The Devil's Excrement

The legal counsel for the Coordinadora Democrática, which groups the opposition, expressed its amazement at the People’s Ombudsman for saying that in Venezuela there were no political prisoners, but politicians in prison. Delsa Solórzano said there are eighteen political prisoners in Venezuela from the events of February 27^th. to March 4^th.

Solórzano counted them saying there were nine at the La Planta jail, four at the El rodeo prison, three at Tiuna Fort and two at the headquarters of the political police DISIP. She said this does not include those jailed in Tachira state for the events of April 12^th. 2002, nor General Carlos Alfonzo Martinez who is in the military prison of Ramo Verde.

Solórzano asked for respect playing with the words Pueblo (People) and Puesto (job) mocking Mundarain by saying “What we have is a Puesto without Defender and not a People’s Defender (the name for the position in Spanish).

She said that Chavez’ Government wants to deny the political prisoners and also that there were deaths in the demonstrations. How sad she said. A political prisoner is a person who is defending their political and constitutional rights. Ms. Solorzano asked for respect for those in prison.

One of the most curious side stories of this episode is that one of the best known political prisoners is Carlos Melo. Melo, a grassroots activist, was sent to the “El Rodeo”  prison for common criminals as a sort of “punishment”, believing that he would have a rough time there. Melo has sort of become a leader for the prisoners and has begun organizing them to improve the facilities at the prison. The Coordinadora Democratica is now receiving donations of materials to improve conditions at that prison and has now also started a project to improve the emergency medical facilities at the La Planta prison.

The legal counsel for the Coordinadora Democrática, which groups the opposition, expressed its amazement at the People’s Ombudsman for saying that in Venezuela there were no political prisoners, but politicians in prison. Delsa Solórzano said there are eighteen political prisoners in Venezuela from the events of February 27^th. to March 4^th.

Solórzano counted them saying there were nine at the La Planta jail, four at the El rodeo prison, three at Tiuna Fort and two at the headquarters of the political police DISIP. She said this does not include those jailed in Tachira state for the events of April 12^th. 2002, nor General Carlos Alfonzo Martinez who is in the military prison of Ramo Verde.

Solórzano asked for respect playing with the words Pueblo (People) and Puesto (job) mocking Mundarain by saying “What we have is a Puesto without Defender and not a People’s Defender (the name for the position in Spanish).

She said that Chavez’ Government wants to deny the political prisoners and also that there were deaths in the demonstrations. How sad she said. A political prisoner is a person who is defending their political and constitutional rights. Ms. Solorzano asked for respect for those in prison.

One of the most curious side stories of this episode is that one of the best known political prisoners is Carlos Melo. Melo, a grassroots activist, was sent to the “El Rodeo”  prison for common criminals as a sort of “punishment”, believing that he would have a rough time there. Melo has sort of become a leader for the prisoners and has begun organizing them to improve the facilities at the prison. The Coordinadora Democratica is now receiving donations of materials to improve conditions at that prison and has now also started a project to improve the emergency medical facilities at the La Planta prison.

Weil strikes again with this cartoon on Ivan Rincon’s statement saying he only had allegiance to the Constitution and God

In my head I only have two things God and the Constitution. Reporter: And who is God for you. Rincon: Chavez

I would like to pay homage to two people, one that I like and know, the other I don’t like much, but he has earned my respect:

Antonio Ledezma and Andres Velasquez had legitimate and earned aspirations to the positions of Mayor of Libertador District or of the Metropolitan area and Governor of Anzoategui, respectively. Instead, in the interest of unity they both declined to concentrate in the recall referendum.

I have never liked Ledezma too much, but in the last three years, he has been one of the few politicians that has been everywhere, fighting, swallowing tear gas and working weekends. Velasquez I have always liked and admired. He has very clear ideas. Despite his health problem (He had a bypass operation two years or so ago) he is today as feisty as ever, very critical of the Chavez Government.

People argue about whether the opposition should or not participate in the regional elections. I am extremely weary about them. The reason is simple, if the process to gather the petition to recall Hugo Chavez was so open, so controlled, so visible and observed by international organizations and despite this we are in the absurd situation we are in today, what can I expect of a closed process, with machines controlled by the CNE and appeals in the hands of the CNE and the Supreme Court?

The answer is: not very much! In fact, it may become a trap to justify that Chavez is popular, we did not have the signatures and the opposition is a minority.

In fact, I will begin counting the dirty tricks involving the regional elections, which have begun in earnest. Here are the first two:

Trick #1: There will be no election for Governor of Amazonas state.

The pro-Chavez Governor of Amazonas state is asking the CNE to postpone the election for his position. The reason? He initially lost the election and then the Supreme Court voided some of the votes of his opponent. There were new elections and he won. He wants the period to begin from the time that he took over. He is reportedly behind in the polls and has done a terrible job.

