Foreign Digest, Latin America: Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua and Peru

Venezuela: The United Nations’ human rights commission cites crimes against humanity committed by the Socialist dictatorship of Venezuela. Presidential elections were held. The democratic opposition did not participate in them because they were not free and fair. An opposition leader was arrested in July. Cuba: The largest protests in Cuba in 30 years occurred this summer across the island against the Communist dictatorship, the poverty caused by socialism and a lack of effective measures against the increasing contagion from Coronavirus-2019. The Communists regime and its supporters blame the U.S. embargo for the economic hardship, but the rest of the world has long traded with Cuba, while travel restrictions for Americans to Cuba had been loosened and Cuban-Americans are allowed to send remissions to family remaining on the island-prison. The protestors are specifically calling for liberty. Nicaragua: The increasingly authoritarian Marxist Sandinista regime of Nicaragua has arrested four presidential candidates and a vice presidential candidate. The Sandinistas had seized power in a coup in 1979 and ruled as a dictatorship until allowing elections after the end of the Cold War, losing them and leaving power. Their leader won elections and has violated human rights, such as the freedom of assembly, which he did violently, and limited press freedom. Peru: Shining Path Maoist terrorists committed a massacre in May.