America's Insider articles from May 2001

America's Insider archives from May 2001

Fox embarrassed by EZLN rejection of indigenous rights law.(Mexican president Vicente Fox, Zapatista National Liberation Army)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2001... MEXICO CITY -- Passage of an indian rights law was supposed to pave the way for peace talks between the government and the Zapatistas. Instead, congressional approval has led to a suspension of contacts between the two parties and an...

Ecuador fends off disaster as Congress fails to block tax reforms.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 3, 2001... QUITO -- The government has beaten back an attempt to defeat its tax reform policies and has pushed through a tax increase demanded by the international financial community. Despite the fact that opponents of a measure to boost the value...

Social security reform gets good reviews but does little to address informal employment.(Venezuela)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 3, 2001... CARACAS -- The government plans to move forward with a wide-ranging overhaul of social security which will fundamentally change the nation's pension system. The Presidential Commission for the Reform of Social Security, headed by Attorney...

IMF accord assures financing, but budget cuts are bigger hurdle.(Argentina)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 3, 2001... BUENOS AIRES--Economy Minister Domingo Cavallo and IMF officials agree that a deal to revise Argentina's adjustment program will ensure the country has the resources to service its debts through the end of the year and into 2001. But...

Financial reforms offer cosmetic changes, but fail to win over local businesses.(Chilean economy)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 3, 2001... SANTIAGO -- The Chilean government's long-awaited decision to deregulate domestic capital markets has generated positive reaction from international investors but has failed to convince local analysts that the government is doing enough to...

Occidental problems will increase if oil well is successful.(Colombia)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 3, 2001... CUBARA -- Opposition to a crucial oil exploration venture is mounting as Occidental Petroleum nears completion of the $40 million Gibraltar-1 well on the Samore Block. At stake may be the future of one of the country's major foreign investors...

Downing of missionary plane in Peru unlikely to lead to policy shift.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2001... WASHINGTON - The mistaken downing of a plane carrying US missionaries by the Peruvian Air Force generated anger in Washington, but is unlikely to lead to any changes in the US drug war. The incident occurred April 20 when Peruvian Air Force...

Economic package passes.(Bolivia)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2001... LA PAZ -- Congress has approved a package of reforms designed to reactivate the economy. One of the primary measures was the creation of an Economic Reactivation Fund. The money from the fund will be channeled by the government through banks...

Petrobras to buy Enron stakes.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 3, 2001... BRASILIA -- Brazilian state oil company Petrobras signed a deal with US firm Enron to buy Enron's 25.38% stake in Cia Distribuidora de Gas do Rio de Janeiro (CEG) and its 33.75% stake in CEG-Rio, which services Rio de Janeiro state. The deal is...

Health sector productivity falls.(Chile)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 3, 2001... SANTIAGO -- A new study shows that despite growing investment, productivity in the health care sector fell 55% over the last decade. Economists attribute this decrease to increased absenteeism among employees, uncompleted workdays, an excess of...

Economy may not reach targets.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2001... BOGOTA -- The Central Bank says the Colombian economy may not grow enough to meet the IMF target of 3.8% this year. A slowdown in the US economy, as well as guerrilla attacks on the Cano Limon pipeline, account for the fact that the growth rate...

Paternity tests were botched.(Colombia tests in 1995-1998)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2001... BOGOTA -- A Spanish team of researchers studied paternity tests carried out in Colombia from 1995 to 1998 and found that, while the results were reported as being 99% certain, the real level of certainty was between 600/0 and 90%. The tests...

Tax collection improves.(collection of value added tax increases almost 80%)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2001... QUITO -- The Internal Revenue Service announced this week that collection of the value added tax (VAT) increased 78.7% in the first three months of 2001 compared to the same period last year, and overall tax collection was up 570/0 for the same...

Fox removes Pemex board.(Brief Article)
May 3, 2001... MEXICO CITY- President Vicente Fox removed an executive-laden board of directors that he appointed to oversee state oil company Pemex just two months ago. In doing so, Fox seemed to bow to the will of Congress, which had asked him to reconsider...

Pemex paralyzed by absent council.(Petroleos Mexicanos)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2001... MEXICO CITY -- A lack of meetings for the Administrative Council of Pemex has stagnated the state oil company. The lack of work by council members has hindered progress towards modernization for the oil giant. This could be devastating for the...

