LA Quick Hits:"Paras" Aren't Talking, Mexico Corrupt?, Calderon Swings Left?,Still Hungry in Bolivia, Lula Gets Love and More

• The 59 Colombian paramilitary leaders still locked up in a maximum security prison are still upset about the switch to their new facilities. Being exiled from their country club like prisons has upset them to the point of breaking peace talks with the Uribe govt. HoustonChron notes that Colombian officials are shrugging it off, the "paras" have already demobilized and disarmed and their leaders are in jail.
  
• Transparency International has put out its annual report and to no ones surprise the developing world is rife with corruption. Mexicans said that their system was corrupt. (en esp.) 43% said the government does not do enough to combat it and the authorities and political parties are the most corrupt.
• NYT celebrates Calderon's moves to appease the left - austerity program, slashing salaries by 10% and announcing efforts to help the poor. It's noted that this is different than his pro-business rhetoric before the elections. What's so anti-business about more effective use of government money?
• Nonetheless there is no honeymoon for Calderon. Meanwhile the PRD has finally expressed an interest in talking...about Oaxaca only. (en esp.) This despite the fact that Calderon is not recognized by the PRD as the Prez.
  
• More dead cops in Mexico - two state cops are killed in Toluca. (en esp.)
• Gov. Rick Perry wants to help Calderon tackling crime.
• PRD effort at censorship was slapped down by the Supreme Court. Political ads cannot be pre-screened for content by the government.
• Bolivian opposition members are still on a hunger strike. Most prominent sticking point remains the 50+1/supermajority debate for the constitutional assembly.
• Evo is getting ready for the 2nd South American Summit of Nations (en esp.) - Colombia and Argentina are skipping it. Only Chile, Ecuador, Guyana and Venezuela (of course) have confirmed.
• Lula talks to Hugo and Correa about energy. (en esp.)
• NYT checks in the Americans studying medicine in Cuba.
• Pinochet is a political outcast - like I couldn't figure that out on my own. Somehow though this fates seems to have escaped Fidel even though he killed a whole lot more than the former right-wing strongman. Why is that? I hope they die a week apart so that the hypocracy of the left can be plain for all to see.