Thursday, February 20, 2003

For once international opinion is clear cut The events of the last few days have, for once, been reported fairly in the international press and created a strong reactions at all levels. The US Government expressed its concern over the detention of Carlos Fernandez. As I said last night, even Human Rights Watch which has been somewhat timid in criticizing the Chavez administartion was even forcefull yesterday over the deaths of three military officers that were murdered this weekend. Even the infanous New York Times placed a headline that said " Venezuelan Strike Leader arrested" I would have preffered oppsoition, but for the NYT, its an improvement. Our friend Andy at the Financial Times, did his usual good job, apparently earlier than customary! Meanwhile in our own blog world, which clearly reports things first and propagates them quickly, Glenn` Reynolds of Instpundit covered and updated the events, wishfully in response to my e-mail, but he seems to be on top of things anyway. He doubled it up by covering it in his MSNBC site, in what may be the best short article on why Cahvez has turned intoa  Dictator and Dictator's in general. Meanwhile our friend at lookbackinanger, continues to understand the importance and relevance of what is happening in my country and discusses it amply (and generously to me!). Scott at Burton Terrace is always on top of things here, while Brazilian valetefrates also pays attention to us on this incredibly tense and stressful day. 8:16:42 PM    comment []

Government contradicts itself While Hugo Chavez said at noon that he was informed at midnight of the "decision by a judge to detain" Carlos Ortega and Carlos Fernandez and he said "go ahead" (whatever happened to independent powers", a half dozen of Chavez' MVR Deputies had already appeared on TV to back the decision by the judge "live" from the Vice-President's office. Chavez was so cynical as to say "I think" he has been captured, but he cant fool anybody. Moreover Cahvez said when he was told about it, he smiled with pleasure. What a sadist, no? Meanwhile, besides the information that the judge ten months ago was the lawyer that defended those caught shooting at the demonstration when 19 people were killed, the prosecutor who brought the charges happens to be the niece of the Attorney General who was Chavez' first Vice-President. The Attorney General has sat on his ass on dozens of cases that include almost 50 deaths and 700 injured, but is quick to find vaporous charges agasint the most important leaders of the opposition. Meanwhile, while one of Chavez' Deputies said there was a list of one hundred people that were going to be detained, the Attorney General said he has "only and so far" ordered the capture of the two Carlos', who are the natural leaders of the unions and the private sector. By the way, the Head of the Federation of Unions Carlos Ortega, said that he will not hand himself in as he fears for his life. He has gone into hiding, but refuses to leave the country. Now, even the People's Ombusdman, one of the most pathetic characters of the Chavez Government said the detention "was not transparent" since there was nobody present, no order to capture Mr. Fernandez and Mr. Fernandez was detained without access by his lawyers for twelve hours. Does this mean the end is near and the Ombusdeman is trying to distance himself? Curiously, many politicians now interpret yesterday's actions as the reason why Chavez did not go on his trip to Malaysia as well as a ploy to distract attention from the succesful number of the referendum petitions known as the "Firmazo", which was presented last night. I disagree, this is a step towards more repression. What I am afraid of is that coming so close to the Declaration against violence and for peace and democracy, we can only expect things to get worse from now on. 7:42:14 PM    comment []

A Deputy from Chavez MVR party just said that the list of those that may be detained for their responsability in the General Strike has approximately 100 names in it (http://www.globovision.com/politica/2003.02/20/velasquez/index.shtml). If there is any doubt where we are headed, this simply confirms it. 1:57:06 PM    comment []

The judge who ordered the two opposition leaders detained was recently named as a judge by the "hand-picked" committee that is reviewing the judicial system. He was the lawyer for the three accused gunman of the massacre during the mrach last April11th., all pro-Chavez. 12:56:58 PM    comment []

Woke up in a Dictartoship today Today I woke up in a Dictartoship. Up to now Hugo Chavez and his hoodlums had been using the law to "hide" the repressive and intolerant nature of this Government. Last night they detained one of the two most important leaders of the opposition and an order is out to capture the Head of the Federation of Unions (CTV) the other visible leader of the opposition. The charge: treason and inciting rebellion. This is political, this is repressive and coupled with assasinations last Monday indicates to me that Chavez has decided to step out of Democracy. The charges against the two most important leaders of the opposition are just an excuse to neutralize them and silence others. The Government quickly charges two political opponents on these charges, but assasins from April are still free or not charged, no investigation has been made of other gunmen on Dec. 6th. and many other political and violent crimes have yet to be investigated. But this one has, with efficiency. Maybe the world will now understand what is going on here in Venezuela. 8:28:47 AM    comment []

Witnesses say Fernadez detained illegally Witneses are saying on TV that the intelligence police officers who detained opposition leader Carlso Fernandez had no Court order to arrest him and made some shots in the air to stop him from leaving. This is absolutely illegal in Venezuela. What else is new? 1:07:37 AM    comment []

Opposition leader Carlos Fernandez detained As if the previous article were not enough, the Head of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce (FEDECAMRAS) and opposition leader Carlos Fernandez has just been reported detained by the Intelligence Police (DISIP) as he was leaving a Restaurant. The beginning of formal repression against the Democratic Coordinator? Whatever happened to the letter and spirit of the agreement signed yesterday? 12:47:01 AM    comment []

Political Assasinations, violence and some suprises.... Last night the events leading to the deaths of the three military officers were so confusing that I preferred to pass on the subcject and simply quoted my brother's reaction to the story. Well, the more I read the details the more I am reminded that one should never believe in coincidences. Imagine this: Saturday night near midnight, three military officers, part of the dissident miltary officers of Plaza Altamira, together with two females accmpanying them are taken by twelve men in two cars and driven away. On Monday, two of the officer's bodies are found in one location while one woman and the other officer are found shot to death in a separate location. Separately, the second woman, reportedly manages to escape, reaches a Hospital where she is treated for gunshot wounds. As she is being treated, a bus full of armed men shows up at the hospital looking for the woman and in the process injure five people, including one of the medical doctors traeting teh patient, with bullets and knives. Now, the group of armed men is led by the concubine or husband of Chavez MVR's leader Lina Ron, who is known for saying "there will be no change without violence". Five of the armed men are jailed by the municipal police, including Ron's husband. A couple of hours later, Lina Ron shows up at the police headquarters and all five men are released. The Head of police resigns and the Mayor of Sucre District, the son of Vice-President Rangel, says the two events have nothing to do with each other and that some people are still in jail. Today, without barely any investigation, the Head of the technical police says the two cases are not connected and the motive for the assasination is not political but "passional". Meanwhile, some reports say that the three men were also witnesses to the assasinatiosn atht took place on Dec. 6th. in Plaza Altamira. The lone gunman captured that day, was accused of being close to the Mayor of another municipality of Caracas who is both close to Chavez and Lina Ron. Meanwhile,dissident leaders of Plaza Altamira, find the whole affair suspicious, including the fact that each of the military officers was from each of the three forces in the Venezuelan military. Obviously, this all sounds so fishy as to being absolutely incredible that this is not political, led by Chavez' MVR and another vioaltion of people's political and human rights. To my surprise, Human Rights Watch, that has been so quiet and lenient, and in my opinion partial to the Government, about the events in Venezuela, issued today a press release urging the Government to investigate the cases, saying "all indications are that they were political assasinations". Wow! What is going on here! Have these people seen the light? Meanwhile, some people are even connecting Chavez' cancellation of his trip to Malaysia as being related to the assasinations. Very heavy stuff in my opinion, but will it once again, come to nothing? 12:41:33 AM    comment []