Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 21 augusT 2018

Brazil rules out closing border to Venezuelan immigrants

By MAURICIO SAVARESE made by Roraima state
Associated Press since 2016, when the refu-
SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil gee migration began to
says it won’t close its bor- reach crisis proportions.
der with Venezuela despite In another document filed
tensions that led to attacks to Roraima authorities,
on migrants who had fled Campos said there is risk of
to the border town of Para- a “bloodshed” in Pacarai-
caima. ma and said “the chaos is
Institutional Security Minister a result of the omission of
Gen. Sergio Etchegoyen the federal government.”
said at a news conference “Future violent incidents of
on Monday that closing the dangerous proportions to
border would be illegal and the country’s national se-
wouldn’t help ease the situ- curity could happen on the
ation in the border town. next days,” the governor
Residents of Pacaraima said, mentioning other cit-
attacked Venezuelan im- ies of Roraima where Ven-
migrants on Saturday af- ezuelans have also arrived.
ter a local storeowner Minister Etchegoyen, how-
was robbed, stabbed and ever, said closing the bor-
beaten in an assault the der “wouldn’t help with the
Brazilians blamed on four humanitarian situation in
immigrants. In this file photograph of March 9, 2018, some Venezuelans move with their luggage after crossing any way.”
“The closing of the border the border between Brazil and Venezuela in the city of Pacaraima, in the Brazilian state of Roraima. Etchegoyen said the situ-
is unthinkable because it is Associated Press ation in Pacaraima has
illegal,” Etchegoyen said. About 510,000 Brazilians live judicial authorities to close in April. calmed since Satuday,
“Brazil’s immigration act in Roraima and 12,000 of the border with Venezuela “Unfortunately it took a vio- but no arrests have been
says we have to take care those are in Pacaraima, a or send enough help. lent episode for the federal made yet.
of immigrants and refugees city that has received five Campos requested on Sun- government to understand “Those people will take re-
that arrive in this condition.” times its population in Ven- day that Brazil’s top court it needs to face this issue in sponsibility for their acts,”
Political and economic ezuelan refugees. temporarily suspend the an effective way,” Cam- he said.
turmoil has driven tens of Roraima state Gov. Suely immigration of Venezue- pos said in a statement on “Those that took part of that
thousands of Venezuelans Campos, who is in the mid- lans into Brazil. Monday. probably regret it now.”
across the border, straining dle of a re-election cam- There is no date for a court She is asking national of- Brazil’s federal government
the capacity of small towns paign, has pressured Brazil’s decision on the case, but a ficials for $45 million to is sending 120 military-style
in the area to cope. federal government and similar request was denied compensate for spending policemen to Roraima.q

Old-time union boss returns triumphant in Mexico

Associated Press Manuel Lopez Obrador, Teacher” — began speak-
MEXICO CITY (AP) — One who takes office Dec. 1, ing. “The Teacher’s words
of Mexico’s powerful old- has pledged to rescind the were very beautiful, with all
time union bosses has educational reform, and the support for teachers,”
made an unrepentant, tri- has announced a public said Femat. For her Gor-
umphal return to the public consultation to determine dillo represents “respect for
spotlight after being freed how to improve schools. teachers. We have been
from nearly five years of The testing reform broke so excessively insulted. Ed-
prison and house arrest. the union’s stranglehold on ucation begins at home,”
Elba Esther Gordillo was ar- management of the na- she said, adding parents
rested in 2013 on corrup- tion’s schools, where some needed to do more.
tion and money laundering teachers had been able to But outside the hotel where
charges, the last of which pass their teaching jobs on Gordillo spoke, a small knot
were dismissed this month. to their children. of protesters held up signs
Her fall helped President But Lopez Obrador, and reading “Your place is in
Enrique Pena Nieto imple- many teachers, said the prison.”
ment a reform requiring Elba Esther Gordillo, one of Mexico’s powerful old-time union reform relies too heavily Gordillo had been ac-
bosses, holds up a document that shows a court ruling freeing
teacher testing. her of criminal charges, during a news conference in Mexico on standardized tests that cused of funneling about
Members of the National City, Monday, Aug. 20, 2018. may not reflect a teacher’s $160 million in union funds
Education Workers Union Associated Press ability. into private bank accounts
she once led turned out said, using the oratory and but that doesn’t mean I will Pre-school teacher Adri- with the help of assistants.
to cheer her euphorically theatrical skills that once abandon my convictions,” ana Femat, 53, was one She was never convicted,
Monday, with some weep- made her a major political Gordillo said. “My place of the throngs of Gordillo’s but her spending — on lux-
ing as she appeared at a figure. But she didn’t say and my loyalty will always supporters who pressed ury clothing brands, plastic
Mexico City hotel to read a whether she would return be with the teachers of their way into the crowded surgery, and homes in San
brief statement. to politics. Mexico ... Life goes on, and event hall to cheer Gor- Diego — became legend-
“I recovered my freedom “For the present, I owe my things have to go well for dillo. Femat wept a bit as ary and contrasted strong-
and the education reform time to my family who suf- Mexico.” Gordillo— known as to her ly with the realities of her
has collapsed,” Gordillo fered during my absence, President-elect Andres supporters simply as “The poorly paid teachers.q