Fox supports drug legalization.(Mexico president Vicente Fox says changes necessary in drug policy)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2001... MEXICO CITY-- In a recent interview, president Vicente Fox told reporters that he believed legalization was the only way to win the "war without mercy" he promised to wage on drugs earlier this year. Fox's is perhaps the loudest, but by no...

Congress may consider tax reform.(Mexico)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2001... MEXICO CITY -- President Vicente Fox is holding out hope Congress will reconvene in an extraordinary session this summer to address a key tax reform proposal. Regular sessions ended Monday and are not scheduled to resume until September. Deputy...

Laws make firings more expensive.(new Peru labor laws)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2001... LIMA -- New labor laws passed by Congress this week make firings for reasons of belonging to a union, representing a union, pregnancy, medical leave, or discrimination on the basis of sex, race, religion, opinion, or language illegal. The laws...

Peru appoints new privatization chief.(Efrain Gonzales)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2001... LIMA -- Efrain Gonzales, a researcher and consultant on investment problems at the Peruvian Studies Institute, as been appointed to replace Alberto Pasco-Font as the country's privatization chief. In a letter to the media Pasco-Font denied...

Venezuela signs gas agreements.
May 3, 2001... CARACAS -- Worried by forecasts of a gas supply deficit within the next three years, the Venezuelan government has signed agreements with three foreign oil firms to encourage natural gas production at marginal oil fields. Agreements were signed...

Colombian guerrillas not "enemies".(to Venezuela)(Brief Article)
May 3, 2001... CARACAS -- At the start of a Bilateral Frontier Commission meeting between Colombian and Venezuelan officials, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said that he only considers Colombian guerrillas enemies when "they attack Venezuelans or Venezuelan...

US writing Pastrana off; will put more emphasis on military assistance: Failure of peace process and rise in strength of right-wing militias concern Washington.(Colombia Pres Andres Pastrana)
May 10, 2001... WASHINGTON -- The US government is increasingly coming to view the Colombia peace process as moribund and President Andres Pastrana as a lame duck. With the peace process in tatters and Pastrana's credibility severely damaged by his...

Possible state of emergency would target interest rates in Venezuela.
May 10, 2001... CARACAS -- Reports that President Hugo Chavez may declare a state of emergency to fight corruption and crime are raising concerns it may be a pretext for intervention in financial markets and moves against political enemies. Defense...

Scandals proving to be major distraction for government.(Brief Article)
May 10, 2001... SAO PAULO -- An increasingly bitter corruption scandal may sideline efforts to enact economic reforms and further erode the cohesiveness of the ruling coalition. Recent allegations of corruption against members of the three strongest...

Cavallo efforts fail to win over investors as US loses patience.(Argentina's economy minister Domingo Cavallo)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2001... BUENOS AIRES -- After the initial euphoria following the naming of Domingo Cavallo as Economy Minister a month ago, investors and ordinary Argentine citizens are becoming critical of his economic plan. This comes amid indications that the...

Congress provokes constitutional fight over tax reform.(dispute over resolution to overturn value-added tax measure in Ecuador)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2001... QUITO -- Just a week after allowing an increase in the value-added tax to pass, Congress has provoked a clash with the president by approving a resolution overturning the measure. Last week, Congress failed to override a presidential veto...

Inclusion of euro may be delayed.(Argentina monetary policy)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2001... BUENOS AIRES -- After a visit from several Wall Street economists last week, President Fernando de la Rua said he would consider delaying Economy Minister Domingo Cavallo's plan to include the euro in a basket of currencies to which the...

Debts may be guaranteed with taxes.(Argentina's proposal to meet foreign debt)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2001... BUENOS AIRES -- Economy Minister Domingo Cavallo has told opposition politicians that he is prepared to support legislation that would allow the government to pledge tax revenues in order to guarantee Argentina's foreign debt. The measure...

Lagos emphasizes ties with Bolivia.(Chile Pres Ricardo Lagos appoints counsel general to Bolivia to improve relations)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2001... SANTIAGO -- President Ricardo Lagos has named former Defense Minister Edmundo Perez Yoma as Consul General to Bolivia, an indication Lagos intended to support efforts to improve relations between the two countries. Yoma is one of the main...

