
By Evan Blake, 28 November 2019
In the face of intense police repression that has already killed four protesters, workers and youth took to the streets to voice their hostility to the right-wing Duque administration.
Chile paralyzed by third national strike amid mounting threats of dictatorship
By Andrea Lobo, 27 November 2019
The trade unions are using intermittent strikes to wear down the social upsurge, just as they have done in betraying every major class action since the Pinochet dictatorship.
Brazil’s Bolsonaro launches chauvinistic “green and yellow” youth employment program to foster “competitiveness”
By Tomas Castanheira, 26 November 2019
While draping the program in the national colors, Bolsonaro himself has admitted that its aim is to “reduce labor costs” in order to attract investment.
Leaked audio of top Colombian officials exposes failure of US coup operation in Venezuela
By Andrea Lobo, 23 November 2019
The picture that emerges is that of a US vassal state panicking that, amid growing opposition from below, it also faces a civil war within Washington’s foreign-policy establishment.
Canada’s New Democrats and the coup in Bolivia—a reply to a reader
By Roger Jordan, 23 November 2019
With phony rhetoric about Canada’s role in promoting “democracy” and “human rights,” the NDP aids and abets Canadian imperialist intrigue, aggression and war.
999 Peru strikes
23 November 2019
Protests continue across Bolivia as the MAS submits to coup
By Andrea Lobo, 21 November 2019
The response by MAS and the trade union bureaucracy demonstrates that no section of the ruling establishment is willing to oppose US imperialism’s installation of a puppet regime.
Morales’ MAS in talks with Bolivia coup regime on how to quell unrest
By Bill Van Auken, 16 November 2019
The agreement to enter discussions came as masses of workers and peasants continue to stream into La Paz demanding the downfall of the self-proclaimed “interim president.”
Popular resistance mounts against Bolivian coup
By Andrea Lobo, 15 November 2019
Thousands of workers and peasants in Bolivia’s capital of La Paz, the neighboring district of El Alto and in Cochabamba have taken to the streets in defiance of police-military repression.
The US-backed coup in Bolivia
By Bill Van Auken, 13 November 2019
Backed by Washington, the violent coup in Bolivia has been facilitated by the political cowardice and treachery of the Morales government and its ruling MAS party.
US-backed Colombian military kills eight children in bombing, attempts cover-up
By Andrea Lobo, 11 November 2019
The brazenness of military repression to defend the highest levels of inequality in the world is the result of over a century of imperialist oppression.
Peronism returns to power in Argentina amid simmering social anger
By Andrea Lobo, 31 October 2019
Despite his empty populist demagogy, Fernández has already made clear that he will brutally impose the diktats of finance capital.
Millions march for social equality across Chile
By Eric London, 26 October 2019
The floodtide of international working class struggle rose higher as half the adult population of Chile demonstrated against inequality and state violence.
Mass protests spread to Bolivia after a disruption in electoral broadcasts
By Andrea Lobo, 25 October 2019
Workers and youth have joined mass protests across of hundreds of thousands across all the major cities, including working class areas and pro-Morales strongholds like Cochabamba.
Recriminations within Brazilian ruling classes over Trump’s OECD snub
By Miguel Andrade, 24 October 2019
Contrary to expectations, the US State Department didn’t propose Brazil for OECD membership, triggering a wave of criticism of Bolsonaro for the diplomatic failure.
Mass protests continue in defiance of military crackdown in Chile
By Andrea Lobo, 23 October 2019
The military-police crackdown on protests in Chile is only one of the most shocking expressions of the global turn toward dictatorship by governments throughout the world.
Chilean military deployed against protests for the first time since Pinochet
By Andrea Lobo, 21 October 2019
The imposition of dictatorial measures by the Chilean ruling class exposes the sham “transition to democracy” political and military set-up under the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship.
Five dead and almost 1,000 arrested as repression mounts in Ecuador
By Andrea Lobo, 12 October 2019
The Ombudsman Office of Ecuador confirmed that the repression has left 5 demonstrators killed, 554 injured, and 929 arrested. These numbers, however, conceal the brutality of the repression.
Ecuador’s president retreats from capital in face of growing mass protests
By Andrea Lobo, 9 October 2019
In the face of a continuing strike and mass indigenous mobilization, Moreno took the unprecedented step of moving his government from Quito to Guayaquil.
Brazilian unions push “green and yellow” chauvinism in education strike against austerity, political interference
By Miguel Andrade, 9 October 2019
A range of issues, from austerity measures to privatizations, have repeatedly brought students to the streets, causing panic not only in the government, but in the unions and the opposition.
