Sunday, May 25, 2008

On its first year anniversay of the RCTV shutdown, we will not forget those that deny us our rights Today is the one year Anniversary of the illegal and arbitrary shutdown of TV station RCTV by the Chavez Government. The act was very costly for Chavez as it not only showed his true colors to the world, but it also upset his own supporters when he removed one of the few sources of entertainment they had. While foolish and imbecile pro-Chavez supporters still attempt to defend the decision, the truth is that Chavez trampled all over the country’s laws with that despicable act. Not only did he appoint himself as telecom regulator, but he had the Courts take over and confiscate RCTV’s equipment, which has received no compensation. The equipment was given to the Government (surprise, surprise!) and so was the broadcast frequency owned by RCTV. Chavez and his cheerleaders claimed that the new Government channel, named TVES would easily replace RCTV, but to this day, TVES has less than 2% of the viewer rating, dismally below what RCTV used to have. At the same time, the decision has been a windfall for cable and satellite TV companies as the less affluent have gone to theses systems and at least in the case of Direct TV, RCTV has become the number one program, even if the company still loses money. Because what the Government has really done is not only to restrict free speech by illegally shutting down RCTV, but to increase its control over all media. Venevision has become bland and neutral for fear of being shut down. And VTV has become the voice of Chavez’ PSUV party. Not only does it broadcast Chavez speeches and programs, but it simply DOES NOT broadcast any opposing view to the Government. VTV used to be the Government’s TV station, but it never was the party’s TV station. Last week, a woman that claims to be a reporter, Vanessa Davies, but is now a member of the Board of Chavez’ party PSUV , announced on her TV program on TV, that viewers would have the chance to be presented and “debate” on VTV their positions. Funny how Ms. Davies, a one time human rights defender and denouncer, can now “forget” that to have a debate you need two sides. Because no opposition figure can dare ask for time on VTV, it is just not done, while Globovision does show what VTV is saying and interviews pro-Government politicians and Government spokesmen. But Ms. Davies will one day find out what “reporters” found in the former Soviet Union, that it is not as easy to switch positions when the house comes crumbling down and that those whose rights have been abused and denied, tend to have very long memories. And there are just too many of us… 10:49:57 PM    comment []

Active General goes to Court to strike "Patria, Socialismo o Muerte" from military facilities Last week, General Angel Vivas Perdomo, went to the Venezuelan Supreme Court and introduced an injunction against the use of the slogan “Patria, Socialismo o Muerte” (Fatherland, Socialism or Death) within the military. Venezuelan forts and facilities now have this slogan on their fronts and soldiers are being forced to say this out loud daily. The General’s arguments go from the fact that this is a violation of the Venezuelan Constitution, which says the military is a professional institution and is not political to the fact that the voters in December rejected Chavez’ proposal to turn Venezuela into a “socialist” country. Vivas should certainly be commended for doing this, he is a braver than most of his colleagues that mumble “Patria, Socialismo o Muerte” even if they don’t like him. Vivas Perdomo is actually an active General, beven if he has not official job function. Vivas Perdomo has been in the doghouse since 2007, when he became Director General of Engineering of the Venezuelan Army and decided to open an investigation of the man that preceded him in the position. Someone did not like Vivas’ independence and he was soon removed from his position and never assigned a job since then. Vivas Perdomo will retire on July 5th. 2008 and while Chavez has never refused to give any General a pension, that is precisely what Vivas Perdomo was risking by his daring to go to the Supreme Court. 10:29:18 PM    comment []

Chavez and Marulanda's death: Damn if he knew it, damn if he didn't Even in death, the Head of the FARC, Marulanda, seems to be playing games with Hugo Chavez. You see, much like in his negotiations with the FARC, that organization, not know for its clarity or sincerity, has not precisely played along with Chavez’ interests. When Chavez’ buddy Piedad Cordoba says that neither she, nor Chavez, knew that Marulanda had died, it shows once again that the FARC has not dealt Chavez with a clean hand. This is much like when the kid Enmanuel was said not to be in the hands of the FARC by Uribe, which was laughed at by Venezuelan authorities, only to find out later that the FARC knew all long, despite announcing they were about to release the kid, his mother and another woman. So, for Chavez it is a case of damn if you knew it, damn if you didn’t, because clearly the FARC either told him and he kept it quiet, or kept him from him, so what credibility does he have as negotiator with the FARC? Does he really know Ingrid Betancourt’s stats or is he being led by the FARC all the time? Because one thing that comes through from the Reyes documents is that the FARC feel that Chavez is competing with him and in the end he has no business in Colombia as far as they are concerned. Fortunately for Chavez, the Venezuelan Government had no time to say much before the FARC confirmed the information given by Colombia’s Minister of Defense Santos. But one thing you can say, in this war of announcements and accusations, the Colombian Government has proven to be absolutely reliable in its announcements, while Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro is still arguing whether Colombia neither did or not violate the country’s borders, which Colombia denies. Curiously, the US admitted that a US aircraft did violate Venezuela’s airspace by mistake as it flew near the island of La Orchila. As a reader points out in the comments and had been suggested to me before, could it be that FARC Commander Ivan Marquez is being protected there by Chavez? In the same interview in which Minister Santos said Marulanda was dead, he drew a parallel between Reyes being in Ecuador and Marquez being in Venezuela, saying that they have told the Venezuelan Government many times where Marquez is. Would the Colombians dare to go to La Orchila and capture Marquez? Maybe they will wait until Mr. O gives them a hand on it. 10:08:18 PM    comment []