Drug fumigation plan rejected.(Colombia)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2001... BOGOTA -- The Ministry of the Environment has rejected an environmental management plan submitted by the National Narcotics Directorate (DNE). The agency instead has decided to contract an outside consultant to evaluate the environmental impact...

State properties are under-insured.(Ecuador)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2001... QUITO -- Government ministries and state companies often are forced to under-insure their assets because of budget constraints. The insurance often covers only 30% of the real value of state property. One of the major uninsured companies is...

Slow growth provokes spending cut.(smaller budget planned)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2001... MEXICO CITY -- Mexico's Finance Ministry plans to cut spending by $367 million, or 0.25%, the amount by which income fell short of estimates during the first quarter of the year. The cuts are intended to keep the fiscal deficit below 0.65% of...

Fox cuts growth targets.(economic growth expected to be lower, says Vicente Fox, president of Mexico)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2001... MEXICO CITY -- President Vicente Fox said that economic growth this year will be significantly below government forecasts of 4.5%. Government officials say growth will be about 3% this year, in line with recent revisions issued by the Bunco de...

Government officials named to Pemex board.(Petroleos Mexicanos)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2001... MEXICO CITY -- Four government officials have been named to the board of directors of state oil company Pemex, replacing the four controversial business executives who had filled the seats. Those appointed include Economy Secretary Luis Ernesto...

Tax reform on hold until September.(congress refuses to have special session to discuss reforms)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2001... MEXICO CITY -- Legislators have rejected a bid by the government to hold a special session this summer to consider tax reform legislation. Law makers said they needed more time to consider the legislation, which would apply the value added tax...

New market opens.(Peru Stock Exchange offers new services to small and medium businesses)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2001... LIMA -- The Lima Stock Exchange (BVL) opened the new Market for the Emission of Non-Massive Instruments (Mienm) this week. The Mienm will facilitate the trading of small-denomination instruments such as checks, letters of credit, and IOUs. The...

Fujimori paid Montesinos to leave.(former President Alberto Fujimori, Vladimiro Montesinos, public official accused of corruption)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2001... LIMA -- Former President Alberto Fujimori reportedly paid Vladimiro Montesinos $15 million to leave the country after a video showing the disgraced former spy chief bribing a member of Congress. Fujimori eventually was forced to flee as a...

Investigation into turbines begins.(electrical facilities mismanagement investigated in Venezuela)(Brief Article)
May 10, 2001... CARACAS -- A subcommittee of the National Assembly has opened an investigation into the management of the huge Guri hydro-electric facility following reports that a number of turbines are damaged. Investigators are looking into charges that an...

Mixed signals, weakness in Congress undercut push for FTAA.(trade policy, United States)(Brief Article)
May 17, 2001... WASHINGTON -- Mixed signals from the Bush administration are muddling the effort to negotiate a hemisphere-wide free trade agreement by 2005. Just weeks after broad smiles and confident statements in Quebec that the effort to negotiate the...

Brazil trying to convince Bolivia to cut natural gas prices.(energy crisis, Brazil)(Brief Article)
May 17, 2001... LA PAZ -- Brazilian officials are scrambling to restructure a gas supply contract with Bolivia in a desperate bid to deal with a growing energy crisis. However, local producers are resisting efforts to renegotiate natural gas prices. The...

Gallardo tries to woo IMF despite uncertainty on tax reform.(Ecuador)(Brief Article)
May 17, 2001... QUITO -- Finance Minister Jorge Gallardo traveled to the United States to meet with IMF officials to seek fund approval for the government's economic plan even as Congress sought to undo key elements. Gallardo hopes an accord will prompt...

Plan to narrow interest rate spreads could make things worse.(economy, Venezuela)(Brief Article)
May 17, 2001... CARACAS -- The Central Bank (BCV) has launched a new investment instrument intended to reduce liquidity and control inflation. The so-called repossession contracts (repos for short) are based on standard public debt (DPN) bonds but are less...

Rebel attacks, US slowdown and lack of reform hitting Colombian economy.(Brief Article)
May 17, 2001... BOGOTA -- An unprecedented wave of rebel attacks on energy infrastructure is denting Colombia's chances of meeting ambitious economic growth targets set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for 2001. The Central Bank sounded the alarm...