President Vizcarra dissolves Congress in response to conflict within Peruvian state
By Armando Cruz, 9 October 2019
One of the main props sustaining Vizcarra’s government has been the refusal of the pseudo-left to confront his right-wing policies.
Ecuadorian government arrests hundreds and deploys military against nationwide strike
By Andrea Lobo, 5 October 2019
The Moreno government has responded to protests triggered by a massive gas price hike by imposing a national state of exception for 60 days, involving the deployment of the military against demonstrators and the suspension of democratic rights.
Brazilian GM workers speak out on US autoworkers’ strike
By a WSWS reporting team, 17 September 2019
Brazilian GM workers increasingly recognize that every issue they face is common to their class brothers in the US and internationally.
Fires consume more than 4.2 million acres of Bolivia’s forests
By Cesar Uco, 10 September 2019
A decree to expand deforestation for livestock and the agribusiness sector was a betrayal of the campaign promises made by President Evo Morales and his MAS ruling party.
100 Bolivia forest fires and Morales
10 September 2019
Colombian government renews civil war amid growing social unrest
By Julian James, 7 September 2019
At least 150 former FARC fighters and their family members have been killed since the signing of the agreement with the Colombian government.
Standard & Poor’s claims Argentina has “defaulted” on its debt
By Andrea Lobo, 31 August 2019
An Argentine banker cited by the Financial Times said they were recalling the strikes, riots and bank runs during the last default in 2001 and were "very afraid of what’s going on.”
US commander says navy ready for Venezuela intervention
By Andrea Lobo, 24 August 2019
The threat by the head of the US Southern Command came as both Trump and Maduro confirmed that US and Venezuelan officials have been holding direct talks.
Regional strike against mining project fuels divisions within Peru’s crisis-ridden government
By Armando Cruz and Cesar Uco, 22 August 2019
Thousands of people joined the strike, confronting military police, blocking the Pan-American highway and the streets of Arequipa’s capital city and shutting down a major port.
Trump calls for naval blockade of Venezuela
By Bill Van Auken, 20 August 2019
The US president’s demand for a military option reflects growing desperation in Washington over the failure of its regime-change operation.
Bolivia’s biggest mine and public health sector go on strike
By Andrea Lobo, 20 August 2019
Miners in San Cristobal, striking doctors and the entire, restive working class in Bolivia are coming into conflict with the Morales government, MAS and the trade unions.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon hails Mexican government as embodiment of “citizens’ revolution”
By Will Morrow, 20 August 2019
Mélenchon’s hailing of the AMLO government speaks volumes about what type of government he would lead, were he to win the presidential elections in 2022.
Venezuelan military court jails union official as working-class opposition grows
By Andrea Lobo, 17 August 2019
The indictment of Rubén González is part of an attempt to criminalize growing social opposition among workers and the impoverished masses.
Argentina’s stock market crashes after Macri loses pre-election poll
By Rafael Azul, 14 August 2019
The market crash shows international finance capital’s concern that the vote reflects massive social opposition to austerity regimes.
Far-right government elected in Guatemala
By Andrea Lobo, 14 August 2019
Marked by low participation and mass protests, the vote was overshadowed by the popular outrage against the “third safe country” agreement imposed by Trump.
Brazil’s Bolsonaro threatens Glenn Greenwald, ratchets up fascist rants
By Miguel Andrade, 13 August 2019
Bolsonaro is engaged in the buildup of a fascist movement based on the security forces, and feels emboldened by the wide consensus in ruling circles around his economic agenda.
Washington orders international embargo on Venezuela, threatens invasion
By Andrea Lobo, 7 August 2019
US envoy Elliott Abrams declared: “If you told George Bush Sr. in 1988 that he would invade Panama, he would have called it madness. But two or three years later, it happened.”
Argentine teachers strike, Michigan road workers walk out, Blackjewell miners protest and BC forestry strike continues
Workers Struggles: The Americas
6 August 2019
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
30 July 2019
US Secretary of State Pompeo announces “new era” of US-Latin America reaction
By Andrea Lobo, 25 July 2019
Pompeo boasted about extraditing Assange, while demanding greater spying, anti-immigrant crackdowns and alignment with the US drive against its geopolitical rivals.
24 July 2019
Trade union sells out Walmart strike in Chile
By Andrea Lobo, 19 July 2019
The SIL union unilaterally imposed an agreement which achieved none of workers’ demands.
National strike against Ecuadorian government demands Assange’s freedom
By Andrea Lobo, 17 July 2019
The protests in defense of Assange and the recent five-day strike in Ecuador demonstrate that the only social basis for his liberation and the defense democratic rights is the international working class.
