Wednesday, December 10, 2008

On Human Righst Day, not much to cheer for in Venezuela As the world celebrates Human Rights Day, not much to cheer for in Venezuela: ---Human Rights organization Provea reports an increase of 31% in freedom of speech violations during the last year in the country, led by aggressions against reporters and intimidation by security forces. In 103 of the 186 cases reported, the State was responsible for the abuses. Provea's 2007-2008 report here. ---Opposition candidates that won in the regional elections are either barred from assuming office, or attacked as they do, as Chavez defends his indefinite reelection, rejected last year in a national referendum,  as being in the hands of  the "people" and proof that this is a democracy.  ---And members of political party Podemos, who used to support Chavez but split with him over his attempts to create a "unique" party, are denied the right to speak as rightful Deputies of the National Assembly by its President, on the proposal to amend the Constitution to allow Chavez' indefinite reelection.  ---And pro-Chavez Deputy Iris Varela proposes that Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa be expelled from the country after Universidad Simon Bolivar gave him an honorary degree. Varela accused Vargas Llosa of conspiring against the Government. Vargas Llosas said Chavez' political project should be "resisted, denounced and unmasked" because of its authoritarian nature and the danger it represents for Venezuela and Latin America.  ---And two former Governors, one opposition and one who used to be pro-Chavez are prosecuted for corruption as most such cases are ignored and in one case former Governor and Presidential candidate Manuel Rosales is found guilty even before he knows what he is being charged for. ---While the right to life appears to have been suspended in Venezuela as the grandson of former major league great Luis Aparicio is found dead of multiple shots, another senseless victim of the tripling of homicides since Hugo Chavez became President ten years ago. According to Provea there were 13,236 homicides in Venezuela in 2007, up from 4,550 in 1998 the year Hugo Chavez was first elected President. The only positive sign is that the number of people killed resisting arrest has dropped 30%, after rising four-fold from 1998 to 2003. 12:13:11 AM    comment []