Fox struggles to get message out as press and elite turn on him.(politics, Mexico)(Brief Article)
May 17, 2001... MEXICO CITY -- Despite the fact that President Vicente Fox has only been in office for six months and took power amid optimistic expectations and strong approval ratings, the honeymoon appears to be over. Opinion polls show that Fox's...

It's no Buddhist temple but Mexico pulls out of embassy fundraiser.
May 17, 2001... WASHINGTON -- A Republican Party fundraiser that was scheduled to be held at a Mexican Embassy facility was abruptly canceled after a campaign finance watchdog group criticized Republicans for trying to use foreign officials to raise money for...

Unions to strike.(Buenos Aires)(Brief Article)
May 17, 2001... BUENOS AIRES- Labor leader Hugo Moyano has called for a day of demonstrations on May 31 and is threatening to call a general strike to protest government economic policies. He also has said that the government is losing the confidence of the...

Decree allows debt swap to advance.(Buenos Aires)
May 17, 2001... BUENOS AIRES -- President Fernando de la RUB has signed a decree allowing the government to issue $29 billion in new debt. The decree paves the way for the government's highly-touted - but still unclear - plan to swap $20-$25 billion in old...

Phone service expands.(La Paz, Bolivia)
May 17, 2001... LA PAZ -- The number of Bolivian with a telephone has risen from 3 per 100 to 13 per 100 since 1995, according to a new study. Cellular service in particular has seen an explosion in users. In 1991, there were 291 cellular phone customers,...

Tax evasion package passes.(Santiago, Chile)(Brief Article)
May 17, 2001... SANTIAGO -- Congress has approved a package of measures intended to crack down on tax evasion. The proposal is one of the key economic measures backed by President Ricardo Lagos. The new law is expected to raise between $50 million and $100...

Paramilitaries kidnap more than 200.(Bogota, Colombia)
May 17, 2001... BOGOTA -- Right-wing paramilitary forces abducted more than 200 agricultural workers in Casanare province. The men were released less than 24 hours later amid confusion about the motive behind the abduction, the largest in Colombian history....

US to fund dissidents.(Brief Article)
May 17, 2001... WASHINGTON -- In a move likely to further aggravate Cuban leader Fidel Castro, US Senators Jesse Helms (R-NC) and Joseph Leiberman (D-CT) have introduced a bill that would provide $100 million in assistance over four years to dissident groups...

Environmentalists target pipeline.(Brief Article)
May 17, 2001... QUITO -- A group of environmentalists has asked the Energy Ministry to reject an application for an environmental license for a proposed heavy oil pipeline. The line is supposed to allow the country to nearly double oil exports. However, it is...

Education strike threatened.(Mexico City)
May 17, 2001... MEXICO CITY -- Teachers unions rejected a government pay offer of an 11% raise and held to their demand for a 100% increase. Teachers unions from 21 states said they would strike unless the government improves its offer substantially. The...

Construction sector loses jobs.(construction industry in Mexico)(Brief Article)
May 17, 2001... MEXICO CITY -- The construction sector shed 22,000 jobs during the first quarter compared to the same period the year before. Analysts say the loss of jobs tracks the 3.8% decline in the construction industry in general during the first three...

Electoral council bombed.(in Lima, Peru)(Brief Article)
May 17, 2001... LIMA -- A small bomb placed outside of the national elections board injured seven people. A note found at the scene clamed the Sendero Luminoso guerrillas group was responsible. However, a spokeswomen for the group denied responsibility. There...

Church hits Chavez efforts.(Catholic Church of Venezuela criticizes Hugo Chavez)(Brief Article)
May 17, 2001... CARACAS -- The Catholic Church of Venezuela criticized President Hugo Chavez for not doing enough to alleviate poverty. It also attacked what it said were his efforts to amass too much power. It added that he was ignoring the opinions of rival...

MAS split over support for Chavez.(Movimiento al Socialismo party in disagreement over support of Pres Hugo Chavez)(Brief Article)
May 17, 2001... CARACAS -- The Movimiento al Socialismo party has split over the question of support for the government. The party had supported Chavez on most questions but recently pulled out of a coalition with the ruling Fifth Republic Party after Chavez...