Bossa Nova pioneer, songwriter and musician João Gilberto dead at 88
By Hiram Lee, 13 July 2019
Together with the composer Antônio Carlos Jobim, Gilberto pioneered a “new wave” in Brazilian popular music during the mid-to-late 1950s that had a worldwide impact.
17,000 Walmart workers strike in Chile
By Andrea Lobo, 11 July 2019
The walkout is in response to mass firings and the expansion of a “multifunctional” work regime for the remaining workers.
Costa Rican public health workers strike over pay cut, government policies; truckers block highways
Workers Struggles: the Americas
9 July 2019
Three Costa Rican public health unions began strike action July 4 against government policies while Costa Rican truckers blockaded highways over imposition of a value added tax.
Amid revelations of fascist network at Customs and Border Protection
Ocasio-Cortez, other Congress members threatened by border police
By Barry Grey, 3 July 2019
The promotion of fascist elements in the immigration agencies is being directed from the White House.
US Border Patrol agents joke about immigrant deaths in secret Facebook group with 9,500 members
By George Marlowe, 2 July 2019
A report by ProPublica revealed that Border Patrol agents used a secret Facebook group to make sadistic and violent jokes about immigrants as well as members of Congress.
Chilean unions scramble to quell mass strike movement
By Andrea Lobo, 2 July 2019
The trade union bureaucracy led by the Chilean Workers United Center and its pseudo-left apologists are working to divide and end the strike movement.
Uruguay workers in one-day national strike
Workers Struggles: The Americas
2 July 2019
A June 24 strike called by the PIT-CNT trade union federation took place in the context of a worsening economic crisis that has seen continuing attacks on workers.
House Democrats give $4.6 billion for Trump’s concentration camps
Ocasio-Cortez plays critical role in ensuring passage
By Eric London, 28 June 2019
House Democrats voted for a Senate bill that exposes the critical role of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other “progressive” Democrats in facilitating Trump’s crackdown on immigrants.
016 Profile of US attorney who defended denying children soap
28 June 2019
Ten years since the US-backed coup in Honduras
By Bill Van Auken, 28 June 2019
While Democrats posture as defenders of immigrants, Obama, the “deporter-in-chief” presided over a coup that devastated Honduras, driving its people from the country.
Striking Chilean copper miners defy police violence
By Rafael Azul, 21 June 2019
Last Tuesday, police attacked striking copper miners at the Chuquicamata mine in Chile.
Brazilian unions sabotage one-day general strike
By Miguel Andrade, 20 June 2019
After telling workers to “stay home” during the general strike, union officials spoke in favor of the reactionary pension reform Bolsonaro sent to Congress.
Ecuadorian government gives Pentagon a base in the Galapagos
By Bill Van Auken, 18 June 2019
Inviting the Pentagon to use the world-renowned environmental site as a US aircraft carrier is of a piece with the Moreno government’s betrayal of Julian Assange.
Massive blackout affects 50 million in Argentina and Uruguay
By Rafael Azul, 18 June 2019
The Argentine electrical grid is suffering from decades of neglect, despite massive subsidies to electric utilities and substantial hikes in electricity rates.
Cuba conference tailors Trotsky to the politics of bourgeois nationalism
By Bill Van Auken, 13 June 2019
A collection of pseudo-lefts and Pabloite revisionists was invited to Havana to suppress the revolutionary content of Trotskyism.
Strikes in Chile, Costa Rica and Honduras
Teachers struggles erupt across Latin America
By Andrea Lobo, 8 June 2019
The response by the ruling class to the resistance led by teachers has been the same everywhere: the claim that there is “no money” and police state repression.
010 Latin America teachers strike
7 June 2019
Fifty-five inmates killed in Brazilian prisons
By Gabriel Lemos, 1 June 2019
This escalating slaughter has been caused by a 300 percent increase in the prison population in the last two decades.
Venezuela tensions mount after arrest of coup leader
By Bill Van Auken, 10 May 2019
Washington continues to threaten military intervention in the oil-rich South American country.
The defense of Venezuela and the struggle for socialism in Latin America
By Bill Van Auken, 10 May 2019
We are publishing here the text of the speech to the 2019 International May Day Online Rally delivered by Bill Van Auken.
Panama election a distorted expression of growing opposition to austerity
By Andrea Lobo, 8 May 2019
The election came after a year dominated by strikes, including by teachers, construction workers and a general strike against an electricity rate hike.
