The Venezuelan government on July 13 handed over three accused Colombian drug traffickers to agents of the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Interior Minister Tarek El Aissami said that handing over the suspects was further evidence of the "undeniable results" in the war on drugs achieved by the government of President Hugo Chávez—efforts Washington labels insufficient. "In accordance with international agreements, we are deporting three Colombian citizens wanted by Interpol for drug trafficking and other crimes," El Aissami said at Caracas' Maiquetia International Airport.

Twenty-three Mapuche indigenous comuneros being held at two prisons in Chile have been on hunger strike since July 11. The prisoners are demanding the dismissal of the cases brought against them in military courts, the release of all "Mapuche political prisoners," and the end to the application of a Pinochet-era anti-terrorism law against them.

Panama's National Front for the Defense of Social Rights (FRENADESO) called an end to the 24-hour national strike that shut down construction work and schools with a claimed 95% effectiveness July 13. The strike, called in protest of a new anti-union law, included a march estimated at 1,000 in Panama City. The general secretary of the CONUSI labor federation, Gabriel Castillo, called the strike a "success," while business leaders said that it did not affect most sectors of the economy.

The US military is preparing to hand over control of its last remaining detention center in Iraq, with Baghdad authorities to take charge of 1,600 of the 1,800 detainees at Camp Cropper, near the capital's airport. The US military has been asked to hold the remainder, some of them alleged members of al-Qaeda in Iraq. Earlier this week, 26 former members of Saddam Hussein's regime, including his deputy Tariq Aziz, were transferred.

Israel's Knesset on July 13 voted to revoke parliamentary privileges from Arab MK Hanin Zuabi (Balad) due to her participation in the Gaza aid flotilla that was attacked by the Israeli military in May. Thirty-four lawmakers voted to strip Zuabi's privileges and 16 voted against, after heated debate. Zuabi responded to the vote by saying, "It's not surprising that a country that strips the fundamental rights of its Arab citizens would revoke the privileges of a Knesset member who loyally represents her electorate."

Illegal mahogany loggers are plundering uncontacted indigenous peoples' land in the depths of the Peruvian Amazon, according to a new report by the Upper Amazon Conservancy (UAC). The report says the logging "provides evidence that Peru is failing to uphold the environmental and forestry obligations of its 2009 Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US" because "more than 80% of Peru’s mahogany [is] exported to the United States."

Former FARC guerilla hostage Ingrid Betancourt has asked for compensation from the Colombian government, alleging that her 2002 kidnapping resulted from state negligence. On July 9, the Colombian government announced that Betancourt had initiated legal action seeking $7 million in damages. "The state gravely failed in its duty in allowing a presidential candidate to travel in this part of the country without proper protection," the court documents say, according to media reports.

Costa Rica has granted the US military a six-month window to bring 7,000 Marines, five planes and 46 warships into its territory to help intercept north-bound narcotics. The permission, granted by a 31-8 vote of the Legislative Assembly on July 2, allows the US to use the country's territory through Dec. 31. Some legislators voiced concern about the authorization, saying it gives the US a "blank check" to use the nation's territory and threatens its sovereignty. Public Security Minister José María Tijerino said specific requests to dock US military ships must be submitted one month in advance. (Tico Times, July 5)