Hi there,
Recent days saw massive and often violent protests from citizens in Venezuela, Tunisia, Brazil, Morocco, and the Dominican Republic who are outraged by corruption and unresponsive politics. Last Saturday in Venezuela, protestors came out en masse to mark the 50th day of demonstrations against the government of Nicolás Maduro. At least 56 people have been killed in two months of protests over what amounts to grand corruption. We have called on the Venezuelan authorities to stop the use of violence and end human rights abuses. Read our full statement on Venezuela and learn more about grand corruption. In Tunisia, violence erupted on Monday when demonstrators demanded that the government use oil revenue to reduce joblessness; one protestor was killed. Meanwhile, the nephew of the deposed president Ben Ali gave extraordinary testimony detailing the former regime's system of kickbacks and corruption. He also alleged that many of the same practices persist today. In response, the government announced a 'war on corruption' and arrested three businessmen and a customs official suspected of graft. Brasilia was in flames this week. Protestors want Brazil's president Michel Temer to resign over allegations he authorised hush money to impede a corruption investigation. Ominously, Temer sent soldiers to the streets to quell protests, before revoking the order. In Morocco, thousands marched again to protest injustice and corruption, seven months after a fisherman was crushed to death inside a garbage truck while trying to retrieve fish confiscated by police. And in the Dominican Republic, the Marcha Verde (Green March) continued last weekend. Since January, people around the country have dressed in green and swarmed the streets once a month. Originally spurred by bribery revelations emerging from the Odebrecht scandal, the green marchers are increasingly targeting other forms of government waste and patronage. More of this week's corruption stories below... |