Latin America and the Caribbean

The Popular Liberation Forces (PLF) uses a machine gun to attack the U.S. Embassy in El Salvador. This attack was stated by PLF to be part of their war against U.S. imperialism. Demands included the reduction in the cost of water, as well the cost of housing, fertilizer, rents, agricultural land, and electric power, as well as for the release of a number of prisoners assumed to be held for political reasons.

The president of the Codazzi Waterworks Labor Union, Aldo Mejia Martinez, is shot and killed by five unidentified people. Six months later, his successor, Engeniano S?nchez D?az, is also murdered. The murders may be linked to a larger trend of homicides in Colombia of trade-union leaders and activists.

A hydroelectric dam project proposed for the Dulcepamba River in Ecuador is the target of local community opposition and protests are staged to block the project. Clashes between the local communities, hired security guards, and state police leave several protestors injured. The communities also receive violent threats from police. Two community members are arrested. In 2015 the construction of the hydroelectric dam begins, flooding properties and destroying farmland.