Accusations proliferate as some polls show Garcia gaining on Toledo : Debate on issues takes a back seat in final days as campaign focuses on personalities.(Peruvian presidential candidates Alejandro Toledo and Alan Garcia Perez)(Brief Article)
May 24, 2001... LIMA--Guerrilla war has broken out again in Peru. But this time it is between the two candidates for the presidency - last year's standard-bearer for democracy Alejandro Toledo and controversial former head of state Alan Garcia. With only...

Senator's defection could doom Bush's FTAA initiative.(Sen. James Jeffords; Free Trade Area of the Americas)(Brief Article)
May 24, 2001... WASHINGTON--With a Republican senator abandoning the Republican party - leaving Democrats in charge of the Senate for the first time since 1994 - some of President Bush's priorities in Latin America will likely disappear in a cloud of political...

Coup rumors, attacks on Chavez cause jitters in Venezuela.(Hugo Chavez)(Brief Article)
May 24, 2001... CARACAS--The government has reacted with outrage to an advertisement run in The Washington Times that accuses the administration of President Chavez of incompetence and corruption and seeks his resignation. The ad - placed by a hitherto...

Energy crisis begins to take toll on Brazil's government, economy.(Brief Article)
May 24, 2001... SAO PAULO--President Fernando Henrique Cardoso and other ministers are mounting an aggressive public relations effort to convince the population that they are doing everything possible to avoid power shortages. However, statements from his own...

Argentine government says financial problems are abating but troubles remain.(Brief Article)
May 24, 2001... BUENOS AIRES--Government officials say they believe the worst of Argentina's political and economic crisis has passed. After months of bad news, government officials say the latest economic data indicates that the situation is stabilizing...

Emigrant mayoral candidate highlights political shifts in Mexico.(Andres Bermudez runs for mayor of Jerez, Mexico)(Brief Article)
May 24, 2001... JEREZ--As newlyweds, Andres Bermudez and his wife in 1974 snuck across the California border in the trunk of a car. Almost 30 years later, Bermudez has returned to his hometown of Jerez hoping to run it. Bermudez is a 51-year-old tomato...

Government decides to bail out Aerolinas Argentinas.(Brief Article)
May 24, 2001... BUENOS AIRES--The government plans to inject $24 million into troubled former national airline Aerolinas Argentinas to pay back salaries and prevent the company from slipping into bankruptcy. The company has had problems for years but they...

CESP sale faces delays.(Sao Paulo state power company CESP Parana)(Brief Article)
May 24, 2001... SAO PAULO--Brazil's growing power crisis could prompt further delays in the sale of Sao Paulo state power company CESP Parana. The sale was delayed late last week until June to give investors more time to digest information about the crisis and...

Central bank head admits GDP growth may be slow.(Chile)(Brief Article)
May 24, 2001... SANTIAGO--Only days after revising the government's forecast for growth in GDP this year to 4.3%, Central Bank President Carlos Massad acknowledged that the actual level of growth for this year could be even lower. He said that a slowing US...

Colombia to try debt swap.(Brief Article)
May 24, 2001... BOGOTA--Taking a page out of the Argentine play book, the Colombian government has announced it plans to restructure between $1 billion and $1.3 billion in domestic debts through a debt swap. The government plans to issue new bonds maturing in...

Political reform dies.(proposal to reform Colombia's electoral system fails)(Brief Article)
May 24, 2001... BOGOTA--A government proposal to reform Colombia's electoral system was shot down in the Senate. The proposal would have set minimum requirements for voting levels for political parties to remain eligible for elections and changed the way in...

New oil well begins production.(Cuba)(Brief Article)
May 24, 2001... HAVANA--Canadian company Pebercan has announced that its Canasi 3 well has discovered oil and is expected to produce 2,500 barrels of oil when it enters commercial production shortly. Production from Block 7 in north central Cuba is expected to...

Bonds approved for bank bailout.(Ecuador)(Brief Article)
May 24, 2001... QUITO--The government has approved a plan to issue $300 million in bonds to recapitalize the failed Filanbanco bank. Dutch banking group ING Barings is overseeing the recovery of the bank. The bank eventually is supposed to repay the government...

World Bank supports tax reform.(Mexico)(Brief Article)
May 24, 2001... MEXICO CITY--In a move that could backfire, the World Bank is supporting a government proposal to apply the value added tax to food and medicine and to reform income tax rates. The bank has said it supports the measures as part of what it calls...

