The Devil's Excrement

In one of the most cynical and outrageous statements made by any Chavista recently, MVR Deputy Raul Este said yesterday that now the process of “a revolution within the revolution will begin”. According to Este, after the victory of the “No” on August 15^th. those that are corrupt will leave the Government. Thus, for the Deputy, corrupt votes are good and only after the 15^th will they get rid of those people. Well, I am sure that besides the cynical nature of the statement, this is nothing more than another empty campaign promise by the most corrupt government in the country’s history.

In another cynical statement, Venezuela’s Ambassador to the US Bernardo Alvarez said today that he “guaranteed” the voting of Venezuelans in the US. He failed to say that proof of residence is being requested and that 95% of those that registered do not appear in the Electoral Registry. To close the Ambassador said that “Voting abroad is not for tourists”, simply another perverse interpretation of the law. Venezuelan legislation guarantees the right to vote for Venezuelans abroad irrespective of their status in the country where they live. This is the second “innovation” by the brilliant representatives of the Venezuelan Foreign Service; the Minister had said last week that illegals could not vote either because the country could not promote violating the laws of other countries. He said nothing of violating the laws of Venezuela, but maybe that is irrelevant to him…or them.

More evidence of abuse of power and corruption by the Government, once again thanks to Tal Cual. This is a picture of a sign paid by the equivalent of the IRS called SENIAT in which it says NO to forgetting to askfor a receipt, NO to leave your check blank(??), NO to tax evasion and NO to contraband. These guys are incredible!

This is today’s Editorial by Teodoro Petkoff in Tal Cual on the Government’s abuse of its power in the campaign, with particular concern about the involvement of the military in it

Power without Control by Teodoro Petkoff

While the experts report to the CNE the results of their millimetric measures in space and time of what the media devotes to the information about the two campaigns, with the aim of promoting an “informative equilibrium” (something which, in general terms, has been achieved and which is good), the Government has been advancing an electoral campaign whose bias and disequilibrium has not existed in the recent memory of the country, in the face of the most absolute indifference of the CNE.  Besides a complaint that Director Rodriguez felt obligated to formulate to the President for the use of nationwide obligatory TV addresses, Chavez has continued doing whatever he pleases with the state media, but the CNE no longer takes care of the matter, even if only for appearances sake.

This, without talking about the full blast participation of all the public organizations, which the CNE also tries to ignore.

But there is something much more dangerous: the political use of the Armed Forces, whose specific role has been progressively perverted and each day its behavior is more ostensible as practically a political party by some sectors of the armed forces. Recently, in a ceremony of CORE 5 (A military regional command), that is in the headquarters of the National Guard in El Paraiso, the billboard that was the background of the event contained a huge NO, flanked by the logos of the National Guard and of the CORE 5. At least one active General, also belonging to the National Guard, has a radio program of political nature and is openly campaigning. There have also been political/electoral events in one or another military fort, and, of course, we still have very fresh in our memories the images of the parade on July 5^th, in Los Proceres, and the naval parade on July 24^th. that openly incorporated in them electoral elements of the officialdom. As worrisome as this behavior that is taking place is the collaborative silence of those that are obligated to monitor the legality and constitutionality of the acts of public powers, in particular the Attorney General’s office.

How laughable it sounds today to read Article 328 of the Constitution where it says that the Armed Forces “are at the exclusive service of the Nation and in no case of any person or political partiality”!

Not even because he lives in Tiuna Fort does the President of the CNE acknowledge any of this.

If we have reached today these aberrant levels, even though, they have not yet been generalized, in the politization of the Armed Forces, one has to wonder what could be the evolution of this situation in the immediate future if the President is not revoked: The Armed Forces each day act more like an armed political party at his own personal service. Therein lays a reason for reflection which points directly to the decision that Venezuelans will have to make on August 15^th. It is true that the recall referendum conforms an evaluation of the Government’s conduct in the last five long years, but is also as important to wonder about the near future, in the light of the trends towards the absolute control of institutions, that each day are made more visible in its behavior and which should help to produce definitions.

Man does not live by bread alone

This is today’s Editorial by Teodoro Petkoff in Tal Cual on the Government’s abuse of its power in the campaign, with particular concern about the involvement of the military in it

Power without Control by Teodoro Petkoff

While the experts report to the CNE the results of their millimetric measures in space and time of what the media devotes to the information about the two campaigns, with the aim of promoting an “informative equilibrium” (something which, in general terms, has been achieved and which is good), the Government has been advancing an electoral campaign whose bias and disequilibrium has not existed in the recent memory of the country, in the face of the most absolute indifference of the CNE.  Besides a complaint that Director Rodriguez felt obligated to formulate to the President for the use of nationwide obligatory TV addresses, Chavez has continued doing whatever he pleases with the state media, but the CNE no longer takes care of the matter, even if only for appearances sake.

This, without talking about the full blast participation of all the public organizations, which the CNE also tries to ignore.

But there is something much more dangerous: the political use of the Armed Forces, whose specific role has been progressively perverted and each day its behavior is more ostensible as practically a political party by some sectors of the armed forces. Recently, in a ceremony of CORE 5 (A military regional command), that is in the headquarters of the National Guard in El Paraiso, the billboard that was the background of the event contained a huge NO, flanked by the logos of the National Guard and of the CORE 5. At least one active General, also belonging to the National Guard, has a radio program of political nature and is openly campaigning. There have also been political/electoral events in one or another military fort, and, of course, we still have very fresh in our memories the images of the parade on July 5^th, in Los Proceres, and the naval parade on July 24^th. that openly incorporated in them electoral elements of the officialdom. As worrisome as this behavior that is taking place is the collaborative silence of those that are obligated to monitor the legality and constitutionality of the acts of public powers, in particular the Attorney General’s office.

How laughable it sounds today to read Article 328 of the Constitution where it says that the Armed Forces “are at the exclusive service of the Nation and in no case of any person or political partiality”!

Not even because he lives in Tiuna Fort does the President of the CNE acknowledge any of this.

If we have reached today these aberrant levels, even though, they have not yet been generalized, in the politization of the Armed Forces, one has to wonder what could be the evolution of this situation in the immediate future if the President is not revoked: The Armed Forces each day act more like an armed political party at his own personal service. Therein lays a reason for reflection which points directly to the decision that Venezuelans will have to make on August 15^th. It is true that the recall referendum conforms an evaluation of the Government’s conduct in the last five long years, but is also as important to wonder about the near future, in the light of the trends towards the absolute control of institutions, that each day are made more visible in its behavior and which should help to produce definitions.

Man does not live by bread alone