In wake of Venezuela coup fiasco, US military threats mount
By Bill Van Auken, 7 May 2019
Both Secretary of State Pompeo and US puppet Juan Guaidó say that “military options” are under consideration.
In wake of Venezuela coup fiasco, US military threats mount
By Bill Van Auken, 7 May 2019
Both Secretary of State Pompeo and US puppet Juan Guaidó say that “military options” are under consideration.
German government backs attempted right-wing coup in Venezuela
By Johannes Stern, 3 May 2019
In a joint press release with the far-right Brazilian government, the German Foreign Ministry gave its unconditional backing to the criminal attempted coup in Venezuela.
Brazilian unions defend reactionary pension “reform” at May Day rally
By Miguel Andrade, 3 May 2019
With economic figures showing no sign of economic recovery, the PT and the unions are working to quell any working class movement against Bolsonaro.
Media lies in service of war for regime change in Venezuela
By Bill Van Auken, 3 May 2019
As top Trump administration officials make increasingly explicit military threats, the corporate media acts as a propaganda service for imperialist intervention.
Guaidó launches abortive military coup in Venezuela
By Bill Van Auken, 1 May 2019
By late Tuesday, there was little indication that Guaidó’s call had provoked any significant uprising within Venezuela’s military.
Former President Garcia’s suicide exposes desperate crisis of Peruvian bourgeoisie
By Armando Cruz and Cesar Uco, 27 April 2019
Top Odebrecht officials told Peruvian prosecutors that the company had bribed presidents, ministers and potential presidential candidates for nearly two decades.
US imperialism resurrects the Monroe Doctrine
By Bill Van Auken, 24 April 2019
The repeated invocation of the nearly two-century-old canon of US imperialist policy constitutes a warning that Washington is preparing for intensified military intervention in the region.
Protests force American Museum of Natural History to cancel event with Brazil’s Bolsonaro
By Miguel Andrade, 20 April 2019
In face of fierce popular reaction, the ruling elites in New York have been forced to disassociate themselves from the fascistic Brazilian president.
Conflict continues over Peruvian copper mine as peasant blockade is lifted
By Cesar Uco and Armando Cruz, 20 April 2019
The Peruvian government gave in to demands of 1,200 peasants of Fuerabamba who suspended the road blockade that for 66 days paralyzed export of copper concentrate to China
Ecuadorian police repress mass march demanding Julian Assange’s freedom
By Bill Van Auken, 18 April 2019
Called under the slogan “not one less right,” the march brought thousands into the streets of Quito where they confronted mounted police, dogs and tear gas.
Pentagon ordered to draft military plans to counter Russia and China in Venezuela
By Bill Van Auken, 17 April 2019
The report of active planning for US military intervention followed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s provocative visit to the Venezuelan-Colombian border on Sunday.
The reactionary role of national opportunist politics in Latin America
WSWS rejects invitation to conference of political bankrupts in Buenos Aires
By Bill Van Auken, 13 April 2019
The conference in Buenos Aires has been called to found “a new left” with “no strings attached and no constraints of any ‘holy scriptures.’”
Netanyahu embraces Brazil’s Bolsonaro during Israel visit
By Jean Shaoul, 6 April 2019
Under Netanyahu, Israel has become a pole of attraction for right-wing ideologues, ultra-nationalists and neo-fascists the world over.
New York Times laments stalled Venezuelan coup
By Bill Van Auken, 5 April 2019
The Times has a filthy record of supporting US wars for regime change and right-wing coups across the planet.
Eight miners die from toxic gases in Peru’s northern highlands
By Cesar Uco, 3 April 2019
The deaths of eight miners are the result of the ruthless drive for profits by the owners of informal mines in Peru.
Emboldened by Trump, Brazil’s Bolsonaro orders military to celebrate 1964 coup
By Miguel Andrade, 29 March 2019
Fresh from his White House reception, Bolsonaro’s fascist rhetoric expresses a consensus within wide layers of the ruling class that the military is the only force that can rule Brazil.
Tensions rise between US, Russia and China over Venezuelan coup
By Bill Van Auken, 28 March 2019
The arrival of a relative handful of Russian military personnel this week triggered a flurry of denunciations from Trump administration officials.
Officials, media call for school militarization, censorship after mass shooting in Brazilian school
By Miguel Andrade, 21 March 2019
The tragic school shooting has exposed the Brazilian establishment’s indifference to the social distress engulfing wide layers of the population.
São Paulo teachers’ union shuts down one-month strike
By our reporters, 15 March 2019
The union called an end to the strike after a clear majority of teachers voted to continue it.
Follow the WSWS