Interest rates fall on monetary easing by Banco de Mexico.(Mexico)(Brief Article)
May 24, 2001... MEXICO CITY--Interest rates fell by more than 2% in one day after the Banco de Mexico eased its monetary policy in a bid to maintain growth. Treasury bill rates and local interest rates all fell quickly after the Banco de Mexico announced it...

Venezuela seeks Mercosur membership.(trade, Latin America)(Brief Article)
May 24, 2001... CARACAS--Venezuela has filed a formal request for associate membership in the Mercosur trading block. Membership would give the country the same status as Chile and Bolivia. However, it would have little affect on trade among the member...

Steel strike ends.(steel workers to get higher wages in Venezuela)(Abstract)
May 24, 2001... CARACAS--After 21 days of acrimonious protests, workers at steel maker Sidor agreed to return to work in exchange for bonus and higher wages. The strike, which cost Sidor tens of millions of dollars in lost revenue and hurt hundreds of other...

Killing causes concern about infiltration of security forces by paramilitaries.(pilot murdered before he could testify against top paramilitary commander, Colombia)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2001... BOGOTA -- The assassination while in police custody of a crucial witness against paramilitary leader Carlos Castano has raised fears that right-wing groups have penetrated the most sensitive areas of the state security forces. Carlos...

Garcia may be surging as Peruvian campaign enters final hours.(Alan Garcia, presidential candidate, closing the gap in the polls)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2001... LIMA -- No matter how Sunday's presidential election turns out, there will be some red faces in Peru on Monday morning. Reports of a last minute surge by former president Alan Garcia have thrown the race into confusion and put Peru's two most...

Chavez maneuvers toward declaration of state of emergency.(Hugo Chavez, president of Venezuela)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2001... CARACAS -- Despite protests from some political allies and a chorus of statements from opposition parties that it is not necessary, the government continues to discuss the declaration of a state of emergency. Although Congress has voted to...

Disease outbreak causes split between state and Brasilia.(outbreak of foot and mouth disease puts the meat industry in jeopardy, Brazil)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2001... SAO PAULO -- A decision by the government to order a large-scale culling of cattle in southern Brazil to try to control an outbreak of foot and mouth disease could touch off a conflict with regional administrations. The highly contagious...

Growth in Bolivian pension sector expected to slow.(Brief Article)
May 31, 2001... LA PAZ -- The sale by Spain's BBVA of one of two Bolivian pension fund concessions to Anglo-Swiss company Zurich Financial Services was forced by the merger Banco Bilbao Viscaya and Banco Argentaria. However, it also highlights BBVA's efforts...

Figures indicate moderate economic recovery as Argentine debt swap nears.(change to new bonds with lower rates expected to have an influence in the economy)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2001... BUENOS AIRES -- As investors prepare to swap old bonds maturing over the next few years for new obligations with longer maturities and higher interest rates next month, there are growing signs the economy is starting to pull out of a three-year...

Fox to press for opening of gas sector to private investment.(Vicente Fox, President of Mexico)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2001... MEXICO CITY--President Vicente Fox plans to introduce legislation that would allow private investment into the natural gas sector. Fox has talked about similar proposals in the past but it is only now that the details of the proposal are...

Resigning senator blasts government.(Antonio Carlos Magalhaes, forced to resign for revealing secrecy of impeachment)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2001... BRASILIA -- Sen. Antonio Carlos Magalhaes resigned in the wake of accusations he and another senator violated the secrecy of an impeachment vote last year. Magalhaes stepped down after it became apparent he would be expelled, which would have...

Fascism complicates travel.(Chilean government moves to avoid arrest of his traveling diplomats)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2001... SANTIAGO -- The government was forced to seek guarantees of immunity for 20 people traveling to Spain as part of a delegation accompanying President Ricardo Lagos. The three-day visit has been accompanied by trepidation that Spanish authorities...

Warlord reportedly resigns.(Carlos Castano, leader of the Self Defense Forces of Colombia)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2001... BOGOTA -- There is a confusing report that the leader of the country's right-wing paramilitary movement, Carlos Castano, has submitted his resignation as head of the Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUG), the paramilitary organization he...