Trick #2: Arias Cardenas will run for Governor of Zulia State

Former Chavez co-conspirator in the 1992 coup and Presidential candidate against Chávez in 2001 Francisco Arias Cardenas will run for Governor of Zulia State. The opposition there has a very strong candidate in the current Governor Manuel Rosales and the Chavismo has a very weak one in General Gutierrez. Arias has played a very ambivalent role since April 2002 and has also at times been rumored to be talking to Chavez about becoming Vice-President.  Reportedly, the strategy is not to reveal that Chavez is backing him and split the opposition vote in Arias’ favor. Arias’ own party UNION (what an irony!) of which he is President announced today that they will not back his candidacy.

Will keep counting…

People argue about whether the opposition should or not participate in the regional elections. I am extremely weary about them. The reason is simple, if the process to gather the petition to recall Hugo Chavez was so open, so controlled, so visible and observed by international organizations and despite this we are in the absurd situation we are in today, what can I expect of a closed process, with machines controlled by the CNE and appeals in the hands of the CNE and the Supreme Court?

The answer is: not very much! In fact, it may become a trap to justify that Chavez is popular, we did not have the signatures and the opposition is a minority.

In fact, I will begin counting the dirty tricks involving the regional elections, which have begun in earnest. Here are the first two:

Trick #1: There will be no election for Governor of Amazonas state.

The pro-Chavez Governor of Amazonas state is asking the CNE to postpone the election for his position. The reason? He initially lost the election and then the Supreme Court voided some of the votes of his opponent. There were new elections and he won. He wants the period to begin from the time that he took over. He is reportedly behind in the polls and has done a terrible job.

Trick #2: Arias Cardenas will run for Governor of Zulia State

Former Chavez co-conspirator in the 1992 coup and Presidential candidate against Chávez in 2001 Francisco Arias Cardenas will run for Governor of Zulia State. The opposition there has a very strong candidate in the current Governor Manuel Rosales and the Chavismo has a very weak one in General Gutierrez. Arias has played a very ambivalent role since April 2002 and has also at times been rumored to be talking to Chavez about becoming Vice-President.  Reportedly, the strategy is not to reveal that Chavez is backing him and split the opposition vote in Arias’ favor. Arias’ own party UNION (what an irony!) of which he is President announced today that they will not back his candidacy.

Will keep counting…

Got this in the mail, could not resist to post, it describes how I feel about justice in Venezuela so well: Justice in Venezuela, it is not blind, it is not impartial, it is not independent…it is Chavista!

(Bottom right corner has a picture of a shark and it says: Squalids attacking)

The People’s ombudsman almost left me speechless when he admitted today that there were excesses and cruel treatment on the part of military personnel during the protests on February 27^th and the first few days of March.

That’s the good news; this guy said something negative about the Government for the first time in five years. It took 86 deaths in protests for him to say something. But then, he continues:

He recognized that there was excessive use of pellets, he criticized hitting people. Kicking them, however, civilians shot at the Guard (??) and one guard was hit by a bullet. He said these were isolated incidents a not a state policy and in Venezuela there is no line of cruel or inhuman treatment.

I see, one guard injured 14 opposition dead, seven missing, 8 tortured, 1750 injured and 450 detained in a few days….there is no pattern here, it is isolated, I hope I am not at the protest when there is one!

The People’s ombudsman almost left me speechless when he admitted today that there were excesses and cruel treatment on the part of military personnel during the protests on February 27^th and the first few days of March.

That’s the good news; this guy said something negative about the Government for the first time in five years. It took 86 deaths in protests for him to say something. But then, he continues:

He recognized that there was excessive use of pellets, he criticized hitting people. Kicking them, however, civilians shot at the Guard (??) and one guard was hit by a bullet. He said these were isolated incidents a not a state policy and in Venezuela there is no line of cruel or inhuman treatment.

I see, one guard injured 14 opposition dead, seven missing, 8 tortured, 1750 injured and 450 detained in a few days….there is no pattern here, it is isolated, I hope I am not at the protest when there is one!

Venezuela’s former Ambassador to the UN in Geneva Victor Rodriguez resigned today in protest over the violation of human rights and the loss of the rule of law in the country.

The Ambassador who had been part of the Foreign Service for thirty years said “we are losing the rule of law; we can not accept the violation and lack of respect for human rights. There is an enormous amount of concern because all fundamental rights are being violated, both civil and political rights of Venezuelans”

Venezuela’s Foreign Minister, immediately denied the resignation of the Ambassador, saying that Dr. Rodriguez is not an Ambassador and devotes himself to breeding cows in his farm in France.

We will keep you updated. By the way, the Foreign Minister did not reply to the charges about human rights violations, cows are more surreal.

Venezuela’s former Ambassador to the UN in Geneva Victor Rodriguez resigned today in protest over the violation of human rights and the loss of the rule of law in the country.

The Ambassador who had been part of the Foreign Service for thirty years said “we are losing the rule of law; we can not accept the violation and lack of respect for human rights. There is an enormous amount of concern because all fundamental rights are being violated, both civil and political rights of Venezuelans”

Venezuela’s Foreign Minister, immediately denied the resignation of the Ambassador, saying that Dr. Rodriguez is not an Ambassador and devotes himself to breeding cows in his farm in France.

We will keep you updated. By the way, the Foreign Minister did not reply to the charges about human rights violations, cows are more surreal.