LA Quick Hits: Uribe's Problem, Rafting Still, Drug War, Evo War, You Can See Marti, Hugo the Socialist and More

• A para leader is set to testify today in Colombian court. The problem for Uribe is that the more that comes out on this the deeper his gov't finds itself mired in scandal - political associates have been implicated.
• Rafts are still the transportation of choice for Cubans seeking to come to the US. Unfortunately Cuba is right (sort of) in stating that wet foot/dry foot encourages potential immigrants to take the chance. Of course what really encourages people to leave is a repressive regime and a country with no prospects or opportunity.
• The operation in Michoacan continues. Thus far the gov't is reporting the arrest of 55 drug traffickers, the destruction of 6 tons of harvested pot and the destruction of 600 acres of marijuana plants. The Mex gov't has said it will use all the power at its disposal to nail traffickers. (en esp.)
• The last American hunter kidnapped by the Zetas near the border was released yesterday.
• Oscar Corral is still at it. Today he touches on the cronyism afoot at TV/Radio Marti. Among the issues explored is the hiring of individuals with no broadcast experience to six figure jobs. One of these is the politically connected and incredibly annoying Luis Zuniga. I always thought it was illegal but apparently TV/Radio Marti will be broadcasting locally in S. Florida in an attempt to use these signals to reach Cuba. I actually always thought that it was a stupid law to restrict VoA and other gov't programs from running but the timing of this latest move seems just a tad politically motivated.
• Some of Bolivia's governors are still fighting with Evo. (en esp.) Needless to say Santa Cruz is in the middle of all this. Morales cried that "the oligarchy will never accept an indian government." (en esp.)
• Ecuador isn't sending it's ambassador back to Bogota (en esp.) until Colombia stops fumigating on the border.
• Chavez has promised to shake up his cabinet, again. (en esp.) In the Javier Corrales' Foreign Policy piece that I linked to previously. He mentioned cabinet shake-ups and instability as part of the Chavez method of holding onto power.
• The Fifth Republic Movement, the Hugo vehicle has dissolved to give way to the Socialist Party. (en esp.)
• Alan Garcia wants the death penalty back.
• The plan to raise taxes on sodas and cigarettes (en esp.) by 5% passed in the Mexican Chamber of Deputies.