Prosecutor Luisa Ortega granted an interview to Tal Cual to explain the logic behind the charges against Sumate. It goes something like this:
“The charges that the Public Ministry assigned to them are conspiracy against the republican political form given to the Nation, which is consecrated in Art. 132 of the penal Code.”
“Sumate conspired using resources from a foreign power”
“The Constitution in articles 130 and 131 establishes the civil duty to fidelity of the citizens towards their nation. We can do politics, ask for a recall vote or elections, what we can not do is to do politics asking for the participation of a foreign organization, because the legislator says that is a crime”
Well, the foreign organization “did not participate”, it gave funds to help organize a petition drive. This was not a conspiracy, this was a legal political activity and the funds were used for printing educational leaflets. Using this same logic, then all human rights organizations such as COFAVIC or Amnesty International, will have to cease receiving foreign funding, the same for environmental organizations such as Greenpeace. In fact the exchange at the end proves it:
At the end the reporter asked: so, as an example, the human rights organizations that receive funds from abroad can also be the subject of an investigation?
It depends what the funds are used for. If the funds were used for a sewing course there can be no crime, because that is not a political activity.
This is simply being used as a political weapon, while Government funds are used to finance the campaign of Chavez and all of his supporters. This my friends is another form of persecution and intimidation and has absolutely no justification in a democracy. It is more akin to what is done in totalitarian and fascist regimes.
Daniel discusses the other case of intimidation against once Chavez’ Minsiter of Finance General Uson. His crime? Telling the obvious truth. The charge? Tarnishing the image of the Venezuelan army, as if we have not seen our highest ranking Generals inability to complete full sentences, or carrying bags of food around instead of doing their job. By the way I ask: How many people have been jailed for burning those soldiers to death? Such is justice or in-justice in this silly revolution.
The Devil's Excrement 
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